SUMMER ARTS CAMP​ 2021

June 21st - August 20th
​COST: $325/WEEK 
8:30am - 5:30pm
10% Sibling Discount / ​Payment Plans ​Available Online

NATURE & MINDFULNESS
Your child will have the opportunity to make a meaningful connection with nature during this Nature & Mindfulness themed week. Students will learn about different elements of nature and look at artists who create artwork inspired by the environment. They will also have the chance to participate in daily mindful movement and meditation activities. Students will create artwork using collected natural materials and will be taught about the importance of caring for our environment. Students will talk with a local artist whose work is inspired by the environment during our weekly artist talk.

June 21st - 25th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the yellow drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
Murals & public art
During this week, students will learn about different forms of public art, and the power that public artwork has in urban communities.  Students will learn about some of the methods used to create public art including wheat paste, yarn bombing, and creating paintings on panels.  Living in Philadelphia, we have the privilege of being surrounded by thousands of murals that bring color to the city and joy to those living in it, and students will have the opportunity to go on a field trip to visit some of these murals close to the Portside. They will learn about different mural artists based in Philadelphia and will get the chance to hear from one during our weekly artist talk. Students will learn about the positive messages that art brings to our communities, and the lasting impact that it creates.

June 28th - July 2nd / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the orange drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
ANIME, comics & super heroes
Students will get inspired by their favorite comics and superheroes and have the opportunity to make their own superhero and comic-inspired art. Students will learn the basic principles behind developing characters and story lines. Sharks and Pirates will delve deeper into basic storyboarding, character development, and the different styles of anime and comics. Students will also have the opportunity to talk with a local comic artist during our weekly artist talk.
July 5th - 9th / M-F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the red drop down menu above to learn more about this camp.
Photo & video arts
Aaannddd...ACTION! During this week, students will learn about different forms of video arts such as traditional animation, claymation and stop motion animation. They will create their own short videos using these techniques. Students will also learn about the history of photography and will create their own pinhole cameras out of old shoe boxes! They will also create “cameraless photographs” with a technique used by early photographers called cyanotypes, or sun prints. A professional photographer will speak to the students during our weekly artist talk.

July 12th - 16th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the pink drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
the art of music
This week at the Portside is dedicated to sound art and music. Students will have the opportunity of fabricating their own instruments out of basic materials such as cardboard, cans, and fishing line, then composing their own music using these instruments. They will learn about different types of music around the world and the important role it plays in many cultures. Students will learn about contemporary music and musicians and have the chance to create their own music videos! They will get to hear from a musician during our weekly artist talk.

July 26th - 30th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the purple drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
Art around the world
Join us on a trip around the world! During this week, students will get inspired by art from all over the world. They may go back in time to ancient Egypt to visit the Great Pyramids one day and examine the work of contemporary Mexican artists the next. Students will work with a variety of materials to create 2-D and 3-D works of art. Join us in this creative journey where students will learn about cultural diversity and create art projects inspired by timeless masterpieces!
August 2nd - 6th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the blue drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
theater arts
Stars will be born in our new Theater Arts camp this summer! We will explore various performance arts, from traditional theater to puppetry, during this week of camp. Students will work together to create their own play which they will perform for the parents at the end of the week. They will also create their own puppets using a variety of materials, as well as props and scenery for their play. Children will have an artist talk from a master theater artist during our weekly artist talk.
August 9th - 13th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the green drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​
the basics of sculpture
Art is getting 3-Dimensional during the final week of summer camp. Sculpture comes in many forms. Students will learn the history of sculpture, and the many types of sculpture from monumental ancient statues to modern mobiles. They will work with a variety of mediums including clay, cardboard, and found objects to name a few. This week of summer camp is perfect for the young builder. Students will also have the opportunity to speak with a world-renowned sculpture artist based in Philadelphia during our weekly artist talk. ​
August 16th - 20th / M - F / 8:30AM-5:30PM / AGES 4-13
Click the green drop down menu above to learn more about this camp. ​

Scholarships
Scholarships are based on financial need and are first come first serve with limited availability

Portside Arts Center provides scholarships to eligible students through an application process. Scholarships are awarded to students based on:
-Considered Low Income by Federal Guidelines
-Have other unexpected expenses (ex. Medical, debt)
-Multiple children
-COVID-19 Financial Stress (ex. Loss or decreased employment)
-Unexpected Expenses/ Loss of Revenue
-Parents on SSI

Penn Treaty Special Services District Scholarship Application
These funds were generously donated to Portside by Penn Treaty Special Services District (PTSSD) to provide scholarships to students within their catchment zone. Please visit the link below to see if your family lives in the catchment zone: 


​Income Based Tuition Application
If you are not in the catchment zone for the Penn Treaty Special Services District Scholarship, we provide standard scholarships with funding from other sources including grants and donations. 
Summer Arts Camp Safety Protocols:

Safety protocols and procedures, as well as dates, are subject to change in compliance with any new safety recommendations from the CDC.

  • Group Size: In accordance with health authority guidelines, this year we will have three age groups: Minnows (age 4-6) and Sharks and Pirates (age 7-13), with a limit of 15 students per age group. Camp groups will remain together throughout camp and separated from each other. 

If you are running late to drop off or you need to pick up early, you must call the office to arrange alternate drop off/pick up.     
                                 
  • Masks: All students and staff members will be required to wear masks except for when eating or drinking.
  • Daily Screening: All campers will be temperature-checked and we will ask parents a set of questions about their recent health every morning at drop off.
  • Floor markings and signage: We have marked off safe distances throughout our building to help keep campers appropriately spaced. Reminders for handwashing, social distancing, and safe sneezing will be posted throughout the facility. 
  • Hygiene: Scheduled handwashing breaks will be built into each group’s schedule and more hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the building.
  • Activities: Activities will be modified to limit physical contact. 
  • Field Trips: Following guidance from the CDC, we hope to offer off site field trips this summer and we will incorporate special programming and virtual field trips.
  • Cleaning: Our entire team will be regularly cleaning to disinfect our facilities throughout the day & our facilities team will perform a deep-clean daily.

All campers and staff members are required to notify the Portside if they have come in contact with a person with COVID-19 or if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

What will the Portside do in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19?

In the event if a camper or staff member contracts COVID-19, the Portside will close for 2 weeks in accordance with the CDC. In this event, you will receive a refund.

Cancellation Policy
  • Cancellations for a refund or credit can be made by June 1st 2021. Cancellations after this date will not result in a refund or credit.
  • If we must cancel a camp session your child is registered for because of COVID-19 CDC guidelines, you will receive a full 100% refund.
  • If your child cannot come to camp because someone in your family has been exposed to COVID-19 and you are following the CDC guidelines for isolation, you will receive a full 100% refund.  This refund can be routed to your bank account or you can apply it to family credit. 

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