
SUMMER ARTS CAMP
Located at Portside Arts Center
2531 East Lehigh Ave. Philadelphia PA 19125
June 20 - August 19
COST: $350/WEEK
Ages: 4-13
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
10% Sibling Discount / Payment Plans Available Online
Located at Portside Arts Center
2531 East Lehigh Ave. Philadelphia PA 19125
June 20 - August 19
COST: $350/WEEK
Ages: 4-13
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
10% Sibling Discount / Payment Plans Available Online
ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!
A summer of arts and adventure awaits your creative kid at the Portside Arts Center!
During each one-week camp, students are exposed to a wide range of arts and artists, participate in daily art projects, and create masterpieces of their own! They will also go on an exciting arts-related field trip, participate in a talk with a talented local artist, and enjoy playtime in the park and plenty of time with their friends.
Summertime at Portside is full of fun, friends and surprises in a safe, loving and creative environment.
OH, NO! Is the week of Summer Arts Camp you were hoping to sign up for full?
Don't give up! Put your child's name on the waiting list and we can call you back if a space opens up!
Waitlists are free of charge. Payment will be due upon actual registration for the program.
Don't give up! Put your child's name on the waiting list and we can call you back if a space opens up!
Waitlists are free of charge. Payment will be due upon actual registration for the program.

Camp Weeks & Themes
WEEK 1 | June 20 - June 24 | Nature & Mindfulness
Nature & Mindfulness week is an opportunity for kids to make a meaningful connection with the natural world. Campers will explore the different elements of nature and look at artists whose work is inspired by the environment -- and they'll use the great outdoors as inspiration for their own art, too! An appreciation of our beautiful planet and the need to take good care of it will be emphasized. Kids will also get the chance to experience daily mindful movement and meditation activities.
WEEK 1 | June 20 - June 24 | Nature & Mindfulness
Nature & Mindfulness week is an opportunity for kids to make a meaningful connection with the natural world. Campers will explore the different elements of nature and look at artists whose work is inspired by the environment -- and they'll use the great outdoors as inspiration for their own art, too! An appreciation of our beautiful planet and the need to take good care of it will be emphasized. Kids will also get the chance to experience daily mindful movement and meditation activities.

WEEK 2 | June 27 - July 1 | Anime, Comics & Superheroes
Campers will get inspired by their favorite comics and superheroes, and have a blast making their own action-packed, comics-inspired art! Part of the fun will be experiencing the art of famous comics artists and learning the basics of creating characters and storylines. Younger students will develop and transform into their own superheroes while older students will dive deeper into storyboarding, character development and the different styles of anime and comics.

WEEK 3 | July 11 - July 15 | Art Around the World
Join us on a trip around the world! This week's camp is a creative journey where campers will celebrate cultural diversity and be inspired by art and artists from across the globe. They may time travel to ancient Egypt to visit the Great Pyramids one day and examine the work of contemporary Mexican artists the next. Working with a variety of materials, campers will create 2-D and 3-D masterpieces of their own.

WEEK 4 | July 18 - July 22 | The Art of Puppetry
Puppetry is an art form that combines performance and creation, and campers will get to experience both! After learning about different kinds of puppets from around the world, they will build puppet characters of their own. Together, they will write puppet plays to perform for their families on the last day of camp!

WEEK 5 | July 25 - July 29 | Photo & Video Arts
Aaand... ACTION! During this week, campers will learn about different forms of video arts such as claymation and stop motion animation. They will create their own short videos using these techniques. Plus, they will learn about the science and history of photography by creating pinhole cameras and cyanotype "sun" prints, learn about famous photographers, and get behind the camera experience taking their own snaps!

WEEK 6 | August 1 - 5 | Fiber Arts! Fabulous Fashions & Cool Creations
In a world filled with fabrics, fiber art is about way more than the stuff we wear. Campers will get to experience the beauty of all kinds of art made from fibers, learn a bit about how fabrics are made, and study the impact of fabric manufacture on the environment. Projects may include weaving, tie-dye, costume design, screen printing or upcycling our old clothes to make something fun and new!

WEEK 7 | August 8 - 12 | Building & Sculpture
This week, it's all about art in 3 dimensions! Art isn't just pictures on walls, it comes in many forms. Campers will learn about all kinds of art that "takes up space" - from monumental ancient statues to modern mobiles. Then, working with a variety of mediums like clay, cardboard and found objects, they will make some sculptures of their own. If you have a young builder in your life, this is the perfect camp.

