Summer Camps
Summer Camps at The Nicolaysen Art Museum
Get ready for a summer full of creativity, curiosity, and hands-on fun! The NIC’s 2025 Summer Camps offer a wide range of artistic experiences for kids and teens ages 6–15. From painting and photography to street art, sculpture, and science-based adventures, each camp is designed to spark imagination and build confidence through the power of art.
Led by experienced educators and local artists, our camps are welcoming, engaging, and packed with opportunities to explore new materials, techniques, and ideas in a supportive, creative environment. Whether your child is a first-time camper or a returning NIC kid, there’s something inspiring waiting for them this summer.
Scholarships are available to help make camps accessible to more families.
Space is limited! register early to secure your spot!
How to Register:
• For camps hosted at The NIC, call 307-235-5247 or stop by the front desk to register.
• For camps co-hosted with The Science Zone, call 307-473-9663 or visit thesciencezone.org to register.
Camp 1: Myths and Legends of the World
June 16-20
9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: 6 – 11 years old
Fees: $120.00 per child (members) and $160.00 per child (not-yet-members)
Camp Description: Get inspired by mythical creatures and magical stories! Marvelous creatures, heroes, and Gods come to life from cultures around the world and of course from our own imaginations too. In this exciting camp, we will create art inspired by unicorns, monsters, dragons, aliens, and more! Let your imagination fly as you explore artmaking with various media, including clay, acrylic, and watercolor paint, collage, printmaking, and more. What mythical creatures will you create this summer at The NIC?!
Camp 2: The Art Lab: Music & Masterpieces (Science Zone)
June 16 - 20
1 PM – 3 PM
Ages: 11-15 years old
Fees: $375 Please register with The Science Zone
Camp Description:
Unleash your creativity this summer with The Science Zone and The Nicolaysen Art Museum! This unique camp blends the beauty of art with the wonders of science, offering hands-on activities to spark your curiosity. Explore music theory and the science behind sound and rhythm, learn the science behind art, and discover the fascinating world of photography through a scientific lens. Whether you're an aspiring artist or a budding scientist, this camp will ignite your imagination. Join us for a week of creativity, exploration, and discovery!
Camp 3: Shark Week (w Science Zone)
July 7-11
9 AM-12 PM
Ages: 6-10 years old
Fees: $375 Please register with The Science Zone
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Camp Description: Get ready for an epic adventure on the high seas! Shark Week kicks off on July 7, 2025, and this year, The Nicolysan and The Science Zone are teaming up to offer a one-of-a-kind camp all about sharks! Created by Discovery Channel in 1988, Shark Week is an annual, week-long event designed to raise awareness and respect for these incredible creatures. Throughout the camp, we'll dive into the fascinating world of sharks—exploring why they float, what they eat, and their vital role in the ecosystem. We’ll watch real Shark Week footage, create shark-inspired art, and enjoy shark-themed snacks—all while learning fun science facts about these amazing animals. This unique summer camp is perfect for the shark-loving kid in your life!
Camp 4: Street Art Vol. 7
July 14-18
9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: 11 – 15 years old
Fees: $130.00 per child (members) and $170.00 per child (not-yet-members).
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Camp Description: Join us for our 7th year of learning the ins & outs of Street Art! Explore the history and rules of graffiti with local street artist Rugie while discovering your personal style of expression. Experiment with various techniques such as stenciling and tagging while developing control painting with spray paint. Students will even design and create a large-scale graffiti mural! Special thanks to Chris Ruegsegger for sharing his time, inspiration, and expertise with us for the last 6 years!
Camp 5: 3D Builders (Science Zone)
July 14-18
1 PM - 4 PM
Ages: 7 - 14 years old
Fees: $375
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Camp Description: Do you have an inner builder just waiting to be let out?! Now’s your chance to shine! The Nicolysan and The Science Zone are teaming up for a summer camp that will ignite your creativity as you dive into the world of three-dimensional building. You’ll work with a variety of materials like papier mâché, Legos, clay, Aquabeads, cardboard and upcycled materials, and more while learning about balance, symmetry, and design. Activities will include 3D printing, egg drop challenges, robotics, circuit gadgets, LEGO earthquake simulators, and much more. Get ready to build, create, and innovate in a hands-on, fun-filled environment!​
Camp 6: Creativity in Motion 2.0
Aug 4-8 2025
9 AM - 12 PM
Ages: 7 - 14 years old
Fees: $120.00 per child (members) and $160.00 per child (not-yet-members).
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Camp Description: Welcome back to the Zen-tastic journey of our yoga and mindfulness art camp, where little yogis and budding artists unite for a week of serenity and creativity! Get ready for a kaleidoscope of colors as you paint your inner calm and sculpt your zen garden with mindful creations. Stretch your imagination muscles and find balance in both body and brush, guided by our team of serene instructors. This camp will be a sanctuary where kids learn to breathe, focus, and create, surrounded by the soothing harmony of nature and the gentle rustle of creativity. It is sure to be a retreat for the soul, offering a blend of yoga, mindfulness, and art that will leave young spirits refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to shine!
Camp 7: Click it! Photography Camp
August 4-8
1 PM – 4 PM
Ages: 11-15 years old
Fees: $130.00 per child (members) and $170.00 per child (not-yet-members).
Camp Description: Calling all wanna-be photographers! In this Summer Camp for teens, begin to train your eye, so you can start thinking about things other than the subject. Explore the basics of photography from shutter speed to composition and the rule of thirds. Take a trip back to 1856 with the invention of the pinhole camera. Expose a new perception on texture, motion, and value. Create unique works of art with monoprints, mixed media, and selfies. After all, Ansel Adams said “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”
Camp 8: Taylor’s Version
August 11-15
9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: 7 - 14 years old
Fees: $120.00 per child (members) and $160.00 per child (not-yet-members).
Camp Description: Calling all Swifties for another year of Taylor Swift Camp! Step into the spotlight and let your creativity shine as we journey through the enchanted melodies and vibrant colors of Taylor Swift's iconic world. Channel your inner artist as we create Taylor-inspired projects and embark on a visual journey through the magical world of her lyrics. Whether you're a "Fearless" painter or a "Red"-hot sculptor, there's a canvas for every Swiftie in this star-studded camp. With instructors who speak fluent Taylor, dance breaks that rival music videos, and a sprinkle of fairy-tale charm, this camp is a love story between art and pop culture. So, gather your sparkly pens, don your favorite cat-themed accessories, and join us for a summer of creativity, laughter, and Swiftie-style fun!
Camp 9: The Art of Glass
August 11-15
1 PM – 4 PM
Ages: 11 - 15 years old
Fees: $150.00 per child (members) and $190.00 per child (not-yet-members).
Camp Description: Dive into the colorful world of glass art! Explore all the ways glass can be used to create vibrant colorful art. Learn about the masters of glass art and the ways they can inspire us. From large stained glass cathedral windows to the beautiful twisty sculptures of Dale Chihuly, there is sure to be something that will catch your eye and inspire your inner glass artist. Create beautiful glass works of your own such as fused glass, mosaics, stained glass, and more! Participants will get an intro to the stained-glass process and will cut glass pieces, use a grinder, foil and solder pieces together to assemble a finished stained-glass masterpiece.