Take a peek into our summer camp program

Camp Brushstrokes Video by  Mark Altenberg

Brushstrokes Summer Camp offers weekly Art Camps for Kids (ages 6-9), Mini Matisse Camps (ages 4-5), Summer Workshops for Teens & Tweens (ages 10 & up), Afternoon Camp, and a CIT Program (ages 14-18).

Now in it's 18th season, Camp Brushstrokes is set in a beautiful ceramic art studio near Berkeley's 4th Street shopping district.  Our studio is light-filled and inspiring with a lovley outdoor garden and patio where campers enjoy lot of outdoor time.  Our camp curriculum was created by Jessica Williams, the owner of Brushstrokes Studio and a graduate of the ceramics department of the California College for the Arts. Karin Dahl is the Program Director.  She is a graduate of Mills College, a long-time employee of Brushstrokes and a professional artist.  Isabelle Beausang and Cassidy Villaneuve are long-time former camp participants who are now attending college but for the third year are returning home to work at Camp Brushstrokes.  These instructors provide the time and space for kids to exercise their creativity while making beautiful and lasting works of art. We strive to balance group activities and individual instruction and work one-on-one to nurture each child’s individual creative exploration.

Mini Matisse Camp (ages 4-5) meets daily from 9am-1pm in our downstairs studio 
We call our youngest campers Mini Matisse. Their camp will be held downstairs with a dedicated instructor who will focus on age-appropriate projects working with pottery painting, glass fusing, clay sculpting, and mosaics. The children will have lots of time outdoors, playing games, being read to in circle time, while also creating beautiful works of art! Mini Matisse weekly camps begin June 17 and continue through August 23.

Camp Brushstrokes (ages 6-9) meets daily from either 9am-1pm or 9am-3pm (see schedule and weekly themes*)

Every week of camp we'll be painting pottery, sculpting with wet clay, fusing glass, making mosaics, hand-felting jewelry, and doing tons of drawing and painting. We'll spend lots of time outdoors in our yard and across the street at Duck's Nest Secret Garden—finding inspiration in nature, sketching in our hand-made sketchbooks, and enjoying outdoor games and adventures.

Weekly Themes

Jun 16 - Jun 20, 9am - 1pm: The Sea + The Shore
The summer begins where the sea meets the shore. We’ll look to marine life, creatures and ecosystems for inspiration.

Jun 23 - Jun 27, 9am - 1pm: Arty Einstein
Let molecules be your muse in this week of science-inspired art. We will explore nature’s repetition of pattern on vastly different scales and in radically different contexts. Consider, the motion of the planets around the sun and electrons orbiting a nucleus, or waves on water. No need to be a genius, just come with a love of art and a respect for the beauty in science!

Jun 30 - Jul 3*, 9am - 1pm: Text Art + Fun Fonts
There is just a small step between writing and drawing—in this week of camp we’ll be exploring that space. We’ll look at everything from illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages to contemporary text based artist and illustrators such as Darren Booth and Alison Carmichael.

Jul 7 - Jul 11, 9am - 1pm: Art of the World
From Sumi Ink in Asia to Aboriginal Art of Australia, we will learn the styles and symbols of other cultures as we create a beautiful set of functional work for our own tables. We will also take inspiration from Art History, learning about movements in art such as expressionism and cubism. Some of the most stunning creations have come out of this camp!

Jul 14 - Jul 18, 9am - 3pm*: Artful Antics
Feeling Antsy? This camp is about being creative through action, exploration, collaboration and experimentation. How many different ways can we paint without using a paintbrush? What kind of marks and tools can we find in the world around us? Where does your inspiration come from? What’s going on inside that head of yours? Let’s make it come to life! Let’s have a parade, a picnic, a party! Working with clay, found and recycled materials, and the natural world we will tap into the madcap artist within.

Jul 21 - Jul 25, 9am - 1pm: Movements in Modern Art
We’ll learn about different movements in Modern Art including Impressionism, Pointillism, Cubism, Surrealism and Expressionism and recreate our own interpretations of these styles.

