Youth Summer Camps!
Youth Camps
2025 Camps Begin Enrolling February 5 at noon!
Every year, the Clay Studio of Missoula offers a number of camps for youth in the age brackets of: Little Kids (5-8), Big Kids (9-12+), and Teens (12-18). These brackets help provide the best learning experience for youth by pairing them with others who will learn and create at similar pace, so instruction can be targeted appropriately. If older students are comfortable working alongside younger children, they are welcome to join younger age brackets. Students may not join an older bracket unless they are within 3 months of the minimum age requirement.
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Camps are priced as low as possible, thus the member discount is reduced to $5 off this year.
Camps run based on enrollment, which is limited! Please do not delay if you would like to sign up your child! If camps are cancelled due to low enrollment, or other circumstances on our part, a full refund will be issued.
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For registration and cancellation policies, see HERE.
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PICK-UP Days for Camps
March camp work will be ready to pick up on May 1.
June camp work will be ready to pick up on July 22.
July camp work will be ready to pick up on August 22.
August camp work will be ready to pick up on September 23.
ALL LEFTOVER CAMP WORK IS DISCARDED WHEN
WE ARE CLOSED FOR THE WINTER HOLIDAYS.
2025 Camp Descriptions
Little Kids Camps, for ages 5-8 will explore fun and exciting subjects, with projects that are easily accessible by young people still developing their fine motor skills.
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Fantasy Clay Creations ($175 nonmembers/$170 members)
DATE / TIME
A class inspired by creatures of fantasy! Kids will invent fun creations like monsters, fairy houses, and more!
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Clay Around the World ($175 nonmembers/$170 members)
DATE/TIME
We're going to travel around the world with clay! Kids will learn about how clay is used in different cultures, both historical and modern, and do projects inspired by these cool cultural ceramics.
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Creative Clay Pots ($175 nonmembers/$170 members)
DATE/TIME
Can you imagine how many hundreds of different pots there are in the world? We'll explore some in this fun class all about making handbuilt pottery! Please note this is NOT a wheel class.
Big Kids Camps for ages 9-12 will still go over clay basics, so no prerequisite skills are required, but learning will move at a faster pace for older students, and classes may explore more complex projects!
Mythical Clay ($175 nonmembers/$170 members)
DATE/TIME
A clay camp for lovers of sci-fi and fantasy! Kids will learn hand building skills to create awesome sculptures from their imaginations, or their favorite media! This camp will teach basic skills and help kids hone in their visualizing and creating skills!
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Clay Explorers ($175 per student)
DATE/TIME
Clay can be an amazing tool for discovery! We'll explore subjects through clay to help us have fun and understand the world in new and interesting ways. Projects may include making dioramas, exploring cooking by making functional vessels, learning about the geology of clay, and more!
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Vibrant Clay Vessels ($175 per student)
DATE/TIME
This hand building class focuses on learning to build unique, functional vessels! There is a whole world of fun and useful objects to explore that are best created with methods like slab, coil, pinch, and more! We'll look at today's coolest pottery hand-builders to help inspire vessels kids may not have even thought of making before, like baskets, sculptural mugs and bowls, votive holders, and more! Please note this is NOT a wheel class.
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Teen Camps approach subjects and skills too complex for younger students. Foundational skills will be reviewed for accessibility, then teens will explore the world of ceramics in challenging and interesting ways!
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Teen Sculpture Studio ($175 per student)
DATE/TIME
An open studio style class for teens wanting to make their own projects. This session specializes in sculpting by hand, and teens can choose their own subject or projects to create as long as they're studio appropriate! Teens will be advised by a professional artist who will offer demonstrations and help students one-on-one as they brainstorm and progress through one or more projects!
Wheel Pottery for Teens ($195 per student)
DATE/TIME
The basics of wheel pottery in a week-long format! Learn to create forms like mugs, tumblers, and bowls, how to trim, and possibly beyond, depending on student skill progression! A unique experience with a traditional method that can be an unforgettable experience! Good for beginners, or teens returning to the wheel.
By Clay Studio of Missoula Policy, This camp is limited to students age 12 and up. Full-size pottery wheels are very challenging to use and clean properly, and historically have not been accessible to students at younger growth milestones. We want to give kids the best chance to succeed at this challenging method so they don't give up on developing this unique set of skills, so we do not make exceptions to this rule.
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Camps Available
When camps open for enrollment, you'll find them here, or on the "Youth and Family Programming" Page
Additional Information
WAIVERS
All participants must have a waiver on file or in-hand on the first day of class in order to participate. Waivers are valid for the calendar year they are signed, and must be updated each year starting after January 31.
Waivers can be accessed via web form or downloadable PDF below. If you cannot access these online versions, or need a copy emailed or physically mailed to you, please call the office to request one or email Kelly at fire@theclaystudioofmissoula.org
SCHOLARSHIPS
At the Clay Studio of Missoula, we do everything we can to provide opportunities for kids to get their hands in clay. If financial means present a barrier, there are scholarships available for students under 18 to participate in youth programming, available by application.
If you are interested in a scholarship, email Education and Outreach Coordinator Kelly Seitz at fire@theclaystudioofmissoula.org to be sent an application form.
We ask that scholarships please be turned in by at least two weeks before the class/camp in question is set to run if possible. Last minute submissions are not
guaranteed to be processed in time.
