Art Explorers! Summer Camps
Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
About
Art Explorers! Summer Camps offers weekly themed art sessions that include activities such as “Art in Bloom: Flowers, Bugs & Garden Creatures,” “Messy Masterpieces: Wild Color & Big Experiments,” and “Trick the Eye: Optical Illusions & Visual Magic.” Campers also take part in “Art You Can Wear: Make It, Wear It, Show It, FASHION!,” “Build It Big: Sculpting & 3D Art,” “Light & Dark: Glow, Shadow & Dramatic Art,” and “Camp Favorites: The Best Stuff We Make.” A free opt-in option for RAC-provided lunch and snacks is available each day.
• Ages: 6–13 years old
• Schedule: Seven weeks of camp in 2026 from June 22 to August 7, with camp hours Mondays–Fridays, 9am–3pm
• Price: Each week of camp costs $285 for Ypsilanti residents, or $300 for non-Ypsilanti residents.
Art Explorers! Summer Camps runs seven themed weeks in 2026: June 22–26, June 27–July 2 (four days), July 6–10, July 13–17, July 20–24, July 27–31, and August 3–7. Scholarship applications are open for 2026, camp themes are announced January 15th, and camp registration opens February 2nd on the program webpage. Camp fees can be paid all at once or in installments, with $100 due at registration, and camp costs are stated to remain the same this year.
Rachel Anderson is the Camp Director for Art Explorers! Summer Camps. She is a sixth-year teacher at Ypsilanti International Elementary School, currently teaching kindergarten, with experience teaching K–5. Riverside Arts Center is described as a hub of creative activity with something for everybody and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations to Riverside Arts Center are deductible.
The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County is involved through a partnered exhibition as part of an AACHM and Riverside Arts Center partnership. One parent, JD Carter, reports that his girls enjoyed the Riverside Arts Center Summer Camp, especially a stained glass project, and that they made new friends and found the camp well organized and easy for parents. Another parent, Sandra, describes her boys as “full throttle, super energetic” and says they enjoyed their first week at camp, looked forward to returning for a second week, and became very interested in rocks and minerals after camp. A third parent, Danielle, states that her son did not want his week of camp to end, names Rock Island, rock collecting, and fort building as his favorite parts, and notes that his week included art, science, educational activities, exercise, and fun, and that he attended with the help of a scholarship.
Last updated January 15, 2026.
• Ages: 6–13 years old
• Schedule: Seven weeks of camp in 2026 from June 22 to August 7, with camp hours Mondays–Fridays, 9am–3pm
• Price: Each week of camp costs $285 for Ypsilanti residents, or $300 for non-Ypsilanti residents.
Art Explorers! Summer Camps runs seven themed weeks in 2026: June 22–26, June 27–July 2 (four days), July 6–10, July 13–17, July 20–24, July 27–31, and August 3–7. Scholarship applications are open for 2026, camp themes are announced January 15th, and camp registration opens February 2nd on the program webpage. Camp fees can be paid all at once or in installments, with $100 due at registration, and camp costs are stated to remain the same this year.
Rachel Anderson is the Camp Director for Art Explorers! Summer Camps. She is a sixth-year teacher at Ypsilanti International Elementary School, currently teaching kindergarten, with experience teaching K–5. Riverside Arts Center is described as a hub of creative activity with something for everybody and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations to Riverside Arts Center are deductible.
The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County is involved through a partnered exhibition as part of an AACHM and Riverside Arts Center partnership. One parent, JD Carter, reports that his girls enjoyed the Riverside Arts Center Summer Camp, especially a stained glass project, and that they made new friends and found the camp well organized and easy for parents. Another parent, Sandra, describes her boys as “full throttle, super energetic” and says they enjoyed their first week at camp, looked forward to returning for a second week, and became very interested in rocks and minerals after camp. A third parent, Danielle, states that her son did not want his week of camp to end, names Rock Island, rock collecting, and fort building as his favorite parts, and notes that his week included art, science, educational activities, exercise, and fun, and that he attended with the help of a scholarship.
Last updated January 15, 2026.
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