We love summer at River Tree Arts!

Our arts center is busy with camps, classes & private lessons with campers from near & far.
This year, choose from Musical Petting Zoos, Juggling, Star Wars, Beach Art, Robotics, Musicals, 80’s Dance Parties, Puppets and more! River Tree Kids Camps has something fun for everyone, from ages 4-18.
Our faculty and guest teachers are skilled artists, performers, musicians as well as gifted instructors.
Mini-Camp Mondays are featured below: perfect for busy summer schedules, designed for grades 6-8 & grades 3-5, including Skateboard Art, Fashion Design & the Art of Star Wars.

{ PARENT INFORMATION }
-All camps run Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30-12:30pm, unless noted*
-When registering, please make note of the age ranges for each camp, each theme & teacher was chosen to be the perfect fit for your child.
-Campers MUST be within the grades listed; there are no exceptions. For example, Grades 4-5 means either entering grades 4 & 5, or leaving grades 4 & 5.
-Pack a snack & drink for each day of camp- creativity makes kids hungry!
-Drop-off is at 9:30am. Due to the amount of prep that goes into each class, we cannot accept early drop-offs.
-Please pick-up promptly at 12:30pm.
-In the event camps are not full, we do allow limited late registrations & drop-ins.
-Please call us at 207-967-9120 for more information.

Live! On Stage!*

{5 DAY CAMP} June 24-28. Grades K-8 $110/members, $121/non members. Full Day option available, please see below.
Live! On Stage is an intensive week of theater for multi-age children. During the course of the week students will learn valuable skills in creative drama, singing, movement and production design while creating characters for the stage. Students will refine their skills while putting together a workshop production of a 30 minute musical. Both fun and educational, we have created a program that will provide a warm and nurturing environment for all abilities. With River Tree Kids teacher & RTA Performing Arts Director Ann Guiney. To reserve a private voice lesson with Ann, please call us at 207-967-9120. Max.20

Stop Motion Animation*

{5 DAY CAMP} June 24-28. Grades 3-6 $125/members, $137.50/non members. Full Day option available, please see below.
Do you love movies like Fantastic Mr. Fox or homemade YouTube stop animation shorts?
Work with brother & sister team Patrick and Abbeth Russell to create your own stop motion animation video. Abbeth will guide you through creating your own character, which you’ll transform into a movable version. Patrick will teach you video camera basics which will allow you to bring your character to life on the big screen! On the last day we will have a screening of our finished animations. With River Tree Kids teacher Abbeth Russell & guest teacher Partick Russell. Max.15

*Full Day Option available for June 24-28, $75/member, $82.50/non member
Enroll in Live! On Stage! Or Stop Motion Animation and choose Afternoon Art, 12:30- 3:30pm.
Students will eat lunch, walk to Parson’s Field for a short recess & be engaged in art projects until the end of the day with River Tree Kids teacher, Abbeth Russell. Max.15.

Flashback to the 80’s Dance Camp!

July 1-3. $25/member, $27.50/non member
Each age group will learn 80’s inspired dance moves while incorporating jazz & hip hop fundamentals. There will be a short demo the last 15 minutes of class for friends & family on July 3.
With River Tree Kids dance teacher Angela Russell.
Max.12
Preschoolers (ages 3-5): 9:30-10:15am
K-2: 10:15-11am
Grades 3-5: 11-12pm Grades 6-8: 12-2pm
*This camp is held on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday due to the July 4 holiday.

Comic Book Camp

July 1-3. Grades 2-6: $50/members, $55/non members
POW! BOOM! BAM! Invent, write and draw your very own comic book! This three day camp will focus on sequential storytelling, drawing POWERFUL angles, creating dynamic characters and drawing the figure. Each student will be leaving the camp with a good start on their very own comic book adventures! With special guest William Hessian. Max.12 *This camp is held on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday due to the July 4 holiday.

Beach Art in the Studio

July 9-11. Ages 4-7: $50/members, $55/non members
Beaches are an integral part of our community and it’s where artists young and old gather inspiration to create works of art. Each day, we will focus on a different beach, its landscape, what lives there, and what inspires us most about it. Children will be introduced to basic landscape painting techniques using watercolor or acrylic, sculptures using both clay and items gathered from the shoreline, and handmade jewelry inspired by shells and rocks found there. With River Tree Kids teacher Bryce Jones. Max 12.

