Looking for the best art activities for kids this summer? The Catskill Mountain Foundation offers exceptional kids art classes summer art projects, and performing arts camps that blend creativity, learning, and friendship—all in the inspiring Catskill Mountains. Read on to explore engaging art and craft classes for kids and exciting summer art activities.
The best summer art and theater programs for kids in the Catskills
Summer offers a unique opportunity for children to explore new passions, develop essential skills, and create lasting memories. Many parents seek programs that go beyond mere childcare, aiming for experiences that truly enrich and inspire their children’s growth. The Catskill Mountain Foundation offers several summer programs to immerse your child in a safe and creative environment where they explore art, theater, music, and dance. Scholarships are available for most programs!
The Catskill Mountain Foundation, established in 1998, is dedicated to bringing arts performances and education to the community, establishing a strong foundation of trust and quality for its programs.
Art Explorers Program: Art and craft classes for kids
Protons, Paws, and Paint: Where imagination takes flight
The Art Explorers Program 2025: Protons, Paws, and Paint, offered by the Sugar Maples Center For Creative Arts, offers a fascinating blend of scientific exploration, delving into the microscopic world of protons and the wonders of the animal kingdom, all brought to life through diverse artistic mediums within the gorgeous environment of the Catskill Mountains. The captivating theme invites children to embark on an imaginative journey, exploring both the intricate, unseen world of atomic particles and the diverse, tangible realm of animals. Students will use their imaginations to create paintings, drawings, sculptures, and games, allowing for a wide range of creative expression. The daily experience is carefully designed to foster a balanced approach to learning and discovery.
Each day includes dedicated time for free play in the imagination, structured art exploration, and fostering creative connections within the inspiring natural backdrop of the Catskill Mountain environment. This approach ensures that children are not only guided through artistic techniques but also given the freedom to experiment and discover, aligning with the understanding that for young children, the process of creation—including experimentation, exploration, and discovery is paramount.
This interdisciplinary fusion of science and art, often referred to as STEAM education, encourages learners to approach challenges with a broader mindset, combining technical skills with creativity and self-expression. The Art Explorers program offers a multi-faceted approach to child development, extending far beyond the creation of art pieces. The activities are designed to foster a comprehensive range of cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
Cultivating creativity & cognitive skills through art
Engaging in visual arts activities, such as those offered in “Protons, Paws, and Paint,” directly enhances a child’s innate creativity and boundless imagination, empowering them to think innovatively and explore new ideas. This creative engagement profoundly impacts cognitive development, equipping children to apply their creative thinking abilities to a range of complex problem-solving situations.
The integrated STEAM approach is particularly powerful, with studies indicating that youths who participate in art education often perform exceptionally well in science and mathematics. This program actively strengthens critical thinking, improves memory, and enhances attention to detail, which are crucial skills for academic success across all subjects. Furthermore, hands-on activities like drawing intricate patterns, painting, and sculpting are instrumental in developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Social and emotional benefits of art
The Art Explorers environment is renowned for encouraging social skill development, exposing children to a diverse group of peers from various backgrounds and cultures, which fosters empathy, understanding, and respect for others. The collaborative projects and shared activities inherent in the Art Explorers program naturally promote teamwork and cooperation. Children learn to work effectively with others, cooperate, and compromise, which are essential skills for navigating group dynamics in any setting.
The program also cultivates vital communication skills as children learn to express themselves clearly and respectfully, actively listen, and resolve conflicts peacefully without constant adult intervention. These shared experiences create unique opportunities for building lasting friendships, allowing children to form deeper and more diverse connections than they might in a typical school setting.
The accomplishment of creating art and receiving positive feedback significantly builds a child’s confidence and self-esteem. This boost empowers children to take on new challenges and become more willing to participate in new activities and social interactions. Art also provides a safe space for children to express their thoughts and feelings, allowing them to process emotions constructively. Through interactions and creative expression, they learn to manage stress and develop empathy for others, leading to improved emotional well-being.
The program’s holistic approach aligns with what parents seek: developing the child intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally, preparing them for both present successes and future challenges. Moreover, the program’s location in the gorgeous Catskill Mountains contributes significantly to reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood and self-esteem, and increased physical activity, enhancing the overall well-being of every child.
