What a wonderful first week of Deco Arts Camp! I’m still buzzing from all the creative energy, joyful laughter, and incredible art that filled Rooms 302 and 303 of the Arcade Building each day. From the very first camper who walked through our door Monday morning, it was clear—we had a group full of big imaginations, kind hearts, and boundless energy.
This week, our young artists worked incredibly hard—and wow, did it show! We kicked things off with sketchbooks and sticker decorating (a surprisingly serious artistic pursuit for some!), then dove right into landscape painting. Campers took their canvases out into Glen Echo Park to observe the historic buildings and nature around them. Back inside, they transformed their sketches into vibrant paintings, learning about composition and mixing their own colors with tempera paint.
And that was just the beginning!
We molded clay into relief sculptures on tiles that we rolled out ourselves, slathered balloons and cardboard with papier-mâché, pulled beautiful prints with marbled paper, and screen printed our very own t-shirts by hand! Campers tried out new painting styles—including dreamy scraped paintings and colorful abstract works—and even helped each other when it was time to clean up (mostly!).
One of my favorite additions this year was our expanded book nook and free-time shelf. I stocked it with new art games, drawing prompts, and independent craft kits—and it quickly became a favorite spot for campers who needed a little reset or extra inspiration. Watching kids discover new ideas on their own—cutting stencils, inventing characters, or mixing just the right slime color—was a joy to see.
We also spent time outside each day for lunch and recess, played group games, shared compliments, and reminded each other to be open-minded and respectful. Our three big camp goals—staying safe, being creative, and making sure everyone feels seen and valued—were absolutely met.
By Friday, our classroom was full of beautiful finished work: landscape paintings, hand-built clay pieces, colorful t-shirts, layered papier-mâché creations, and abstract paintings that truly wowed us all. Campers packed their bags full of art (and maybe a bit of glitter), and left with big smiles and paint-splattered hands.
To all the campers: I’m so proud of you! You worked hard, tried new things, and brought your whole selves to camp this week. Thank you for such a fun, creative, and heartwarming start to summer. I can’t wait to do it all again next week!
With paint in my hair and joy in my heart,
Miss Emma 🎨💛
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