Children's Program
Code: K0916-25
-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 6-8
Elemental Art - Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart
Jul 28 - Aug 1, 2025
9AM-3PM
Tuition: $598.00
Studio Fee: $30.00
Registration Fee: $25.00
Concept
Discover the power of the five elements through hands-on art! Young artists will explore wind, water, fire, earth, and space by using swirling watercolors to capture the breeze, sculpting explosive volcanoes with papier-mâché, creating rain-inspired drip pastels, and crafting glowing lanterns that symbolize fire. Along the way, they’ll learn how artists from different cultures have been inspired by nature’s forces—from Japanese woodblock prints of ocean waves to Indigenous sand painting traditions. Through texture, color, and movement, students will bring the raw energy of the natural world to life in their own unique creations!
Faculty
Alex McQuillan
Alex McQuillan is an educator with over 11 years of experience, including four at Aspen Middle School, where he fosters curiosity and engagement in his classrooms, believing in art as a tool for connection and understanding. He is also the author and illustrator of “The Karakol Diaries,” a graphic novel inspired by his years teaching and exploring in Kyrgyzstan. His work captures the beauty and depth of human experience through travel and its tribulations. Alex’s educational and artistic mission centers on creating moments of curiosity, empowerment, and engagement through adventure and exploration, fueled by inspiration from mountains and the wisdom of his grandmothers.
Kids in Emil Gormans Adventures in 3d workshop showing off their projects. 3D printed glasses and Boardgames
Tuition: $598.00
Studio Fee: $30.00
Registration Fee: $25.00
Join Waitlist for Elemental Art - Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Workshop Details
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Related Events
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 6-8
Jun 23 - 27, 2025
9AM-3PM
Hawaiian Heritage
Alana Wilson
Tuition $598
Code K0404-25
Join us for a fun and exciting journey into Native Hawaiian Cultural Arts! In this hands-on workshop, kids explore the rich traditions of Hawaii as they create and design art projects inspired by Hawaiian culture. We learn the art of lei making, create beautiful patterns, and even build our own traditional instruments. Along the way, students pick up some basic Hawaiian words and discover the deep cultural meaning of Mālama 'Āina—caring for the land and our connection to nature. Through ceramics, painting, and more, we experience the beauty of Hawaiian traditions while having fun!
-
Ages 9-12
Jun 23 - 27, 2025
9AM-3PM
Adventures in Animation
Samantha Ticknor
Tuition $680
Code P0411-25
Dive into the art of storytelling through animation! We kick off the week with Wick Editor, where students create hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animations. Next, the fun continues as we explore stop-motion animation, crafting sets from recycled materials and bringing clay characters to life. As the movies take shape, students learn to use iMovie, adding sound effects and special touches to make their films shine. We wrap up the week with an awesome film festival, where parents are invited to a showcase of their children’s animated creations!
-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 9-12
Jun 30 - Jul 4, 2025
9AM-3PM
Star Stories: Where Myths Meet the Night Sky
Samantha Ticknor
Tuition $598
Code K0505-25
Embark on an exciting journey through the stars! For centuries, people from all over the world have looked up at the night sky and imagined amazing stories from constellations. Young artists explore these dazzling star myths from different cultures, then dream up their own stories to bring to life through colorful comic book art. We create clay characters as the heroes of their myths to accompany their comics. With a burst of imagination and curiosity, we blend art and storytelling in a way that's truly out of this world!