For ALL our camps, Dress for MESS! The yurt is an art studio and much of our time is spent out doors. A swim suit or bikini under clothes is a great idea and MANDITORY for the wearable arts camps so they can change in and out of outfits without having to go to the restrooms. Wear a teva/keen type sandal or sneakers that are comfortable when wet. We often go to the creek for lunch and some of our projects result in wet feet due to hose use. NO flip flops or crocs. They do not provide enough protection from sharp objects and are too slippery to protect feet. Water sox are ok if changing back to sneakers or other
hard bottom shoes. Campers who come in flips or crocs will be restricted in movement for their safety. Towel or change of clothes is optional. Some campers don't mind being damp and we dry quickly in the sun. We can have them prepared for after camp events but let us know in advance to get them changed in time.
Lunch in zipper bag with coolie. If not ant proof, ziplock the lunch!!! Two beverages recommended. We have a purified water fountain for water bottle refills. Snacks optional. Cafe is an option for lunches. Let us know ahead of time if your camper is buying lunch at the cafe. At least five dollars is necessary for the less healthy choices. More for heathy ones, I'm afraid!
Allergies, (let us know), especially if you are bringing an epi pen. Sunscreen good idea on face and arms. Natural or off bug repellent is available for them to use. We keep extra sunscreen at the yurt as well at the sign in desk.
PICK UP and drop offs. At the big lot OXFORD road is the park approved parking.
ALL PARENTS are now required to sign in and out campers each day at the yurt. If you have a compelling reason to need to stay in the car for pick ups and drop offs please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements with the office. We will try to work something out for you! If a different person is picking up campers you must let us know their names in advance. If your camper is in aftercare let us know. If you are more than fifteen minutes late for pick up your camper may be taken to aftercare in the POPCORN building. We can usually tell if there is a traffic situation affecting multiple parents and will hang in there as long as we can. But our staff may have committments elsewhere and may not be able to stay longer. Please use care if calling or texting us enroute!
Safety is our priority.
Supply fees range from 20 to 35 dollars. This covers art supplies, but not carousel which is 1.25 per ride. They can ride up to two times a day. Carousel is open two or three days a week depending on your week. Have your camper keep their money in lunch box in baggie or backpack or a purse. Write their name on their money baggie!!! Many of our campers make an awesome bag perfect for water bottle, and money. This can be kept at the yurt or brought back every day.
Set Design campers must bring a copy of their favorite book with them to the yurt the first few days. They will be making a set maquette, (miniature) of thir book! If it is Harry Potter we have them all in the yurt and some of the Percy Jackson books...(first few). They may forrage the house for elements to use for the maquette. They will also make set items for the Adventure Theatre Summer Youth Play series and you can attend these performances throughout the summer at no charge. The theatre can provide show times and dates upon request or they may have posted them on their website. If you know a group, school or organization that would be good for our Children's Art Bridge exchange please let us know! We will add them to our list and send them a mural.
The only items we ask campers to bring with them from home are a journal or sketchbook of their choice and old jeans for the OMGz Super Calligraphic and Fairy Dragon camps. They will be cut up and used for a project. They can be adult or youth jeans but no smaller than a youth Large.
Wearable Arts Campers, we provide all the sewing supplies, and fabric paints, duct tape, beads, bric a brac, and iron, glue gun etc. Campers supply a JOURNAL or SKETCH BOOK, old clothes for transformation or current ones for decoration such as jeans, old "geek to chic" clothes can be ANY size, adult or youth, old but not stained sheets, table cloths, cotton linens, lace, old handbags, busted jewelry, jackets, suits, man-shirts, any cast offs that can be refashioned into something wonderful. NOTHING IS TOO TERRIBLE if clean. You will be amazed at what they can do! FYI nice cotton sheets or linen table cloths make wonderful summer party dresses! Too small Tee shirts can be made into cool blouses that fit, (you'll see), pillows, bags, etc. If not held back in your camper's backpack (which can be left at the yurt all week), these items are shared and kept in a group access pile. This is made clear. If your camper will want to make more than one dress out of a giant colored Tee shirt you can purchase them at Michaels or AC Moore, or you can buy them from our supply. If they want to tie dye more than one item we will charge based on the quantity of dye needed to cover the item. This year we have silk hats to dye, optional at a cost of 18.00. They are the greatest thing! A hat for LIFE...so great for travel. We will have one at the sign in desk for you to look at. Retail for this hat dyed is more than twice that amount so it is also a great price. If they bring a beach towel we will make the strategic cuts to make it a beach dress/towel. Feel free to send along any ribbon, old belts, fabric, anything you think will be useful to us. Whatever we don't use in camp we donate to the good will or to other art reuse groups.
Care and washing instructions...we recommend handwashing or dry cleaning all their handmade clothes to keep the fabric paints from degrading and preserve their hand stitching. If your dry cleaner or you do machine sewing, you may want to run allong their stitching with machine. It can prevent any "blow outs". We always tell them wear a cami or leggings with your hand made clothes until you are good enough at sewing to wear them without!!!
Fashion show tips: Send hairbrush, scrunchies, barrets, make up if desired, nail polish, cute SAFE shoes. It is a great photo and film OP and you can bring as many guests as you want. If you want to bring a refreshment or snack to share with the group we put up a nice table for the party. Watch the weather reports for that day, somehow we seem to hit thunderstorms for that more than not, so bring an umbrella. We usually reserve the cuddle up stage for that event, so the umbrella is for to and from the car!
Each year we look for ways to upgrade and improve our camps. We are always adding new projects and keep old favorites. No two of our camps are the same, so repeating the same camp will not be the exact camp from before. Most of our projects are totally unique to us. We take pride in inventing new projects and new themes year after year. Many of our TAs and assistants go on to very good art schools and become certified teachers. Katharine, now a graduate of UArts in Philadelphia now offers her own book arts camps at Glen Echo! Check the schedule online for her wonderful programs!
Email me at
Gallery141@aol.com or call my cell or text with any questions you may have. There are many boys out there who are budding designers. They are ALWAYS welcome in our camps. That is a question we get a lot!!!