Jul 28 - Aug 1, 9am - 3pm*: My life as an Artist
Find out what inspires you! What makes you unique and how is it reflected in your art. We’ll learn how to see the world through the eyes of an artist exploring color palettes, patterns, and styles. We'll visit a local artist in their studio and learn about different creative processes.

Aug 4 - Aug 8, 9am - 1pm: Fine Art: Drawing + Painting
This week we'll focus on classical elements of design, composition, value, color, expression and more. We'll draw, paint, and collage from life and apply our skills to pottery painting, mosaics, clay, and glass fusing projects.

Aug 11 - Aug 15, 9am - 1pm: Arty Einstein
Let molecules be your muse in this week of science-inspired art. We will explore nature’s repetition of pattern on vastly different scales and in radically different contexts. Consider, the motion of the planets around the sun and electrons orbiting a nucleus, or waves on water. No need to be a genius, just come with a love of art and a respect for the beauty in science!

Aug 8 - Aug 22, 9am - 3pm*: Artists in Nature
The Beauty of the natural world will inspire and inform us this week of camp. We’ll take walks around the neighborhood, and visit the secret Duck’s Nest School garden, sketchbooks in hand.

Summer Workshops for Teens & Tweens (ages 10 - 18) meets daily from 1:30 - 5:30pm

Jun 23 - Jun 27: Printmaking
Printmaking processes will be the focus of this week. Each student will learn how to make lino cuts, mono prints, and screen prints. These will be applied to paper, fabric, and pottery. Process and experiementation will be emphasized this week!

Jul 7 - Jul 11: Surface Design
This camp is for teens and tweens with a desire to learn about their own design process. Students will have fun developing their own personal collection of functional ceramics, textiles, and home decor. Each young designer will create one theme and apply it to hand painted ceramics, fabric tote bag, wrapping paper, and note cards. Daily sketching and collage excercizes will nurture each student's unique sense of style and creativity.

Aug 4 - Aug 8: Fine Art: Drawing + Painting
Students explore classical elements of design, composition, value, color, expression and more. Instructors are trained artists, and they work with students who are career-minded in the arts. They'll learn color schemes, conceptual skills and assessment skills. Students will gain more experience, work in different artistic mediums and build on higher levels of visual and thinking skills. A portfolio will be completed by the end of the week.

Become a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) for 14-18 year olds
CITs help with games, program activitites, and work one-on-one with campers. This is a great chance for kids in this age group to develop leadership skills and stay busy during the long summer ahead. If interested, please contact us. In addition to an interview, applicants will also be required to submit a one paragraph essay expressing their interest in becoming a CIT. Once accepted, CITs will be required to attend Brushstrokes Training. Space is limited to one CIT spot per week.  

Afternoon Camp
Our extended care is called Afternoon Camp. It is open to all kids, whether or not they attended our morning camp. The instructor will give individual guidance to help each camper enjoy the independence of making the art they want, rather than working as a whole group. The clay and drawing tables are open for self-directed art making. Jewelry-making, reading, games, drawing, and painting are available. It’s a wonderful, relaxing, fun, and inspiring way to spend the afternoon. Outdoor games and time in the garden are an integral part of Afternoon Camp.

Cost 
$325 for half day camps (9am - 1pm) and $350 for full day (9am - 3pm) - All materials included
Jun 30- July 3 is a 4 day camp week with no camp on July 4th the cots is $260
We do not pro-rate the weekly camp cost for missed days. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. 
Snacks & Lunch: All camps include a mid-morning snack. Campers should bring a bag lunch.
Afternoon Camp: Available Monday-Friday, June 16-August 22, until 5:30pm. $10/hour (additional fees apply if painting pottery, doing mosaics, or fusing glass).

Discounts
10% Sibling Discount: One full price, one 10% off.
Multiple Weeks: Come again and get 10% off your second or third week of camp.

To sign up:
Register + Pay online
over the phone (510) 528-1360
in person 745 Page St. Berkeley CA 94710