WEEK 8 | August 15 - 19 | Theatre Arts
Stars will be born (or maybe just shine a little brighter) during this week's camp exploring various performing arts. Campers will play fun games and hone their skill as actors, then work together to create their own play or skits to perform for their families at the end of the week. It takes all kinds of skills to put on a play, so campers will also get a taste of the other parts of theater production, from building their own sets to designing their own costumes. No acting experience is needed to have fun during this week of 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 A link to the scholarship applications will be available in this space starting February 7, 2022. If you do not have access to an internet-enabled device, please contact Portside Arts Center at 215-427-1514 so we can help. Families interested in scholarship assistance should complete and submit an application as soon as possible. You will be notified of your scholarship decision within two weeks. |
Summer Arts Camp FAQS:
How do I register my child for Summer Arts Camp?
Registration opens on Monday, February 7 at 3:00 PM. You can register your child by clicking on the registration links above for Portside Art Center’s Main Campus camp or our camp @ Cherry Street Pier. Alternatively, If you do not have an internet accessible device, please contact Laura, Enrollment and Communications Manager, by phone at 215-427-1514 – or stop by our administrative offices at 2531 East Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia PA, 19125 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Does my child have to register for the entire summer?
Your family can register for one or more weeks of camp, based on your summer plans!
Does Portside Arts Center provide snacks and lunch?
Campers should bring with them an energy-packed supply of snacks and lunch for their child to enjoy during their day at camp, and a water bottle. Portside does not provide lunch or snacks, but filtered water is available for children to refill their bottles during the day. Portside Arts Center is a nut free camp, so please do not pack foods that include peanut butter or tree nuts.We also ask that kids do not bring candy or sodas to camp.
What if I need to cancel my child’s enrollment in a Portside Camp?
Camp Enrollments AFTER March 16, 2022
Cancellations may be made up to May 15, 2022. However a cancellation fee of $35 per camp week will be charged. Refunds can be made as a family credit or a direct credit card refund. Cancellations made after this date will not result in a refund or credit.
Camp Enrollments BEFORE March 16, 2022
The deadline for cancelling your child’s camp enrollment for a refund or Portside credit is May 15, 2022. Cancellations made after this date will not result in a refund or credit.
Covid-19 Related Cancellations
If we must cancel a day or more of a camp session that your child is registered for because of COVID-19 CDC guidelines, you will receive a full refund for each day that camp is closed. 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 family credit which may be applied to another camp or program.
What are Portside’s plans for keeping camp fun and safe this summer?
Portside staff will be working hard so that our campers can enjoy a fun and safe experience.
Here’s our plan:
(Safety protocols and procedures are subject to change in compliance with any new safety recommendations from the CDC.)
Group Size: this year the summer camps at our main campus will have three age groups: Minnows (age 4-6) and Sharks (age 7-8) and Pirates (age 9-13), with a limit of 20 students per age group. Camp groups will remain together throughout camp and separated from each other.
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 parents will be asked to sign a waiver that they will not drop off their child if they have been exposed or are experiencing any covid like symptoms.
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 hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
Field Trips: We continue to offer off site field trips this summer in a covid safe manner.
Lunchtime: Whenever possible, students will be eating their lunch outside.
Cleaning: Our entire team will be regularly cleaning to disinfect our facilities throughout the day.
Vaccinations: All of our staff members are fully vaccinated.
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 act in accordance with the latest CDC guidance. If your child cannot attend due to the following guidelines, you will receive a refund for each camp day unattended.
If your child is vaccinated, OR has had a confirmed (and recovered) infection in the last 90 days:
-No isolation required.
-Mask-to-Stay for 10 days and do not attend with any symptoms.
If your child is NOT vacciated:
-5 day quarantine required, date of exposure counts as day 0.
-Test on day 5 and email photo results to portsideartscenter@gmail.com
-Mask-to-Stay for days 6-10 and do not attend with any symptoms.
If your child tests positive for Covid-19:
-Symptom onset OR date of positive test counts as day 0.
-Isolate for 10 days.
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. Any child who develops symptoms regardless of vaccination status must quarantine and get tested. If your child develops Covid-19 symptoms and they test negative (this must be PCR) they can return if fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. We suggest getting tested through CHOP, who provides PCR tests with same day results. You can find more information in the link below:
https://www.chop.edu/covid-19-testing-kids
Parents send proof of vaccination at the time of enrollment. If your child has been vaccinated since enrollment, you can email their proof of vaccination status to portsideartscenter@gmail.com. If you are unsure what you entered during enrollment, please contact us.