🎨 Exceptional Artist Summer Camp
- Hands-on art instruction in multiple mediums
- Certified art teachers
- All art materials included
- Camp t-shirt included
- Final art show at Clayton Center for the Arts
- College dining experience on Wednesday
- Early care available 7:30 AM ($10/day or $30/week)
🎨 Art Camp for Young Creators
If your child loves to draw, paint, or make anything with their hands, this is a camp they'll actually want to attend. Exceptional Artist partners with Maryville College and the Clayton Center for the Arts to give kids ages K-6 a full week of focused art-making in a positive, encouraging environment.
What makes this special: My daughter's art teacher friend told me about this camp - it's not just "messy play time" (though there's definitely mess involved). These are certified art teachers who actually teach technique, not just crafts. Kids work on perspective drawing, 3D sculpture, wire work, paper crafts, and finish the week with their own portfolio to take home.
The full experience: - Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM at Maryville College Fine Arts classrooms - Friday: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM (morning wrap-up and art show prep) - Art show: Thursday evening at Clayton Center for the Arts Blackberry Farm Gallery - family and friends invited - Wednesday adventure: Instead of bringing lunch, kids walk over to Pearsons Hall at Maryville College to choose from their college dining hall menu (pizza, burgers, sandwiches, desserts - even allergy-friendly options) - Everything included: Art supplies, instruction, camp t-shirt, Wednesday lunch, and even a celebration treat on Thursday
Practical details for parents: - Early care: 7:30 AM start for $10/day or $30/week (doors stay locked until 8:25 AM for setup - this is important to note!) - Lunch: Kids bring Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; camp provides Wednesday; Friday has snack time only - Snack time: 1:30 PM daily - bring snack or up to $5 for the Snack Station (Gatorade, crackers, fruit roll-ups - $.75-$1.50) - Art show: Free to attend, food truck on-site, awards for each age group (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)
Registration timing: $250 through March 31st, then $275. A $50 non-refundable deposit is due by May 17 to reserve your spot, with the remaining balance due at check-in. Multiple siblings? $200 each for additional children.
This camp has been running for years with a waitlist, so if your kid is creative and this catches their eye, register early. The early bird pricing and the fact that it fills up quickly make this one of the better-value art camps in the area.
Pro tip: If you're working parents, the early care option is clutch. I had to figure out my summer schedule when my middle child started preschool, and this early care meant I didn't need to scramble for drop-off time.
Why I added it: This is one of those Maryville gems - a local business doing something really well with college resources, community partnerships, and genuine art education rather than just babysitting. The art show at Clayton Center is actually a nice touch - kids get real recognition for their work, not just another classroom project.