By Discovery
BY DISCOVERY 2026 SUMMER ART CAMPS
Take a scroll below to view By Discovery's weekly camp themes and their descriptions. We offer 10 weeks of summer camp with am/pm or all day sessions (add lunch time supervision to your registration), for a total of 20 themes. We also have early bird and extended day options. Additional Summer Camp details are provided HERE (for those viewing on a deskstop/laptop, scroll past the school year info). Registration will open on Jan 31st at 8am HERE
Week 1: June 8-12, Morning Session
Pop-Up Art Shop for "Kidpreneurs"
This summer camp builds on By Discovery’s annual “Small Business Wednesday”, held every December, highlighting the importance of shopping local and small business owners in supporting and enriching our community. Campers will create themed novelty items from a large variety of materials (both 2-D and 3-D, depending on each child’s interests and skills). They will also design a display and signage for their shop and sell their wares on our last day of camp. Campers receive pennies to shop with from By Discovery. The studio will be transformed on our final camp day and families/caregivers are welcome to attend and partake in the experience from 11:30 to 12pm!
Week 1: June 8-12, Afternoon Session
Intuitive Art: Painting & Sculpture
Children are playfully creative explorers and many artists believe that the best way to make art is with a playful and spontaneous approach: to experiment with their materials without an end product in mind and to let the process guide them. They discover what resonates and why, understand what the limitations may be, and birth new and exciting ideas from there. In this camp, students will intuitively explore painting, printmaking and collage processes and create an accordion booklet showcasing their creative journey! They will also create abstract sculptures with clay and found materials to experiment with textures, space and form, inspired by the work of Indianapolis Artist and Educator Gina Lee Robins.
Week 2: June 15 -19, Morning Session
Collectibles Camp
Collections of any kind are a fun past-time and they encourage curating, categorizing and display opportunities. Collecting mystery box toys also adds an element of surprise and an opportunity to trade with friends! In our Collectibles Camp, children will have the opportunity to create multiple mystery box toys, soft key chain figures (think Hello Kitty and Labubus, etc) & sticker books that they can trade at the end of the week, during our last half hour of camp. Students will create their collectibles with model magic, various fabrics and contact paper (stickers). Family members and friends are welcome to join us for this exciting swap event!
Week 2: June 15 -19, Afternoon Session
Camp West
Bandana? Check! Bolo Tie? Check! Adventure through the western landscape? Ready!!! This week we will embrace the allure of the American west and explore breathtaking landscapes and skyscapes via the paintings of French Artist Mark Maggiori, who resides part of the year in Taos, New Mexico and also Scottsdale Arizona. Our experience begins with handprinting bandanas and sculpting bolo ties. Then, we will observe the characteristics of western valleys, deserts, and canyons to create paintings that capture their beautiful shapes, colors, and forms. Time permitting, campers will have the opportunity to include one or more horses with or without riders to collage within their landscapes.
Week 3: June 22 - 19, Morning Session
K-Pop Demon Hunters & Korean Folk Art
This camp embraces K-Pop Demon Hunters fandom with artwork highlighting the iconic duo, Derpy (a blue tiger) and Sussie (a Magpie)! Campers will sculpt and paint a wall mounted Derpy mask, using a paper pulp technique. They will also sculpt and paint Sussie, creating an armature covered with spun cotton, a method that originated in 19th century Germany. These beloved characters are inspired by the tiger and magpie figures in Korean Minhwa, a genre of Korean Folk Art. We will discuss the tiger and magpie’s symbolism and how that influenced the characters Derpy and Sussie.
Week 3: June 22 - 26, Afternoon Session
K-Pop Demon Hunters Portraits & Korean Norigae
Campers will be excited to update their bedroom decor with a portrait painting of their favorite K-Pop Demon Hunter movie character! They will learn the basics of portraiture, including how to illustrate and capture facial shapes, facial proportions and hairstyles that define their character. Students will also be introduced to a Korean cultural tradition, the wearing of Norigae, a decorative pendant/charm, and the symbolism these carry. Campers will create a Korean Norigae-inspired pendant/charm, similar to the ones worn by Rumi, Zoey and Mira and now worn by males as well.
