The camp and class descriptions are organized by topic
ArtSpace
Mother Earth Recycled Crafts
Join us for an art class that celebrates nature AND helps the planet! By using mainly recycled and earthly materials for our crafts, we will transform old items into something new and lovely. We will use egg cartons, paper tubes, pine cones, sticks and clay to create animals, home decor, garden art and more! You won’t want to miss this class where you will be both learning to repurpose house hold items and saving the earth!
Art About You
Come have some fun in this class, where we have a great set of art projects that allow you to get to know yourself better and celebrate you! In Art All About You!, students will be creating a self-portrait, name art, a project based upon your own home and many others that allow you to create and play with all of who you are. Students will build art skills, work with a wide variety of mediums and have fun experimenting with different art tools. Each class weaves in a life skill discussion, which is tied to the class theme for that day, helping the students to explore both art and life through the daily topic. This topic is a ton of fun, as it is an art class based on projects that are all about YOU!
Animal Art
In this class students explore art around a theme for the session. This session the theme is Animal Art. Students will build art skills, work with a wide variety of mediums, and have fun experimenting with different art tools while they create a collection of unique and interesting animals. Each class weaves in a life skill discussion which is tied to the class theme for that day, helping the students to explore both art and life through that topic. ArtSpace is designed to increase artistic expression, self-awareness and social skills. Great for students of all ages.
Optical Illusion Art
We will create optical illusion art items such as flip books, staybiles, pointalism and zeotropes. We will read books about optical illusions, learn the science behind optical illusions and even try our hand at a few magic tricks. It is a great adventure into the strange and exotic!
Famous Artists
In this camp students explore art around a theme for the session. This session the theme is famous artists. Students will build art skills, work with a wide variety of mediums, and have fun experimenting with different art tools while they learn about different artist through the ages, their cultures and their effect on art. Each class weaves in a life skill discussion which is tied to the class theme for that day, helping the students to explore both art and life through that topic.
DinoLand
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, dinosaurs every day, all day! This is time to create art, read books, share facts, play games and celebrate the amazing world of dinosaurs. A great class for dino enthusiasts and those just beginning to learn about these amazing pre-historic creatures!
Art in Nature
This is a wonderful art class with nature as the theme. We will use many items from nature, create images of nature, make outdoor creations in nature and use art as a way to appreciate all that nature has to offer us.
Clay & Wood
This class allows students to work with the less common mediums of clay and wood. Each week we have a project that allows them to learn more about working with clay or wood. We will make our own clays, build all types of clay pots, pound, drill, sand and paint. From the functional to the frivolous, campers will use their hands and their imagination to create using these two ancient mediums. These are experiences which can ignite the potter or woodworker in your student!
Drawing for all Ages
We will spend the week learning drawing techniques, practicing with pencil, charcoal, and even colored pencil. We’ll work on projects in the studio as well as out in nature. We’ll use our drawings to springboard into other creative pursuits, creating a week of artistic fun and drawing skill development.
Gift Making
This is the fourth year we have offered Thanksgiving week gift making camp and this is a wonderful chance for your camper to create gifts of all sorts to give for birthdays or the upcoming holidays. We make room for student ideas and suggestions and use a mix of all kinds of mediums. This has become a wonderful OpenMinds Thanksgiving tradition.
Knit~Crochet~Weave~Stitch
This fiber arts camp combines the challenges of learning to knit, crochet and do needle work along with a collection less challenging
projects using the same materials. Students will be supported to go as far as they can with each project and helped to discover the fun found in each form of fiber arts. Your campers will be inspired by the treasures they can make out of yarn, fabric and thread.
Mythological Creatures
This is a wonderful week filled with dragons, unicorns, fairies, trolls, leprechaun and giants. We will tell stories, create art, build mythological worlds and put all of our creative thinking together to build a great camp filled with all kinds of amazing creatures.
Paper Folding Art
Part art and part construction, this is a great camp for students who like to create and build. We will using paper to create all kinds of amazing things from origami animals, treasure boxes, juggling balls, jewelry, airplanes and much more.
Cooking
Little Chefs Cooking
Kids know cooking is wonderful fun! So many things to touch and chop, smell and scoup, taste and try. Here is a cooking class for your young chefs. We will be making healthy snacks with all organics as well as a few sweet treats. Projects can be altered to accommodate food alergies. Great for all ages!
