camps + events

we offer both summer camp and school day off camps for K-5th grade, as well as seasonal workshops and events

Summer Camp 2025

SPECIAL NOTICE: Some camps will be hidden from the website as we address registration errors and try to move people from the waitlist to camp spots. If you would like to be added to a waitlist during this time, please email lia@theloftcollective.org with 1. your child’s name, 2. grade they will be entering in fall 2025, 3. the first day of the week(s) you would like. Thanks for your patience. We’re trying to get as many people a spot as possible!

2025 SUMMER CAMP will run from June 23-August 8 in Takoma, and June 30-Aug 1 in Hyattsville, with a two week maximum enrollment per child. The camp day is 9:00-3:00, with optional aftercare until 5:30.

ELIGIBILITY: The Loft summer camp is open to children entering grades K-5. We have two groups each week: K-2nd, and 3rd-5th.

CONDUCT: Our summer camp is designed for children ages 5-11, who are able to meet age-appropriate expectations for respectful behavior, staying with a group, and using materials safely. We support and guide children in meeting these expectations, but we are not a therapeutic setting. If your child needs more support than we can provide, you will be notified by phone call. There are no refunds for conduct-related dismissal.

COST: Camp is $475/week. Optional aftercare is $145/week or $35/day. You may register ahead, but you can also drop into this as needed. The short week of June 30-July 3 is $380, with no camp on July 4. While we generally work to keep our costs down, we prioritize using quality materials when it makes a difference, and paying our staff a living wage. If our costs present a hardship for you, please email lia@theloftcollective.org for a discount code prior to registration. This will allow you to register on January 25 at a discounted rate. We want this experience to be accessible for everyone!

ENROLLMENT:

For TAKOMA, scroll down for camp sign up.

Follow these links to sign up for HYATTSVILLE programs: SUMMER CAMPS and SPRING CLASSES.

WAITLIST: If all spots are gone, please add your child to the waitlist. These lists change between now and summer, and there are still opportunities to get in over the next few weeks and later in the spring.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Camp fees include a non-refundable $35 fee. The rest is refundable before April 1 if your plans change. After April 1, there are no refunds.

Summer Camp Themes and Schedules

TAKOMA:

June 23-27 / July 21-25
DINO DAYS (K-2nd)
Join our team of creative paleontologists to dig deep in discovering the giants that once roamed the earth. We will recreate the world of the dinosaurs through sculpture and mixed media. How are fossils made? How big is the wingspan of a quetzalcoatlus? Kids should feel free to bring their own fun facts and get ready to learn more!

LOST CIVILIZATIONS (3rd-5th)
Remnants of ancient cities are found all over the world. Long before the industrial and technological revolutions, these cultures used symbols to tell stories and engineered great structures out of stone by hand. We will explore their way of life, their mythology and the art they left behind. 

June 30-July 3
MUSHROOM RAIN (K-2nd and 3rd-5th) 
Fun fact: mushrooms are not plants or animals. They fall into their own kingdom, and they help to turn dead things into living things. We'll learn about this quiet and magical transformation, while studying the enormous variety of color, shape and texture. So much to explore in the fungus among us!

July 7-11 / July 28-Aug 1
ONE OF THE FLOCK (K-2nd and 3rd-5th)
What’s it like to be a bird? To talk in song, see the world from up high, and tell the story of our changing world through patterns. We will soar into the world of ornithology, crafting our own birds and habitats using myriad materials. Younger campers will work on paper based projects and older kids will focus on fiber: fabrics and textiles.
“A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can't we all be like that bird?” ― Edward Hersey Richards

July 14-18 / Aug 4-8
UTOPIA (K-2nd and 3rd-5th)
Imagine you could start from scratch. What does a perfect world look like, feel like, sound like? Does your perfect world look different than your friend? Kids are natural collaborators and organizers of spaces (not always neat, but almost always elaborate!). Get ready for envisioning, manifesting, and constructing a dream world diorama. We hope to generate some good discussion and get real world ideas for building a brighter future together. 

June 23-27 / July 7-11 / July 14-18
*END OF DAY: SUMMER KNIT/CROCHET (ages 11-16)
Whether you're a seasoned knitter or a beginner, join us for some yarn time at the end of the day. We'll show you basic techniques, and offer materials and a space to explore this skill. Bring your own project or use our supplies.
*M-F, 4:00-5:30pm, $85 — late afternoon only!

