Summer Camp at the Button Factory Arts Centre is back!
We have an incredible variety of themed weeks planned for this year, perfect for anyone from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Our summer camp has a high focus on visual art, craft, design and making, ideal for young creatives who are eager to explore new mediums and be hands-on. We make sure to include lots of outdoor activities, games and breaks whenever needed.
Registration is NOW OPEN - click below to get your child enrolled today!
Program Information
Camp Pricing
Camp prices include all materials and tax.
Full Day:
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Week one (3 days): $195 / $180 with a family membership
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Week six (4 days ): $260 / $221 with a family membership
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Weeks two to nine (5 days): $325 / $276.25 with a family membership
Half Day:
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Week one (3 days): $99 / $84.15 with a family membership
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Week six (4 days ): $132 / $112.20 with a family membership
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Weeks two to nine (5 days): $165 / $140.25 with a family membership
*All Early Bird (EB) registrations include an extra 8% discount until April 30th.
Camp Hours
A full day of camp runs from 9:00am to 4:30pm, however we also offer half-day mornings and afternoons!
Drop-Off
Pick-Up
8:30 - 9:00 am
4:30 - 5:15 pm
Morning
8:30 - 9:00 am
12:00 - 12:30 pm
12:00 - 12:30 pm
4:30 - 5:15 pm
Afternoon
Camp Options
Full Day
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Drop-off and pick-up is at the Button Factory Arts Centre at 25 Regina St. South, Waterloo. Camp is on the first floor for Senior Artists and on the second floor for Junior and Mini Artists. These entrances can be accessed through the front door, side ramp or elevator around the back. For safety reasons, please bring ID for pickup so we can identify approved family members per child.
Please let us know if you require any accessibility accommodations and we would be happy to assist.
Public Parking
Free two-hour public parking is available across the street in the city lot beside Paul Puncher, closest to Erb St.
CAMPER INFORMATION
Our age groups
We welcome any camper at Button Factory Arts Centre who has been enrolled in a full-day school program prior to camp! Our age group divisions are set to ensure proper supervision based on recommended counsellor to camper ratios and to provide the best creative experiences to all our campers.
We offer 3 different camp groups to best support our campers' needs!
Mini Artists
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Ratio of 1 counsellor to 6 campers
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4 art periods a day, each 30 - 40 minutes
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Sit-down art activities are broken up with games throughout the day
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Camp for this age group focuses on learning and exploring the medium
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We ask that campers who join us in this group must have completed a school program (JK or SK). However, if you think your child is an exception, please contact youth@buttonfactoryarts.com
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We do expect campers to be able to use the washroom independently and participate all day without a nap
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Limited half-day options available
Junior Artists
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Ratio of 1 counsellor to 8 campers
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4 art periods a day, each 45 minutes to an hour
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Sit-down art activities are broken up with games throughout the day
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Camp for this age group focuses on developing skills with familiar tools
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Limited half-day options available
Senior Artists
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Ratio of 1 counsellor to 10 campers
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4 art periods a day, each 1 hour or more
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Sit-down art activities are broken up with games throughout the day, with a vote taken on whether they would like to go outside or stay inside for free time
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Camp for this age group focuses on developing skills through larger, more detailed projects that involves the use of higher level tools and mediums
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As a result of these lengthy projects, this means we do not offer half-day options due to the difficulties of scheduling multi-day activities for youth. If you are interested in half-day options for this group, please contact youth@buttonfactoryarts.ca and we will reach out regarding possible accommodations .
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WHAT TO BRING
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Camp can get messy! Please ensure campers are in clothing that can get dirty, or an additional change of clothes in their bag
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Some activities and games may require going outside, so campers should be sent with weather-appropriate outerwear, such as shoes they can play in (no flip-flops)
WEEKLY THEMES
WEEK 1:
MONDAY, JUNE 29 -
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Mini & Junior Artists: Canadian Greats
Spend the week with us as we discover and take inspiration from amazing Canadian artists. As we look into Canada's rich artistic history, campers will view the work of a variety of Canadian artists to replicate their styles and techniques in their own artwork. Campers will look at both famous Canadian artists as well as local artists in our own community!
Senior Artists: Draw and Sketch
Join us as we put pen to paper and develop our drawing skills! Campers will learn a variety of different drawing techniques and further develop their understanding of how to draw the world around them. From understanding depth to drawing portraits, this week will encourage young artists grow their drawing skills!
**(NO CAMP ON CANADA DAY JULY 1ST)**
MONDAY, JULY 6 -
FRIDAY, JULY 10
WEEK 2:
Mini & Junior Artists: Art Through the Ages
Hello fellow time travelers! Join us as we venture through time and space to explore art in all different forms of the past. Each day we will look at a different moment in time, dating all the way back to cave painting, then traveling forward to the present day. We'll analyze the way art has evolved over time, along with those who created it. Every day we'll create different artworks inspired by a period or the artists that have lived through them.
Senior Artists: Printmaking
Printmaking has played an important role in the advancement of both art and the dissemination of knowledge. Campers this week will explore a wide variety of printmaking, from linocut to etching. Campers will also develop a broader understanding of how printmaking is invaluable to our world.
MONDAY, JULY 13 -
FRIDAY, JULY 17
WEEK 3:
Mini & Junior Artists: Global Art
From Australia, to Nigeria, then back to Canada - travel around the world with us through art! Explore different cultural landscapes and the art that comes from them. This week we’ll create art inspired by artists and traditions from all over the world.
