Registration Now Open
CMA members get 20% off. Join today!
Most camps sold out in 2024, so reserve your spot early!
Art + Ingenuity
This summer, the CMA is offering a variety of unique camps to capture the interest of any young artist. Participating in summer camps is a great way for your child to think creatively, practice problem-solving skills, and have fun!
Summer Camp FAQs
- Which age group should I register my child for?
The CMA offers camps for the following age groups: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-18.
- What happens if the week of camp I want to sign up for is full?
Please reach out to [email protected] to be put on a waitlist.
- What is the cancellation policy?
Please let us know as soon as possible if your child can no longer attend their camp. Refunds are available for nonemergency cancelations made at least two weeks prior to the camp start date; nonemergency cancelations received within 13 days of the camp start date are ineligible for refunds. If your child is registered for a camp that the CMA has been forced to cancel, staff will reach out to you. We will make every effort to alert you to any changes before the camp is scheduled to begin. You'll have three choices for the registration fee:
1. Receive a full refund
2. Choose a different camp to apply the registration fee toward if space allows
3. Support the CMA by letting your registration fee become your donation to the museumThe CMA reserves the right to cancel any camp that does not meet minimum enrollment (five campers) or for other unforeseen circumstances. We will do our best to notify families at least one week prior to the start of a camp session if a particular camp is canceled. Any payments made toward a week of camp that the CMA cancels will be eligible for a refund or can be applied to another camp if space permits.
- Can I sign up my child for more than one week?
Absolutely! Registration is by week, and each week of camp is a separate session with its own theme. You are welcome to register your child for as many weeks as you like.
- Do you offer before care or aftercare?
We do not offer before or aftercare.
- Should my camper bring a lunch?
Only campers signed up for Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee. As always, food sharing is never permitted at camp. Campers not attending Lunch Buddies are asked to eat their lunch either before or after camp each day.
- What does my child need to bring and wear?
We encourage campers to dress for a mess in clothing that they are comfortable creating in. Close-toed shoes are encouraged but not required. Some inside areas can get chilly so some campers may want to bring a sweater or cardigan.
- Where do I drop off and pick up my child and what are the drop-off and pickup times?
Drop-off and pickup is on Hampton Street in front of the museum, using the bus lane. Staff will be curbside ready to assist you. For morning camps, drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 9:00 a.m. and pickup is at noon. For afternoon camps, drop-off begins at 12:45 p.m. and lasts until 1:00 p.m. and pickup is at promptly 4:00 p.m. Caregivers of teen students can elect to sign a driving authorization form so that they can check themselves in and out. Please have your ID ready for every pickup so that CMA staff can verify your identity.
- What should I do if my child is ill?
Any signs of illness should be taken seriously, and the camper must be kept at home. Please consult your pediatrician for treatment advice based on your child’s symptoms. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19 after attending camp, please alert CMA staff.
- What if my child leaves their lunch or gets sick during camp and I must pick up my child?
Please call the Welcome Desk at 803-799-2810 and let them know of the situation. CMA staff will bring your child to be signed out or will meet you at the Welcome Desk to pick up their lunch.
- Will activity spaces be sanitized?
Yes. All spaces will be sanitized after each use.
- Can my child bring nuts or food containing nuts to camp?
No. Due to sensitivity to nut allergies, CMA camps are nut-free. If anyone in your child’s camp has a severe allergy to a particular food item we will alert you prior to the first day of camp to ensure everyone’s safety.
- Will the CMA be providing lunch or snacks for campers?
The CMA provides a nut-free snack during each camp. The CMA does not provide lunch, but some camps for ages 7 – 12 have the Lunch Buddies option, which means these campers can stay all day from morning camp through afternoon camp. Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee. As always, food sharing is never permitted at camp.
- Can my child bring a refillable water bottle?
Campers will need to bring a water bottle each day labeled with their name. We will have bottled water on site in case a camper forgets their water bottle that day.
- Where will my child eat snack/lunch?
If your camper is signed up for our Lunch Buddies program, they will eat lunch in the Theater. Snack breaks take place in the Theater, Salon, Reception Gallery, or Boyd Plaza.
