#layer-wysiwyg-2030

Summer Camp Registration Now Open

 

CMA members get 20% off. Join today!
Most camps sold out in 2022, so reserve your spot early!
#layer-wysiwyg-2674

Art + Ingenuity

This summer, the CMA is offering a variety of unique camps to capture the interest of any young artist. Having your child participate in summer camps is a great way for them to think creatively, practice problem-solving skills, and have fun!

See All Camps

#layer-wysiwyg-2673

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 Dana at dwitkoski@columbiamuseum.org to be put on a waitlist. 

What is the cancellation policy? 

The CMA has worked diligently to meet changing protocols and to protect the health and safety of our staff and your young artists. 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 at least one week before the camp is scheduled to begin. You'll have three choices for your registration fee:

  1. Receive a full refund
  2. Choose a different camp to apply the registration fee towards
  3. Support the CMA by letting your registration fee become your donation to the museum

The 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. All campers will be required to wear a face covering. 

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 is the CMA protocol if a child or teacher shows signs of COVID-19? 

If a child or CMA staff member has a temperature of 100°F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell, that person will be separated from the group immediately and required to leave the museum as soon as possible. If a caregiver is contacted and asked to pick up their child, that caregiver should come to the Welcome Desk where CMA staff will bring their child to be signed out.

What is the CMA’s protocol if someone at camp tests positive for COVID-19?

Family of the camper will be notified immediately. Unvaccinated campers or staffers who have stayed home sick will not be permitted to attend or return until they have had a negative COVID-19 test, have been fever and fever medication free for 72 hours, other symptoms have improved, and at least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Fully vaccinated and boosted campers can return after 5 days after the onset of symptoms.

Where and when should I drop my child off for camp? What is the pickup/sign-out process like? 

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 4:00 p.m. Please have your ID ready for every pickup so that CMA staff can verify your identity. During drop-off we will be taking temperatures and asking caregivers to fill out a brief health screening. We ask that you be patient as we implement these safety measures, which we have incorporated into the daily curbside drop-off for your convenience. Caregivers of teen students can elect to sign a driving authorization form so that they can check themselves in and out and will fill out their own health questionnaire with caregiver consent.

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. 

How will you ensure handwashing happens throughout the day? 

Campers will be required to wash their hands after restroom breaks, before and after lunch/snack breaks, and between art activities.

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, Salon, or Boyd Plaza. 

Will my child have access to galleries during camp? 

Yes, all campers will have access to the galleries during camp.

#layer-spotlight-825

How to Register

Online

Choose a camp and hit the "Register Today" button to sign up right here! 

By Phone

803-799-2810 

If your child is registered for a camp that the CMA has been forced to cancel, CMA staff will reach out to you. We will make every effort to alert you to any changes at least two weeks before the camp is scheduled to begin. You'll have three choices for your registration fee:

  1. Receive a full refund
  2. Choose a different camp to apply the registration fee towards
  3. Support the CMA by letting your registration fee become your donation to the museum

 

#layer-duo-728

2023 Instructors

Sarah Jane Ballentine is a lifelong artist and teacher. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in art education from the University of South Carolina; during her college years, she interned and taught here at the CMA. She has been teaching middle school art in Lexington School District Two for the past few years. Ballentine also runs her own business as a live wedding painter, Event Art by Sarah Jane LLC. She has a passion for artistic endeavors and helping others discover their creative abilities.

Wilson Bame is manager of engagement at the Columbia Museum of Art. He has worked with youth in an array of educational roles, from coaching youth soccer to working as a guitar instructor and camp counselor. His volunteer work with people experiencing homelessness led him back into the arts after college, where he then received his master's degree in arts administration. Bame enjoys using discarded materials to create fun and interesting pieces of art.

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.

Katie Chandler is a visual artist, former art teacher who taught for over 10 years in the Columbia area, and current visitor experience supervisor at the CMA. She holds a B.A. from Winthrop University in art history and a Master of Arts in Teaching in art education from the University of South Carolina. Chandler has experience teaching photography, printmaking, painting, ceramics, and art history, and is delighted to be teaching again this summer.

Allison Cicero Moore is an artist, jeweler, and educator. Her work utilizes traditional drawing and contemporary metalworking techniques to reinterpret and re-create heirloom jewelry pieces. Moore has served as an artist-in-residence with Richland Library and Stormwater Studios and is currently a visiting lecturer in studio art at Columbia College as well as the McMaster Gallery manager at the University of South Carolina School of Visual Art and Design.