Stop Motion Animation

July 9-11. Grades 6-8 $65/members, $71.50/non members
Do you love movies like Fantastic Mr. Fox or homemade YouTube stop animation shorts?
Work with brother & sister team Patrick and Abbeth Russell to create your own stop motion animation video. Abbeth will guide you through creating your own character, which you’ll transform into a movable version. Patrick will teach you video camera basics which will allow you to bring your character to life on the big screen! On the last day we will have a screening of our finished animations. With River Tree Kids teacher Abbeth Russell & guest teacher Patrick Russell. Max.15

Lego Robotics

July 9-11. Grades 4-5 $70/members, $77/non members
Do you love building things? Would you like to learn more about how robotics work? Join us at one of our Lego Robotics summer camps! This camp will introduce your child to the world of Lego Robotics. Students will learn how to build and program a robot completely out of Legos! On the last day, the children will have the opportunity to show their parents & friends the robots they have built and watch them complete tasks. Maximum 6. With special guest, Ann Charlton.

Musical Petting Zoo

July 16-18. Ages 4-7 $50/members, $55/non members Did you know that musical intelligence is linked to development in other areas of intelligence, such as creativity, logic, and spatial intelligence? Your child will have the opportunity to learn and sing folk songs, create and play percussive noisemakers, learn rhythm through movement and dance, hear different types of music through storytelling about various composers and musicians. Kids will explore different types of instruments through guided “instrument petting zoos” during which time your child will see, hear, and even try different instruments. All of these activities encourage your child to not only express him/herself, but also to listen to others. With Lauren Hastings. To reserve a private violin lesson for your child with Lauren, please call us at 207-967-9120. Rentals available. Max.10

Juggling 101

July 16-18. Grades 4-6 $50/members, $55/non members Taught by Portland-based fire juggler Abbeth Russell. Try different tools & techniques as well as make your own handmade soft juggling props. A short demo for friends & family will be held on 7/18 at 12pm. Sorry, fire not included! With River Tree Kids teacher, Abbeth Russell.
Max. 8.

Lego Robotics

July 16-18. Grades 6-8 $70/members, $77/non members
Do you love building things? Would you like to learn more about how robotics work? Join us at one of our Lego Robotics summer camps! This camp will introduce your child to the world of Lego Robotics. Students will learn how to build and program a robot completely out of Legos! On the last day, the children will have the opportunity to show their parents & friends the robots they have built and watch them complete tasks. Maximum 6. With special guest, Ann Charlton.

Make Your Own Puppets

July 23-25. Grades 1-5 $50/members, $55/non members Join us for an introduction to the creative world of puppetry! Students will learn to create and perform with a variety of handmade puppets, including but not limited to: rod/stick puppets, finger puppets, sock puppets and bag puppets. The overall theme of the week will be stories: how do we create certain ones “from scratch,” how do we adapt others, and how do we communicate them using puppets? You’ll find answers to these and other questions through a series of art projects designed to engage your hands, your mind – and your puppets! With guest teacher Nicola McEldowney. Max.15

The Art of Star Wars

July 23-25. Grades 2-6 $50/members, $55/non members Jedi and the Sith, Lightsabers and Blaster Rifles! This is the science fiction art class that will explore droids, monsters, spaceships and bounty hunters. If you love Star Wars, you will love to learn about the Art of Star Wars and learn step by step how to draw all kinds of different pictures. By the end of the class, each student will have a stack of sketches and a few finished colored drawings ready for a frame. With special guest William Hessian. Max.12

Intro to Plein Air

July 30-August 1. Grades 3-6 $50/members, $55/non members Head out ‘on location’ to iconic locations throughout Dock Square. Sketch studies of downtown Dock Square, ocean scenes, the waterfront & more. In the event of rain, we will hold camp at RTA. Please bring a backpack to carry supplies, a snack & drink. Please wear sunscreen. With River Tree Kids teacher Abbeth Russell. All materials provided. Max.10

Lego Robotics

July 30-August 1. Grades 4-5 $70/members, $77/non members
Do you love building things? Would you like to learn more about how robotics work? Join us at one of our Lego Robotics summer camps! This camp will introduce your child to the world of Lego Robotics. Students will learn how to build and program a robot completely out of Legos! On the last day, the children will have the opportunity to show their parents & friends the robots they have built and watch them complete tasks. Maximum 6. With special guest, Ann Charlton.

