Summer 2026 art camps across greater Milwaukee

The Milwaukee area offers over 50 art camps spanning preschool through teens, with registration for top programs opening as early as January 2026. Parents have excellent options ranging from intensive pre-college portfolio programs at MIAD to free community offerings through Arts @ Large. The most competitive camps—Lynden Sculpture Garden, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, and Urban Ecology Center—use lottery systems or fill within days of opening, making early planning essential. This guide organizes camps geographically to help families find convenient options while highlighting the nine parent-recommended programs that anchor Milwaukee's summer art scene.

Top picks

These locally beloved programs earned their recommendations through consistent quality, professional instruction, and distinctive approaches to art education.

UWM College for Kids & Teens operates out of Merrill Hall on the UWM campus at 2512 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, serving grades K5 through 12. The 2026 catalog is already available, with one-week and two-week sessions running throughout summer. Creative Arts offerings include visual arts, theater, music, film, animation, and digital arts taught by educators including Peck School of the Arts faculty. Registration opens through sce-register.uwm.edu with scholarships available. Contact 414-227-3360 or cfkids@uwm.edu.

MIAD Summer Pre-College Program at 273 E. Erie Street in the Historic Third Ward represents the region's most intensive option for high school students. Core Studio Concepts runs July 13-24, 2026 (two weeks, $2,060 commuter/$2,870 residential), while Advanced Studio Concepts extends through July 31 (three weeks, $2,530 commuter/$3,790 residential). Students choose from drawing, painting, illustration, graphic design, screenprinting, product design, and animation. Advanced students earn 3 transferable college credits. Registration deadline is May 1, 2026, with scholarship applications due April 1. Contact ycp@miad.edu or 414-847-3330.

Cloud 9 Workshop at 5205 W. North Ave., Milwaukee, specializes in eco-art and sewing camps for grades K4-12. Their distinctive approach uses traditional and recycled materials for painting, building, and textile arts. The 2026 schedule releases January 15, 2026, with member registration opening February 1 and early bird pricing February 15-March 15. Teachers have over 200 years combined experience, and no prior art or sewing skills are required. Contact 414-702-5465 or visit cloud9workshop.com.

Tiny Bird Art Studio occupies a charming space in the Thiensville Mill at 122 Green Bay Rd #2, Thiensville, WI 53092. Owner-instructor trained in Florence, Italy, teaching process-oriented drawing, painting, and sculpture with art history integration. The studio emphasizes developing true observational skills in an intimate setting adjacent to a working artist's studio. Contact 262-395-6517 for 2026 summer programming details.

The Painted Creek at W63N541 Hanover Ave. in historic downtown Cedarburg offers camps for children and adults led by former art teacher Kristin Bork. Registration runs through HiSawyer (hisawyer.com). The studio focuses on technique building across various mediums with all supplies provided. Check thepaintedcreek.com/camps for 2026 scheduling.

More Happy Kitchens, now operating as Happy Place Cooking Space at W57N14280 Doerr Way, Suite 104, Cedarburg, teaches culinary arts to ages 2-13. Mini camps (~$90 for 2 days) and tween camps (ages 10-13) focus on kitchen independence skills from frozen yogurt bark to family dinner preparation. The nonprofit also offers programs at Milwaukee Public Market. Adaptive tools available for all abilities. Contact 262-204-9104 or hello@happyplacecookingspace.org.

Lynden Sculpture Garden at 2145 W. Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, integrates art-making with exploration of 40 acres featuring 50+ monumental sculptures by artists including Hepworth, Moore, and di Suvero. Ages 4-6 enjoy half-day camps ($126/$101 member for 3 days), while ages 6-11 attend full-day week-long sessions ($455/$364 member). The Whittlers camp for ages 10-15 includes woodcarving with handmade knives. Activities span batik dyeing, ceramics, printmaking, and raft-building on the pond. 15% of spaces are scholarship-reserved. Contact jstepien@lyndensculpturegarden.org or 414-446-8481.

Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts at 3270 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield, offers its Art of Nature Camp for students entering grades 1-6. Two themed weeks in 2026: "Singing & Dancing with Nature" (June 22-26) and "Creating & Playing with Nature" (July 20-24). Programming integrates visual arts with theater (First Stage), music (Wisconsin Conservatory), and nature education (Wehr Nature Center). Only 60 spots per week at $340 plus optional $100 aftercare. Registration opens Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 8:00am—mark your calendar. Contact education@wilson-center.com or 262-373-5023.

Museum and institutional programs

The Milwaukee Art Museum at 700 N. Art Museum Dr. offers summer camps in its iconic Calatrava-designed building overlooking Lake Michigan. Ages 6-9 attend morning sessions (9:30-11:30am, $240/$160 members per week), while ages 10-15 meet afternoons (1-4pm, $360/$240 members). Programs run Monday-Thursday across four weeks, exploring drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and digital tools inspired by the 30,000-work collection. Summer 2026 dates will be announced in early spring 2026. The Sue and Mike Dunham Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance. Children 12 and under receive free museum admission year-round. Contact classes@mam.org or 414-224-3200.

Walker's Point Center for the Arts (wpca-milwaukee.org) serves ages 6-14 in the 53204 neighborhood with weekly themed camps including paper lanterns, cardboard sculpture, mask making, and stop motion animation. Week 7 collaborates with Lynden Sculpture Garden for a full-day experience. Bilingual English/Spanish programming available. Residents of 53204 receive discounted rates; scholarships available through family membership ($75/year).

Arts @ Large provides a remarkable free five-week Summer Art Camp for students entering 3rd-8th grade, running late June through late July. Their Community Center in Walker's Point hosts exploration across multiple art mediums with local artists. The organization also operates Truck Studio—free mobile art programming at parks and playgrounds throughout summer. High school students (ages 15-18) from MPS may apply for paid internships through the Career Development Program. Contact sam@artsatlargeinc.org.

Discovery World at 500 N Harbor Dr. offers STEAM-focused camps for grades 1-8, with art integration throughout their technology and design programming. Costs range $195-$400 with scholarships available. Registration closes Thursday before each camp week. 2026 information releases late January 2026. Contact reservations@discoveryworld.org or 414-765-8625.

Betty Brinn Children's Museum at 929 E. Wisconsin Ave. runs maker-focused half-day camps for its core audience of ages 0-8, including photography, printmaking, and 3D printing camps. The Museums for All program offers $5 admission with SNAP/EBT. Contact 414-390-5437.

Charles Allis Art Museum at 1801 N. Prospect Ave. offers two-day camps exploring indigenous innovations, functional design, and pattern-making fundamentals. Children 12 and under receive free admission. First Wednesdays are free for all. Contact 414-278-8295.

UWM Peck School of the Arts Youth Programs serves high school students (ages 14-18) with portfolio-building camps in printmaking, sculpture, and digital processes, plus film camps for aspiring filmmakers. These university-level programs provide excellent college preparation. Visit uwm.edu/arts/events-community/youth-community-programs/.

Milwaukee Rep Arts Camp has moved to St. Augustine Preparatory Academy's North Campus for 2026, serving ages 7-15 in two-week intensive sessions. Session 1 runs June 29-July 10 (no camp July 3) and Session 2 runs July 13-24, both at $600. Students customize their path through acting, sewing, improvisation, dance, painting, set design, costume construction, and special effects—culminating in an Arts Spectacular showcase. Payment plans available. Scholarship applications due March 2, 2026 with notification by March 29. Contact SummerCamp@Milwaukeerep.com.

North Shore communities

Shorewood Recreation Department operates Camp Shorewood at Shorewood Intermediate School Commons (1701 E. Capitol Drive) for grades 4K-6. Weekly sessions run June 16-August 15 with hours 8:00am-5:00pm. Daily programming includes arts and crafts, nature exploration, and cooking alongside themed weeks with field trips. Resident rates run $192-$240/week; non-residents pay $292-$340/week. Registration opens late February 2026 for residents, early March for non-residents, via ActiveNet. Contact 414-963-6913 x4.