Addison Graham is a fine artist from Fort Smith, Arkansas. She earned her B.F.A. from Arkansas Tech University in 2020 and is currently working on her M.F.A. at the University of South Carolina. Graham was a member of the Arkansas Society of Printmakers and has exhibited in multiple cities in her home state. In 2019, she became the first student solo exhibitor at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum. In the summer of 2022, Graham interned at The Half and Half, the award-winning screenprinting company in Columbia specializing in music merchandise and fine art reproduction. During the school year she works as a graduate instructional assistant for beginning and intermediate painting classes at the USC School of Visual Art and Design. 

Becky Groth has served as a studio docent at the CMA for almost 10 years and hails from a family of artists. As a mother of three, she has always counted teaching children as one of her passions. Groth is a three-time award-winning participant in the Columbia Design League’s Runaway Runway Recycled Fashion Show and is excited to share her recycling and design skills with her students. She holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Katrina Hampton is a Columbia-based artist and teacher working across a variety of disciplines including printmaking, collage, painting, and mixed media. She currently teaches AP Studio Art, Talented & Gifted Visual Arts (TAG), and Digital Photography at Westwood High School in Richland Two. Hampton has been an instructor for the CMA since 2013.

Olivia Hartman is a University of South Carolina graduate with a degree in history, though her studies also had a heavy focus on the arts. Hartman served as a Columbia Museum of Art summer camp intern in 2022 and “fell in love with the experience and made it a point to come back.” She believes in fun and interactive, hands-on activities that allow kids to learn while creating. 

Mary Hendrix received 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.

Irving Juarez is a graphic designer and the current web designer for Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia. Juarez has taught zine workshops as a StoryLab guest facilitator at Lower Richland High School as well as Indie Grits Labs, OBRA Collective, and the Learn Freely Fest through Richland Library. He was a speaker at the 31st NALAC Regional Arts Training Workshop in partnership with the North Carolina Humanities Council, where he presented an original zine. Juarez is also a professional skateboarder for Lost Soul Skateboards; the DIY culture of skateboarding and punk shows led him into the world of zine making and design.

Jackie Lee Palmieri is the education and engagement coordinator at the Columbia Museum of Art. Jackie has a B.F.A. in studio art with a concentration in fine craft and has spent her professional career in both the commercial and nonprofit realms. Proudly Asian American, she is passionate about sharing her love of art, dance, and culture.

Pari Patel currently attends the University of South Carolina, where she is majoring in public health and minoring in studio art and psychology. She has experience working with youth as a tutor, regular babysitter, and a CMA summer camp intern. Patel’s favorite mediums to work with are clay, fiber, and jewelry.

William Pittman is a carpenter, songwriter, and visual artist interested in portraiture, expression, and how artists learn to master their medium. Pittman is currently finishing up a Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of South Carolina School of Visual Art and Design and has taught workshops at the CMA since 2022.

Blakely Sheely earned a B.F.A. from Winthrop University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lander University. She is a National Board-Certified 3D art educator at Dutch Fork High School, where she has taught sculpture for 12 years . Sheely is a working artist in fiber, metals, ceramics, and jewelry. She has taught workshops and classes with the CMA since 2015.

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 in Lexington, a site lead at EdVenture Children’s Museum, and most recently at the CMA teaching summer camp and youth workshops. 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. Her first exhibition was in 2018 for the Indie Grits Southern Disposition, followed by her second at the Free Facility Showcasing in 2019. Smoak finds inspiration in her environment along with friends and family who encourage her to push her photography to the next level.

Alexandria “Alex” Taylor is the engagement coordinator at the Columbia Museum of Art. A Columbia native, she received her Bachelor of Arts in public health and minor in psychology from the University of South Carolina. Taylor has served as a youth mentor and enjoys helping youth discover through creative arts. She is passionate about architecture, urban design, health, and fashion.

Dana Witkoski is the engagement specialist 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 is currently pursuing a master’s in arts administration from Winthrop University. Witkoski has crafted and sold her own jewelry at stores and art fairs around the city and has taught classes and workshops at the CMA since 2016.

#layer-wysiwyg-727

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 brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee. 

#layer-wysiwyg-730

More Information

Prices

Ages 4 – 6: $150 / $120 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:

#layer-wysiwyg-1098

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 16

Apply for a Scholarship

#layer-sponsors-1848

Supported by

#layer-wysiwyg-2357

This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported by funding provided to the South Carolina Arts Commission from a partnership with the S.C. Department of Education from American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds.