2025 Salem Art Association Summer Camps

ABOUT 2025 SUMMER ART CAMPS

Each week is different and offers high-quality opportunities for youth to learn about Art and Art History in a nurturing environment at the Salem Art Association (SAA). All camps take place at the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex in Salem's Bush's Pasture Park.

All weeks and themes explore the larger relationship between art & nature, and include a diverse mix of artistic materials and processes.  This year, each weekly art theme is based on Environments of Oregon.

At SAA, our Art Camps prioritize learning a variety of art processes and materials to build self-confidence, develop practical skills, practice problem-solving, and to have fun. We find that every student is unique and that usually students become most enthusiastic about art-making after they discover at least one process that really resonates with them.

ABOUT SESSIONS

• Monday 6/23 - Friday 6/27 ~ Weekly art theme: Pacific Ocean
  
• Monday 7/7 - Friday 7/11 ~ Weekly art theme: Oregon Coast
  
• Monday 7/21 - Friday 7/25 ~ Weekly art theme: Oregon Wetlands
  
• Monday 7/28 - Friday 8/1 ~ Weekly art theme: Pacific NW Forests
  
• Monday 8/11 - Friday 8/15 ~ Weekly art theme: Cascade Mountains
  
• Monday 8/18 - Friday 8/22 ~ Weekly art theme: Oregon Desert
  

Each session of Summer Art Camp will have a theme and key words to help guide our creativity and give inspiration for at least 3-5 art projects per week. Specific art activities are scheduled close to the starting date of each camp and might include some of the following: drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, printmaking, photography, poetry, comics, and more.

Each week has two sessions: the morning session is for youth 8-10* years old and will last from 9 a.m. to noon. Afternoon sessions are for youth 11-13* years old and run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

*Age groups: if you have questions whether a student might fit into one group or the other, or have a student just outside these age groups, feel free to inquire with our Education Director, Benjamin Mefford: benjamin@salemart.org

TEACHING APPROACH 

SAA embraces a process-based approach, which is to say that while we will still have some clear goals and guidelines on individual projects, we put our highest emphasis on the inherent value of working through the artistic process to develop creative problem-solving skills.

SAA is an educational powerhouse with 3 rotating exhibition spaces for professional artists, knowledgeable staff, a dynamically curated historic house, all surrounded by a beautiful park with large oak trees and a heritage rose garden. We recognize that our young artists have a diversity of interests, backgrounds, and levels of experience with art, and pride ourselves on staying adaptable to facilitate individual growth. Our summer art camps are approachable and balance practical skill-building with pure creativity. We want our students to finish each week feeling empowered by the magic of art!

EARLY BIRD PRICING - Ends May 15

Take advantage of the early bird price of $165 per camp session by registering by May 15. Starting May 16, prices will go up to $180 per camp session.  The early registration discount is automatically applied when you select a ticket.

REGISTRATION PROCESS - Important Information!

Parents, please register for one child at a time. You can select more than one camp during the registration process. Just select the "ticket" for the appropriate camp(s) your child wants to attend. You will be asked to fill out information for your child, including allergy and medication information so it's important to register one child at a time. Once you check out and pay for your camps, you can start the process over for another child.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Partial scholarships may be available for those who are in need of financial assistance. For questions about scholarships or any other Summer Art Camp questions, please send a note to our Education Director, Benjamin Mefford: benjamin@salemart.org.