Summer Play Lab Camp

• Campers have choice throughout the day to play in the main studio.
• Lots of time is spent outside where we follow the shade- beginning in the mornings in the front of our studio where play lab campers have exclusive access to the mud kitchen, painting and rotating water table- -Later morning and afternoons the potion lab is perfectly shaded with even more opportunity for water experiments.  
• Highlights will include an introduction to stop-motion animation with stikbots - where campers will explore storytelling, character development, set design and costumes- as with everything- creativity always belongs to the campers.
• Each camper is invited to adopt a sock monkey buddy for the week! Campers can take their sock monkeys anywhere in the studio as well as outside and on field trips. The sock monkeys are an important friend for many of our campers during the week, and our sock monkeys certainly enjoy being with them.
• Other camp highlights include walking field trips to some local amenities in downtown Guelph - Play lab and Maker Camps will explore the trails and forest at Wolfond Park; the natural playground at Exhibition Park and water play at the City Hall Splash pad.
• 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.

2026 PLAY LAB SUMMER CAMP LEADERS:

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.

Avery Cullen (She/Her/Hers)

Avery has been coming to the Art Factory for 11 years as a visitor and then a volunteer but for over a year has been working as a full fledged staff member! She's assisted and lead on many different workshops and camps, ranging from special holiday events to weekly sewing classes. Currently, Avery is a student at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI) where she has started a book club, is an active member of a variety of clubs, has performed in school plays and recently won an award for making change in the school community. Over the past year, Avery has gotten certified in CPR and First Aid. When she isn't doing school work, she's reading with a cup of tea, writing or hanging out with friends. Avery is a kind, head-strong, outgoing and passionate member of our team.

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!