Cookie Bake Exchange
Come and bak with us for the holiday season. We will make cookies from around the world and based upon the requests of the students enrolled. Then we will exchange them so everyone goes home with a great mix of cookies to share with family and friends.
International Adventures
World Explorers Geography
We are all part of our global community and here is an opportunity for your student to focus on getting to know more about what this community has to offer. Each class, we will “travel” to a different place and learn about the history, customs, foods, dance, art and more. We will play with building map skills as well as use games to explore topics such as diversity, culture and tolerance of others. This class is a wonderful way for students to learn a bit more about themselves as they are exploring other parts of the world.
World Music Art
This is a great opportunity for your student to explore music and all of the different forms of music we have to choose from. Students will experience how music and art affect and influence one another. During this program students will listen to a specific style of music, learn some fun things about that style and then use the music to inspire a creative project tied to that musical genre. It is eye opening, ear pooping and creative fun class/camp!
Art Around the World
n this program students explore our world through art! Every day we focus on two – four different countries and we do art projects that are inspired by that nation. We use books, food, music, games and more to get a taste of these different cultures. We find each location on the map, so students build their geography skills without even knowing it is happening! We then focus on different areas of art and work with a wide variety of mediums, tools and techniques. Each day we also weave in a life skill discussion which is tied to the theme for that country, helping the students to explore both art and life through that topic. Our focus is on the process, and giving students space to express their own artistic voice. This camp is great for students aged 4-12 and works well for beginning artists as well as for those with a lot of art experience.
Mythology Quest: Africa
Come and join us for a week long quest to explore and create within the world that is African Mythology. This week we will read the myths, build the monsters, learn about the animals, eat the food and act out the drama that comes with the African myths, all in a safe and “G” rated fashion of course!
Mythology Quest: Greek & Roman
Come and join us for a week long quest into the wild world of mythology. This week we will be focused on Greek mythology and we will be reading the myths, building the monsters, eating the food and acting out the drama that comes with the Greek myths, all in a safe and “G” rated fashion of course!
Performing Arts
Song & Voice Vocal Training
Come and explore music and build your skills as a singer in a fun and professional environment. We will play with exploring new instruments, rhythm, tone and theory. We will teach singing skills such as warm-ups exercises, learning some of the most basic classical songs, practicing so you can hone and care for your voice, and building a lifelong love of music. Bring a song of your choice that you would like to work on throughout the camp and we’ll help you get it performance ready.
Higgledy-Piggledy Book to Play
Spend a week playing with words while bringing the book Higgledy-Piggeldy to life through a camp play of the book. Days will be split between fun English language games, art & projects associated with the story and rehearsing for the end of class performance of the Higgledy-Piggledy. Here is an English class like no other!
Physical Activity
Yoga-Kidoga
Yoga-Kidoga is yoga instruction that’s perfect for youth! Each day is built around several yoga themes that weave throughout the day. Beyond yoga poses, the campers will be engaged in art, theatre, story, healthy cooking and yummy eating! The camp is designed to teach yoga and self understanding while at the same time be fun, active, engaging and a fantastic opportunity for physical activity and creativity.
Mixed Sports
Hey there, Sports Fans! In this camp we will be highlighting a different sport each day, including soccer, basketball, kickball, capture the flag, and other fun athletic games. The camp will teach about the importance teamwork, fair play and physical fitness throughout a lifetime. This camp is a running, jumping, throwing, and cartwheeling good time!
STEM
Problem Solve That!
This class will put your critical thinking skills to to the test! Each lesson will challenge you to pick apart a familiar design and recreate it. You will be asked to build a safe footbridge, engineer a sturdy tower, and even use recycled materials to make a moving robot. Can it be done? We will see! In this class, failure equals success as you never know what can happen when you try to problem solve THAT!
Jr Design & Engineering
Come and build with us! From Lego cars, marble tracks, ancient clay pyramids, and structures made out of all kinds of fun recycled materials, this class puts creativity and fun in the front seat as your students learn about principles of building, design and engineering. This hands on class allows students to experience the cause and effects of gravity, friction, stability, structure, and basic mechanics. With lots of room for their own creativity and design ideas, each project is a wonderful adventure for your young engineers!
