- August 17, 2026
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Puppet Lab: Build It, Bring it to life!
August 17, 2026 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA), 500 E 2nd St, Rochester, MI 48307, USARegister for this camp here!
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 Puppet Lab: Build It, Bring It to Life!In this imaginative, hands-on camp, young artists will design and create their own original puppetsâthen bring them to life on stage!
Camp Highlights
đ Custom Puppet-Making
Students will create multiple puppet styles, including:-
Sock puppets (lots of bling here!)
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Stick puppets (an aquatic drawing venture⌠Shark alert!)
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Hand puppets (includes a bit of sculpture)
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Shadow puppets (kids will use flashlights for shadow theater)
âď¸ Character Design & Story Building
Kids will invent unique characters, develop personalities, and create simple backstories. Each child will make a âPuppet Portfolioâ to take home, including sketches and scripts!đ¨ Stage & Set Design
Participants will build mini stages and paint backdrops for their performances.đ Script Writing & Rehearsal
Working solo or in small groups, students will write short scripts and practice timing, voices, and movement.đ Live Puppet Show for Families
The camp ends with a delightful group performance where students present their puppet plays to families.
Taught by: Pamela Palmer, B.F.A.
Founder, The Artistâs ApprenticeDates: MondayâThursday, 8/17, 8/18, 8/19, 8/20, 8/21
Time: 9:00 AM â 12:00 PMAges: 7 & up (siblings welcome)
Cost: $270 (all materials included)Final Day: Family Puppet Performance Friday @ 11:40 AM
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Ins & Outs of Mega Color Weaving
August 17, 2026 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA), 500 E 2nd St, Rochester, MI 48307, USARegister for this camp here!Â
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Ins & Outs of Mega Color Weaving â A Mini CampThe results are a colorful pop of interest, and the process is truly mesmerizing!
Weaving in elementary school enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness through precise, repetitive âoverâunderâ motions using materials like yarn and paper. It fosters patience, builds confidence through tangible finished projects, and encourages creativity and problem-solving. This tactile, cross-midline activity also introduces early math concepts such as patterns and sequencing.
Imagineâall this good stuff and itâs pretty fun and fabulous! Our textile art adventures will even include making handmade pom-poms.
Taught by artist/instructor Pamela Palmer, B.F.A.,
Founder of The Artistâs ApprenticeFamilies are invited to join us for a Gallery Show at 4:50 PM on Wednesday.
Please bring:
⢠A snack and water bottle
⢠Socks for breaks on the playscape đDates: MondayâWednesday, 8/24, 8/25, 8/26
Time: 2:00â5:00 PM
Ages: 7 & up (as always, siblings of any age are welcome)
Cost: $162 (all materials included)A vibrant, hands-on camp for kids who love color, texture, and creating something truly unique! đ¨đ§ś
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- August 20, 2026
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Spots & Dots Art Workshop
August 20, 2026 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA), 500 E 2nd St, Rochester, MI 48307, USAÂ Get ready to think in dots! Young artists will create vibrant mandala-style dot paintings and Aboriginal-inspired animal art, exploring how simple patterns can build bold, beautiful designs.
Weâll also take inspiration from the world of Yayoi Kusama, the famous contemporary artist known for her playful, immersive use of polka dots.
This joyful workshop builds:
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Focus and fine motor skills
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Pattern recognition and design thinking
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Confidence through colorful self-expression
Families are invited at 4:45 PM for a Mini Gallery Show.
Please bring socks, (to wear on short breaks in the playscape), a snack, water bottle, and wear clothes that can handle a splash of color!
Artist/Instructor: Pamela Palmer, B.F.A.
Founder, The Artistâs ApprenticeThursday 6/30 | 2:00â5:00 PM
Ages: 7 & up (siblings of any age welcome)
Cost: $54 (all materials included)A perfect mix of art, culture, and creative funâwith lots of dots along the way!
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- August 21, 2026
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Build-a-Creature: 3D Sculpture Workshop
August 21, 2026 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA), 500 E 2nd St, Rochester, MI 48307, USAÂ In this imaginative, hands-on workshop, young artists will design and create their own fantasy creatureâfrom sketch to sculpture!
What Weâll Do:
đ§ Creature Design
Kids will invent an original animal, combining features from real and imaginary creatures.đż 3D Sculpture
Students will sculpt their creature using self-dry clay or papier-mâchĂŠ, learning basic form and structure.đ¨ Paint & DetailÂ
Sculptures will be painted and embellished with colorful details.
đ Name & Backstory
Each child will create a mini âzineâ (tiny booklet) to introduce their creatureâs name, habitat, powers, and personality.Families are invited at the end of class, 4:45 for a Mini Gallery Show, where these fantastic and whimsical creations will be unveiled for all to admire.
Please bring a snack and water bottle, wear sock,(for breaks in the playscape) clothes that could use a splash of color.  Â
Artist/Instructor Pamela Palmer B.F.A., Founder of The Artist's Apprentice.
Thursday 6/30 2:00-5:00Â Â Â Ages 7 & up (As always, siblings of any age can join.)
$72 (All materials included)Â
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- August 25, 2026
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- September 8, 2026
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*pk Be Smart. Add ART!
September 8, 2026 3:40 pm - 5:10 pm
Pine Knob Elementary School, 6020 Sashabaw Rd, Village of Clarkston, MI 48346, USApk Be Smart. Add ART!
