About
Youth Classes & Camps introduces young people to hands-on activities in welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, ceramics, and glass blowing. These classes and camps take place within a broader program that offers more than 100 hands-on classes, including tasters, single-day options, and immersive weeklong experiences. The program maintains an average student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1 across its offerings.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Youth Summer Camps 2026 run June 8–July 31, 2026, in immersive weeklong camps
The Crucible, which runs Youth Classes & Camps, was founded in 1999 by Michael Sturtz and first opened its doors on January 15, 1999, in a rented 6,000-square-foot warehouse in West Berkeley before moving in 2003 to a 56,000-square-foot facility in West Oakland. The Crucible is a nonprofit organization and art school with eighteen departments, including welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, ceramics, and more, and is described as the nation’s largest industrial and fine arts facility with 18 studios under one roof. Its mission states that it inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands-on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds, and that as an innovative hub built around the industrial arts, it is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections.
The Crucible’s work is centered in Oakland and the East Bay, where it offers classes and team builds in glass, metal, clay, wood, and more to thousands of people each year. It offers free programming, scholarships, and paid leadership opportunities for youth and adults who live locally and otherwise could not participate, and it prioritizes West Oakland neighbors for scholarships and free programming. The Crucible provides over $100,000 in scholarships and free programming each year and runs over 900 classes each year, including multi-disciplinary courses, continuing classes, and hard-to-find offerings. It is widely recognized for its exceptional learning experiences, rich and varied arts programs, skilled and committed faculty, and unparalleled educational facilities, and is described as a leader in the Bay Area arts community and the largest nonprofit industrial arts education facility in the United States, with award-winning classes, camps, and faculty.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Youth Summer Camps 2026 run June 8–July 31, 2026, in immersive weeklong camps
The Crucible, which runs Youth Classes & Camps, was founded in 1999 by Michael Sturtz and first opened its doors on January 15, 1999, in a rented 6,000-square-foot warehouse in West Berkeley before moving in 2003 to a 56,000-square-foot facility in West Oakland. The Crucible is a nonprofit organization and art school with eighteen departments, including welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, ceramics, and more, and is described as the nation’s largest industrial and fine arts facility with 18 studios under one roof. Its mission states that it inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands-on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds, and that as an innovative hub built around the industrial arts, it is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections.
The Crucible’s work is centered in Oakland and the East Bay, where it offers classes and team builds in glass, metal, clay, wood, and more to thousands of people each year. It offers free programming, scholarships, and paid leadership opportunities for youth and adults who live locally and otherwise could not participate, and it prioritizes West Oakland neighbors for scholarships and free programming. The Crucible provides over $100,000 in scholarships and free programming each year and runs over 900 classes each year, including multi-disciplinary courses, continuing classes, and hard-to-find offerings. It is widely recognized for its exceptional learning experiences, rich and varied arts programs, skilled and committed faculty, and unparalleled educational facilities, and is described as a leader in the Bay Area arts community and the largest nonprofit industrial arts education facility in the United States, with award-winning classes, camps, and faculty.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
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