Bringing STEM to LIfe
This class is built upon fun STEM based projects inspired by a book that the students can relate to and see a playful application of this scientific principle in action. We begin each class with a STEM based book read aloud to the class. Then our projects for that class will tie to the book and as they build their own model of this scientific principle. It is a lot of fun with STEM!
Diggn' n' Dirt Earth Sciecne
This class is all about the science of the out-of-doors. We’ll be doing projects about things such as clouds, learning about worms, rocks, volcanos and many other hands on earth-based science projects. It is a really wonderful experience that brings nature to life for urban students. We would love to have your child join us!
Brain Games
Come and spend the week playing and creating games. From the old fashioned favorites to the newest craze. From math games, chess and art games. We will be playing and creating games both inside and out. Some favorites from past camps have been Spoons, Trash, The Allowance Game, Picwits and Sixteen!
Jr Science Fun
This is a science camp made up of all experiments. We do 3-4 each day with the campers getting there hands in all of it. We create Non-Newtonian matter, invisible ink and salad dressing to play with chemical reactions. We bend water with static, talk about how electricity works in a battery and put that power to use and we build a volcano and set it off. We use things such as bubbles, air pressure and chocolate all to create fun science experiences. Our goal is to experience scientific principles in action, experiment in a safe environment and have fun!
Space Camp
Blast off with us for an outer space adventure! From stars, to planets, spaceships and more, we will be learning, creating and experimenting with all of the inspiration and mystery of space. We will also be learning about what scientists are doing today, here on earth, to understand outer space and develop new ways for us to venture further out beyond the bounds of earth and our own solar system. This class is a lot of hands-on fun that inspires students to connect with the stars!
Math Adventures
Whether you think math totally rocks or is hard as rocks, this camp is for you! Each day we explore new concepts in math such as the math of knots or mobius strips so that students can learn about funky, historic or bran new areas of math. We’ll be outside every day for exercise and outdoor math games.
Reading & Writing
Book Making
Come and make books all your own. In this camp students will create their own books and fill them with poems, picture book stories, a novelette, flash fiction, a personal journal and more. Each day is built around a unique theme, which supports the students as a writer as well as in their larger life. We use word games to reinforce vocabulary, spelling and grammar concepts.
Bringin Books to Life
In this special class we will bring some wonderful stories to life through reading, drawing, art games, movement, writing and theatre. We start each class with a book and then have a whole hour of fun build around the characters and themes within this book. It is a great way to play and have fun together with a shared story that the students can continue to play with long after the class is over.
Book Making
Come and make books all your own. In this camp students will create their own books and fill them with poems, picture book stories, a novelette, flash fiction, a personal journal and more. Each day is built around a unique theme, which supports the students as a writer as well as in their larger life. We use word games to reinforce vocabulary, spelling and grammar concepts.
Script Writing
Come and put your writing skills to use to create a play. We begin with some fun writing projects and move to script writing. Students will work as authors, writers and actors. The camp culminates in a final reader’s theatre event open to friends and family. There is no other feeling like watching your written work come to life before your eyes! This class is suitable for all ability levels
Other
Helping Hands in service
Martin Luther King day has been set aside as a day of service. OpenMinsds has great plans for a fun and fulfilling day of giving back! We will be making cards to give to those in need or to thank those who have helped us throughout the year. Other projects may be a park clean up, environmental awareness, or a focus on endangered species. We would love to partner with you if there is a service need you see we could add to the day.
Theatre & Improv
Jump into the fun of theatre arts with this class, built around the specific interests of your students. A new topic is addressed each week while building confidence, comfort, and performance throughout the session. Common topics covered are improvisation, scene study, monologues, audition work, puppetry, projection, and character study. Students will have a small performance on the last class. This is a great class to explore an interest in theatre or work to build existing skills!
Helping Hands in Service
Martin Luther King day has been set aside as a day of service. OpenMinsds has great plans for a fun and fulfilling day of giving back! We will be making cards to give to those in need or to thank those who have helped us throughout the year. Other projects may be a park clean up, environmental awareness, or a focus on endangered species. We would love to partner with you if there is a service need you see we could add to the day.
Theatre & Improv
Jump into the fun of theatre arts with this class, built around the specific interests of your students. A new topic is addressed each week while building confidence, comfort, and performance throughout the session. Common topics covered are improvisation, scene study, monologues, audition work, puppetry, projection, and character study. Students will have a small performance on the last class. This is a great class to explore an interest in theatre or work to build existing skills!