Fantastic Voyages: Art & Creative Writing Camp

Adventure beckons! Whether it’s the deepest wilds of a dragon-infested forest, or the siren song of the sea, sometimesa (s)hero must go on a quest. You have to find the magic scroll, consult the oracle, or travel to the underworld to rescue a comrade. So pack your knapsack and sharpen your sword. As Bilbo Baggins said to his nephew: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. ”In this art and creative writing camp, you will work with artists and writers in a variety of mediums to concoct your own original epics. From Sculpey clay figurines and shadow puppets, to collage and book-binding techniques, you can let your imagination sweep you off to lands unknown.

8:30-10:00am

Book Binding

Wizard's Words: Books That Fold, Flap, and Flutter

Witches and wizards store their spells in magical books called grimoires, and you can too! Create a series of fanciful books to hold your stories and words of power throughout the week. You’ll learn how to make a book from a single page, then progress to accordion and single signature and portfolio bindings. Then add secret pockets, hidden flaps, and surprising pop-ups to complete your mystical manuscripts. Taught by Meg Erke.

Meg is a 2D mixed-media artist working in gouache, watercolor, collage,and stop-motion animation. She is the author and illustrator of Minnealphabet: An Outdoorsy Homage to Minneapolis and the illustrator of “Outdoorsy: A Coloring Book Celebrating Our Connection to the Natural World.” She is the Co-creator of the award-winning River to River Greenway Mural in West St. Paul and the recipient of a 2023 Individual Artist Residency at the Tofte Lake Center.

10:15-11:45am 

Storytelling

Quests and Creatures: Write your Own Epic Adventure

The pen is mighty! Get ready to write an adventure all your own. In this storytelling class, you’ll dream up brave (s)heroes and clever foes, build enchanted worlds, and send your characters on thrilling quests. Will they face down a fire-breathing dragon, uncover the trickster’s secret plan, or discover a potion with unexpected powers? Perhaps the witch in the tower offers help...or hides a dangerous surprise. With creative prompts and imaginative challenges to guide you, you’ll craft a story bursting with magic, mystery, and excitement. Taught by Karlyn Coleman.

Karlyn Coleman is an award-winning writer, teacher, and creative collaborator based in Minneapolis. She is a certified teacher and has taught at the Loft Literary Center for over ten years and has been a part of the Young Author’s Conference for the past four years. She loves visiting schools, libraries, and youth organizations to share writing activities of all kinds. www.karlyncoleman.com

Ages 9-12

Early Bird Pricing: 5% off until Feb. 3

Half day = $247/week (code WCEARLYHALF26 )

Full day = $437/week (code WCEARLYFULL26 )

Standard Pricing: After Feb. 3

Half day = $260/week (Either morning or afternoon)

Full day = $460/week (code WRITINGFULL26 )

Camp Create for Teens

Ages 13-17

Mon- Thursday, June 22-25, 9 AM-3 PM

Camp Create is perfect for youth who want to explore their imagination through a variety of art media, learn about the arts of a culture, and gainnew artistic skills. Designed to inspire creativity and gain insights about a specific culture, these classes encourage participants to think outside the box, see people and things with new eyes, and gain new art skills and techniques using different art media. Camp Create’s theme this year is “Cultural Gems of China.”

Offerings include 4 different arts experiences:

Landscape Painting- 9-10:15 am • Melodee Strong

Jade Jewelry- 10:30-11:45 pm • Jeanette Dickinson

Opera Masks- 12:30-1:45 pm • Julie Boada

Wonderous Wall Hangings- 1:45-3 pm • Tara Fahey

Internship Program

Paying it forward

One of the ways older ArtStart campers can turn their knowledge and skill learned in Camp Create into action, is to assist artists and staff as interns in ArtStart’s 2-week Passport to China camp for younger children ages 4-12 years. Interns work side-by-side with professional teaching artists to assist in the classroom.The internship program is for youth ages 13 years & older. There are 16 openings for full-day internships this year. Interns receive a stipend each week. To be apply for an internship, both new and returning interns should complete the following by April 25, 2026:

1. Fill out the application for interns by April 25. Apply online at artstart.org under Youth Camps, Camp Create. We will reach out within two weeks of your application to schedule an interview.

