The Living Studio: Summer at the Park
What if a summer could become a studio?
What if children’s ideas—rather than a plan—shaped what unfolded each day?
The Living Studio is an experimental summer program for children ages 3–9, where learning emerges through curiosity, materials, shared attention, and time. Instead of a fixed curriculum, the program evolves in response to what children notice, wonder about, return to, and care for—together.
Days begin outdoors, with the park as collaborator. Children explore through drawing, painting, clay, collage, movement, storytelling, photography, mapping, and ephemeral installations made from foraged materials. A stick becomes a tool, a shadow becomes a question, a walk becomes a performance. Outcomes are not prescribed; they are discovered through process.
Throughout the day, children work alongside one another—exchanging ideas, disagreeing, negotiating meaning, and learning how to listen and respond. Conversation becomes part of the work. Play becomes research. Friendships form through shared inquiry.
Educators move with the children as attentive witnesses and collaborators. Rather than giving instructions or measuring outcomes, they observe closely, listen carefully, and gather traces of children’s thinking through notes, photographs, conversations, and works in progress. These traces are returned to the group as invitations—to reflect, revisit, and extend ideas, making learning visible and shared.
Every two weeks, families are invited to informal studio openings, where children may choose to share what they’ve been exploring and respond to questions as artists and inventors in their own words. These gatherings are celebratory, gentle, and playful.
Families may join for one week or across the summer. Over time, ideas deepen, voices strengthen, and children develop a growing sense of agency.
The Living Studio is less a camp than a living inquiry—an invitation to explore, create, and belong.
Dates: April 2–10
Hours: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
Location: Ridgewood, Queens (exact location coming very soon!)
Ages: 3–9 years
Full Camp Tuition: $625
✨ Sibling, Bring-a-Friend, and Early Bird discounts available
Questions & Answers
What is the general schedule for the day?
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9:00-9:30: Drop-off
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9:30-10:00: Snack time
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10:00-10:15: Bathroom break
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10:15-11:15: Opening circle, icebreakers, ecology observations & art-making
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11:15-11:40: Sharing our work, art appreciation, questions & connections
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11:40-12:00: Free play
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12:00-12:45: Lunch
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12:45-1:00: Walk to our indoor space
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1:00-2:00: Art and ecology book reading, rest, nap, or quiet time
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2:00-3:00: Free play with an option for more art-making
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Not ready yet to register for a camp? No worries!
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Outdoors Activities for Kids
Art in Nature Workshops for Kids
Kids’ Painting, Sculpture, Fashion, Drawing, Yoga, Dance and Movement Classes
Kids Art Classes
Art Adventures for Kids
Why Choose Creative Nature NYC?
At Creative Nature NYC, we view children as natural researchers and inventors. Our curriculum is designed to co-create with the children, drawing from their questions, interests, and imaginative ideas. We focus on blending art, science, and ecology, allowing children to explore and experiment while cultivating critical thinking. Through the exploration of nature and recycled materials, children will ask important questions about their relationship with the world and how we can protect it.
Our teachers, with backgrounds in visual arts and ecology, are passionate about guiding young artists in exploring the interconnections between nature and creativity. We encourage expression through the "hundred languages" children use—drawing, sculpting, painting, movement, rhythm, and words.
Let's Ask Big Questions:
How can art help us understand ecology? How do we bridge the gap between humans and the natural world? At Creative Nature NYC, we believe that by experiencing the beauty and wonder of nature, children will develop a deep sense of responsibility for its preservation.
Join us this summer for a transformative, artistic exploration of Grover Cleveland Playground’s biodiversity, and watch your child grow into a curious, eco-conscious creator!