Classic Superheros

July 30-August 1. Grades 2-6 $50/members, $55/non members From Batman to Wolverine, and all the muscly men and women in between. Have you ever wanted to be able to draw all of your favorite superheroes? As a class we will go step by step learning how to draw all different classic superheroes. Students are invited to bring in comics of their favorite superheroes and then learn to draw them using fundamentals of drawing, sketching, inking, costume details and learning the figure. With special guest William Hessian. Max 12

Musical Petting Zoo

August 6-8. Ages 4-7 $50/members, $55/non members Did you know that musical intelligence is linked to development in other areas of intelligence, such as creativity, logic, and spatial intelligence? Your child will have the opportunity to learn and sing folk songs, create and play percussive noisemakers, learn rhythm through movement and dance, hear different types of music through storytelling about various composers and musicians. Kids will explore different types of instruments through guided “instrument petting zoos” during which time your child will see, hear, and even try different instruments. All of these activities encourage your child to not only express him/herself, but also to listen to others. With Lauren Hastings. To reserve a private violin lesson for your child with Lauren, please call us at 207-967-9120. Rentals available. Max.10

Flashback to the 80’s Dance Camp!

August 6-8
Each age group will learn 80’s inspired moves while incorporating jazz & hip hop fundamentals. There will be a short demo the last 15 minutes of class for friends & family on August 8. With River Tree Kids dance teacher Angela Russell. Max.12 Preschoolers (ages 3-5): 9:30-10:15am
K-2: 10:15-11am
Grades 3-5: 11-12pm
Grades 6-8: 12-2pm

Intro to Sewing

August 13-15. Grades 3-6 (age 8+) $50/members, $55/non members Learn the lifelong, exciting skill of sewing. Students will learn how to operate a sewing machine as they make an Upcycling project from scraps or gently used materials. All materials included in the fee. With River Tree Kids teacher Lucy Hardy. Max.8

Drawing Club

August 13-15. Grades 2-5 $50/members, $55/non members Work with professional artist & RTA faculty Abbeth Russell to advance your drawing skills. Learn scale, perspective, shading and other valuable skills to make your drawings more life-like & interesting. Fun drawing exercises will be introduced. All materials provided. Max. 12

Lego Robotics

August 13-15. Grades 6-8 $70/members, $77/non members
Do you love building things? Would you like to learn more about how robotics work? Join us at one of our Lego Robotics summer camps! This camp will introduce your child to the world of Lego Robotics. Students will learn how to build and program a robot completely out of Legos! On the last day, the children will have the opportunity to show their parents & friends the robots they have built and watch them complete tasks. Maximum 6. With special guest, Ann Charlton.

Rock Band

August 20-22 Grades 5-8 $50/members, $55/non members This class is designed to rock and roll! Songs selected will range from The Beatles, ACDC, Nirvana, and beyond. Students will work as a band as they focus on their favorite tunes in a productive setting. All instruments welcome & encouraged. Prerequisite: students must have prior experience in school band or private lessons. *Some instruments available for use during class. Please inquire. With River Tree Kids teacher & Music Director Duane Edwards. Max.12
To reserve a private uke, guitar or upright bass lesson with Duane, please call 207-967-9120.

Intro to Sewing 2

August 20-22. Grades 6-8 $50/members, $55/non members Learn the lifelong, exciting skill of sewing. Students will learn how to operate a sewing machine as they make an Upcycling project from scraps or gently used materials. All materials included in the fee. With River Tree Kids teacher Lucy Hardy. Max.8

Lego Robotics

August 20-22. Grades 4-5 $70/members, $77/non members
Do you love building things? Would you like to learn more about how robotics work? Join us at one of our Lego Robotics summer camps! This camp will introduce your child to the world of Lego Robotics. Students will learn how to build and program a robot completely out of Legos! On the last day, the children will have the opportunity to show their parents & friends the robots they have built and watch them complete tasks. Maximum 6. With special guest, Ann Charlton.

