Spark your child's creativity this summer at Mesa Arts Center! Our Youth and Teen summer camps and classes offer a vibrant mix of creative experiences including Teen Beginning Jewelry, Clay Monster Madness, The Time Traveler Radio Project, Making Myths, Animation Camp and more.
Scholarships are available for youth and teens who qualify. See Youth Camps webpage.
Registration is required.
For Ages 6 - 9
Art Adventures!
July 14 - July 17, 2025 (4 Days)
Mon - Thur, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Camp Location: Multi-Purpose Room
Ready to explore the world of art? Join us for a fun-filled four day camp where each day brings a brand new creative adventure! From printmaking to sculpting, we’ll explore cool art techniques, both old and new. This introductory visual arts camp is the perfect way for students to discover new skills and try their hand at a variety of exciting art forms!
Story Explorers
July 21 - July 24, 2025 (4 Days)
Mon - Thur, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Camp Location: Acting Studio
Come along on an exciting adventure where stories come to life! All you need is your imagination! Each week students explore a new picture book using creative movement, drama and visual arts activities to activate the story. This is an introductory arts class for young learners to be creative, gain confidence and collaborate with others!
For Ages 9 - 12
Clay Monster Madness!
June 17 - June 27, 2025 (8 days)
Tues, Wed, Thu & Fri 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
Camp Location: Ceramics Studio
Welcome all wild things! In this eight day camp we will use beginner handbuilding techniques to sculpt our favorite monsters and animals. We'll learn how to make a monster mask, creature pinch pots, trinket holders, sleeping dragons, and other functional and decorative forms. Finally, we will use food safe glazes to paint our critters. Bring your creativity and get ready to play with clay! We will provide all materials including clay.
For Ages 10 - 12
The Time Travelers Radio Play Project
June 9 - June 13, 2025 (1 Week)
Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Camp Location: CoLab
Take a blast into the past and get on the mic with the Time Travelers Radio Project! Before there was television, families would gather around the radio and listen to their favorite shows a lot like how we listen to podcasts now! Performance and podcasting meet in this fun, interactive camp where students become storytellers and use their imaginations to create an old-time radio drama show. Students will experiment with creating vintage sound effects in a live Foley Sound lab, learn acting/stage skills and how to write their very own stories for podcast/audio recording. On the final day of the class, friends and family are invited to see a live recording of the students’ radio play performance.
Making Myths
June 9 - June 12, 2025 (4 Days)
Mon - Thu, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Camp Location: Multipurpose Room
Have a love for all things fantasy? This camp will go over the basics of drawing and constructing different kinds of fantasy creatures from dragons to fairies, and allowing students to create their very own!
Anime Adventures: Learning to Draw Anime
June 3 - July 8, 2025 (6 Weeks)
Tuesdays 4:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Class Location: Painting Studio
Discover the rich history of anime, explore its diverse genres, and break down the key elements that make anime unique. Throughout the course, we’ll focus on the history and evolution of anime, iconic series and films across various genres, and techniques for creating anime-inspired art and stories. You'll also have the chance to create your own anime-inspired artwork, write short stories, and discuss your favorite shows with fellow fans.
For Ages 13+
Teen Beginning Jewelry
June 4 - July 16, 2025 (7 Weeks)
Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Camp location: Jewelry Studio
Students will learn the basic skills and safety of metalsmithing by experimenting and exploring creative designs to make metal jewelry. Techniques covered will include sawing, soldering, torch fired enameling, polishing, and finishing. All class materials are provided.
Animation Camp
June 16 - June 27, 2025 (10 Days)
Mon - Fri, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Camp Location: CoLab
In this fun and hands-on camp, students will learn to turn raw ideas into structured stories, from concept to storyboard creations. Focused on storytelling techniques, narrative flow, and visual planning, this camp is perfect for aspiring animators. We’ll cover animation basics like keyframes, tweening, and simple motion techniques, with plenty of practice through engaging exercises. Ideal for those new to animation, we’ll equip you with the tools and knowledge to bring your characters and stories to life.
Stop Motion Camp Animation Exploration For Teens
June 30 - July 3, 2025 (4 Days)
Mon -Thu, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to make your very own stop motion animation, inspired by movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, or cartoons like Wallace and Gromit? In this four day camp we will use cardboard boxes to set our scene, clay and armature wire for our characters, and iPads to take our photos. Using a dope sheet, we will plan out our movements to create fluid, exciting animations. Students are welcome to bring animate-able objects from home like action figures or other poseable toys, as well as craft supplies to build their set, but we will provide all necessary materials.
Teen Worldbuilding and Character Creation
June 5 - July 24, 2025
Thursdays, 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. (8 weeks)
Class Location: Multipurpose Room
Do you have a comedy, action, sci-fi, fantasy, or personal story you've always wanted to tell? In this illustration class we will develop our own narratives using beginning drawing techniques and methods used by cartoonists, writers, and storytellers. Projects include making our own storyboards, character designs, zines, comics, and more. We will work in our sketchbooks to make a “story bible” for our imaginary worlds. Students are welcome to bring drawing tools from home but we will provide all materials.
Teen: Explorations of Glass Fusing
June 14 - July 26, 2025 (7 weeks)
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Class Location: Glass Studio
This class will cover a new fusing technique each week. Students will learn how to full fuse, tack fuse and slump projects, as well as, make pattern bars and crackle effects.