2. Register for Camp Create offered June 22-25, 2026 from 9 am–3 pm. If you are selected, reserve Friday, June 26 from 10 am-3 pm for Internship Training and Camp set-up.

Fantastic Voyages: Art & Creative Writing Camp

Adventure beckons! Whether it’s the deepest wilds of a dragon-infested forest, or the siren song of the sea, sometimesa (s)hero must go on a quest. You have to find the magic scroll, consult the oracle, or travel to the underworld to rescue a comrade. So pack your knapsack and sharpen your sword. As Bilbo Baggins said to his nephew: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. ”In this art and creative writing camp, you will work with artists and writers in a variety of mediums to concoct your own original epics. From Sculpey clay figurines and shadow puppets, to collage and book-binding techniques, you can let your imagination sweep you off to lands unknown.

12:30-2:00pm

Mixed Media

Brave: Underdogs and Dark Horses

Many a story begins with an ordinary person or animal who faces extraordinary circumstances. Kate DiCamillo’s Despereaux is just one small mouse, and Edward Tulane is a vain china rabbit who doesn’t care for anyone but himself. Each is forced to step outside of their comfort zone and attempt things they never dreamed of doing! In this fun course, start with collage techniques to invent some unlikely champions. Then create Sculpey versions of your favorites, and invent legends about their adventures. Taught by Franny Haight.

Franny Haight is a Fine Arts artist and educator with a focus on sculpture and printmaking. She received her BFA at the University of Minnesota in June of 2025. She started working at ArtStart’s ArtScraps Creative Ideas and Materials Center in the winter of 2024. She loves working for ArtStart because of the playful energy and community that the organization provides.

2:15-3:45pm 

Puppetry

Shadowy Worlds, Tall Tales

Create a magical world of shadows and limitlessness, where talking horses fly, mermaids live in tree houses, and tiny gnomes can become gigantic! In this class, a simple spell or an angry fairy’s curse can send your (s)hero off on a journey. Work with puppeteer Kallie Melvin to invent your own shadow puppet characters and scenery, then see what fanciful stories appear.

Kallie Melvin is a puppeteer and teaching and performing artist. She has worked with ArtStart, Monkeybear Harmolodics Workshop, In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theatre, Z Puppets, Open Eye Theatre’s Puppet Lab program, and the Weisman Art Museum. She is also the Acting Regional Director of Puppeteers of America Great Plains. She uses her original puppetry work as a means to tell stories and explore her experiences as an intercontinental transracial adoptee growing up in the Twin Cities.

Ages 6-8

Early Bird Pricing: 5% off until Feb. 3

Half day = $247/week (code WCEARLYHALF26 )

Full day = $437/week (code WCEARLYFULL26 )

Standard Pricing: After Feb. 3

Half day = $260/week (Either morning or afternoon)

Full day = $460/week (code WRITINGFULL26 )

Fantastic Voyages: Art & Creative Writing Camp

Adventure beckons! Whether it’s the deepest wilds of a dragon-infested forest, or the siren song of the sea, sometimesa (s)hero must go on a quest. You have to find the magic scroll, consult the oracle, or travel to the underworld to rescue a comrade. So pack your knapsack and sharpen your sword. As Bilbo Baggins said to his nephew: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. ”In this art and creative writing camp, you will work with artists and writers in a variety of mediums to concoct your own original epics. From Sculpey clay figurines and shadow puppets, to collage and book-binding techniques, you can let your imagination sweep you off to lands unknown.

12:30-2:00pm

Puppetry

Shadowy Worlds, Tall Tales

Create a magical world of shadows and limitlessness, where talking horses fly, mermaids live in tree houses, and tiny gnomes can become gigantic! In this class, a simple spell or an angry fairy’s curse can send your (s)hero off on a journey. Work with puppeteer Kallie Melvin to invent your own shadow puppet characters and scenery, then see what fanciful stories appear.

Kallie Melvin is a puppeteer and teaching and performing artist. She has worked with ArtStart, Monkeybear Harmolodics Workshop, In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theatre, Z Puppets, Open Eye Theatre’s Puppet Lab program, and the Weisman Art Museum. She is also the Acting Regional Director of Puppeteers of America Great Plains. She uses her original puppetry work as a means to tell stories and explore her experiences as an intercontinental transracial adoptee growing up in the Twin Cities.