Whitefish Bay Recreation Department serves ages 3 through grade 6 across multiple programs at Cumberland and Richards Elementary Schools. Camp Cumberland and Camp Richards (grades 1-6) run eight weeks with hours 9:00am-4:00pm plus extended care options. Arts and crafts feature prominently alongside outdoor activities and field trips to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and Milwaukee Zoo. Resident lottery registration opens March 10, 2026; non-resident registration March 25. Contact 414-963-3921.

Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC at 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay, offers Morning Rec Camp (K5-6th grade, 9am-12pm) with themed weeks including "Adventures in Art." Half-day rates run $195/week for members, $216 community. Early registration saves $10/week before February 28. Their Rainbow Day Camp operates on 110 acres in Fredonia with transportation from Whitefish Bay, Mequon, and Grafton. Contact 414-967-8194 or visit jccmilwaukee.org.

Creative Chaos at 2221 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood, operates from a Queen Anne Victorian building with a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. Spring Break Art Camp runs $300 full day or $200 half-day. Tinker Tuesdays for ages 4+ explore recycled art and STEAM concepts at $50 per session. Contact creativechaoswi.net.

Crayola Imagine Arts Academy (milwaukee.imagineartsacademy.com) combines foundational art techniques with creative problem-solving through summer camps, birthday parties, and community workshops.

NEIGHBOR Art Studio in Bay View (neighborartstudio.com) serves ages 8 months through 10 years with a "get messy" philosophy, combining art classes with an art therapy practice.

Ozaukee County

Cedarburg Art Museum at W63 N639 Washington Ave. runs Main Street Art Camp every Friday June through August. Art Explorers (ages 4-7) meet 9-11am while Masterpiece Makers (ages 8-11) meet 11:30am-2pm. Each week explores a different medium: ink and markers, sculpture, paint, fiber, watercolor, collage, nature, and mixed media. Free with family membership (up to 4 children); otherwise $80 for full summer or $10/session after May 1. Scholarships available. Contact 262-377-6123 or info@cedarburgartmuseum.org.

Cedarburg Cultural Center at W62 N546 Washington Ave. offers youth and teen art classes, plus the annual Youth Plein Air Art Contest inviting young artists to paint Ozaukee County landscapes. Contact 262-375-3676 or kerry@artmusichistory.org.

City of Cedarburg Parks & Recreation operates a nine-week Summer Playground Camp for ages 3-12 with daily arts and crafts, games, and pool visits. Registration opens in-person only in mid-March 2026: returning participants March 13, city residents March 18, non-residents March 20. Half-day and full-day options available. Contact 262-375-7611.

Mequon and Thiensville host Tiny Bird Art Studio (detailed above) plus KE Camps at The River Club of Mequon (877-671-2267, kecamps.com) offering arts and crafts within a country club setting for ages 5+. Club SciKidz at MATC Mequon provides 70+ themed STEAM camps for grades PK-8 with art integration.

Kettle Moraine YMCA operates day camps in Port Washington (465 Northwoods Rd.) and Grafton (Grafton High School), including arts and crafts in their traditional programming. Visit kmymca.org/daycamp.

Nature centers

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center at 1111 E. Brown Deer Road, Bayside, spreads across 185 acres along Lake Michigan's shore. Camps serve toddlers (2.5-3 with adult) through 12th grade with themes including Nature Art, Ponding & Reptiles, and Raptor Trainer. Member pricing runs $175-$210/week; non-members $210-$245. The 2026 camp calendar publishes January 9, 2026, with member lottery entries accepted January 9-19 (one entry per family covers all children). Registration uses Jovial software. Contact 414-352-2880 or schlitzaudubon.org.

Urban Ecology Center operates three Milwaukee locations: Riverside Park (1500 E. Park Place), Three Bridges Park (3700 W. Pierce Street), and Washington Park (1859 N. 40th Street). Camps serve Pre-K through 8th grade with themes including Forest Camp, Outdoor Detectives, and Biking Adventures. Camp lottery opens January 6, 2026, with entries accepted through January 19. Open registration begins February 23, 2026 at 10:00am. True Cost, Program Price, and scholarship pricing options available. Contact cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org or 414-626-8571.