Blueberry Mornings in Maine

August 27-29. Ages 4-7 $50/members, $55/non members August is blueberry picking time in most parts of Maine. Children will be introduced to still life drawing, printmaking & create blueberry paint of their own to use on canvas. Each day will be full of fun projects- students may get a little messy! Please wear clothes suitable for the art studio. With River Tree Kids teacher Bryce Jones. Max.12
*Full Day option available for children entering Grades 1 & 2

Art A La Carte: Afternoon

12:30- 3:30pm: Students will eat lunch, walk to Parson’s Field for a short recess & be engaged in art projects until the end of the day. With River Tree Kids teacher, Abbeth Russell. Max.15.

Art A La Carte: Morning

{5 DAY CAMP} August 26-30. Grades 1-6 $110/members, $121/non members.
9:30-12:30pm: This end of summer camp will highlight all of our favorite projects and teachers. Students will have the chance to try a little bit of everything in the children’s studio.
Full Day option is available: choose both morning & afternoon sessions

Art A La Carte: Afternoon

{5 DAY CAMP} August 26-30. Grades 1-6 $75/member, $82.50/non member
12:30- 3:30pm: Students will eat lunch, walk to Parson’s Field for a short recess & be engaged in art projects until the end of the day. Max.15.

Broadway Bootcamp

{5 DAY CAMP} August 26-30. Grades 6-12 9:30-12:30pm $110/members, $121/non members. Develop greater skills as a musical theatre performer in this workshop for teens. Sing, dance, and act in a professional environment which focuses on vocal technique, Broadway choreography styles, and acting for musical theatre. Your teachers will help whip you into shape and provide you with a look into the world of Broadway. Students will learn selections from some of the great shows that pushed the style of musical theatre to a younger generation such as: Wicked, Hairspray, Chicago, Rent, Les Miserables, and more. Don’t miss this phenomenal opportunity to dive into the professional musical theatre experience. With River Tree Kids teacher & RTA Performing Arts Director Ann Guiney. To reserve a private voice lesson with Ann, please call us at 207-967-9120. Min.5 Max.18

Band Prep Ensemble*

{5 Day Camp} August 26-30. Grades 6-12 12:30-3:30pm $110/members, $121/non members.
School is starting back up & your band skills need a refresher course. This class will get you back into shape & ready to impress your school band & perform at your highest level. Work as an ensemble as you learn fun exercises, develop improv skills & valuable performance techniques. This class is designed for all band instruments and will be run by With River Tree Kids teacher & Music Director Duane Edwards & special guests. To reserve a private uke, guitar or upright bass lesson with Duane, please call 207-967-9120.

Mini-Camp Mondays

These one day classes are perfect for busy summer schedules.

Choose from grades 6-8 or grades 2-5.
All Monday mini-camps run 9:30-12:30pm, $22.50/members, $25/members, Max enrollment 12. *Excludes Skate Deck Art.
Please preregister for all camps.
We strongly recommend packing a snack & drink for each day of camp- creativity makes kids hungry!
Drop-off is at 9:30am.
Due to the amount of prep that goes into each class, we cannot accept early drop-offs.
Please pick-up promptly at 12:30pm.
In the event camps are not full, we do allow limited late registrations & drop-ins.
Please call us at 207-967-9120 for more information.

Grades 6-8:

OPEN BAND

Mondays, July 8-August 19.
RTA music faculty will bring their varied Portland band scene experience to class. Bring any instrument of your choice for this improv class that will help keep your skills sharp & fresh. Choose one class or all 7. *Some instruments available for use during class. Please inquire.

ADVANCED DRAWING

July 8.
Work with professional artist & RTA faculty Abbeth Russell to advance your drawing skills. Learn scale, perspective, shading and other valuable skills to make your drawings more life-like & interesting. Fun drawing exercises will be introduced. All materials provided.

