The Weird & Wonderful Winter Puppet Lab
A week of wild imagination, curious creatures, friendship, and play!
This Midwinter Recess, step into a cozy creative studio where imagination runs wild, friendships grow, and anything is possible!
Our days are filled with hands-on art, silly inventions, imaginative games, storytelling, and plenty of time to play. Children will explore materials, follow their curiosity, collaborate with friends, and discover the joy of making things together.
And when the winter sun comes out, we'll head to Evergreen Park for playground adventures, picnic lunches, and little nature discoveries.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we create a welcoming space where children's ideas lead the way, creativity has no limits, and every day brings something unexpected!
Every Winter Has a Story
What's Yours?
February 15–19 | Five days of puppet-making, storytelling & creative adventures!
What if an old sock became a mischievous monster?
A stick turned into a mysterious forest creature? Or a shadow suddenly started telling stories?
Welcome to our Weird & Wonderful Puppet Lab, where children become inventors, puppet makers, storytellers, and performers!
Little Hands, Big Adventures!
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Puppet Magic: Invent hilarious, mysterious, and wonderfully weird characters using fabric, cardboard, and recycled treasures.
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Nature's Secret Treasures: Transform sticks, leaves, and found objects into curious creatures, magical relics, and storytelling props.
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Shadow Theater: Experiment with light, silhouettes, and projections to discover how shadows can dance, grow, disappear, and come alive.
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Build a Puppet World: Design miniature stages, imaginary landscapes, and fantastic homes for our characters.
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Lights, Puppets, Action! Dream up stories together, create scenes, and bring our characters to life through playful puppet performances.
There are no scripts to follow and no two puppets alike! Children's ideas, discoveries, and collaborations will shape the stories we create.
Because the best stories aren't just told. They're imagined, built, and played!
What We'll Explore
Important Details
Dates
Monday, February 15 – Friday, February 19, 2027
Ages
3–9 years old | Mixed-age group
Location
Stone Circle Theater at Ridgewood Presbyterian Church
59-14 70th Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385
Camp Hours
Regular Camp: 9 AM–3 PM
Extended Day: 3–5 PM (+$250/week)
Drop-off & Pick-up
Both take place at Stone Circle Theater, our cozy indoor home base.
What Does a Typical Day of Winter Art Camp Look Like?
A gentle rhythm that balances creativity, friendship, outdoor adventures, and cozy indoor play!
9:00–9:30 | Drop-off & free play
9:30–10:00 | Morning snack, welcome circle & creative invitations
10:00–12:00 | Outdoor adventures at Evergreen Park when weather permits, or indoor puppet-making, art explorations & games
12:00–12:45 | Lunch & social time
12:45–1:00 | Storytelling & quiet transition
1:00–2:00 | Rest,sleep (if needed) books, quiet play,drawing & imaginative storytelling
2:00–2:50 | Puppet theater, collaborative art-making & free play
2:50-3:00 | Dismissal
3:00–5:00 | Extended Day: relaxed play, art & creative activities, outdoor adventures at Evergreen Park when weather permits.
Our daily rhythm is flexible and follows children's interests, energy, and discoveries.
Can 3-Year-Olds Join?
Absolutely! We welcome 3-year-olds who are potty-trained, comfortable using the bathroom independently.We offer verbal guidance and provide a portable toilet seat and step stool to support bathroom independence. We do not assist with wiping or clothing changes except in emergencies, when we'll always provide the help needed.
Campers should also be able to walk the six blocks between our studio and Evergreen Park.
When Do We Go Outside?
We work with nature, not against it!
On sunny days when the feels-like temperature is around 40–45°F or warmer, we'll head to Evergreen Park for playground adventures, snacks, nature discoveries, and collecting treasures for our puppet creations.
Outdoor visits typically last 1–2 hours, depending on temperature, wind chill, and children's comfort. On warmer days, we may stay longer; on colder days, we'll enjoy our warm indoor studio.
Families will be notified in advance if any changes to drop-off or pick-up locations are necessary.
What is the adult-to-child ratio at camp?
We maintain a 1:6 adult-to-child ratio, with one adult for every six children, ensuring plenty of attention, care, and support throughout the day.
Midwinter Camp Pricing
❄️ EARLY BIRD — SAVE $50!
November 3–18, 2026
$625 / Full Week (9 AM–3 PM)
REGULAR TUITION
$675 / Full Week (9 AM–3 PM)
EXTENDED DAY — 3 PM–5 PM
Additional $250 / Week
Full-Day Tuition (9 AM–5 PM)
Early Bird: $875 / Week
Regular: $925 / Week
Registration is open! Early Bird savings begin November 3.
Scholarships
A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Contact info@creativenaturenyc.org.
Payment
Registration is processed securely through Sawyer. A 3.15% processing fee is added at checkout.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
All purchases are final. Camp tuition and Extended Day fees are non-refundable.
As a small, independent program, we plan our space, staffing, and materials based on enrollment. Last-minute cancellations directly affect our business and educators, so we cannot offer refunds or credits for cancellations, illness, or missed days.
If Creative Nature NYC cancels the camp, families will receive a full refund for the canceled services.
Thank you for understanding and supporting our little creative community! 💛