- Will my child have access to exhibition galleries during camp?
Yes, all campers will have access to the exhibition galleries during camp.
2025 Instructors
Lou Bame is a retired visual arts teacher from Mullins, South Carolina, where she taught K-8 art in public schools for 29 years. Her artistic interests include collage, acrylics, and watercolors, and her favorite artist is Vincent van Gogh. She was selected 2009 – 2010 Teacher of the Year in Mullins. Bame started a Gifted and Talented art program at the elementary school level, involving her students in advanced study of artists and their works. Her GT art students represented the elementary level at the Columbia Museum of Art, creating artifacts to coincide with an exhibition on Egyptian art. Upon retirement, Bame taught adult art classes and volunteered to work with the children at her church. She enjoys visiting museums whenever possible.
Glenna Barlow is the curator of education at the Columbia Museum of Art. She has a Master of Science in elementary education from the University of Mary Washington as well as a Master of Arts in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has more than 15 years of experience teaching children of all ages in various daycare centers, schools, and museums and has been teaching summer camps and workshops at the CMA since 2015. Barlow also leads Gladys’ Gang, the CMA’s signature preschool program, and has developed interpretive materials for children and families throughout the museum. In 2020 she was named the South Carolina Museum Educator of the Year by the SC Art Education Association.
Ashley Dunbar is the current engagement apprentice at the Columbia Museum of Art. She has always been involved in the arts, whether through participating in school art programs or her own creative pursuits. Dunbar has experience working in a variety of youth-based programs and loves expressing her creativity through drawing, painting, photography, and jewelry making. She is excited to work with children of all ages and is dedicated to making their art experience fun and inspiring!
Rachel Fludd is the engagement assistant at the Columbia Museum of Art. She has a B.A. in communications and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in arts administration. Fludd is passionate about connecting people with the transformative power of the arts. She is especially dedicated to shaping the minds of young learners, believing in the importance of cultivating creativity and critical thinking in the next generation.
Addison Graham is a visual artist and educator from Fort Smith, Arkansas. She earned her B.F.A. from Arkansas Tech University in 2020 and her M.F.A. from the University of South Carolina in 2024. Graham’s work has been featured in some 20 exhibitions throughout Arkansas, South Carolina, and Taiwan. Her achievements include receiving a scholarship to the Penland School of Craft, completing a summer residency at Stormwater Studios, and being selected by curator Danielle Krysa for the publication 100 Emerging Artworks of 2024 - Women's Edition. As an adjunct instructor, Graham teaches studio art courses in the School of Visual Art and Design at USC and has been teaching summer camps at the Columbia Museum of Art since 2023.
Ashley Greene is a recent studio art ceramics major from South Carolina State University. Her work has been exhibited at South Carolina State University and the ETU Evans Solesville event, showcasing her artistic vision and technical skill. She served as a studio assistant at the Penland School of Craft, gaining hands-on experience in a dynamic creative environment. With a background as a ceramics instructor, studio assistant, and curator intern at the I.P. Stanback Museum, Greene has contributed to significant exhibitions and research initiatives. Recognized for her talent through multiple student art awards, she is passionate about art education, cultural preservation, and inspiring future generations. Greene had studied abroad at the University of the Arts London, further expanding her global perspective on creative industries.
Becky Groth has served as a studio docent at the CMA for over 12 years and hails from a family of artists. She is a mother of three, and teaching children has always been one of her passions. Groth has taught CMA summer camps since 2023 and is a three-time award-winning participant in the Columbia Design League’s Runaway Runway Recycled Fashion Show. She is excited to share her recycling and design skills with her students.
Emelyn Guild is from Lancaster, South Carolina, and recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with her B.F.A. in art education. She currently teaches art at Sandhills Elementary School and has worked as a lead summer camp counselor at an animal hospital in Waxhaw, NC, for the past four years. Guild loves all types of art but has a special passion for fiber arts.
Mary Hendrix earned a B.S. degree in art from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina. She has taught art in a myriad of institutions including senior citizens centers, hospitals, private schools, and public schools. Hendrix has taught workshops at the CMA since 2013.
