This past summer at Glen Echo Park was nothing short of a dream! Week after week, the Deco Arts Camp and Carousel of Animals Camp were filled with the kind of creativity, joy, and community that make art camp so special.
At Deco Arts Camp, our young artists explored the park’s rich history and Art Deco architecture while creating stunning artworks—silkscreen prints, marbleized paper, plaster fossils, terra cotta sculptures, and beautiful landscape paintings of the park. The paintings this year were absolutely gorgeous, and the papier mâché projects from our Carousel of Animals teen camp were the best we’ve ever seen! Watching the teens build their life-sized carousel animals—layering chicken wire, papier mâché, and paint—was inspiring.
But the art was only part of what made this summer so special. The campers bonded deeply with their counselors and with each other, forming friendships that grew stronger each day. By the end of each week, no one wanted to say goodbye. We saw kids lifting each other up, problem-solving together, and celebrating each other’s successes. My amazing team of teachers, along with our teen volunteers, brought so much energy, care, and expertise—it truly felt like everything came together in the most wonderful way.
I can honestly say this was the best summer yet. The kids were awesome, the art was awesome, the counselors and volunteers were awesome—it was a summer full of color, creativity, and connection. I already miss our campers and can’t wait to see what next summer brings!
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