Yocum Institute for Arts Education » 2023 Summer Arts Camps

Engage in hands-on activities led by experienced teaching artists in a professional studio environment. Our Summer Arts Camps feature fun, innovative, and creative camps for ages 2–15. Each week offers a new unique theme, encouraging campers to explore, create, innovate and problem solve while growing critical thinking skills and making new friends!

Scholarships Available

To apply for a scholarship please visit Scholarship Application

Let’s Get Ready! Kindergarten Prep Lead Teacher: Marsha Gleason Ages 5-6

Week 1 July 31 – Aug 4, 2023 Week 2 Aug. 7 – 11, 2023

Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-12 Noon

Let’s get ready for the fall, in a fun and nurturing environment. Led by Marsha Gleason, students are introduced to the routines, learning, and fun that takes place in kindergarten. Stories, crafts, songs, and games will round out the activities with a focus on kindness, following directions, and the joy of learning! Each week will have different activities, sign up for one week or both. Marsha Gleason taught Kindergarten for 15 years at the Wilson School District and is thrilled to be part of the experience helping new kindergarteners feel excited and ready for school!

$155 | $145 Members

Picturebook Preschool Camps for Ages 2-4

as of 6/3/2023 all Picturebook Camps are waitlist only

Camps run Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-12 Noon, Snack is provided.

$155 | $145 Members (2023 prices)

Children’s favorite books inspire art projects, music, movement and theater games. Our youngest campers create in a nurturing and caring environment in our drop-off program that combines the art forms to promote socialization, early literacy skills and a lot of FUN.. Led, by Miss Becky, this camp has less transitions moving between spaces than the multi-arts camp, while continuing to provide access to guest Teaching Artists who join the group throughout the week for special activities. We also have playground and snack time too! June 19-23, 2023: It Looked Like Spilt Milk, by Charles G. Shaw June 26-30, 2023: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell July 10-14, 2023: The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt July 17-21, 2023: Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox July 24-28, 2023: SuperHero ABC, by Bob McLeod July 31 – Aug 4, 2023: Pete the Cat, by James Dean and Eric Litwin Aug. 7-11, 2023: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell REGISTER NOW

Multi Arts Camps for Ages 4-12

Theater, Art, Music, Movement, Playground, Snack time! New workshops and instructors under a different theme make every week something new to try. Our team of Teaching Artists are joined by Special Guests including: T-Dog (Tanya Turgeon), the team from Nolde Forest, and more surprises. AND, sharings are BACK! Families are welcome to join us on Friday’s at noon when our campers share snippets of their week’s adventures in music, art, creative drama and movement. FULL DAY: Monday-Friday, (ages 5-12) Activities 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM Drop-off starts at 8:30 AM Pick-up 3:30-4:30 PM Full day campers should pack a lunch. $258 | $248 Members (2023 prices) AM HALF DAY: Monday-Friday (ages 4-12) 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Drop-off starts at 8:30 AM Pick-up at 12:30 PM $185 | $175 Members (2023 prices)

June 12-16, 2023 3-2-1 Blast Off! Space awaits as we explore the skies through music, movement and artists such as, Van Gogh, James Whistler, Georgia O’Keefe. In creative drama we may meet a friendly alien and teach them our language.. Our space adventure is waiting in the stars.. June 19 – 23, 2023 Walking through Wonderland Hold onto your hats as we as we dive into the magical world of Wonderland. A week of rhymes, silly stories, creative movement, song, painting roses and (of course) the opportunity to make your own fabulous hat: perfect to wear to the performance of Be Curious at the Heritage Center. June 26-30, 2023 Art-venting: Young Engineers – CLOSED Lead Teacher: Rich Houck Like to take things apart and create something new? This is your chance to get messy and creative. Our young artists will take apart old mechanical devices, mix them together to make something inspired by a character you create or an environment you imagine. July 10-14, 2023 What Is That? Weird and silly is the theme of the week. Let’s be curious and explore together. Mix up story characters, paint a fish that hangs out with the man in the moon, play a cauliflower trumpet? Who knows what we will come up with! July 5,6,7, 2023 HALF DAY ONLY W-Th-F, 9 AM -12:30 PM, $120/ $110 SuperHero Mini-Camp Your adventure awaits! What superpower do you wish you had? We ask and answer questions like these through stories, music, movement and art projects designed to let the imagination soar – while wearing a cape. July 17-21, 2023 Sticky Situations Let the laughter begin. We will go through our own “sticky situations” both pretend – for example, acting out what to do when the ice cream machine is leaking – and in real life, using static to hold a balloon up or which glue works best. A week of experimentation and problem solving – with giggles, lots of giggles. July 24-28, 2023 Bubbles to Blowfish From bubbly art to under-the-sea adventurers, so much to dive into this week! Bubble watercolor projects, recycled art sea creatures – and chance to see a rehearsal of SpongeBob the musical (young audiences’ version.) July 31- Aug 4, 2023 Carnival of the Animals Lead Teacher, Nadia Pochan Drawing from the music and poetry of Camille Saint-Saëns, we will create a new re-mix carnival of real, mythical, and imaginary animals. Poetry, Spoken Word, all genres of music will inspire how our animals move, what they look like and where they may have come from. Aug. 7-11, 2023 Great, Big, Giant Art! – CLOSED Lead Teacher, Andrew Pochan Local muralist Andrew Pochan will lead the way as we think big! Participants will collaborate and design a mural to be on display at the Yocum Institute, in addition to their own large piece of art. When we aren’t painting, we will be inspired through stories we create, music and movement. Dress for MESS! Aug 14-18, 2023 Mini Movie Making (ages 6-14) – CLOSED Lead Teachers from BLiNK Studio Our movie makers learn what goes into making a movie as they create shorts with a film director. Created works will be edited and finalized after the camp and posted to Yocum’s YouTube page. REGISTER NOW

