Gilchrist Art Camp

Gilchrist Art Camp offers a wide range of hands-on projects, including ceramics, collage, several forms of print making, acrylic paintings on fine acrylic paper or canvas, and encaustic painting using hot wax. Campers also work on recycled sculptures, themed projects, candle making, soap and bath bomb making, silk screening, tie-dye t-shirts, wood working, drawing, glass mosaics, and glass fusion. Activities include color theory, outdoor activities and games, and time for both teamwork and individual practice.

• Ages: 5–12 years old
• Schedule: Weekly themed camps all summer long, Monday–Friday, with camp days from 9:30am–3:30pm and optional pre/post care from 8am–5pm
• Price: $465 SUMMER CAMPS

Gilchrist Art Camp was started in 2007 by Lisa Gilchrist Peterson. Counselors at Gilchrist Art Camp are hand-picked for their creative abilities, teaching skills, child care experience, and their interest in working with kids and messy art projects, and Lisa has a background in both art and child development. The camp’s stated goal is to give kids their best week or weeks of summer, using found, recycled, and used materials along with professional-grade paints and fine art products, and each week is planned with as many projects as possible while still focusing on the process. The program describes itself as a happy and messy place for creativity, and notes that additional weeks for several themes are offered due to high demand, with repeat camps using the exact same projects as the first dates.

Parent testimonials describe children returning for several years, enjoying new creative projects that often use recycled materials, and experiencing a low-key, relaxed environment created by Lisa and her staff. Parents report that their children attend many weeks each summer, that projects and themes are mixed up to keep campers interested, and that they keep their children’s artwork displayed at home.

Last updated March 27, 2026.