Banana Factory Launches Virtual Summer Camp Featuring Take-Home Art Kits

BETHLEHEM, PA—As families transition from remote learning to summer vacation, ArtsQuest is offering them a new way to learn, explore the arts and ‘travel’ the globe with its weekly “Around the World Virtual Summer Camps.”

Launching June 15, the Around the World art camps will explore a different continent and theme each week through hands-on art activities that can easily be done at home. Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa will all be on the destination list during the eight-week summer session.

Camp cost is $100 per week and includes access to all online instruction and a Take-Home Art Kit that comes complete with supplies and instructions for creating five arts projects based on the week’s theme. Students will also connect daily via the ArtsQuest Virtual Cabin online learning platform to engage with their camp teacher and other campers, ensuring plenty of social interaction and fun. Each camp week will include a special Wednesday workshop led by a Banana Factory Teaching Artist and conclude on a Friday with a Zoom Art Party for students to share their artwork with families and fellow campers.

To enhance the fun and theme, Banana Factory staff will offer a variety of resources and other at-home activities children and families can enjoy, including story times, recipes tied to the countries they are learning about, scavenger hunts, virtual field trips and art history lessons. Students’ artwork will also be showcased via a virtual exhibition on the Banana Factory website.

ArtsQuest is also making its Take-Home Art Kits available “a la carte” for families who prefer to learn at their own pace. The kit, which costs $25, includes all supplies, instructions and a link to a video tutorial. Each kit will provide 1.5 hours of hands-on activity plus suggestions for extended learning.

Registrations for Banana Factory Virtual Summer Camps can be done online starting May 26 at www.bananafactory.org and the camp art kits can be picked up at the Banana Factory, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem, on the Friday or Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., before your child’s camp week begins. Pickup times for a la carte kits are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

ArtsQuest is also hoping to resume small-capacity in-person camps later this summer following all health and safety guidelines established by the city and state. Additional details on in-person camps, which would take place in July and August, would be announced by in mid-June.

For more information, please visit www.bananafactory.org.