The Magic of Art Centers for Camps

Summer camp holds a special spot in the hearts of many children. They provide a unique place for campers to explore, learn, and create in a supportive and fun environment. One aspect that adds an extra touch of magic to summer camps are art centers. These hidden gems, often tucked away in the woods, offer a plethora of artistic activities to inspire creativity and relaxation. 

In today’s post, we’d like to share some of the benefits of having an art center at your summer camp. We’ll also showcase a few amazing art centers at some of the camps we’ve worked with along the way.

The Benefits of Art Centers 

Art centers are undoubtedly an essential component of summer camps and serve as havens where campers can unleash their creative spirit and find solace. It’s in these inspiring spaces that young campers can feel empowered to explore their artistic potential, nurture their confidence, and build valuable life skills. 

Art centers can also help campers:

• Promote self-expression
• Stimulate creativity and imagination
• Unleash artistic potential 
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Encourage a sense of pride and accomplishment 
• Provide a therapeutic place to express emotions 
• Collaborate and make friends with others

As you can see, art truly enriches the lives of children in profound ways. Whether through painting, drawing, sculpting, or other artistic mediums, children can create and share art with fellow campers and experience a sense of achievement. 

Examples of art centers at summer camps

Now that you know the benefits of having an art center, let’s take a look at some various summer camps with dedicated spaces for art, what makes them unique, and how you can draw inspiration from them. We hope these examples inspire you to unleash your own creativity and envision an art center that captures the essence of your camp!

URJ Camp Harlam

The first art center we’d like to showcase is by our friends at URJ Camp Harlam in Pennsylvania. 

What we love most about Harlam’s camp is that they aren’t afraid of their art center becoming splattered with paint. You’ll see campers’ creative artwork strung about on every wall and window. 

Not only is this area spacious, but it also has a porch that gives campers the option to paint or draw outside. 

As you can see, they’ve filled their space with plenty of tables and have a plethora of bins for art supplies, aprons, etc. 

If you look closely, you’ll even find an area dedicated to sewing – a valuable skill many kids may not have tried their hand at!

A recently completed master plan proposes expanding the arts program through the center of their camp to provide better exposure.

Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center 

Next up is a small but quaint art center located in Washington – Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center. 

If you’re hesitant to dedicate a space as an art center, take this camp as a perfect example. No matter how big or small, having an area where kids can go to relax and create art makes your camp more desirable.

Upon taking a closer look, you’ll see the walls of this space are covered with all sorts of drawings and names like one big scrapbook.

Another aspect we love is that they offer art and crafts with instructions so kids can come and go as they please without needing special assistance. 

Camp Tekoa Foothills

Located in North Carolina, Camp Tekoa Foothills doesn’t just have an extensive art center to offer their campers, but they invite them to get their hands dirty by making art inside and outside too! 

As evident in the photo, this camp encourages its guests to paint the outer walls of the art center. This unique idea certainly makes the art center stand out and acts as an invitation to come and participate. 

We love that it encourages teamwork and collaboration among campers. It’s a great way to make new friends and enjoy the great outdoors! 

Twinlow Camp and Retreat Center

Last but not least is Twinlow Camp and Retreat Center, located in Idaho. 

This charming space is the perfect example of a small but intimate art center nestled in the woods. It offers a quiet setting for campers to immerse themselves in their artistic pursuits and connect authentically with others. 

We also appreciate how organized this art center is, which is a feat for any camp that offers one! Labeling bins and building lots of shelves can help keep your art and crafts supplies tucked away and allow artists to quickly find what they’re looking for. 

How Will You Empower Campers to Explore Their Artistic Potential?

As witnessed, art centers are undoubtedly an essential component of summer camps!

Whether your art center is built from scratch or an old building transformed into a vibrant space, these centers provide a safe space for kids to express their creativity and collaborate with other campers, all while building their confidence and learning valuable life skills. So, how will you strategically plan to make art accessible at your summer camp?