Deco Arts Camp is a week-long fine arts experience rooted in the creative spirit and thoughtful craftsmanship that defined our original Glen Echo Park program—now reimagined in our new studio space in downtown Bethesda. Young artists explore a rich mix of classic and contemporary art-making techniques, including silkscreen printing, marbleized paper, fossil casting, terra cotta sculpture, and tempera painting on real canvas.

Each day balances structured, skill-based lessons in color, shape, line, and texture with ample time for creative exploration and self-expression. Returning campers are offered new challenges and alternative projects that build on prior experience, allowing them to deepen skills and expand ideas.

Join us for a week of imagination, fine art, and joyful making at Deco Arts Camp—where tradition, creativity, and craft come together in every brushstroke.

Our summer camp aftercare program runs daily from 3:00–6:00 PM and offers a relaxed, comfortable extension of the camp day. Children enjoy free-play time with toys, games, board games, and open-ended art materials, allowing them to unwind and choose how they spend their afternoon. The final hour of aftercare is dedicated to quiet reading time, helping campers transition into a calm end-of-day routine. On Fridays, students enjoy an age-appropriate movie beginning at 3:30 PM. A great option for families needing flexible pick-up while keeping kids engaged in a warm, supervised environment.

Join Emma Stevenson Cowan for a relaxed and inspiring Open Studio experience at Emma’s Art Studio in downtown Bethesda. This is your time to slow down, explore, and create in a welcoming, thoughtfully designed space.

A curated selection of high-quality materials will be available, including acrylic paints, watercolors, and collage supplies. Whether you’re continuing a personal project or starting something new, Emma will be there to offer guidance, encouragement, and artistic insight as needed—without the pressure of a structured class.

Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, this open-format session invites you to make art at your own pace in a calm, creative community setting.

Come make art, experiment, and reconnect with your creative practice.

Start your morning with art, stories, and creative play! Each session begins with a short story to spark imagination, followed by a simple, guided art activity designed for toddlers and preschoolers to complete with their caregivers. Afterward, children explore a variety of open-ended art and sensory materials that invite experimentation, discovery, and joyful mess-making. Caregivers stay and create alongside their children, making each class a meaningful shared experience that encourages curiosity and creativity. 

(18 months - 5 years old)

Tuition includes 1 Adult + 1 Child (Ages 6-12)

All DIGITAL camera types are welcome, including cell phone cameras.

This interactive workshop invites parents and children to explore photography together as a tool for connection, communication, and creativity. Through guided activities, participants will create meaningful self-portraits and portraits of one another while building confidence and strengthening their relationship through shared creative play. Students will leave with printed photos.

Learn more about guest instructor Melissa here: www.mwsimages.com

The Counselor in Training (CIT) Program is a hands-on volunteer opportunity for middle and high school students interested in working with children, developing leadership skills, and gaining experience in an art education setting. CITs assist with camp activities, classroom organization, material setup and cleanup, and supporting younger artists throughout the day.

This program is free to participate, with a $20 supply fee to help cover materials and administrative costs.

Emma’s Art Studio is happy to sign Student Service Learning (SSL) forms for MCPS schools. Please note that while MCPS lists educational organizations as eligible volunteer sites, approval of SSL hours is ultimately determined by each individual school, and acceptance of hours cannot be guaranteed.

This program is best suited for responsible, motivated students who enjoy working with children and are eager to learn in a creative, collaborative environment.

Deco Arts Camp is a week-long fine arts experience rooted in the creative spirit and thoughtful craftsmanship that defined our original Glen Echo Park program—now reimagined in our new studio space in downtown Bethesda. Young artists explore a rich mix of classic and contemporary art-making techniques, including silkscreen printing, marbleized paper, fossil casting, terra cotta sculpture, and tempera painting on real canvas.

Each day balances structured, skill-based lessons in color, shape, line, and texture with ample time for creative exploration and self-expression. Returning campers are offered new challenges and alternative projects that build on prior experience, allowing them to deepen skills and expand ideas.

Join us for a week of imagination, fine art, and joyful making at Deco Arts Camp—where tradition, creativity, and craft come together in every brushstroke.

Deco Arts Camp Plus is a week-long fine arts experience for older elementary artists ready for greater independence and challenge. Rooted in the creative spirit of our original Glen Echo Park program, this expanded camp is now reimagined in our downtown Bethesda studio.

Campers work with more advanced materials and techniques—including silkscreen printing, marbleized paper, terra cotta sculpture, fossil casting, and tempera painting on real canvas—while building strong foundations in composition, color, line, and texture. Projects allow for individual choice, experimentation, and personal voice, with returning campers encouraged to push ideas further through extended or alternative approaches.

With longer studio time and a focus on process and craftsmanship, Deco Arts Camp Plus offers a true studio experience where confidence, skill, and creativity grow together.

Each day balances structured, skill-based lessons in color, shape, line, and texture with ample time for creative exploration and self-expression. Returning campers are offered new challenges and alternative projects that build on prior experience, allowing them to deepen skills and expand ideas.

Join us for a week of imagination, fine art, and joyful making at Deco Arts Camp—where tradition, creativity, and craft come together in every brushstroke.