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SAM Camp

A room full of children in orange shirts making art with an instructor's assistance.
About

Make art and new friends at SAM Camp! Led by local art educators and inspired by work on view at SAM, we’ll explore, learn, and create. At the end of each week, friends and family of each camper are invited to attend a very special showcase performance and studio exhibition from 3–3:30 pm to celebrate the extraordinary artwork the campers have created. An in-studio exhibition for family and friends on the final day of camp will showcase the campers’ innovative artworks.

Morning drop off: 8:30–9 am
Official drop-off time is 8:30-9 am with the exception of Mondays, from 8:30–9:30 am, to accommodate the first day of camp logistics. We regret that we are not able to accommodate drop-offs prior to 8:30 am. SAM Camp activities begin promptly at 9 am.

Afternoon pick up: 3–3:30 pm
Please plan to pick your child up before 3:30 pm to avoid being charged the extended care weekly fee of $100. Afternoon extended care is available from 3:30-5:30 pm. Late pick-up fees accrue at $1 per minute at 5:30 pm. Credit card payments or written checks will be accepted.

Signing in and out
Please plan to sign your child in and out at the museum. To ensure the safety and welfare of your child, we will only release them to individuals that you indicate on your SAM Camp registration sheets. Please alert SAM Camp staff if you would like to alter your contacts or email updates to samcamp@seattleartmuseum.org It is important the designated person(s) read and understand the sign-in/sign-out process. We WILL NOT release your child to a person who is not indicated on your SAM registration form. The person signing out your child will be required to show a valid ID.

Lunch and snacks
Bring a non-refrigerated lunch, beverage(s), and snacks for the day. We ask that you refrain from packing any items that might contain nuts of any kind. We also ask that you advise your child that “trading” or “sharing” lunches or snacks with other campers is not permitted, for the safety of other campers. Please make sure that you have indicated any known allergies on your SAM Camp info forms and be sure to check in with SAM Camp staff in person on your child’s first day of SAM Camp.

Behavior
SAM is committed to providing a safe, fun, and welcoming environment for all campers. We begin each week of camp by reviewing behavioral expectations by creating “Agree to Be’s.” Behaviors that we have zero tolerance for include inappropriate physical contact, bullying, foul language, and name-calling. SAM reserves the right to send campers home if they exhibit consistent disruptive behavior. There are no refunds if a child is sent home.

What to know

Registration for the next SAM Camp will open February 13, 2025, at 4 pm.

2025 SAM Camp offers 3 weekly camps for children entering grades 1–6 and will occur Mondays–Fridays, July 7–25, 8:30 am to 3 pm, at Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Registration
Family level members and above: $465 per week
Public: $485 per week
Registration will open February 13, 2025, at 4 pm

Extended care
Afternoon extended care is available from 3:30–5:30 pm, Monday to Thursday for a flat rate of $100 per week. Late pick-up fees accrue at $1 per minute after 5:30 pm. Campers enrolled in afternoon extended care make art, play games, and spend time outside in the park. There will be no extended care on Fridays as we will have our weekly showcase at 3 pm.

Scholarships
SAM believes in increasing accessibility to the arts for all and offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships for each week of camp. Applications will open February 13, 2025, at 4 pm and are accepted on a rolling basis. Scholarships are need-based and will be available until all spots are filled. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance on or before April 18, 2025.

Liability form
After registering your young artist for SAM Camp, you’ll receive an email via DocuSign with our 2024 Liability Forms. All included forms must be reviewed and signed for each registered camper by May 1, 2025. Your child will be unable to attend SAM Camp if these forms are not received, and no refunds will be granted. If you do not receive your forms by March 4, 2025, please email us at samcamp@seattleartmuseum.org.

Check back in January for 2025 camp offerings

July 7–11

Playful Plots

Grades 1–3
Campers will get inspired by the rhythms and emotions of storytelling through movement, poetry, and puppetry. In the galleries, campers will explore the many ways art can tell stories. Then, they’ll bring original characters to life using painting, sculpting, and constructing.