2023 Specialty & Performance Camps for Ages 7-17

Older campers work with professional directors, actors, dancers, and artists to develop performance, writing, and/or artistic skills. These camps help to build confidence, collaboration, and creativity while working in a safe and encouraging environment. Performance and Teen Camps range in length (1 – 3 weeks) and many result in performances held in the Yocum Institute’s Schumo Black Box Theater. All camps are led by talented teaching artists and creative professionals who work in education and their chosen discipline. Camp times and age ranges vary, please click the links below for details. Snacks and lunch are not provided.

LEARN MORE> SPECIALTY AND PERFORMANCE CAMPS

Parent Resources

**Online registration ends the Wednesday before the start of a new camp. Please call 610-376-1576 after that time to check availability and to register.** CANCELLATION POLICY: Withdrawal from camp 10 days before start: full refund, 5 to 9 days: 50% refund, 2 to 4 days: 25% refund, after that no refund will be issued. Picturebook Preschool Camp Information (Coming Soon) Multi Arts Camp Information (Coming Soon) 2023 Medical Care and Release Form (Coming Soon) 2023 Camp Withdraw/Transfer Request Form

FAQ (Subject to Change)

DOES “4 - 12 YEARS OLD” MEAN THAT MY 10 YEAR OLD WILL BE WITH 4 YEAR OLDS?

WHAT TIME DOES CAMP START?

IS CARE AVAILABLE BEFORE and/or AFTER CAMPS?

WHAT IS A “TEACHING ARTIST?”

The term “teaching artist” can be a broad term. At the Yocum Institute for Arts Education, we use the definition that many states use in the context of education: “A teaching artist (artist–educator) is a practicing professional artist with the complementary skills and sensibilities of an educator, who engages people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts.” We choose our teachers and aides carefully based not only on their resume, but their ability to work with children and classroom management skills. We also, typically have them lead a sample class prior to hiring.

WHAT IF MY PLANS CHANGE OR MY CHILD GETS SICK?

WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS SPECIAL FOOD OR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS?

We believe in creating a space that allows all children to succeed. Directors and staff will work with you to make sure all special needs of campers are met throughout the week, whether they be monitoring the snacks or monitoring behavior. Please keep in mind, that if a child’s behavior is disruptive to the detriment of a group’s positive experience, we will discuss with you what alternatives are available for your child. In the extreme event that a faculty, staff, or camper is physically threatened by your child’s behavior, the camper will be asked to leave without refund.

DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS?

IS THERE A WAY I CAN I SEE WHAT MY CHILD HAS LEARNED IN CAMP?

IS MY 2-3 yr OLD REALLY READY FOR CAMP?

We believe that young children greatly benefit from our Picturebook Preschool camps and have positive learning experiences. However, we recognize that each child is different and we are flexible and patient with our youngest campers. We demonstrate this by providing a structure specifically based on age-appropriate practices. While the 4 – 12 Multi-Arts Campers travel throughout the building to different spaces and instructors, the 2 – 4 year old campers instructors travel to them to provide comfort, safety, and stability. And no, they don’t have to be potty trained!

2023 Summer Arts Camps