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FeedThe Best in Summer Camps & Classes
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
(page 1 of 4)
Winter is hardly over when parents and students start making plans for summer. In the following pages, we’ll give you a glimpse of some of the best camps and classes offered in the area. With a little research and planning, we can help you find the perfect fit.
THE ART ACADEMY
Celebrating its 15th year, The Art Academy has become a standard of quality art instruction in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area.
“Our goal is to improve students’ drawing and painting abilities dramatically in a short period of time. We accomplish this by teaching time-honored techniques in classes with very low student-to-teacher ratios,” explains James Robinson, the founder of the school. The results of such focused training is evident in the amazing samples of student artwork available for viewing on the school’s website, many of which have won State Fair awards.
The Art Academy offers year-round programs, averaging 300 to 475 students per term, with special summer class and camp offerings designed to satisfy the needs of a variety of family schedules and age groups, beginning as young as age 5. A unique Create Your Own Schedule Option makes it easy for parents to fit the school’s art classes around other summer activities and vacations.
“It’s not unusual for us to have students attend our program for years. It creates a wonderful school atmosphere where teachers and students form a cherished bond that feeds creativity and skill development,” Robinson explains.
Adults with a serious interest in art can also take classes specializing in traditional drawing and oil painting methods dating back to the Renaissance.
The Academy’s summer session begins June 18 and runs until August 25. Registration starts March 1st. Call 651-699-1573 to receive a free brochure. The Art Academy is located at 1550 Summit Ave. in St. Paul. Class schedules and samples of students’ work can be viewed at www.theartacademy.net.
THE ART INSTITUTES INTERNATIONAL
If you’re a teenager graduating in 2007, 2008, or 2009 who doodles on every scrap of paper, notices how colors complement each other, or surfs the Web constantly for the latest and greatest sites, the Summer Teen Workshops at The Art Institutes International Minnesota are a great way to explore emerging technology, techniques, and all the possibilities out there for your creativity. These five-day workshops have been designed for teenagers to express themselves, meet inspired people, and get a feel of what it’s like to work in some of the most dynamic and exciting careers in the world today. The Summer Teen Workshop will be held this summer from June 18 through June 22 and is ideal for students interested in exploring one of the following creative programs: Advertising, graphic design, interior design, photography, culinary arts, media arts and animation, visual effects and motion graphics, or interactive design media.
In addition to a Summer Teen Workshop, the Arts Institutes International is in full swing during the summer months, with summer quarter beginning July 9 and continuing through September 22, 2007. Students interested in a career in the creative and applied arts will find a competency-based curriculum delivered by qualified instructors in a learning-centered environment. The most popular programs are Interior Design and Photography.
Interested parties may contact the school at 612-332-3361 or 1-800-7777-3643 or visit the Summer Teen Workshop website at http://artinstitute.edu/minneapolis/STW2007/index.html.
THE BLAKE SCHOOL
The summer programs at The Blake School allow pre-kindergarteners through high school seniors to engage in activities that stimulate their curiosity, nurture their interests, challenge their minds, and foster their growth. Whether it’s discovering an artistic talent, engaging in sports, brushing up on academics or exploring some part of the Twin Cities, participants are certain to be rewarded with an experience that’s educational and exciting.
Photo courtesy of the
International School of
Minnesota/Kids Camp
“Summer programs are a great way for students to explore new areas of learning, enhance skills, and develop a curiosity about learning that will excite students long beyond the summer,” says Lis Viehweg, who oversees the summer programs at Blake. “Small classes allow teachers and coaches to get to know their students and tailor the class for their specific needs and interests.”
At Camp Acoma, a day camp with half or full day options, kids from 4 to 11 can go swimming, play soccer, learn to juggle, play basketball, enjoy arts and crafts, and learn about science, gardening, computers, and cultural studies in a fun environment.
Summer programs at Blake include courses in academics, study skills, college preparation, the arts, and an array of athletics, as well as service learning opportunities. There are specialty courses in driver’s ed, cooking/culinary arts, and outdoor adventures. The Science Museum of Minnesota will offer three different camps at the Hopkins campus, utilizing the science lab facilities.
An online catalogue will debut on the Blake website, www.blakeschool.org at the beginning of March. Register online, by mail, or by fax. Early bird registration closes May 15. Courses will remain open for registration up to three weeks before the class start date. Class sizes are limited; early registration is encouraged.