Week 4, June 29 - July 3, Morning Session
Eco-Art Tiny Homes
Lets create with what nature gives us in plenty!!! Sticks, seed pods, bark, leaves, and so many plants and flowers provide us with fabulous architectural design opportunities. We will use repurposed clear containers and other items typically destined for the trash, as our base to build upon. Illuminated from inside with a tea light, these tiny homes will also serve as a sweet night light. Time permitting, campers may create clay figures to enjoy these new lodgings.
Week 4, June 29 - July 3, Afternoon Session
DIY Interior Design
Looking for a fun way to help motivate your child to keep their room neat and clean? Does your child enjoy decorating or have an interest in interior design? This camp may be just what you're looking for. Students will make a variety of personalized functional items to elevate the look and feel of their bedrooms. Let’s make things cozier with a spherical finger knitted pillow; create a mellow mood with mixed media wall sconces; and show personality with a uniquely designed fabric bunting!
Week 5, July 6 - 10, Morning Session
Conceptual Art: Yoko Ono Inspired!
This camp takes inspiration from a pioneer of conceptual art: Yoko Ono! Following an introduction about conceptual art and Yoko Ono’s work, students will collaborate to design interactive art installations utilizing specific spaces within the art studio: They will transform their concepts into visual displays that invite others to play with materials, to rearrange, add, or remove elements. On the last day of camp, families and friends are invited to experience our campers’ installations. As they interact with the displays, they will not only emphasize ideas, but will be transformed from viewers to collaborators!
Week 5, July 6 - 10, Afternoon Session
Paper Arts Studio
Paper is such a versatile medium to create beautiful low relief art! In this camp, students will learn the art of paper making, paper quilling and paper-art shadow boxes. Our eco-friendly handmade papers will transform repurposed paper scraps into brightly colorful artworks! Paper quilling is the art of coiling thin paper strips and pinching the coils to create a variety of shapes. These shapes can be grouped on a surface to create an image, simple or complex - anything from a banana to a bobcat or your child's favorite pop culture icon is possible! Shadow boxes are a bit magical, a dimensional paper collage, with layers of imagery that add dimension to a scene. These may include a favorite animal, landscape or anything that resonates with your child and makes their heart happy!
Week 6: July 13 - 17, Morning Session
SEW Awesome Carry-Alls
Sewing & designing decorative and functional art is empowering! Sewing is also an important gender inclusive skill! From choosing fabrics that resonate with the maker, to embroidering images that stylize and personalize their carry-all, campers will master the basics of design, hand sewing and machine sewing. Time permitting, campers may also create a smaller item to attach to the carry-all or a pouch to organize smaller items inside the carry-all.
Week 6: July 13 - 17, Afternoon Session
Street Food & Dessert Trucks
Calling all foodies and creatives with an entrepreneurial spirit: Campers will create their favorite street food items (including desserts), in custom designed vehicles on wheels to serve up their faux food masterpieces. Pizza, Pierogies, Korean BBQ, Specialty Ice Creams, Boba Teas, etc are just a few possibilities. Vehicles will be designed inside and out to boast the coolest themed street food trucks in town. Options for sculpting food include model magic, paper pulp, and spun cotton over armatures. Family members and friends are welcome to join us during the last half hour of our Friday camp session to “purchase” the most memorable one-of-a kind meals of the summer!!!
Week 7: July 20 - 24, Morning Session
Painting & Printmaking Studio
Painting and Printmaking Studio: Campers will explore alternative approaches to painting and printmaking, including paint pull techniques that encourage bold color explorations. Followed by more traditional brush painting methods, their color-drenched canvas may embrace pure abstraction or move into representational imagery. For our printmaking projects: children will be introduced to the French "chine collé" technique, where pieces of colorful rice paper are collaged to printmaking paper, adding cool pops of color to the final image. Campers will also enjoy botanical monoprinting and Gelli block printmaking for awesome layered and textural effects!
