MPA Summer Art Camps
Morning Sessions
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Two session options per week: For 6-8-year-olds and 9-13-year-olds
Tuition: $295/$280 MCC district residents, except Week 2.
Week 2: $240/$225 MCC district residents.
Full day option available. Campers should bring a snack and water. If full day, pack a lunch for campers. No nuts please.
Week 1
Mask-Querade!
June 22 – June 26
Masks are an important aspect in storytelling and expression around the world. Campers will explore different cultures around the world and create masks inspired by animal, and figurative means through mediums like paper mâché, clay and more!
Week 2
Art Across the World
June 29 — July 2, No Camp on July 3
Art is its own international language. Through this camp we will look at different cultures around the world, and create artwork influenced by what we learn. From origami, to tie dye techniques, to clay pots, we’ll travel the world!
Week 3
Dynamic Art
July 6 – July 10
Art is beyond stagnant processes such as still life. In this camp, we will explore the dynamism of art through techniques that focus on motion and fluidity. Campers will engage in projects such as flipbooks, spin art, art pours, kite/chime making, and much more.
Week 4
Exploring Color
July 13 – July 17
Campers will delve into the world of hue, shade, tint, value and intensity. Starting from the “color wheel”, we will draw and drip paint on paper and canvas with colorful layers of paint, oil pastel and collage. We will experiment with different types of 2D printing and use pencil, pen, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. Learn about exciting artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, and other contemporary artists who use various techniques in their works.
Week 5
Hand-Building with Clay
July 20-24
Explore the exciting world of hand building with clay. We will also create beautiful decorative patterns with various sculpting tools and stencils, and learn a variety of techniques including slab, pinch, and coil construction. Campers will take projects home as we are using non-firing clay.
Week 6
Pop Art
July 27- 31
Campers will explore works by "pop" artist Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg. and others of the 1960s and 1970s. Campers will then create their own pop art using found objects, commercial packaging (save those candy wrappers and soup can labels!) and other everyday commercial symbols. Discover color and composition working from everyday objects using drawing, painting, and collage techniques.
Week 7
Animal Kingdom
August 3 - August 7
There are so many things in the animal kingdom that inspire artists. Does your favorite animal inspire you? In this camp welll take inspiration from elements of the animal kingdom like honeycomb patterns, tiger eyes, fish scales, and so much more to create some amazing art!
Afternoon Sessions
Monday-Friday, 1–4 p.m.
Two session options per week: For 6-8-year-olds and 9-13-year-olds
Tuition: $295/$280 MCC district residents, except Week 2.
Week 2: $240/$225 MCC district residents.
Full day option available. Campers should bring a snack and water. If full day, pack a lunch for campers. No nuts please.
Week 1
Comic Book
June 22 – June 26
Delve into the world of comics by making your own books and looking at the work of professional comic book authors. We will learn what works both from a compositional and storytelling perspective. Campers will look at some of the most famous heroes and villains in comic book history for inspiration. Beginning with pen and ink drawings for our storyboards, we will add sequential and close-up images as part of creating your own exciting comic books. In addition to our classic comic books, we will construct flip books to show your own comic style in motion.
Week 2
Art Across the World
June 29 — July 2, No Camp on July 3
Art is its own international language. Through this camp we will look at different cultures around the world, and create artwork influenced by what we learn. From origami, to tie dye techniques, to clay pots, we’ll travel the world!
Week 3
Under the Sea
July 6 – July 10
There is so much that we don’t know about what’s under the sea, which allows for an abundance of creative freedom. In this camp, we’ll explore nautical themes such as animals, mythos, and nature. Campers will work with watercolors, sand, recyclable materials and more throughout the week.
Week 4
The World of Paper Crafts
July 13 – July 17
Paper is an everyday medium, and we do not fully explore all that we can do with it. Campers will create projects utilizing paper techniques such as origami, paper sculpture, paper clay, paper mache and much more!
Week 5
Art + Sci-Fi
July 20 - July 24
Science and Art are two sides of the same coin! Campers will take a look arte science side or inos, and indulee In the concepts of how things work, how an idea is formed, and build their own projects through art.
Week 6
Anything and Everything: Exploring Mixed Media With Clay
July 27 - July 31
Campers will spend this week exploring a wide variety of unique methods in creating works of art. They will have the opportunity to create projects with methods that are different from the usual norm and be introduced to innovative new methods of creating!
Week 7
Magical & Mythical Creatures
August 3 - August 7
Do you love stories about dragons, fairies, unicorns, and other magical and mythical creatures? We will recreate some of these characters in our own masterpieces! Campers will use colored pencils, markers, paint, beads, feathers, special papers, and other materials to construct 2D and 3D artworks starring our favorite characters, either from literature or entirely from our imaginations.
MPA’s Counselor in Training Program
For 14-18-year-olds
Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
$395 for each two-week program. Minimum commitment of two weeks required.
MPA’s Counselor in Training (CIT) program has been developed to enrich the experience of older campersat our summer art camps. CITs, chosen by MPA to participate, will experience working with younger children in a day camp setting. This program is designed to encourage teaching and leadership skills. CITs will assist in planning and leading activities for our young campers. This opportunity is ideal for students interested in art, teaching and developing their leadership style under the supervision of MPA’s master faculty.
For more information or to apply for a CIT position for MPA’s 2026 Summer Art Camps, please visit MPA’s website, mpaart.org.
McLean Project for the Arts Summer Camp Refund Policy
- Requests made BEFORE the first Friday in April and submitted in writing to info@mpaart.org: Patron will receive a full refund.
- Requests made AFTER the first Friday in April but MORE THAN 21 days ahead of the camp start date: Patron will receive a full refund less a 20% administrative fee.
- Requests made LESS THAN 21 days before the start of the camp: Refunds will only be granted if the vacant spot is filled. Patron will receive a full refund less a 20% administrative fee.
We strive to provide the best possible service to our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to McLean Project for the Arts at info@mpaart.org.