Wehr Nature Center at 9701 W. College Avenue, Franklin, occupies 220 acres with five distinct habitats. While the center primarily provides nature programming to other camps (including Wilson Center), they offer Earth Roots programming for ages 3-K and various summer activities through Nature in the Parks. Contact 414-425-8550.

Waukesha County and western suburbs

Joyosity Creative Space at 2835 N. Brookfield Road, Brookfield, serves ages 2-13 with eight weeks of themed camps (Summer Paradise, Crazy Scientist, Rain Forest, Sweet Treats & Yummy Eats, Pet Palooza, Mythical Creatures, Build/Sculpt/Create, Superhero/Villain). Half-day sessions run $225/week or $1,600 for full summer; full days $450/week or $3,300 for summer. Art types include painting, sculpture, ceramics, textile arts, jewelry, resin art, and macramé. Registration opens January 2026. Contact 262-442-7865 or Joyosity.CreativeSpace@gmail.com.

Otto's Fine Art Academy maintains locations in Waukesha (312 W. Broadway) and Mukwonago (100 Fox St), offering dedicated art instruction for ages 4-18. Week-long morning or afternoon sessions run $187 with a $75 non-refundable deposit. Camps include Drawing Explorations, Ceramic Fun, Painter's Studio, Illustrator's Ark, and Textile Tricks covering pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, oil, ceramics, and textile arts. Gallery showcases conclude each camp week. Early bird discount of $10 off before April 1; sibling discounts 10-20%. Contact 262-970-9524 (Waukesha) or info@ottosartacademy.com.

Brookfield Academy at 3460 N. Brookfield Road offers Arty Party camps, creative writing, and photography within their comprehensive Summer Days program for K4-12. Registration opens late February 2026. Contact summerdays@brookfieldacademy.org.

City of Waukesha Parks & Recreation runs Cool School "Rec" and an Art Through Time program exploring art history from Stone Age through Renaissance. Visit waukesha-wi.gov/government/departments/summer-youth-development.php.

Wauwatosa Recreation Department publishes its Summer Activity Guide mid-April at tosarec.com, with various art and enrichment classes. Resident registration opens mid-April; high-demand programs open late April.

Club SciKidz at 1600 Underwood Ave., Wauwatosa, runs full-day STEAM camps June 23-August 22, 2026 at $375/week base. Art-related options include Zombie Special Effects, American Doll, and Great Masters (art history). Early bird code STEM saves $25 until May 1. Visit greatermilwaukee.clubscikidz.com.

Prairie Hill Waldorf School at N14 W29143 Silvernail Rd., Pewaukee, offers Summer Garden Camp (ages K4-6) and Forest Camp (grades 1-4) June 9-August 8, 2026 on 36 acres of farmland. Full day $350/week; half day $300/week. Nature-based art and handwork follow Waldorf educational philosophy. Visit prairiehillwaldorf.org/summer-camp.

Lake Country Playhouse at 111 Church St., Hartland, provides theatre production workshops (audition required), Mini Musical Camps, Broadway Showstopper Dance Camps, and a Summer Tech Workshop covering props, painting, and costumes for ages 10+. Costs range $165-$350. Early bird saves 10% before April 1; sibling discounts and financial aid available. Visit lakecountryplayhousewi.org/camps.

Washington County and West Bend

Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) at 205 Veterans Avenue, West Bend, offers distinctive summer youth workshops. Create and Curate Camp (June 23-26, ages 8-12) combines painting, drawing, sculpting, and photography with curator training. Architecture and Design Camp (July 23-25, ages 7-12) explores interior design and furniture making. Chalk workshops with artist Carli Ihde run August 15 for ages 8-12 (morning) and 13-17 (afternoon). All supplies included. Contact 262-334-9638 or visit wisconsinart.org/summer-youth-workshops.

Kettle Moraine YMCA operates day camps at Silverbrook (120 N. Silverbrook Dr., West Bend) and West Washington Branch with arts and crafts programming. Visit kmymca.org/daycamp.