Week 7: July 20 - 24, Afternoon Session
Textiles & Fiber Arts Studio
What comes to mind when you think of textiles/fiber art? Clothing? Bedding? Soft toys and plushies? Wall art? These are our belongings that bring warmth, coziness, personality and cultural connection to our homes. In this camp, children will learn weaving & felting techniques to create soft toys or wall art. They will also learn surface decoration methods, such as applique, embroidery, and printing/stamping to breathe new life into clothing they already have. Campers will need to bring a wearable item such as a well worn shirt, shorts, or a skirt to upcycle. This is a wonderful opportunity to embrace creativity and resourcefulness!
Week 8: July 27 - 31, Morning Session
Out of the Box - Mystery Box Challenges!!!
Let's think and create outside of the box... and maybe use the box as well! Our "Mystery Box Challenges" are to engage each child's imagination and to see where their explorations will take them. There will be 2-D, 3D and low relief challenges. If so inclined, campers are welcome to create together in small groups. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to create a simple automata - for our project, this will be a sculptural "toy" that has a mechanism to allow movement: a character that runs or an object/character that turns!
Week 8: July 27 - 31, Afternoon Session
A Really Surreal Party!!!
Create an imaginative assortment of curious paper mache items and other sculptural forms to host the quirkiest party on the planet, held on our last day of camp! From silly to spine tingling tableware and foods, this is the perfect camp for your well-humored child! The studio will be transformed on our final camp day and families/caregivers are welcome to attend and partake in the experience from 3:30 to 4pm!
Week 9: August 3 - 7, Morning Session
Laughing Owl Collective
By Discovery’s “Laughing Owl” camp is inspired by Meow Wolf, an artist collective that began in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2008, to create an immersive, multimedia family friendly experience with “portals” into numerous fantasy worlds. Our campers will create themed interactive “art in a box” fantasy environments using repurposed/found materials and traditional/non-traditional art supplies and processes. The element of surprise and delight in the unexpected is our ultimate goal! We will host families and friends on our last day of camp to explore our interactive art exhibition.
Week 9: August 3 - 7, Afternoon Session
Micro Art Galleries
Children who have a soft spot for all things tiny will enjoy this opportunity to design a Micro-Art Gallery and to create an art exhibition inside! Micro paintings, textiles, clay sculptures, collages, assemblages, eco-art and more are possible examples to be created and displayed. Each camper will build their Micro Gallery, create art for three walls of the gallery, and install their artwork for exhibition. They will also create invitations and promos for social media, to be shared on By Discovery’s IG and FB pages. On our final day of camp, families/caregivers are welcome to attend our Micro-Art Gallery opening from 3:30 to 4pm!
Week10: August 10 - 14, Morning Session
Drawing Studio & Doodle Booth : )
Calling all doodlers, drawing aficionados, cartoonists and those who simply enjoy putting marks on paper! Why do we draw? For pleasure and to day dream, to observe and record, to communicate an idea, tell stories and more! Campers will begin each morning with one or more fun drawing activities/prompts to spark their creativity and to continue developing their personal style. Projects include an illustrated infinity card (continuously unfolds to reveal a series of images), a themed zine or booklet, and a comic strip, time permitting. We invite families and friends to join us on our final day of camp from 11:30am to 12pm, to partake in our doodle booth fair: campers who wish to participate will have 2 exciting minutes to sketch a "customer's" portrait, which will be given as a thank you for their participation. They may visit several camper's booths to collect a variety of portraits showcasing each artist's unique style!
Week 10: August 10 - 14, Afternoon Session
Public Art Pageant
Public art has the potential to light the imagination and lift emotions! For children who enjoy thinking big and the process of collaboration to achieve the spectacular, this camp will be a win-win! It is inspired by the former Red Moon Theater productions in Chicago and the Bread and Puppet Theater in Vermont (one of the oldest non-profit theater companies in the nation). Our campers will first agree on an overarching theme for their pageant. Then, working in smaller groups of 3 and guided by their selected theme, each group will create one or more large-scale artworks/puppets. On our final day of camp, families/caregivers are encouraged to attend our pageant from 3:30 to 4pm! We will begin at the studio, parade through Stevenson Park, and then return to the studio for the final acknowledgements.