ADVANCED FASHION SKETCHING

July 15.
Before a clothing line can be developed, designers take great care creating their sketches. This class will teach how to create a workable & dynamic sketch, incorporate colors, textures & real-life design scenarios. Learn the “tricks” of fashion design sketching with designer, seamstress & special guest Vida Urbaite. All abilities welcome & encouraged.

ADVANCED PLEIN AIR

July 22.
Head out ‘on location’ to iconic locations throughout Dock Square. Sketch studies of downtown Dock Square, ocean scenes, the waterfront & more. In the event of rain, we will hold a still life class at RTA. With River Tree Arts teacher Abbeth Russell. All materials provided.

SKATE DECK ART

August 5. 9:30-1:30pm, $45/members, $50/non members.
Design your own skate deck for the wall or to ride. The first half of class will be spent developing a working sketch. Transfer your design to the skate deck provided & finish with durable-grade paint. Skate deck & materials provided. Maximum 5 students.

ADVANCED PLEIN AIR

August 19.
Head out ‘on location’ to iconic locations throughout Dock Square. Sketch studies of downtown Dock Square, ocean scenes, the waterfront & more. In the event of rain, we will hold a still life class at RTA. Please bring a backpack to carry supplies, a snack & drink. Please wear sunscreen. With professional artist & RTA faculty Abbeth Russell. All materials provided.

Grades 2-5:

UKELELE CLUB

July 8-August 19. Ukeleles are fun to learn & easy for beginners to use. Their smaller size makes them the perfect choice for younger students. Kids will learn popular songs as a group through rhythm and chords. A great class for all abilities and a fun way to spend a morning. Choose one class or all 7. Ukeleles provided. With River Tree Kids teacher & RTA Music Director Duane Edwards. To reserve a private uke, guitar or upright bass lesson with Duane, please call 207-967-9120.

STAR WARS WORKSHOP

July 8. Jedi and the Sith, Lightsabers and Blaster Rifles! This is the science fiction art class that will explore droids, monsters, spaceships and bounty hunters. If you love Star Wars, you’ll have a great Monday morning! With special guest William Hessian.

SUPERHEROS 101

July 15. Go step by step learning how to draw all the classic superheroes. Students are invited to bring in comics of their favorite superheroes and then learn to recreate them using fundamentals of drawing. With special guest William Hessian.

COMIC CLUB 1

July 22. POW! BAM! Learn how to draw a story in the style of your favorite comic books & invent your own characters. With special guest William Hessian.

COMIC CLUB 2

July 29. CRUNCH! KABOOM! Start a new comic or continue to develop your own illustrated story. With special guest William Hessian.

STAR WARS WORKSHOP

August 5. Jedi and the Sith, Lightsabers and Blaster Rifles! This is the science fiction art class that will explore droids, monsters, spaceships and bounty hunters. If you love Star Wars, you’ll have a great Monday morning! With special guest William Hessian.

FASHION SKETCHING 101.

August 12.
Before a clothing line can be developed, designers take great care creating their sketches. This class will teach how to create a workable & dynamic sketch, incorporate colors, textures & real-life design scenarios. Learn the “tricks” of fashion design sketching with designer, seamstress & special guest Vida Urbaite. All abilities welcome & encouraged.

Puppetry Workshop.

August 26. Special guest Nicola McEldowney will share her puppet-making skills to include handmade puppets as well as help create short scenes for your puppets to perform. Leave this class with a fun assortment of handmade friends. Grades 1-5 are welcome to join in this class.

All camps run Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30-12:30pm, unless noted *
-When registering, please make note of the age ranges for each camp.
-Each theme & teacher was chosen to be the perfect fit for your child.
-We strongly recommend packing a snack & drink for each day of camp- creativity makes kids hungry!
-Drop-off is at 9:30am.
-Due to the amount of prep that goes into each class, we cannot accept early drop-offs.
-Please pick-up promptly at 12:30pm.
-In the event camps are not full, we do allow limited late registrations & drop-ins.
-Please call us at 207-967-9120 for more information.

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