How to Choose the Best Camp Session For Your Child - LAB Art Studio
Updated: Aug 9
We love our camp days at LAB studio because we have so many fun artsy projects for kids all ages to explore!
After taking a look at our schedules, you may be thinking, "Wow! There are so many choices, how do I choose the best camp session for my child(ren)?" We believe in trying out new things, discovering new interests and passions, and also practicing to improve (and not be perfect). Each camp day is a different so if your kids sign up for multiple sessions, they’re never going to create the same thing twice.
So how do I choose the best camp session for my child(ren)?
Determine which age group fits your child(ren) best! We have three age groups to choose from: 3-5, 6-9 and 10+
For the 3-5 group, we focus on simple projects with basic art skills. We will provide step-by-step lessons, so kids will know how to start and finish a project. With guided direction and prompts, kids should feel more at ease to follow instruction. Most times, the project will have drawn out guidelines and things to trace to ensure good understanding of the techniques demonstrated by our teachers.
For the 6-9 group, we like to start having more open ended art prompts, and allow for some creativity to shine through! We will also provide step-by-step lessons, so kids will know how to start and finish a project. However, we will also want to draw out each individual student’s interest, and have that be a part of their project to take home.
For the 10+ group, we want to push individual creations! We’ll use the daily theme and activity as a suggestion, but encourage students to research and plan out their own project to execute. Instructors will show applicable techniques, and will assist students if needed, but students should be confident to do the entire project on their own from start to finish.
We provide a flexible schedule so you can pick and choose whichever activity your child prefers, or whichever time fits your schedule best.
What if my child is turning 6 this year? Do I register for a 3-5 group or 6-9 group?
This is totally up to you, but we would suggest signing up for the 6-9 group so your child gets a good challenge! Our instructors can also provide feedback, and let you know if your child finds the older group class too tricky at the end of each session. For the Science + Art classes, we allot some time to do reading, writing and oral presentation, so just make sure your child is comfortable with those aspects of the class before signing them up if they’re younger than 6 (Grade 1-2 level).
My child is turning 3 this year, can I register for camps?
Yes, you can definitely try just one session first to see if your child is comfortable with our classes. These classes are meant to be intensive, and we have a goal to complete a project per session. We will have a 5-10 minute break in between, but the students are expected to follow instruction and be hands-on with their art. The projects we recommend for 2-3 year olds would be Canvas Painting and Polymer Clay.
I am not sure what my child likes to do/create as we’ve never taken an art class before, what do you recommend?
Our Canvas Painting and Polymer Clay classes are our most popular activities, and also great for first time art students! If your child has tried and likes these classes, they can be open to trying out other classes. Canvas Painting classes incorporate acrylic paint, and that can be applied in Collage (Gelli Printing), and similar to Watercolour Painting. Polymer Clay classes are more hands-on, so kids could definitely try a Ceramics class to further their sculptural building skills with a more challenging medium.
My child doesn’t really like to make a mess, which activities do you recommend?
We love a good mess, and making happy mistakes, but we understand some kids just get a bit too anxious! We suggest Polymer Clay, (Needle) Felting, and Jewelry Making for kids all ages. Our Pencil + Ink Drawing, Watercolour Painting, and Chalk/Oil Pastel Drawing classes for 6+ years are less of a mess.
We highly recommend our students to wear something they’re not afraid to get messy in regardless of what class they take. We have aprons available, and if you want to get your kids their own, we have smocks for sale at our LAB Shop. We are first and foremost an art studio, so you just never know :D
My child is not too comfortable taking classes on their own yet, can I join my child in these camp sessions?
Unfortunately these classes are made to be drop-off only. No parents will be allowed to stay during the class, as we want to avoid distractions in our students’ learning. Just know your child is in good hands! We have experienced instructors who are trained to make the class as safe, fun, and educational as possible. We would recommend registering sibling(s) or referring a friend or two to join your child during these camp sessions so there are familiar faces around :)
If you want to join your child in class, please check out our “Parent and Me Painting” classes!
What do my kids exactly get to make and take home in each class?
After each 2-hour or 3-hour session, your child is expected to start and complete one project to take home the day of. The only class where students will need to wait a couple weeks before taking their work home is Ceramics class. Kids will get to sculpt and glaze their project, but the clay itself will need time to dry before it gets fired in our studio kiln.
Here's our brief descriptions of each class we offer:
Canvas Painting: We use acrylic paints on primed pre-stretched canvas.
Ceramics: We sculpt with earthenware clay, and glaze with many colours. The clay itself needs 2-3 weeks to dry before it gets fired in our studio kiln.
Collage (Gelli Printing): We use a soft 'Gelli' mat to apply acrylic paint onto high-quality paper or canvas.
Jewelry Making: We can use a variation of loom bands, wire, beads and polymer clay charms to create bracelets, necklaces and/or rings.
Mixed Media (w/ Polymer Clay): We will incorporate all kinds of mediums: pencil, paint, and polymer clay on a small canvas.
(Needle) Felting: We use needles and/or 'wet felting' technique to combine coloured synthetic wools to create sculptural pieces.
Oil Pastel / Chalk Pastel Drawing: We use oil / chalk pastel and can experiment with watercolour resist on high-quality paper.
Pencil /Ink Drawing: We use pencil, pencil crayons and/or charcoal with inks on high-quality paper.
Polymer Clay: We use various techniques with oven bake polymer clay to create 2D or 3D models/dioramas.
Science + Art: We learn about a theme, do experiments and create fun card-paper dioramas with labels and descriptions.
Sewing: We trace and cut cotton or canvas fabrics, and learn basic hand sewing skills to make a shell, and stuff with poly-fil.
Tie Dye T-shirts: We use fabric pigments and powder to dye fabric (T-shirts provided)
Watercolour Painting: We use dry and liquid watercolours on high-quality paper.
Camps happen during Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer Break, with themes that go with the season. We also sprinkle some of those during Pro-D Days and seasonal holidays throughout the year as well.
Can't wait to create with you!
Messy Jessy + Trendy Wendy
-- LAB Language Arts Base Ltd.
Come visit our studios:
Unit 110 - 12480 No 1 Road, Richmond, BC, V7E0A2 (Steveston Village)
4431 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 2J1 (West Point Grey Village)
Give us a call: +1-604-285-6226 See what we're about: languageartsbase.com Keep up to date by following us on Instagram @lab.artstudio and Facebook Love what we do? Give us a review :D