Create Projects in an Open, Fun Environment
Create Campers use design-thinking processes to explore the fields of art, architecture, and design. Our camps introduce a variety of materials and concepts—evoking curiosity and honing critical thinking—while encouraging individual creativity and self-expression.  Create Camps teach kids how to look at, talk about, and create art!

Look at Artwork in the Museum
Create Camps look at art, architecture, and design objects in our galleries–and in our vaults!  All camps include behind-the scenes vault experiences to look, listen, and learn about artworks–to inspire art-making in the studios!

Learn from Teaching Artists
Our Teaching Artists are experienced artists, architects, and designers!  Teaching Artists connect the processes and concepts behind artwork in the museum with age appropriate projects and techniques.

View our Daily Blog
Our blog highlights what campers see, learn, and make.  Our blog is updated daily with images of artworks viewed, content covered, and projects made (and in progress!).  The blog includes “Questions for Campers,” designed to spark dialogue about each day.

Register / Login
For questions and more information contact visitart@cranbrook.edu or 248-645-3314.

* There are no camps July 4-5; camps are prorated 30% for the week.

CAMP DESCRIPTIONS 

Architecture

Learn how architects and designers think about the spaces and places in which we live, work, and play. Explore architecture in a hands-on environment, learning from renderings and models in the Museum’s vault as well as campus structures designed by Eliel Saarinen, Albert Kahn, and Rafael Moneo.

Clay

Form and squish clay into into functional and sculptural art, while learning basic hand‐building methods and finishing techniques. Gaze at glazes and scope shapes in the Museum’s ceramics vault. Create with a range of modeling materials including kiln‐fired clays.  This camp is two weeks for all age groups, allowing campers the time to sculpt, fire, and glaze kiln-fired ceramic works.

Design

Looking for designers, tinkerers, and creative thinkers! Immerse yourself in fun, real-life design challenges. Learn to define problems, generate ideas, create prototypes, test, work collaboratively, and think creatively with problem-solving strategies and tackle age-appropriate challenges.

Drawing and Painting

Explore foundational elements of art like value, color and tone experimenting with various 2D painting and drawing mediums including charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and acrylic. View classical and contemporary paintings and drawings in the vaults and galleries.

Fiber and Textile

Explore different fiber embellishment techniques printing, sewing, and dyeing—including shibori, batik, and silkscreen. Create your own fabrics through weaving and felting, looking at contemporary and historical textile examples in our museum vault, before using these custom fabrics to create textile-based projects.

Material Detroit

In this environmentally-minded camp, create artworks using recycled, upcycled, and natural materials. Learn about local artists, who are inspired by their surroundings, while building indoors and out with found materials. Get inventive with found materials and everyday objects and give them a new creative life. This mixed-media camp will be heavily inspired by our current exhibition, Landlord Colors.

Mini Makers (Kindergarten)

Everyday is different for Mini Makers—all summer long! Each day starts by learning new vocabulary, looking at art, trying a technique, and making artwork. Each day ends with campers talking about their work and giving each other compliments—mini critiques for our miniest of makers!

Printmaking

See your ideas come to life and reproduced over and over again at Print Camp! Learn how to create multiple prints of unique custom designs and print multiple editions, experimenting with silkscreen, monoprint, and other non-toxic printing methods. Create your own posters, cards, tote bags, and more!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Mini Makers Camps*: $185 (ArtMembers** $170)
Save with multi-week packages!  

• Full Session (8 weeks): $1160 ($1040 ArtMembers**)
• Half Session (4 weeks): $660 ($600 ArtMembers**)

Half-day camps meet from 9am–11am and include a short snack break.  Snack must be brought from home and must be sesame and nut-free.

Create Camps*: $385/week (ArtMembers** $350/week)
Save with multi-week packages!

• Full Session (8 weeks): $2680 ($2400 ArtMembers**)
• Half Session (4 weeks): $1440 ($1300 ArtMembers**)

Full-day camps meet from 9am–3pm and include supervised lunch and time outdoors. Lunch and snack must be brought from home and must be sesame and nut-free. NOTE: Select Create Camps are two week programs (Clay Camp for all ages and camps for Grades 6-8).

* There are no camps July 4-5; camps are prorated 30% for the week.
** Discounts available to ArtMembers with a Household membership or higher. Join today! 

Please see our refund and cancellation policy on our registration site.

Extended Care
Extend your child’s art engagement beyond camp hours as early as 7 am and as late as 6 pm.  Campers will have time to explore and create during open studio time or play games, guided and supervised by CAM Camp staff.  Extended Care is available from 7-9am ($75/week), and 3-6pm ($95/week).

Transportation Service
Transportation Service is available to shuttle campers to and from specific stops in Birmingham (8:10am / 3:45pm), Rochester Hills (7:45am / 3:45pm), Royal Oak (7:50am / 4:05pm), Troy (8:10am / 4:10pm), and West Bloomfield (7:45am / 3:45pm).  Details will be provided to registered camper families closer to the start of camp. Transportation is not available the week of August 12-16. ($45/week am or pm.)

Register Now!  

For more information contact visitart@cranbrook.edu or 248-645-3314.