Day Camp : Interlochen Arts Discovery
Why Arts Discovery
Are you searching for a summer arts "day camp near me"? Then join us at Arts Discovery! Designed for students ages 7-12, this week-by-week Interlochen and Traverse City area day camp offers students a chance to experience some of the magic of an Interlochen summer at a reduced cost while remaining flexible to family summer schedules.
The arts-forward day camp is held at the Interlochen Community School building. Each week will feature a unique theme with arts activities and enrichment, and utilize Interlochen’s sprawling 1200-acre campus, allowing students to explore the outdoors with environmental exploration workshops.
Interested in sleep away camp for students in grades 3-12? Learn more about Interlochen Arts Camp.
Summer 2026
Camp 2026 offers seven weeks of diverse programming. We encourage students to enroll in multiple sessions to enjoy a variety of unique experiences.
Throughout the summer, campers will explore music, visual arts, dance, theatre, and more. Each week highlights multiple art forms connected to the theme and includes classic camp experiences such as tie-dye, swimming in the lake, s’mores, ice cream at Melody Freeze, and a daily campfire with songs and skits. Please view the weekly themes below.
Let the Magic Begin – Welcome, wizards, witches, and sorcerers! Join us for a wonderful week full of magical surprises. Highlights include:
- Wand making and “wand work” to practice conducting skills
- Herbology class at the Sustainability Pavilion
- More class favorites: new potions, magical creatures, Critter Choir, and more!
Olympians and Demigods - Calling all heroes: join us for a week full of mythological fun inspired by Greek Olympians and the extraordinary world of Percy Jackson. Highlights include:
- Acting with Interlochen’s Shakespeare cast
- Training like a hero with our rock wall and fencing classes
- Creating your own cabin crest
Animal Friends - Animal lovers, unite! Whether you are a pet lover or an exotic animal lover, this week is for you. We will explore the wide world of animals through multiple art forms: acting, drawing, dancing, and more. Highlights include:
- Dance classes with Interlochen’s dance faculty, featuring music from Carnival of the Animals
- Environmental education class at Interlochen’s Sustainability Center
- Visual arts projects with animals as the focus, with a gallery to view at the end of the week
Camp Classics - Excited for a little bit of everything? Looking for a glimpse into what fun awaits at sleepaway camp? Our Classics week will feature a medley of arts classes and classic camp activities to give you a taste of many paths at Interlochen Highlights include:
- Classic camp crafts: tie-dye, bead buddies, friendship bracelets, and more
- Sightseeing: A tour of Interlochen’s main campus
- Guest classes: sampler classes in multiple arts, such as dance and theater
Dragon Den - Time to fly! Explore the exciting and enchanting world of dragons through art, featuring the world of How to Train Your Dragon. Highlights include:
- Dance classes with Interlochen’s dance faculty, featuring the score of
- How To Train Your Dragon Designing and sculpting your own dragon eyes
- Learning about the art of animation and sketching dragons
Snacks, Songs, and Stories - Do you love tasty treats and snacks? Our Stories week will bring the art of storytelling to life by pairing stories with songs, snacks, visual art, and more. Each day will feature new stories and surprises. Highlights include:
- A songwriting session with Interlochen’s songwriting faculty and students
- Creative writing classes to work on storytelling
- Garden foods taste test at the Sustainability Center
Night Owls - Embrace the nighttime with a day camp week all about the DARK! Explore bedtime stories, lullabies, glow-in-the-dark fun, and more with an all-week pajama party (yes, you can really wear PJ’s every day!). Highlights include:
- A nocturnal plants and animals lesson
- Art in the Dark (including glow-in-the-dark art projects)
- Pajama Party Performance, featuring bedtime story skits and songs for the nighttime
Special Activity Days
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: Lake day at Stone Waterfront (bring a swimsuit and towel)
- Friday: Group photo day and Family Fun! Families are invited to join us for Family Fun each week so we can show you what we have been working on.
Included in the registration fee
- Light continental breakfast daily
- Lunch daily in one of our campus cafeterias
- Afternoon nutritious snack daily
- Interlochen T-shirt and lanyard (1 per student per summer)
- Ice cream each week from the Melody Freeze
Transportation Option
For students who require transportation from Traverse City to Interlochen, we offer a morning and afternoon bus with pickup and drop-off at the TCAPS Montessori school parking lot (4053 Franke Road). The bus, offered to families for a fee of $50 per week, will pick up students at 8:05 a.m. and drop them off in the afternoon at 4:25 p.m.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:05 a.m. - Bus pickup at TCAPS Montessori school parking lot (optional)
- 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Student Drop off at Community School
- 9 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. - Activities at Community School
- 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Lunch at Lochaven Cafeteria (Interlochen’s Main Campus)
- 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Activities on Interlochen’s Main Campus / Field Trip
- 2 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Travel back to Community School
- 2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Snack and Activities at Community School
- 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - End of day “Campfire”
- 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. - Student Pick up at Community School
- 4:25 - 4:35 p.m. - Bus drop off at TCAPS Montessori
Packing List
Students should bring with them each day:
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Backpack
- Closed-toed shoes
- Jacket, sweatshirt, or rain jacket
- Bug spray
- Bathing suit, towel (Tuesdays & Thursdays only)
- White T-shirt to Tie-Dye (Tuesdays, for campers returning multiple weeks)
Cancellations and Session Changes
The $100 registration deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations submitted prior to June 1 will receive a tuition refund minus the deposit. No refunds are available after June 1. Session changes are discouraged, and must be approved by our Dean of Admission for Camp, as space allows.