Senior Artists: Stop Motion Animation
Ever wanted to make your own stop motion animation inspired by the works of some of your favourite films? This week campers will create their own short stop motion animations with complete control over the sound, visuals, and material of their project. Along with their main animation project, students will explore other forms of digital art and stop motion animation.
MONDAY, JULY 20 -
FRIDAY, JULY 24
WEEK 4:
Mini & Junior Artists: Art Builders
Less interested in traditional media like painting and drawing? This is the perfect week for those campers who wish to work with their hands to get creative! Art Builders will see campers experiment with clay, sculpture and other materials to produce and build all of their art.
Senior Artists: 3D Art and Sculpture
Do you love building, making, and creating? This week we’ll work to create all kinds of 3D projects. Explore hand-built ceramics, plaster sculptures and other ways to make your art pop right off the page!
MONDAY, JULY 27 -
FRIDAY, JULY 31
WEEK 5:
Mini & Junior Artists: Under the Sea
Dive right into art with us! This week we’ll explore all sorts of art inspired by sea creatures and the environment they live in. From creating watercolour scenes to our own jellyfish sculptures, this week is bound to be a splash!
Senior Artists: Painting
Passionate about paint? This week campers will spend the whole week making their creative visions come true through paint. Campers will use various mediums, such as water colour and acrylic, along with different types of canvases to create their art.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 -
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
WEEK 6:
Mini & Junior Artists: Mythical and Magical
Do you know someone who loves stories of fairies, wizards and superheroes? This week promises lots of fun for those who adventure alongside all things magical. Campers will create a variety of art pieces that tap into their endless creativity, from magic wands to mystical doors that act as portals to other worlds. We’ll explore it all together!
Senior Artists: Science Art
Boom! Don’t mind the noise, we were just experimenting…
Join us this week as we discover all the ways art and science overlap. We’ll experiment with paper flowers that bloom when watered, optical illusions, and lots of other hands-on activities that will allow us to explore how art and science can work hand-in-hand.
**(NO CAMP ON CIVIC HOLIDAY AUGUST 3RD**
MONDAY, AUGUST 10 -
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
WEEK 7:
Mini & Junior Artists: Nature Art
Make art inspired by nature and imagination through drawing, painting, collage and found natural objects. This week challenges campers to re-imagine the natural world surrounding their home and beyond, as well as to consider how art and the natural environment connect.
Senior Artists: Cartooning and Comics
Are you crazy about character design, storytelling, and cartoons? This week gets students creating in 2D illustrations using both coloured pencils and markers. Develop a deeper understanding of design and learn the basics of creating art for cartoons and comics!
MONDAY, AUGUST 17 -
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
WEEK 8:
Mini & Junior Artists: Art That Works
This week will challenge our understanding of what art is and how it should look. Campers will learn about how art manifests in everyday items that we interact with, and how to make objects that have practical uses. This week will be filled with sewing, print making and all sorts of other art forms.
Senior Artists: Fibre Arts
Fibre art is one of the oldest and most underrepresented art forms. Campers will have the chance to explore sewing, embroidery, weaving and felting. They’ll develop useful skills as well as a greater appreciation for the fibre work they come into contact with in their day to day life.
MONDAY, AUGUST 24-
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
WEEK 9:
Mini & Junior Artists: Best Of
End summer with a bang! We will try a little bit of everything this week based on the fan-favourite mediums from earlier camp weeks. From wearable media to painting, we’ll explore it all.
Senior Artists: Mixed Media
This week, we’ll explore all the ways that media can interact with each others and with us. Campers will get to work with a little bit of everything including non-traditional mediums to create their artwork.
REGISTRATION
HOW TO ENROLL
Remember to purchase a Family Membership to save 15% on registration!
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Registration for Summer Camp can be made online, in-person at Button Factory Arts, or by phone at 519-886-4577 when registration opens.
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Completing your purchase reserves your camper's spot.
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Please follow the link provided in your confirmation email to fill in the mandatory registration form for your camper(s).
After registering for camp through our website, you will be sent a confirmation email. In this email, there will be a link to a form that must be completed for each participant before the start of camp. This has important information regarding allergies, pick-up/drop-off and other notes.
Have questions or want to learn more?
Please contact our Youth Program Coordinator by email: youth@buttonfactoryarts.ca for any questions, including regarding accessibility and how we can accommodate your child.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Change of plans? It happens. Please contact youth@buttonfactoryarts.ca as soon as possible.
Refunds are available for any reason with a minimum of 3 weeks notice to the start day of the camp week, MINUS a 10% holdback to cover charge and refund credit card transaction fees.
With less than 3 weeks notice, please still contact us. If we have a waitlist and can fill the spot, you may still be eligible for a refund. But this can be hard last-minute as many parents make other plans. No refund is possible after the start of the week.
Emergency and compassionate exceptions can be granted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact youth@buttonfactoryarts.ca if your circumstance should be considered.
SUBSIDIZED PLACEMENTS
We offer a limited number of subsidized placements each week, with full and partial subsidies. If interested, please contact youth@buttonfactoryarts.ca to see if you are eligible. Please make sure to contact us before registering, as subsidies are not granted retroactively.