For ages 10-14

Does anyone need a new messenger bag to carry water bottles, swim towels, extra sneakers, soccer cleats, dance gear, and more? Let us help you create your own one-of-a-kind bag that you’ll be carrying around all summer and into the fall!

In this weeklong half-day camp, middle schoolers will sew their own fully lined messenger bag. Campers will have the opportunity to customize their bags to fit their needs and personal style. They’ll choose textiles and thread, configure the pockets, and add embellishment to their liking. Color-blocking? Contrast topstitching? Appliqué? Decorative quilting? Embroidery? The possibilities are endless!

Instructor Susanne Grabowski will teach campers to decode sewing pattern pieces and understand pattern instructions. Students will learn a variety of standard home sewing practices in the process, like matching notches, pressing seams, and clipping curves--all the little things that add up to a beautiful and durable finished product.

Kids will take home their finished messenger bag on the last day of camp. 

Children who enroll in both this camp and the Acrylics Painting Camp will have the option of eating lunch and relaxing in the studio between classes.   

July 29, 2024 — August 2, 2024 | 9am to 12pm

sold out

For ages 8-12

This is the camp for kids that want to take their art skills to the next step. Learn the basics of acrylic painting with Brian Herrick, an artist and illustrator with over 20 years of teaching experience.

Students will work at their own easel station and learn the basics of acrylic painting: using the right brush for the right job, understanding color basics, how to layer colors, how to fix “mistakes”, understanding composition basics, and how to create depth in paintings.  Brian will also help and guide each student to help them choose what they would like to paint.

Each student will complete at least two finished canvases during the course of the week.

Children who enroll in both this camp and the Messenger Bag Camp will have the option of eating lunch and relaxing in the studio between classes.

July 29, 2024 — August 2, 2024 | 1pm to 4pm

Sold out

For ages 6-10

Hey comic fans! Learn the tricks of creating short comics that have a BIG impact!

Brian Herrick, an artist and illustrator with over 20 years of teaching experience, will work with students as they learn the basics of creating short comics: brainstorming story ideas, creating characters, making both fiction and nonfiction comics, how to improve your drawing with simple shapes, how to make word bubbles that fit your words, and more! By the end of the week, children will have a stack of “published” comics ready for distribution.

Throughout the class, students will also have the chance to design and build a wood frame comic shop on wheels, which will be completed by the middle school comics camp. Both camps will then have the opportunity to stage their pop up shop at Montpelier’s August Artwalk and share their comics with everyone in town!

June 24, 2024 - June 28, 2024 | 9am to 3pm

sold out

For ages 6-10

In this week-long camp, our young engineers will split into two teams and design and build their very own soapbox cars and team costumes. Will it be a viking ship? Rainbow? Food truck? Anything goes! Children will learn basic mechanics and woodworking as they build child-sized soapbox cars.

Teams will also have the opportunity to design their team logos and screenprint their logos onto t-shirts. Depending on their car designs, children will have the chance to sew, paper mache, and really whatever other making technique is necessary to achieve their team vision. May the fastest (and funniest) car win!

Register for July 8-12, 2024 or July 15-19, 2024 | 9am to 3pm

All teams will compete in the 3rd Annual Soapbox Derby on July 20th.

For ages 10-14

Hey comic fans! Learn the tricks of creating short comics that have a BIG impact! 

Brian Herrick, an artist and illustrator with over 20 years of teaching experience, will work with students as they learn the basics of creating short comics: brainstorming story ideas, creating characters, making both fiction and nonfiction comics, how to improve your drawing with simple shapes, how to make word bubbles that fit your words, and more! By the end of the week, children will have a stack of “published” comics ready for distribution.

Throughout the class, students will also have the chance to complete the construction of a wood frame comic shop on wheels. Both comics camps will then have the opportunity to stage their pop up shop at Montpelier’s August Artwalk and share their comics with everyone in town!

July 22, 2024 - July 26, 2024 | 9am to 3pm

Calling all musicians and rock stars to Wilder Arts! This summer, get ready to experience your very own Classroom Instrument Rock Band! No prior music experience necessary!

Children are welcome to attend camp with their own instruments, or use one of our classroom instruments. Together, D Davis will teach all our musicians to play and perform a beloved rock song together. He will teach students harmonizing melodies, how to sing while performing, and how to support each other to create a truly epic sound. The last day of camp will include a special performance for friends and family.

Ages 6-10

July 24th-28th, 2023 | 10:30am to 12pm

Only 2 spots left!

For ages 6-10

In this week-long camp, students will learn how to turn nature into their own artist kit, exploring the relationship between art and nature with artist and teacher Brian Herrick

We will spend each morning outside and on hikes around Montpelier, collecting items found in nature: branches, wildflowers, or clay. In the afternoons, we will learn how to turn those found natural objects into homemade ink, paper, paint brushes, and more. And of course, we will be making plenty of paintings and drawings all week long.

At the end of the week, each student will go home with their own set of artist tools, made by them, to continue using at home.

July 31st-August 4th, 2023 | 9am to 3pm

For ages 11-15

Let’s make comics!

In this week long camp, we’ll make some mini comics based on your interests. Adventure? Sounds good. Diary comics? We’re in. Diagram comics? Let’s try it out.

Artist and teacher Brian Herrick will walk students through the process of brainstorming comic book ideas, learning how to draw and illustrate those ideas, and finally scanning their mini comics in for printing! We will get inspired by Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, Little Lulu and some cartoonists you may have never heard of. Or, bring your own comic books to share!

Students will all go home with a stack of their printed mini comics to share with family and friends.

July 24th-28th, 2023 | 1:30pm to 3:30pm

In this week-long camp, our young engineers will split into two teams and design and build their very own soapbox cars and team costumes. Children will learn basic mechanics and woodworking as they build child-sized soapbox cars. They’ll also have the opportunity to design their team logos and screenprint their logos onto t-shirts. Depending on their designs, children will also get a chance to sew, paper mache, and really whatever other making technique is necessary to achieve their team vision. May the fastest (and funniest) car win!

We will work mostly outdoors as weather allows. Children will also have opportunities to explore other maker crafts in the studio, spend time in our hillside garden and vegetable garden.

Ages 6-10

We are offering two Soapbox Derby camps this year on July 10 - 14, 2023 and July 17 - 21, 2023, from 9am to 3pm. All teams will compete in the 2nd Annual Soapbox Derby on July 22nd.

In this week-long camp, our young engineers will learn basic mechanics and woodworking as they design and build child-sized soapbox cars. Children will be split into two teams that will each construct their own human-powered cars, culminating in a track race on the last day of camp. May the fastest car win!

We will work mostly outdoors as weather allows, in Wilder Arts’ outdoor tent. Children will also have opportunities to explore other maker crafts in the studio, spend time in our hillside garden and vegetable garden.

Ages 6-10

August 8-12, 2022 | 9am to 3pm