Children's Program
Code: K0505-25
-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 9-12
Star Stories: Where Myths Meet the Night Sky
Jun 30 - Jul 4, 2025
9AM-3PM
Concept
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!
Faculty

Samantha Ticknor
Sam Ticknor is a Pittsburgh-based studio artist specializing in drawing and painting. She creates imaginative works on paper using watercolor paints and inks. Currently, she is crafting paintings for an upcoming picture book. Sam also has a passion for teaching and has led art courses at schools, camps, and universities in Aspen, Pittsburgh, and New York City. She is happy to be returning to Anderson Ranch for her eighth summer of workshops!

Join Waitlist for Star Stories: Where Myths Meet the Night Sky
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.

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
Jul 21 - 25, 2025
9AM-3PM
Habitat Happenings
Annie Bell
Tuition $598
Code K0809-25
In this dynamic workshop, young creators embark on an adventurous journey through the world’s diverse habitats! From the towering trees of the rainforest to the icy Arctic where polar bears roam, we uncover how nature thrives in every corner of the globe. Inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s vibrant desert flowers, Andy Goldsworthy’s forest sculptures, and Vija Celmins’ mesmerizing ocean waves, we bring ecosystems to life through art. Kids immerse themselves in projects like dioramas, collages, and paper mâché, using creativity to strengthen their connection with the Earth. Join us as we discover our planet through the power of art!

-
Ages 9-12
Jul 21 - 25, 2025
9AM-3PM
Shutterbugs: A Photography Journey for Kids
Stephanie Lindsey
Tuition $755
Code P0820-25
For kids bursting with curiosity about the world around them, a camera is the perfect tool to capture that excitement! This workshop is a fun-filled photographic adventure packed with hands-on lessons and activities, helping students discover how photography can tell amazing stories and frame the world in new ways. From the fascinating history of image-making and practicing cool techniques like cyanotypes all the way to today’s digital photography, this course is a journey through time and creativity. Using the beautiful Anderson Ranch campus as inspiration, students create one-of-a-kind photographs and prints that might just ignite a lifelong passion for image-making.

-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 6-8
Jul 28 - Aug 1, 2025
9AM-3PM
Elemental Art - Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart
Alex McQuillan
Tuition $598
Code K0916-25
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!