Southern suburbs and Racine-Kenosha

Racine Art Museum at 441 Main Street, Racine, offers Kids Art Weeks throughout summer at both RAM and Wustum Museum (2519 Northwestern Ave.) locations. Programming connects to the museum's renowned craft collection spanning ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and polymer arts. Email newsletter provides registration alerts. Contact 262-638-8300 or ramart.org/education/art-classes/kids.

Kenosha Public Museums provides the region's most detailed 2026 schedule already. Three-day morning camps ($60 members/$75 non-members) include:

• Studio Art Camp (June 23-25): Watercolor, clay, recycled materials, carved prints

• Art Around the World Camp (July 14-16): Sand mandalas, Aboriginal dot figures, Japanese ink prints, Matryoshka dolls

• American Art Camp (August 4-6): Abstract Expressionism and Alma Thomas color theory

Teen programming includes Dungeons & Dragons Camp (July 22-24, ages 11-14, $120/$150) with dice, miniature, and character sheet included, plus cooking camps for ages 10-13. Summer Camp Scholarships available for ages 5-12 through Friends of the Museum. Visit museums.kenosha.org.

Harand Camp of the Theatre Arts at Carthage College campus in Kenosha offers residential musical theater training for ages 7-18, established in 1955. The one-week introductory session (June 21-27, first-year campers ages 7-12 only) costs $1,800. Full three-week sessions run $4,250-$4,350. Students perform in a 400-seat theater. Visit harandcamp.com.

Franklin Public Schools runs Kids Camp for completed 4K through entering 7th grade with daily art projects. Visit franklin.k12.wi.us/community-education-recreation-department/kids-camp.

WAWM Recreation Summer Action Adventures serves completed 4K-5th grade with weekly themed crafts at Franklin Elementary and Nathan Hale Elementary locations. Resident registration opens April 21 at 8am; non-resident May 5 at 8am. Visit wawmrec.com.

Free and scholarship-supported options

Several programs specifically support families with financial constraints. Arts @ Large provides completely free five-week summer programming for grades 3-8, plus free mobile Truck Studio sessions at parks. Walker's Point Center for the Arts offers scholarships for financial need alongside discounted rates for 53204 residents. MIAD provides both Merit Scholarships and Wisconsin DPI full-tuition scholarships for qualifying high school students. Lynden Sculpture Garden reserves 15% of all camp spaces for scholarship recipients. Cedarburg Art Museum offers free camp attendance through family membership. Kenosha Public Museums maintains a scholarship fund through Friends of the Museum. Milwaukee Art Museum administers the Sue and Mike Dunham Scholarship Fund. Lake Country Playhouse provides financial aid for performing arts camps.

Practical planning considerations for families

Transportation logistics vary significantly across programs. USM offers bus service from five community pickup points. JCC Rainbow Day Camp provides transport from Whitefish Bay, Mequon, and Grafton to their Fredonia facility. MIAD includes a Milwaukee County Transit bus pass for all Pre-College students. Most other camps require parent transport.

Extended care availability matters for working families. Wilson Center offers aftercare until 4:30pm for $100/week. Shorewood Recreation runs 8am-5pm. USM provides before and after care. Good Times Day Camp in Waukesha runs 7am-5:30pm with flexible scheduling.

Allergy awareness varies—Cloud 9 Workshop explicitly notes they are NOT nut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, or wheat-free. Happy Place Cooking Space accommodates allergens with one week advance notice. Contact individual programs for specific accommodations.

For families new to Milwaukee summer camps, the Milwaukee Camp Fair on Sunday, February 1, 2026 (10am-12pm at USM's Upper School Gym) offers a free opportunity to meet dozens of camp representatives and enter a raffle for a free camp week. Pre-registration recommended at mkewithkids.com.

The strongest art-intensive options for dedicated young artists include MIAD Pre-College (high school), Milwaukee Art Museum, Cedarburg Art Museum, Otto's Fine Art Academy, and Lynden Sculpture Garden. For blended experiences combining art with nature, Wilson Center, Lynden, Schlitz Audubon, and Urban Ecology Center excel. Theater-arts integrations thrive at Milwaukee Rep Arts Camp, Lake Country Playhouse, and Harand Camp.