16 great summer camp options for arts-loving kids in the Pittsburgh area

Kidsburgh’s 2023 Big Guide to Summer Camps in the Pittsburgh region is filled with camp options for every child. From outdoor adventures and STEM learning to deep dives into the arts, local camps have it all.

Below you’ll find a guide to 16 camp options that are especially fun for kids who love creating art, learning about art and expressing themselves through the performing arts.

1. Sweetwater Center for the Arts

Kids ages 4-16 can find their muse through a wide variety of mediums at Sweetwater Center for the Arts. From ceramics and watercolor to animation and graffiti, kids will find exciting ways to express their creativity. Past years included cooking classes, STEM circuitry and acting, too. Watch for the complete schedule with registration opening in mid-March. Scholarships are available.

2. Cut & Sew Studio

Registration is now open for half-day summer sewing camp at Cut & Sew, located in Morningside. There are introductory classes and plenty of options for kids with more sewing experience. Find all the details here.

3. Sing Sing Sing!

Kids who love to perform can build their skills this summer at Sing Sing Sing summer camp in Wexford. Registration is now open for singing, songwriting, musical theater and more. Register here.

4. Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory

Summer Musical Theater Camp at the PMT Conservatory shines the spotlight on kids ages 4-18. The four-week camps train kids in acting, voice and dance, but also help kids build confidence, make new friendships and learn collaboration. Teens can choose from a performance, dance or technical theater/design track. Campers rehearse for a full-scale performance as a grand finale. This summer’s shows include “Pippin,” “Newsies Jr.” and “Any Dream Will Do.” Registration opens on March 1. Financial aid and payment plans are available.

6. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Camps for Creatives offers some of the most creative summer camps around Pittsburgh. The sessions return this June with camps for everyone from 3-year-olds to high school seniors. The five-day camps concentrate on developing creative skills in topics like theater production, sewing and design, storytelling and science. Registration is now open (as of Feb. 10) for everything from SmARTy Pants Science & Art camp to STEAM Challenge camp.

6. Paint Monkey Summer Art Camp

Weekday summer art camp at the popular birthday party spot Paint Monkey begins on June 19. Sessions at the Paint Monkey studio at the Waterfront in Homestead run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m.). Theme topics include famous artists, pop art and more. Click here for more information and registration.

7. Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History

Starting in June, creative kids and nature lovers alike can attend a variety of week-long camps at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. Young artists and explorers are invited to mask up and wander among real dinosaurs, make a mess, design a city for the future or become a filmmaker. Specific camp themes and dates will be available on Feb. 27 when registration opens to the public. Financial aid is available for eligible families.

8. Cello Fury Rock Camp

The Cello Fury Rock Camp for Strings gives young musicians a chance to play in a high-energy string rock orchestra. Registration is open for violin, viola, cello and bass players ages 7 to 17. Five-day sessions for various age groups run from June 26 through Aug. 11 at two locations: PYCO School of Music in Wexford and The Ellis School in Shadyside. Camps include masterclasses, sectionals, the musical theory game “Furyoploy,” workshops and rock orchestra. The sessions conclude with a concert for campers’ families. Get more information here.

9. The Children’s Museum

Summer camps at the Children’s Museum will host sessions for 3-year-olds through eighth-graders. Camps will run from June 12 to Aug. 18. Topics will include artmaking, storytelling, nature, game design and metalworking. Complete details will be available by mid-February. Limited scholarships are available.

10. Dot and Line Art Studio

Registration for summer camp at the creative art studio Dot and Line in Mt. Lebanon will open at noon on Feb. 26. Weekly camps for kids and teens will run from June 26 through August 18, with two half-day sections: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Get details here.

11. Gemini Children’s Theater

Five-day Summer Acting Workshops at Gemini Children’s Theater channel energy and talent toward the theater arts. Kids as young as 4 learn to write, rehearse and perform a play that they help develop from their imagination. Scene building, collaborating and character development apply across all age groups up to 17 years. Early bird discounts, scholarships, tuition assistance and payment plans are available.

12. Pittsburgh Glass Center

Two teen boot camp sessions are planned this summer for grades 6–12 at Pittsburgh Glass Center. The SiO2 Teen Boot Camp introduces the science and art of glass, offering hands-on experience with glassmaking. Sessions include glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming and coldworking. Sessions run June 26-20 and July 10-14. Scholarships are available.

13. Little Lake Theatre

Budding theater stars ages 6-16 will take the stage during in-person summer camps at Little Lake Theatre. Kids with a flair for the dramatic will study improv character movement and audition skills in Acting Camp. Musical Theater campers will rehearse and perform roles in “Oklahoma! Youth Edition.” Learn more and register here.

14. WQED Film Academy

WQED Film Academy is a youth education program in digital media arts and filmmaking. The Academy is open to all high schoolers, from rising ninth-graders up through recent high school grads. Teaching artists and professional mentors will offer a curriculum covering all aspects of digital media production, including storytelling, camera, audio, lighting and editing. Summer session dates are June 26 – August 3, 2023.

15. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School

Dancers of all sizes, from toddlers to teens, will find a place at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s summer sessions. Kids will develop progressive dance fundamentals through barre and floor exercises, French terminology and ballet concepts. The youngest dancers from 18 months to 7 years can try four-week camps including “Family and Me.” Expect pre-ballet and ballet foundations classes for beginners. The most advanced dancers will be challenged by the Junior Intensive, which covers pointe, pas de deux, jazz and repertoire. Watch for upcoming details here.

16. Saltworks Theatre Company Young Actors Summer Studio

After a pandemic hiatus and a location change, Saltworks is again hosting their weekly summer studio for young performers. This year’s dates are June 13, 20, 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Greenstone UM Church. These classes are open to student actors of ALL experience levels. After warm-ups and theater games, students will be introduced to new theatrical skills each week such as ensemble building, character development, improvisation, monologues, scene study, creative movement, and more. Kids can attend one session or all six. Get more info and register here by May 30.