Day Camp : Interlochen Arts Discovery
Why Arts Discovery
Give your child more ways to explore, create, and find what they love.
Arts Discovery is a summer day camp for students ages 7–12 that introduces kids to a variety of arts experiences in a welcoming, creative environment. With a new theme each week, there's always something different to try, from music and theatre to dance, visual arts, and more.
Held at the Interlochen Community Center, Arts Discovery brings Interlochen's creative approach to learning. Flexible, week-by-week enrollment lets you choose the sessions that fit your family's summer plans.
Interested in sleep away camp for students in grades 3-12? Learn more about Interlochen Arts Camp.
Summer 2027
Camp 2027 features seven weeks of unique themes and activities. Enroll in one week or several to give your child a variety of summer experiences.
Throughout the summer, campers will explore music, visual arts, dance, theatre, and more. Each week combines multiple art forms around a central theme, along with classic camp traditions like tie-dye, swimming in the lake, making s’mores, enjoying ice cream at Melody Freeze, and sharing songs together. Explore the weekly themes below to find the weeks that interest your child.
Climb aboard, voyagers. Join us as we tour the world through music, dance, theater, and visual arts.
Highlights include:
- World drumming and singing songs from various countries
- Folk dances and act out stories from around the world
- Passports of our adventures and artwork inspired by Ghana and Japan
Beaches, volcanoes, strumming, oh my! This week is packed full of fun from places like Hawai’i, the Philippines, and Polynesia.
Highlights include:
- Ukulele history and jam sessions
- Chalk pastel volcanoes and sunsets, plus create your own tropical print
- Basic steps in hula (Hawai’i) and tinikling (Philippines)
3...2...1...Blast Off! The fun this week will be out of this world.
Highlights include:
- Dance classes with Interlochen’s faculty, featuring music from The Planets
- Star Wars lessons, featuring light-saber (fencing) class and John Williams’ music
- Drawing constellations, Roman Mythology improvisation, space charades, and more
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
*Note: This was a huge camper favorite in 2026, but this is still a unique week. There will be new fun for everyone.
Into the woods we go. This week, we’ll embrace art and nature together as we sing, dance, play, and create.
Highlights include:
- Environmental education games and a lesson in the Sustainability Pavilion
- Woodland houses and other art projects inspired by nature
- Into the Woods activities, music from nature, animal acting games, and more
Welcome to our kingdom of the arts. Our programming this week will be a perfect way to fulfill your dreams of elegance and honor.
Highlights include:
- Dance classes with Interlochen’s faculty, featuring ballet
- Knight training with our rock wall and archery classes
- Costumes, tea parties, creating crowns, and more
Ahoy, me mateys! Explore a magical world under the sea and above as we play pirates, mermaids, ocean creatures, and more.
Highlights include:
- Pirate training: Swab the Deck, fencing class, and music from Pirates of the Caribbean
- A songwriting session with Interlochen’s songwriting faculty
- Ocean fun: fish pinch pots, salted watercolor paintings, sea shanties, water games in the afternoons, and more
More for Your Family
Summer should be a time for kids to try new things, build friendships, and enjoy experiences they might not have during the school year. Arts Discovery brings that spirit to a day camp rooted in Interlochen’s creative approach, with a welcoming environment where children can explore their interests and enjoy being kids. With thoughtful perks for families, it’s a summer experience that goes beyond the everyday.
Explore a variety of arts
Flexible weekly options
Breakfast, lunch and snacks included
A full week of summer fun
Outdoor play and time to create
Interlochen Community Pass: Complimentary tickets to eligible performances
And so much more.
Whether your child joins us for one week or several, each visit offers a chance to make the most of summer. The benefits of Arts Discovery reach beyond the camp day, giving families even more opportunities to enjoy all that Interlochen has to offer throughout the year.
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 8:10 a.m. and drop them off in the afternoon at 4:25 p.m.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:10 a.m. - Bus pickup at TCAPS Montessori school parking lot (optional)
- 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Student Drop off at Interlochen Community Center
- 9 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. - Activities at Interlochen Community Center
- 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 Interlochen Community Center
- 2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Snack and Activities at Interlochen Community Center
- 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - End of day “Campfire”
- 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. - Student Pick up at Interlochen Community Center
- 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.