Creative Ceramics

Grades 3–6
Creativity knows no bounds when it comes to working with clay. Campers will draw inspiration from the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s collection as they explore various techniques to sculpt, throw, and glaze original ceramic creations. Note: Some ceramic pieces may require a scheduled pick-up the week after camp.

July 14–18

Big and Bold

Grades 1–3
Campers will explore patterns and shapes found in paintings at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. They will gather inspiration from different artworks to create tiny but mighty and larger-than-life pieces by playing with paint, fabric, felt, and their imaginations!

Mixed Media Magic

Grades 3–6
A key component of being an artist is experimenting with a variety of materials! Campers learn about how other artists use mixed media to create and innovate. We'll experiment and create original artworks that combine paint, fabric, upcycled materials, and more!

July 21–25

Nature Explorers

Grades 1–3
How does nature inspire artists? Campers will take a close look at plants, flowers, and neighborhood animals as they learn about color and design to build a terrarium, clay impression pieces, impression paintings, and a bird or bat house. This week of SAM Camp includes a field trip to the Volunteer Park Conservatory.

Printmaking Paradise

Grades 3–6
Let’s get printing! Campers will create original designs produced with printmaking tools—including ink, brayers, barens, and Gelli plates—on materials they can frame, wear, and share with their family and friends. This week of SAM Camp includes a field trip to the Volunteer Park Conservatory.

Upcoming events

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See what’s on at SAM

SAM Camp FAQ

Please review these frequently asked questions before reaching out directly.

Camp is open to children entering grades 1–3 and 3–6 in the Fall of 2025.

SAM Campers are placed in groups according to age. Age groups may be combined during the day for particular age-appropriate tours and activities. Our intention is to provide an art experience with one-on-one attention and a low ratio of children to teaching artists and counselors. If you would like to request that your child be placed in a group with another camper, please indicate this on the SAM Camp liability forms you receive after registering. We cannot guarantee that they will be in the same group but we will do our best to group them.

All in-person camps will follow Washington State Department of Health and Center for Disease Control protocols. Camp health and safety policies may change based on updated local state and federal guidance and health recommendations. We understand if families decide to keep their campers home during sickness. Please note that we do not offer refunds for missed camp days due to illness or injury unless SAM Camp is canceled for all campers.

Sweatshirt or jacket: Dress for the weather as we will spend lunch outside and some time outdoors in the park. It is always a good idea to have an extra layer for campers to put on if they get chilly.

Lunch and snacks: Please bring nut-free snacks and lunch along with a refillable water bottle with enough water for the whole day of camp including extended care.

Active and comfortable clothes: At SAM Camp, kids will run, create, learn, jump, craft, and play—and that can often get messy! We will provide each camper with a T-shirt to wear during the day to protect their clothes.

Spending time outdoors:
Campers will spend a portion of every day exploring the sights and scenes of Volunteer Park, including lunches, snack times, and group activities. Please plan on applying sunscreen to your camper in the morning before camp begins and pack them protective attire that they can apply independently throughout the day.

SAM Camp staff are unable to apply sunscreen on campers.

If you need to cancel your registration for any or all scheduled weeks of SAM Camp, you may do so before May 1, 2025, and receive a full refund. After May 1, there will be a $100 cancellation fee and no refunds will be given after June 1. Please email samcamp@seattleartmuseum.org to notify staff of any cancellations.

SAM reserves the right to cancel programs or sessions based on insufficient enrollment and government mandates. In these events, a full refund for the specific camp will be issued.

For your tax forms and other childcare deductible paperwork, the Seattle Art Museum's tax EIN number is 91-0640788.

Related Programs

Art Adventures

Community Celebrations

Summer at SAM

Career Days

Family Saturdays

Community Family Fun Workshops