San Diego, CA, USA
Drawing and painting anchor the day at Art camp at USARTS. Campers in kindergarten through fifth grade are grouped by age and work through themed projects that practice observation, color, texture, pattern, perspective, and visual storytelling. Themes range from animals and flowers to surreal scenes, portraits, imaginative towns, and ocean life. Depending on the project, children may use watercolor, acrylic paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, pen and ink, charcoal, collage, and mixed media.
The program runs in the US Arts Education Center and combines focused studio time with a broader full-day rhythm. Morning art class is followed by lunch, then afternoons mix grade-level academics, hands-on crafts, social time, physical exercise, and games. Weather permitting, physical activity can include nature walks and outdoor drawing. Families can choose a half-day art format or a full-day program, and early arrival for quiet reading is available before class begins.
Maximum class sizes are eight students for younger campers and ten for older campers. Art instruction is led by professional artists, and the center has seven large classrooms that allow different levels to work at the same time. This format fits children who enjoy making art, experimenting with several media, and balancing creative studio work with structured afternoon activities.
| Ages: | 5–11 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City |
| Academics: | Academics, Learning, General Academics |
| Arts: | Arts, Fine Arts, Painting, Arts & Crafts, Visual Arts |
| Time: |
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| Address: | 12812 Rancho Penasquitos Blvd. Suite U, San Diego CA 92129 |
| San Diego | |
| USA |
You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
The core camp format is built around a three-hour morning art block from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with a half-hour break inside that period. Professional art instructors guide age-grouped campers through weekly themes that combine foundational drawing and painting with project-specific techniques. A theme may focus on animal illustration, floral painting, surreal scenes, portrait expression, city design, or ocean imagery, with media chosen to match the project. Camp projects use watercolor, acrylic paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, pen and ink, chalk pastels, light charcoal, and collage.
Full-day campers break for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. and then move into an afternoon mix of academics, crafts, social time, physical exercise, and games until 4:00 p.m. Academic work is adjusted to grade and individual level and may review math, English, social studies, and science. Weather permitting, movement activities can include nature walks and outdoor drawing. Students may arrive at 8:30 a.m. for quiet reading before camp begins.
Families may use the morning as a half-day option or continue through the full-day schedule. An extended art period is also offered after the regular day on most weekdays, with the center closing at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:30 AM | Optional early arrival for free reading |
| 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Art class with a half-hour break |
| 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM | Lunch |
| 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM | Academics, crafts, socializing, physical exercise, and games |
| 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM | Optional extended-day art class; not available Tuesdays |
Families may purchase lunch for $8 per day. The menu lists chicken nuggets on Monday; turkey sandwich or grilled cheese on Tuesday and Thursday; and cheese pizza on Wednesday and Friday. Lunches include fruit and 100% fruit juice.
Art classes are taught by professional artists with backgrounds across drawing, painting, ceramics, digital art, and portfolio preparation. Jill White teaches Creative Development, Crafting, and Art Camp; she has a studio art degree from the University of Oregon and has taught or substituted at US Arts since 2015. The camp also uses small age-grouped classes, with maximum class sizes of eight younger students and ten older students.
Registration is completed through the US Arts camp form. After a form is submitted, a US Arts representative contacts the family to confirm registration, and the space is reserved once full tuition payment is received. Families registering for individual camp days can do so beginning the Sunday before that camp week, while full-week sign-ups receive priority registration.
Campers may arrive as early as 8:30 a.m. for free reading time before the 9:00 a.m. art class. Half-day campers finish at noon; full-day campers continue through lunch and afternoon activities until 4:00 p.m. An extended art period is available from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on most weekdays, but the center closes at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. Full-week registrations receive priority, and individual-day registration opens the Sunday before the camp week. A paid lunch option is available each camp day.
Full-week registrations receive priority. Individual-day registration becomes available the Sunday before the camp week. The cancellation policy applies a $35 or one-class fee when canceled one week ahead and a $100 or two-class fee for later cancellations before the Saturday cutoff; after that cutoff or after camp begins, no credit or refund is offered.