Art Explorers Program 2025 weekly sessions
The Art Explorers Program 2025 runs Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For parents planning their summer, clear program dates are essential. The program offers five distinct weekly sessions, providing flexibility to accommodate various family schedules:
Week 1: July 14-18
Week 2: July 21-25
Week 3: July 28-August 1
Week 4: August 4-8
Week 5: August 11-18
The Sugar Maples Center For Creative Arts is proud to be a part of the Catskill Mountain Foundation, a reputable arts institution with a core vision that art can transform lives. The Foundation is dedicated to high-quality arts education and deep community engagement, assuring parents that their child will receive expert instruction and a truly inspiring learning experience. The Catskill Mountain Foundation is also deeply committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, and offers scholarships for most programs to ensure that these enriching experiences are available to all families. With a history dating back to 1998, the Foundation has a proven track record of delivering impactful arts programming within a supportive and enriching environment.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to ignite your child’s imagination and foster lifelong skills through the Art Explorers Program 2025. This summer promises unparalleled creativity, exciting discovery, and meaningful connections in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. Give your child the gift of a summer filled with art, science, and friendship that will resonate for years to come.
Spaces are limited, so we encourage early registration to ensure your child can embark on this unforgettable adventure!
Maude Adams Theater Hub presents MATHarts Theater Explorers
The ideal summer experience for creative young minds
This August, Maude Adams Theater Hub returns for its third season of summer theater exploration, moving for the first time to the Orpheum Performing Arts Center (OPAC) in Tannersville, NY. The Wonders of Theater will offer kids from ages 9–13 two robust weeks of reimagining the story of Alice in Wonderland through every medium the stage has to offer. This year’s explorers will venture into the absurd with acting and improv, they will brave the bold frontier of dance, and even take a dive into the strange world of design. Featuring local actors, directors, and artisans as instructors, MATHarts Theater Explorers promises to enrich the minds and broaden the scope of the next generation of performers and creatives.
A new venue for expansive creative growth
Perhaps the biggest change to this year’s curriculum is the location; the Orpheum Performing Arts Center will now serve as the expansive home for this season’s explorers. The OPAC, originally modeled after New York City’s Joyce Theater, is a state of the art facility with all the bells and whistles a performer could want. Jake Shipley, a young actor local to Tannersville, had this to say of the venue, “Being in [The Orpheum], I mean it’s cavernous and intimidating, but getting to train and learn on that stage? Nothing compares. You grow so fast. You have to, you grow to fit the stage…We’re incredibly lucky to be able to utilize the space.” The OPAC is located on Main Street Tannersville, NY and boasts a capacity of 243.
Meet the instructional team
Also joining the instructional team at the helm this summer is Sarah Mahoney, who serves as the Elementary Music Teacher at Hunter Elementary School, where she inspires young musicians every day. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Manhattanville University and her master’s degree from Boston University. Sarah is thrilled to be the coordinator for Theater Explorers, and having the opportunity to work with a group of ambitious young talent.
Other return staffing will include Jacob Shipley, the Associate Creative Director for MATH, who brings his diverse skill set to the acting and performance side of theater, Hedda Flynn, who will teach movement and dance, Abby Ross, on tap for character development, and Colleen Weiman, who will once again lead young explorers through the magic of costumes, puppets, props, and scenery. Guest appearances by local, regional, and national talents will be announced in July, but will include artists from the worlds of film, dance, and music. MATHarts, the educational spoke of the Maude Adams Theater Hub, is co-produced by Lauren Kashman, Amy Scheibe, and Jacob Shipley.
A program designed to inspire
This exciting array of performance disciplines ensures a well rounded and challenging summer experience. Hence the theme: Explorers. The intention is not just to entertain, but to inspire interest beyond what’s accessible at home. Whether it’s delivering a monologue on an epic stage that inspires, or it’s the opportunity to direct one’s peers, MATH: Explorers is sure to spark and enhance your child’s creative spirit.
In the schools: Summer performing arts program
The twelfth annual Summer Performing Arts Program will be presented by Catskill Mountain Foundation and Hunter-Tannersville Central Schools, in cooperation with Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) for Hunter Elementary School students on Monday through Friday mornings at Tannersville Middle/High School.
From July 7 through August 1, 2025, students will have classes in theater, circus arts, dance, puppetry and performance. Circus Minimus’ ringmaster Erin Lovett Sherman will be in residence from July 7 to 18, and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance will be next from July 14 to 18. From July 21 to August 1, Aquila Theatre will be teaching, followed by the last teaching artist, Catskill Puppet Theater from July 28 to August 1. On Fridays, July 18 and August 1, students will perform for their families and friends.
Community support and partnerships
Catskill Mountain Foundation wishes to acknowledge support for this community program from the New York State Council on the Arts, Arts Education Department, The Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, The Esther and Samuel Doctorow Fund, and the Greene County Youth Bureau. Hunter Elementary School receives summer school funding from ONC BOCES CROP.
Want to explore summer art classes for adults too?
Explore our full lineup of summer art classes for adults and make this summer one of inspiration, creativity, and connection—for the whole family.