ArtStart Spring Camp 2026

Passport to Mongolia: From the Eurasian Steppes to the Gobi Desert 

Book your flight today to the fascinating and beautiful country of Mongolia bordered by Russia and China. Once the largest contiguous empire in the world, the Mongolian Empire was established in 1206 by Genghis Khan and continued until it dissolved in 1368. For over 3,000 years, the people of the steppes have been herders, moving in the search of better pastures for their animals. Today, approximately half of Mongolia’s population roams the vast plains living in yurts and moving their camps several times a year. Grab your passport and join ArtStart artists to create art work inspired by this nomadic culture! 

April 6-8 ◆ 9:00-12:15 pm

Mount Zion Temple 1300 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105

Deadline to register: March 27th

9:00-10:30am: Mixed Media: Secrets of the Gobi Desert - Jeanette Dickinson

Perhaps the first “nomads” were not who we think they were! The Gobi Desert, Mongolian for “waterless place”,  holds the world’s richest and most diverse deposits of dinosaur fossils, including oviraptor, ankylosaurus, and titanosaurus! Work with artist Jeanette Dickinson to create your version of one of these amazing prehistoric creatures. 

10:45am-12:15pm: Drawing and Painting: The Land of the Horse - Karen Anderson

The Mongolian Horse as a breed has not changed since the time of Genghis Khan. Essential to nomadic life, nomads own nearly 3,000,000 horses! Work with artist Karen Anderson to draw horses grazing, at play and  on the move. Then paint your favorite horse images on leather, a technique used by Mongolian artisans.

 Ages 6 - 12

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 through Feb. 3, 2026

Half day = $247/week (code EARLYHALF26)

Full day = $437/week (code EARLYFULL26)

Standard Pricing: Starting February 4, 2026

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

Full day = $460/week (use code FULLDAY26) 

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 through Feb. 3, 2026

Half day = $247/week (code EARLYHALF26)

Full day = $437/week (code EARLYFULL26)

Standard Pricing: Starting February 4, 2026

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

Full day = $460/week (use code FULLDAY26)