Summer clay camp in Ann Arbor Art Center

Check out the sneak peek of our 2021 In-Person Summer Clay Camps!

REGISTRATION OPENS TO ALL ON FEBRUARY 24TH

Our Clay Camp curriculum is designed to teach pottery skills and to encourage the exploration of clay as a material for design, sculpture, and expression. Each week, campers learn to throw on the wheel in the mornings. In the afternoons, campers learn a variety of handbuilding techniques to create stunning sculptures, tiles, or functional items.

Clay Camp is for children ages 9-12 years old.

Please note: we do not make exceptions to the minimum age required to attend Clay Camp.

Camp Tuition: $425/week

Week 1: Throwing on the Wheel & Oceans of Fun | July 12 - July 16

Sometimes inspiration is just around the corner, or in this case, under the sea! Dive in as we create artwork inspired by the patterns, textures, shapes found in sea creatures. Campers will:

Sculpt a terrific tropical fish out of a pinch pot form

Carve a texture found in ocean creatures into a thrown or sculpted form

Use a slump mold to make a fish-shaped platter, embellished with wild textures and bold colors

Week 2: Throwing on the Wheel & Crazy Critters | July 19 - July 23

Are you wild about animals? Learn how to incorporate animal forms, characteristics, and patterns into your sculptures. Campers will have a roarin’ good time as they:

Make a pencil holder in the shape of an animal

Create an exotic bird-shaped planter

Give a thrown form animal-like characteristics

Week 3: Throwing on the Wheel & The Art of Wizardry| July 26 – July 30

Campers will have a blast channeling their inner wizards as they work on a series of enchanting projects. In this spellbinding week, campers will:

Sculpt a wizard’s pet

Throw a cauldron on the wheel for Potions class

Construct a castle or tower, inspired by Hogwart’s Wizarding School

Week 4: Throwing on the Wheel & Character Design | August 2 – August 6

Give your sculptures plenty of personality this week as we explore the art of character design. Campers will try their hand at making fantastic, dynamic characters and more as they:

Create a silly bobble-head figure

Design a superhero with an unusual super-power

Make a sculpture that features an exaggerated facial expression

Week 5: Throwing on the Wheel & Color-Palooza | August 9 – August 13

Turn your blank canvasses into masterpieces as you learn a variety of clever tricks and techniques to create colorful, captivating surface designs on your clay projects. Campers will:

Use decorative slips to apply warm and cool designs on a project

Decorate a bisque tile with stunning images or patterns using underglaze crayons

Create a gradient effect on a series of plates using colored slip

Week 6: Out of this World & Throwing on the Wheel | August 16 - August 20

Our projects will be light years ahead of their time this week as we scour the universe for cosmic inspiration. Planets, asteroids, black holes, strange beings, spiral galaxies (and of course, sci-fi movies) are just the beginning. Campers will reach for the stars as they:

Make a sculpture of an alien life form or a droid

Make a tile triptych of a galaxy far, far away

Transform a thrown form into a meteor bowl

Week 7: Throwing on the Wheel & Game On | August 23 - August 27

We’re up to our ears in fun this week! Give it your all as we rev up for a series of fun challenges and projects that stretch our creativity to the max. Campers will:

Sculpt a larger-than-life game piece from a popular board game

Make a storage box for game cards, dice, or game pieces, embellished with game designs

Play a series of games and will be given challenges throughout the week that add exciting twists to art projects and push their creativity and problem-solving skills to the limit