Summer Maker Camp

We know that older children can spend hours creating art from their own ideas, without instructions or a lesson plan. This camp aims to honour their naturally occurring creative spirit by providing a rich variety of materials and tools and standing back and giving campers the freedom and agency to make what and how they want. We believe, that when children are given opportunities to discover and make things on their own, the more original and innovative the art becomes. Maker campers will use glue guns in this camp on a regular basis and  instructed on how to use them safely.

Maker Campers will have the option to explore woodworking, sewing on a sewing machine and  Stikbot stop-motion animation throughout the week. Instructions will include how to use the tools but the creativity is always up to the campers. 

All campers will enjoy walking field trips to some local amenities in downtown Guelph  such as City Hall Splash pad, Exhibition and Wolfond Park.

Shared play in the studio is a daily option for both play lab and Maker campers- along with lots of sensory (water, water, water) and imaginary play in the program rooms and outside areas of the studio.

Maker Campers also have the choice to adopt-a-sock-monkey for the week. This was a successful addition last year we hope to continue. The good thing about adopted sock monkeys is that they are welcome to go anywhere the camper goes, including in the main studio and on field trips. 

And don't forget the Juppet Show! Every week, Leopold will put on a puppet show, with their Juppet Gang in one of the play lab camp spaces. This is always a highlight! This year we hope to also watch our completed stikbot animations, edited by Leopold.

Meet our Summer Maker Camp Leaders:

Kristie Boivin (She/Her/Hers)

Kristie is CAF’s Program Manager. Artist, Educator and Entrepreneur (Monkey Bum tie dye) Kristie was born and raised in Guelph. For over 11 years, kristie has facilitated many Art camps in Guelph as an Art Instructor  and Visiting Artist and has worked as a Teaching Assistant in a variety of early childcare settings.

 Malcolm Kecskes (He/Him/His)

Malcolm is a new member to The Children's Art Factory team. He is helping with the Tiny Tinkerers program and with cleaning at the CAF. He loves to go for bike rides all around Guelph. He is a student at Guelph CVI where he was in the annual spring play The Hobbit and did lights for one of the variety shows. He also loves gardening and camping. He has gotten his Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) certification and used it to helped change the stage lights at GCVI. When he's not helping around GCVI, he's going for bike rides or sleeping with his two cats. He has brought a lot of new ideas and enthusiasm to the Children's Art Factory team.

Stop-Motion Animation Facilitator: Leopold Coleman (They/Them/Theirs)

Leopold is a 1st year student at Wilfrid Laurier who plans on pursuing a teaching degree with a special interest in Kindergarten. Leopold is also a camp leader in our play lab summer camp program and has run many popular art workshops and created and facilitated our first animation program which only ended due to University. Leopold loves sharing their passion for animation using stikbots and the stikbot community.

Woodworking Facilitator: Peter Coleman (He/Him/His)

Peter is one of the owners and creators of the Art Factory! All of the things in our studio were probably hand built by Peter, including but not limited to: our easel, sensory and all our tables, the front desk, and our mini maker booths! Peter is a member of Diyode Makers Club and designs and produces many of the products and workshop materials using a laser-cutter. Peter also fixes all the things and even installed our working sinks in the potion lab! Peter's vast array of knowledge in creative building and love for our philosophy makes him the perfect fit to lead our woodworking sessions.

Sewing Facilitators:

Annie Boivin Mccarthy (She/Her/Hers)

Annie adores adventure, riding on camels in the Sahara to jumping out of planes in Cyprus. When she’s not exploring, you can find her skiing, reading, or making various forms of art. She recently created her very own music festival at the riverside bandshell for Guelphs youth. She’s constantly looking for ways to mix art with youth opportunities, and that’s why she’s at the children’s art factory; Excited and thrilled to be apart of the magic between these painted walls!

Avery Cullen (She/Her/Hers)

Avery is a grade 10 student at GCVI and has been visiting the art factory with her family since the studio opened in 2011, making Avery the first art factory staff to go from playing at the art factory as a child to working at the art factory as a teenager. Avery has volunteered in our camps for 2 summers and was also a regular member of the small fry sewing society since its inception in 2018. Not only was Avery taught  to sew by the sewing society's founder Joy Zambri (She/Her/Hers) she volunteered as a program assistant to our founder's successor, Annie Boivin -McCarthy (She/her/hers). Avery was so enthused and inspired by the program that she got her own sewing machine and never looked back. FUN FACT: Avery was one of the first participants to make an entire outfit herself and proudly wore it home on her bike...making her the  perfect  instructor to lead our small fries.

Questions? 

Email CAF's Program Manager 

Kristie@thechildrensartfactory.com