Kaitlyn Martin is a multimedia artist from Columbia. She is a recent graduate and holds a B.F.A. in art education from the University of South Carolina. In 2023, she was awarded the Ethel S. Brody scholarship and was funded to attend a two-week workshop at the Penland School of Craft, where she extended her artistic practice to papermaking. Martin was a CMA summer camp intern in 2022 and an instructor in 2024. She has also worked as a visitor experience associate at the museum's Welcome Desk since 2022.
Sarah McNab is a Columbia-based silversmith and teacher with a passion for creativity and learning. She has been teaching for four years and silversmithing for six. On top of small business ownership and art education, she works at the CMA as a special events host. McNab has a special love for jewelry making, and her work can be found at artisan markets around the city including Soda City Market and Y’all-Mart.
Austin Reynolds is from Orangeburg, South Carolina, and is currently based in Rock Hill as an M.F.A. candidate at Winthrop University. His work has been exhibited throughout the country, including shows at The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, ArtFields in Lake City, and Collectors Choice in Camarillo, California. His most recent works have been created under the Emerging Artist Grant from the SC Arts Commission.
Jason Schoonover is an artist and illustrator based in Irmo, where he lives with his family. He earned a bachelor's degree in studio art from Florida State University and an associate's degree in graphic design from Broward College. Specializing in pen-and-ink drawing, Schoonover also explores comics and cartooning, which are central to his creative practice. His work has been featured in independent publications, and he has self-published several comics and art books, with more projects on the horizon.
Ariana Smoak is a photographer based in Columbia with a passion for working with kids. She has worked as a lead counselor at the YMCA and a site lead at EdVenture Children’s Museum and has taught CMA summer camps since 2020. Smoak has been featured in multiple magazines such as Mustard Magazine in 2019, 9 To 5 Magazine and Surj Magazine in 2020, and Antifragile Zine in 2020 and 2021.
Tristan Thorvaldson is a ceramics B.F.A. student at the University of South Carolina. He has always been involved in the arts, whether in school programs or pushing for more arts in his community. Thorvaldson previously interned for the CMA Summer Camp program in 2023 and taught during the 2024 camp season. He looks forward to making art as fun and rewarding as possible for all ages.
Velvet Underwood developed a love for making handmade paper and book arts several years ago when she was a fiber arts student at Central Michigan University. Since then, she has taken several university classes and workshops to advance her knowledge of both. When she isn't busy making art, she volunteers her time as a docent at the CMA and is involved with various arts organizations in the area.
Dana Witkoski is the engagement manager at the Columbia Museum of Art. Originally from Columbia, Witkoski has a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina and a master’s in arts administration from Winthrop University. Witkoski oversees summer camps and workshops at the CMA and has taught workshops there since 2016. Her favorite mediums to work with are fiber, metals, and printmaking.
Lunch Buddies
Some camps for Ages 7 to 12 have the Lunch Buddies option, which means these campers can stay all day. Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee.
More Information
Prices
Ages 4 – 6: $175 / $140 for Solo members and above
Ages 7 – 9: $200 / $160 for Solo members and above
Ages 10 – 12: $200 / $160 for Solo members and above
Ages 13 – 18: Prices vary
Drop–off and pickup
Drop-off and pickup is on Hampton Street at Boyd Plaza in front of the museum, using the bus lane. Staff will be curbside ready to assist you. For morning camps, drop-off is 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. and pickup is at noon. For afternoon camps, drop-off is 12:45 – 1:00 p.m. and pickup is at 4:00 p.m. Parents of teen students can elect to sign a driving authorization form so that students can check themselves in and out.
Photography
The museum sometimes takes pictures of students participating in classes for promotional use. If you have concerns about your child being photographed, please inform us upon registration.
Registration and Refund Policy
Please note that registration is required for all camps and fees are nonrefundable.
Summer Camp Forms
Looking to get ahead on your paperwork? Here are some forms you'll need to fill out for your camper:
Scholarships
The CMA offers need-based scholarships for summer camps. You can help a child in need attend summer camp by adding any additional amount to your total, which will go directly to the CMA Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Call 803-343-2170 about donating to the fund or applying for scholarships.
Deadline: May 9
Summer Camps
Supported by
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.