2:15-3:45pm 

Mixed Media

Brave: Underdogs and Dark Horses

Many a story begins with an ordinary person or animal who faces extraordinary circumstances. Kate DiCamillo’s Despereaux is just one small mouse, and Edward Tulane is a vain china rabbit who doesn’t care for anyone but himself. Each is forced to step outside of their comfort zone and attempt things they never dreamed of doing! In this fun course, start with collage techniques to invent some unlikely champions. Then create Sculpey versions of your favorites, and invent legends about their adventures. Taught by Franny Haight.

Franny Haight is a Fine Arts artist and educator with a focus on sculpture and printmaking. She received her BFA at the University of Minnesota in June of 2025. She started working at ArtStart’s ArtScraps Creative Ideas and Materials Center in the winter of 2024. She loves working for ArtStart because of the playful energy and community that the organization provides.

Ages 9-12

Early Bird Pricing: 5% off until Feb. 3

Half day = $247/week (code WCEARLYHALF26 )

Full day = $437/week (code WCEARLYFULL26 )

Standard Pricing: After Feb. 3

Half day = $260/week (Either morning or afternoon)

Full day = $460/week (code WRITINGFULL26 )

A Start with the Arts meets daily Monday-Friday and offers 4-5 year-olds the opportunity to work with an arts educator to explore the art, culture, and wildlife of China throughmovement, drama, art making and other hands-on activities.This program for pre-schoolers parallels the school-age program in theme and content, Chinese Holidays & Traditions: July 6-10

For 5% off through February 3rd, use code EARLYHALF26

For ages 4-5.

8:30am: Clay

Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Army: Terracotta Warriors and Horses

Imagine a silent army of thousands, buried underground for two thousand years. But these life-size soldiers and their horses are made of clay! Learn about the fierce terracotta fighters that guard the tomb of China’s first Emperor with artist Katja Johnson. Then create your own warrior and horse from clay to guard your room. Additional $10 material fee.

10:15am: Jewelry

Jade: Stone of Heaven

Jade is a hard stone that has been carved for over 7,000 years into Chinese cultural objects. Initially used for ceremonial items, jade jewelry became sought after by royalty and nobles to show their status. Today, jade remains popular, and Chinese people wear it to symbolize wealth and good luck. In this class, you will fashion your own jade jewelry with Jeanette Dickinson to wear or give as a treasured gift to someone you love. Additional $10 material fee.

For ages 6 – 8.

8:30am: Jewelry

Jade: Stone of Heaven

Jade is a hard stone that has been carved for over 7,000 years into Chinese cultural objects. Initially used for ceremonial items, jade jewelry became sought after by royalty and nobles to show their status. Today, jade remains popular, and Chinese people wear it to symbolize wealth and good luck. In this class, you will fashion your own jade jewelry with Jeanette Dickinson to wear or give as a treasured gift to someone you love. Additional $10 material fee.

10:15am: Clay

Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Army: Terracotta Warriors and Horses

Imagine a silent army of thousands, buried underground for two thousand years. But these life-size soldiers and their horses are made of clay! Learn about the fierce terracotta fighters that guard the tomb of China’s first Emperor with artist Katja Johnson. Then create your own warrior and horse from clay to guard your room. Additional $10 material fee.

For ages 9 – 12.

8:30am: Landscape Painting

Along the Yangtze

Chinese landscape painting is famous around the world. One of the most famous ones, 10,000 Miles along the Yangtze River, was painted on a 53-foot- long hand scroll in the 17th century by artist Wang Hui! From towering mountains to soft rolling hills and rivers, these pictures inspire awe and wonder. Study some of these beautiful works with artist Melodee Strong. Then try your hand at creating some of your own lush landscapes.

10:15am: Masks

Beijing Opera Masks

Beijing opera has been the entertainment of emperors and important officials since the 18th century in China. It combines singing, mime, dance and acrobatics, as well as elaborate face painting known as lianpu. The exaggerated facial expressions and colors signal character traits to the audience, for example, yellow for evil, red for courage, blue for fierceness. Learn about this fascinating tradition with artist Gustavo Boada, and then create your own dramatic opera mask.

For ages 9 – 12.