Kid’s Summer Art Camp FAQ’s
OPAD Kid’s Summer Art Camp Program Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the cost? $360 for ½ day (morning or afternoon only) or $785 for all day camp with lunch supervision. $10 off registrations before May 15th.
It looks like the camps last for two weeks at a time (with two sessions to choose from). Yes, you are able to register for either our June 14th-25th or our August 9th - 20th Camp. Or register for both!
How do I register my child for the camp? Please go to our on-line registration at www.oakparkartsdistrict.com
What are the hours of the camp? Mornings? 9:00-11:45am Afternoons? 12:30 -3:45pm Full day? 9:00 am to 3:15pm
How many children are together at each studio? Depending upon enrollment we divide the children into groups of 8 to 10 students in age groups of 5-7 years and 8-11 years. We may have 2 to 4 groups rotating around and various studios at the same time. Each group is given a unique artistic name and each child is given a name tag each day so that we can easily identify who they are!
Are snacks provided? No, but snack breaks are scheduled mid-morning and mid-afternoon each day and you are encouraged to send a healthy snack and beverage each day with your child.
Is lunch provided for the all day students? No, please send a healthy bag lunch each day with your child. We will provide adult supervision each day and allow the children to play and have a nice mid-day break. The location for lunch may vary each day depending upon the number of students enrolled. We will include that in the schedule you receive so that you will know where your child is all day.
What’s the schedule like? Is it one day or more during the two weeks where the children will be at each of the galleries/studios listed? In most cases the children will visit two studios in the morning (9-10:15am and 10:30-11:45am) and two in the afternoon (12:30-1:45 and 2:00-3:15pm) and will visit each studio twice per week. Depending on the number of students registered and the studios schedules this may vary slightly.
How does my child get from one studio location to another? The adult teacher/artists will escort the children from one location to another. In many cases the studios are swapping one group of children for another mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather and if rain is forecasted please send an umbrella or rain poncho.
Will the children visit all of the studio/galleries listed in the program information? Not necessarily. Depending upon whether they are registered for mornings, afternoons or June or August they may not go to every location during their participation in the program. What we can assure you is that they will see at least 10 different studios and have a wonderful variety of experiences. If you are interested in knowing if a particular studio will be offered at a certain time frame, please email and we will try to let you know if possible.
When will we know our child’s schedule and how do we know where to drop them off and pick them up? About a week prior to the start of your child’s camp we will send out a comprehensive email with a daily schedule for your child. You will be given drop-off and pick-up locations for each day of the camp. Additional camp information will also be sent via email. All of the studio/gallery locations are within the Harrison Street area between Austin and Ridgeland Blvds.
Can our child sign up with a friend or sibling and be in the same group? Yes, please list one or two children that your child would like to be in the same group with. (In the comments section of the registration or at the bottom of the print form) We will do everything possible to put them with at least one other child that they would like to be with. Please keep in mind that we attempt to balance groups by numbers of students and by age.
What about emergency situations? We request that you give us any and all phone numbers that the child’s parents or guardians can be reached at during the camp hours. An additional emergency contact is also requested. We will have a back-up OPAD representative that can come to the assistance of the teaching artist in the case of an emergency situation. We request that you be reachable at one of the numbers listed during camp hours and that if you are contacted to pick up your child you come as soon as possible to reduce the chance of disturbing or exposing the other children to possible illness.
How do you handle behavior problems or issues? Our artist/teachers have experience working with children and will do everything possible to creatively solve issues with the children. Positive reinforcement, distraction and keeping them occupied all work to resolve most of the issues we’ve experienced. If we continue to have and problem and it is disruptive to the other students we will contact the parents/guardians to see if there is something additionally we can do to make the situation work well and continue to be a positive experience for all the children and the teachers as well.
What if my child has learning or physical disabilities? We would love to discuss the possibility of accommodating your child in our program. We would ask that if your child has known learning or behavior issues they be brought to our attention with any suggestions as to how we may better meet their learning style and needs.
What if my child has allergies, food or otherwise? Please make us aware of the allergen and we will be sure to notify other students in the camp to not bring those foods in their lunches. We will make all possible efforts to accommodate your child’s special needs.
If our child takes both the June and August camp will they just be doing the same thing over again? If they took the camp in the past years will it be a repeat of projects? No, the projects are varied and fresh for each camp. They may paint again or dance again but they will be encouraged to explore further the method or technique. Other projects will be totally new to them. Our artist/teachers have in many cases been working with children for many years and have a long list of possible project ideas to work with.
Will pictures of my child be taken during the camp program? Yes, we do take pictures of the kids in action. We put together a flickr.com gallery that only the camp families will have access to with a password. We do make every attempt to get each child photographed at least once during the camp. If you would really prefer that your child not be included in the photos, please notify us and we can remove their photo from the gallery.
If our child really likes one aspect of the program or a particular studio can he/she take more lessons or classes? In many cases, yes you can. Many of the studios offer classes for children and adults and would love to teach you or your child more in depth. In other cases the studio/gallery may only be teaching for this camp. Please feel free to inquire.
How long has the Oak Park Arts District been offering the Summer Arts Camp program? We started the program in 2008 with a two week morning camp in June and a one week camp in August with 5 studio locations. In 2009 we expanded to 2 two-week morning camps in June and August with 11 studio locations and we over doubled the enrollment of the previous year. In 2010 we are offering the option of afternoon and all-day camps and hope to increase enrollment again. We have 15 studios participating in the program this summer and offering a wider variety of experiences for your children.
What happens if my child loses something during camp or forgets to bring home some artwork? Please call or email Pam Penney at 708.785.7782 or pam@pamelapenney.com. She will be collecting all lost and found items during the camp and will make every attempt to return them.
If your question was not answered here, please contact pam@pamelapenney.com or call Pamela Penney at 708.785.7782. We are looking forward to another great camp experience!