Summertime will be here soon, and the LOU community offers many creative ways to help your children fight boredom, including a number of summer arts camps.

Wayne Andrews, 35, director of the the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, said the LOU community has a diverse offering of camps, educational programs and programs throughout the year.

“We seem to have a large number for a community our size,” he said. “But the diversity is related to the makeup of our community with the university offering a wide range of sports, educational and art programs, our outstanding Oxford Park Commission offering a range of experiences, and the arts community offering access to cultural programs.”

Andrews said the Arts Council partners with the University Museum on some programs to prevent crossover of programming, but each has successful programs because of their different resources.

“Camps are not just for kids, but for adults and seniors,” he said. “YAC and OPC offer adult programs that are very popular and give you a chance to escape your daily grind without leaving Oxford, from adult watercolor classes to yoga or cooking.”

Andrews said in Oxford, many people work together to share information between organizations, which allows the museum, YAC and other groups to offer a range of programs.

“You can see a great example in the LOU Reads partnership, which connects all the summer programs for families and promotes sharing of programs between organizations to ensure all interests and skill levels are offered,” he said. “This collaboration is unique to communities like Oxford in which many of our service and cultural organization have a focus on community.”

Exposing children to art

He said interest in the arts in Oxford indicates that adults who enjoy art want to introduce their children or visiting grandchildren to art.

“The arts are one of the few things you can do your entire life,” he said. “You may not be able to play football or be a top-level ballet performer, but you can enjoy the arts and participate on some level. The interest children and teens have in the arts come from family and schools.”

The YAC offers a range of artistic experiences for kids and teens this summer.

“You can take dance classes, puppet making, perform in a musical, explore a museum, or make 3D sculpture,” he said.

Here are some of the summer arts camps for kids and teens

• Painting and Drawing (Beginner and Intermediate)

Dates: May 30 – June 3

Times: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ages: 3-9

Students will learn how different paint looks and works by experimenting with watercolor, acrylic, and tempera. They will learn basic drawing skills through fun exercises and practice time. Combining drawing and painting, they will learn basic techniques to create expressive and fun work, including learning about color, composition and line.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat a snack and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Painting and Drawing (Advanced)

Dates: May 30 – June 3

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

Students will learn how different paint looks and works by experimenting with watercolor, acrylic, and tempera. They will learn basic drawing skills through fun exercises and practice time. Combining drawing and painting will give them basic techniques to create expressive and fun work, including learning about color, composition and line.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Adventures in Art (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: June 6-10

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

Students work in many media and techniques in this popular class. They will learn about printmaking, collage, painting, and various other art forms. Pastels, paint and clay will be used in various projects designed to give children an overview in various art disciplines. The class is good for beginners and students who have done art before.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat a snack and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Adventures in Art (Advanced)

Dates: June 6-10

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

Students work with many different media and techniques in this popular class. They will learn about printmaking, collage, painting and various other art forms. Pastels, paint and clay will be used in different projects designed to give children an overview in various art disciplines. It’s good for beginners and students who have done art before.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Junk Art Returns (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: June 13-17

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

Back by popular demand, this fun imaginative class encourages experimentation and trial and error. Children will use all sorts of recyclable treasures and castoffs to create sculptures and more. It’s suitable for all who are curious and have a great imagination.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) work on art projects separately, but eat snacks and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Junk Art Returns (Advanced)

Dates: June 13-17

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

Back by popular demand, this fun imaginative class encourages experimentation and trial and error. Children will use all sorts of recyclable treasures and castoffs to create sculptures and more. It’s suitable for all who are curious and have a great imagination.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Fiber Art (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: June 20-24

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

This new offering will introduce students to several different art forms involving fiber. Felting, fabric collages, weaving, and art projects inspired by quilts will teach children about traditional fiber arts, while putting a fun and modern spin on them.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat a snack and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Fiber Art (Advanced)

Dates: June 20-24

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

This new offering will introduce students to several different art forms involving fiber. Felting, fabric collages, weaving, and art projects inspired by quilts will teach children about traditional fiber arts while putting a fun and modern spin on them.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Great Masters (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: June 27 – July 1st

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

The focus of this class will be on famous artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, Picasso and many others. While doing fun projects inspired by the artists, participants will learn about various techniques and some art history.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat a snack and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Great Masters (Advanced)

Dates: June 27-July 1

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

The focus on this class will be on famous artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, Picasso and many others. While doing fun projects inspired by the artists, participants will learn about various techniques, as well as a little art history.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Asian Art (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: July 11-15

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

This camp will focus on Asian arts, including origami and various painting and printing techniques. Asian cultures will inspire the projects we will make in this class. While learning about Asia, children will create beautiful art work.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat snacks and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Asian Art (Advanced)

Dates: July 11-15

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

This camp will focus on Asian arts, including origami and various painting and printing techniques. Asian cultures will inspire the projects created in this class. While learning about Asia, children will create beautiful art work.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• 3D Art (Beginning and Intermediate)

Dates: July 18-22

Times: 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-9

An old favorite returns. Students will make dimensional art out of various materials including wood, clay, papier mache and more. This class will challenge young artists to use their imagination and creativity to fashion creatures, abstracts and more in three dimensions.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-9) will work on art projects separately, but will eat a snack and take breaks together.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• 3D Art (Advanced)

Dates: July 18-22

Times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages: 10-17

An old favorite returns. Students will make dimensional art out of various materials including wood, clay, papier mache and more. This class will challenge young artists to use their imagination and creativity to fashion creatures, abstracts and more in three dimensions.

Prices: $95 for YAC members, $110 for non-members

• Experiments in Art Media: Mosaic, Collage and Printmaking

Dates: July 25-29

Times: 9 a.m. to noon or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages: 3-10

This is a survey class that allows students to work in different mediums. Children will learn basic techniques for mosaic, collage and printmaking, and there will be some mixed media projects. It will be a fun introductory class for all ages.

Beginning (ages 3-6) students and intermediate students (ages 7-10) will work on art projects separately, but will eat snacks and take breaks together.

Prices: $95/$160 for YAC members half day/full day, $110/$175 for non-members half day/full day

• Last Call Art Camp 1

Dates: Aug. 1-5

Times: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 9 a.m. to noon

Ages: 3-10

The children in these camps will explore lots of different art techniques and materials, will participate in daily art challenges, games and crafts projects and have a movie break each day after lunch. Children will be provided with snacks, but will need to bring a lunch if they are full day.

Please note that because of the wide range of ages in this class, students will be grouped in two classes for projects to insure success and common interest. Ages 3-6 will be in one group, and ages 7-10 will be in another. They will eat lunch, snacks and watch movies together.

Prices: YAC Members $95/160 half day/full day. Non-members $110/$175 half day/full day.