July 21-25
*END OF DAY: SEWING MACHINE BASICS (ages 9-16)
Learn your way around a sewing machine: how to thread it, load a bobbin, plan out construction, and make a basic machine-sewn project.  Expand your maker skills for projects that are personal and practical. 
*M-F, 4:00-5:30pm, $85 — late afternoon only!

HYATTSVILLE:

June 30-July 3
WOVEN COLORS
We’ll experiment with color to create patterns with yarn! So many variations on weaving in this fiber-based camp week. Great meditative activity for kids who can handle a little extra fine motor while building patience and following through on a vision.

July 7-11
GONE FISHING (K-5th)
This week takes a deep dive into water textures, watercolors, and ocean dwellers. Our projects will range from collage to mobiles, with a central project based on gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing. We'll discuss the idea of "perfect imperfection" and mindfulness as we learn how these printers found their just-right image. Good for kids who need some support around flexibility and finding beauty in mistakes. We're going to practice going with the flow this week!

HALF DAY CAMP: SUMMER STITCHERS* (ages 9-12)
This handstitching class is great for beginners and intermediate students who want to learn basic skills or level up! We'll go over the essentials, but elevate their work to include construction of more complex pieces. Hand sewing builds confidence and skills as kids get ready for machine sewing classes later.
*Afternoon only, 1:00-4:00, $240

July 14-18
NATURE SPIRITS (K-5th)
Every culture has tales of fairies, elves, gnomes and creatures that explain the mysteries of nature. We’ll read stories and folk tales from around the world, and create our own sprites with special powers.

HALF DAY CAMP: SUMMER STITCHERS* (ages 9-12)
This handstitching class is great for beginners and intermediate students who want to learn basic skills or level up! We'll go over the essentials, but elevate their work to include construction of more complex pieces. Hand sewing builds confidence and skills as kids get ready for machine sewing classes later.
*Afternoon only, 1:00-4:00, $240

July 21-25
FANTASTICAL CREATURES (K-5th)
We’ll be drawing, painting and collaging in this camp as we combine animal characteristics to make beasts with fantastical attributes and skills! Ukrainian Folk Artist Maria Prymachenko conjured up imaginary creatures and painted them in vivid colors. We will explore her life and work, along with Spanish surrealist artist Joan Miró who saw the world in a similar way.

July 28-Aug 1
PLANETS AND CONSTELLATIONS (K-5th)
The night sky is one of the most magical parts of summer. We’ll re-create constellations and patterns of planets with paint and with fabric, learning the stories and myths from earlier humans, seeking to explain the universe.

CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 12pm
Use code NEWCAMPER25 for 15% off summer camp in Hyattsville!

School Day Off Camps

The Loft offers art-based full day camp for children in grades K-4. The camp day is 9:00-3:00, $125 ($220 for 2-day camps). No aftercare is provided for camp days unless noted.
*Scholarships available to families receiving free/reduced meals at school, please contact lia@theloftcollective.org for more information.

Sample Camp Day

9:00 - Arrival and invitation, open play at our sensory stations
9:30-9:50 - Group meeting , introduction to the day
9:50-10:30 - Art Block 1
10:30-11:15 - Outdoor snack and play at Takoma Urban Park across the street
11:15-12:00 - Choice time in the art room
12:00-12:15 - Story and wash hands
12:15-1:00 - Outdoor lunch and play
1:00-1:30 - Quiet reading time
1:30-1:45 - Story and project discussion
1:45-2:25 - Art Block 2
2:25-2:50 - Choice time, independent work
2:50-3:00 - Clean up and dismissal

Winter/Spring 2025

MCPS:
Wed Jan 29 (optional aftercare)
Mon Mar 31 (optional aftercare)

DCPS:
Fri Jan 17
Mon Jan 27
Fri Feb 14
Thu-Fri, Mar 13-14
Fri, Mar 21/Mon, Mar 24 (Stokes Charter School only)
Mon, Apr 7

DC/MCPS Spring Break:
Mon-Fri, April 14-18