Tuesday, September 8â Â 3:40 â 5:10pm
Weekly on Tuesday, 4 timesPine Knob Elementary School
Did you know? Â
Students who engage in the arts consistently score higher on college entrance exams. Fine arts sparks creativity and can also strengthen: Â
Academic performance,Â
Critical thinking andÂ
Problem solving.Â
So what are we waiting for, let's get started!
Students will be involved in learning about fractals in nature and creating beautiful artwork using inks on watercolor paper to represent this phenomenon. We will also be adapting our acrylic paintings using the golden ratio as our guide and talk about the Fibonacci sequence. Let's also learn about patterns with A tessellation project! So, is this a math class? Of course not. :) We're just here to have fun and make our best art! (But if the kids learn something new in the meantime, let's not stop them. ;) Â
Sign up today and come join the fun! A Gallery Show will be extended to family at 5:00 on the final day. Please bring a water bottle, snack, and wear clothes that are not precious. Taught by Artist/Educator Pamela Palmer, B.F.A. of The Artist's Apprentice.Â
$85 ($65 plus $20 material fee)Â
Ages 7 & up (As always, siblings of any age are welcome.)Â
Tuesdays 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29Â Â Â Â 3:40-5:10 -
Be Smart. Add ART!
September 8, 2026 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm
Orion Recreation Center, 3800 S Baldwin Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48359, USADid you know? Â
Student who engage in the arts consistently score higher on college entrance exams. Fine arts sparks creativity and can also strengthen: Â
Academic performance,Â
Critical thinking andÂ
Problem solving.Â
So what are we waiting for, let's get started!
Students will be involved in learning about fractals in nature and creating beautiful artwork using inks on watercolor paper to representing this phenomenon.Â
We will also be adapting our acrylic paintings using the golden ratio as our guide and talk about the Fibonacci sequence. Let's also learn about patterns with A tessellation project! So, is this a math class? Of course not. :) We're just here to have fun and make our best art! (But if the kids learn something new in the mean time, let's not stop them. ;) Â
Sign up today and come join the fun! A Gallery Show will be extended to family at 5:00 on the final day. Please bring water bottle, snack, and wear clothes that are not precious. Taught by artist/educator Pamela Palmer, B.F.A. of The Artist's Apprentice.Â
$65 plus $20 material fee payable to instructor on the 1st day of classes.
Ages 7 & up (As always, siblings of any age are welcome.)Â
Tuesdays 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29Â Â Â 6:15 -7:45
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- September 9, 2026
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*spCartooning Woohoo!
September 9, 2026 3:50 pm - 5:20 pm
Springfield Plains Elementary, 8650 Holcomb Rd, Village of Clarkston, MI 48348, USAsp Cartooning Woohoo!
Wednesday, September 9â 3:50 â 5:20pm
Weekly on Wednesday, 4 timesSpringfield Plains Elementary
Kids love comics! But do they learn anything? As an art educator of many years and hundreds of students, I can certainly say with confidence that the answer is a resounding yes!  It develops crucial skills such as creative thinking, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and artistic expression. Cartooning also boosts confidence by offering a less intimidating way for children to practice drawing and learn artistic principles, like simplifying elements, understanding line and shape, and constructing figures. We will be working with both Manga & Marvel comics. Sign up today and come join the fun! FUN FACT: Participating in art can improve confidence and self-expression, giving students a positive outlet for sharing their ideas and emotions.A Gallery Show will be extended to family following class on the final day. Please bring a water bottle, snack, and wear clothes that are not precious. Taught by Artist/Educator Pamela Palmer, B.F.A. of The Artist's Apprentice.
$85 ($65 plus $20 material fee) Ages 6 & up
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- September 10, 2026
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br Cartooning Woohoo!
September 10, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Hart Community Center, 495 Broadway, Davisburg, MI 48350, USAKids love comic! But do they learn anything? As an art educator of many years and hundreds of students, I can certainly say with confidence that the answer is a resounding yes!  It develops crucial skills such as creative thinking, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and artistic expression. Cartooning also boosts confidence by offering a less intimidating way for children to practice drawing and learn artistic principles, like simplifying elements, understanding line and shape, and constructing figures. We will be working with both Manga & Marvel comics.BONUS: Kids will design their own custom zippered Case to take home! Â
 Sign up today and come join the fun! A Gallery Show will be extended to family following class on the final day. Please bring water bottle, snack, and wear clothes that are not precious.Â
Taught by artist/educator Pamela Palmer, B.F.A. of The Artist's Apprentice.
 $45 plus $15 material fee payable to instructor on the first day of classes. Ages 6 & up (As always, siblings of any age are welcome.) -
br Cartooning Woohoo!
September 10, 2026 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Hart Community Center, 495 Broadway, Davisburg, MI 48350, USAKids love comic! But do they learn anything? As an art educator of many years and hundreds of students, I can certainly say with confidence that the answer is a resounding yes!  It develops crucial skills such as creative thinking, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and artistic expression. Cartooning also boosts confidence by offering a less intimidating way for children to practice drawing and learn artistic principles, like simplifying elements, understanding line and shape, and constructing figures. We will be working with both Manga & Marvel comics.BONUS: Kids will design their own custom zippered Case to take home! Â
 Sign up today and come join the fun! A Gallery Show will be extended to family following class on the final day. Please bring water bottle, snack, and wear clothes that are not precious.Â
Taught by artist/educator Pamela Palmer, B.F.A. of The Artist's Apprentice.
 $45 plus $15 material fee payable to instructor on the first day of classes. Ages 6 & up (As always, siblings of any age are welcome.)
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