RCC Youth Clay programs!
We offer all ages Individual lessons where youth may participate as well. We also offer Parent ‘n Pup or short youth classes intermittently. Youth, who are 15 years of age and older, may participate in adult sessional classes. Check out our current registration page for details on these offerings. (Learn More)
Summer Clay camps
Aug 18th-22nd & Aug 25th-29th
9am-12pm: hand building for 6-11 year olds OR 1pm-4pm: wheel throwing for 9-15 year olds
Immerse your child in a world of creativity and fun with our 5-day Youth Clay Camp! Under the guidance of experienced instructors, campers will learn various clayworking techniques. Camps for participants 6-10 focus on hand-building, including pinch, coil, and slab methods, while those for youth ages 11-15 will introduce wheel throwing. From crafting small cups to impressing leaves into the surfaces of bowls, each day presents new lessons and opportunities for expression. Beyond honing their artistic skills, participants will grow patience, focus, and confidence as they work on their projects. With a supportive and encouraging environment, this camp fosters friendships and inspires a lifelong love for pottery and art making. Join us for 5 days of clay-filled adventures and watch your child's imagination soar!
Camps meet for five consecutive days, for two hours each day. Each camp is led by a teaching artist; We work closely with instructors to develop optimal age ranges and ability levels for each class and the content offered.
Clay in Schools
The Rain City Clay Club brings creativity into the community by sending an instructor and clay supplies to schools and community centers.
Bring arts enrichment to your community with Rain City Clay! People of all ages can benefit from the joy of creating something out of clay with their hands. RCC teachers will bring their expertise to schools, senior centers, and community programs in West Seattle, White Center, and nearby organizations. (Learn More)
Age Restrictions
At the time their camp begins, children must have reached the minimum age.
To ensure the success of our classes, we ask that you observe these restrictions when registering your children for camps. RCC makes NO exceptions to the ages or ability levels indicated in the descriptions. If you register your child for the wrong age group, the registration will be canceled and will be non-refundable.
Please read our registration policies, refunds, and other conditions before registering.
Youth Drop off / Pick up
Caregivers, please drop off and pick up your children promptly. Please do not drop your child off too early (no more than 5 minutes before class time); pick up your child promptly at the end of class. RCC does not provide daycare or supervision before or after camps. There is a $15 fee for parents arriving more than 10 minutes late for pick-up.
What to Wear and Bring
Kids will get messy, so make sure your child wears appropriate, washable clothing and footwear (sneakers are best; no open-toed shoes.). Clay working tools are provided.
For all camps, youth must bring:
Reusable tote to hold finished projects at the end of camp.
We recommend canvas or nylon, roughly the size of a grocery bag.For wheel classes please bring an old towel (It will come home dirty. We suggest soaking this in a bucket of water and wringing it before throwing it in your washing machine).
An apron can help keep clay of clothes. (It will come home dirty. We suggest soaking this in a bucket of water and wringing it before throwing it in your washing machine).
Completed Projects
Completed projects may be picked 3-4 weeks after the camp ends; you will receive an email reminder when the projects are ready and information about the last days for pick-up. If you cannot pick up your child’s projects by this date, please make arrangements for someone else to pick them up.
Please Note: Due to the very nature of clay and the firing process, RCC cannot be responsible for any damage to work caused by poor construction or the firing or glazing processes.
Expectations
Camps at RCC are all about having a memorable experience. Your children will be encouraged to create several clay art projects during camp. You can anticipate your child having around 2-3 completed pieces. Not all camps result in the same number of objects for campers to take home. Regardless of output, ALL of our camps aim to create a positive and memorable experience for your camper.
Students can expect to make new work Monday through Thursday and spend Friday glazing. Class periods will include time for cleanup, an integral part of the process. Class descriptions are subject to change depending on the ability levels of participating students. Instructors will work with youth to create engagement based on their skill and attention.
Scholarships
RCC has a small number of partial scholarships for children, awarded on a need basis. Scholarship funds will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis, based on need, until the funds are depleted. A maximum of 50% of the tuition for any particular class or camp may be approved. Because our scholarship funds are limited, no more than one scholarship per child will be approved in a calendar year. (To give to or apply for a scholarship, click here)
Cancellations Policy
Cancellations must be made via email to info@raincityclay.com
If you want to cancel your class, you may request a refund based on the bullet points below. Then you may rebook yourself for a class that fits better into your schedule.
Last-minute cancellations in classes are difficult to fill - please double-check your schedule before committing to an event. Refunds take several business days to process from the date we receive the email request.
100% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student elects to drop a class no later than one week (10 days) before the day of the first class meeting.
80% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 7 business days before the first class meeting.
50% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 3 business days before the first class meeting.
0% of tuition is refunded if cancellation is made within two days of class for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.
After this period, if a student elects to drop a class or transfer, tuition will NOT be refunded for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.
No refunds or credit will be given for missed classes. Students currently enrolled in 10-week classes may practice during open studio time to build skills even if a class is missed. One-day clay events and lessons do not come with open studio time.
We reserve the right to cancel a class or workshop up to 3 days in advance of the first class due to insufficient enrollment. If a class is canceled, you will be offered the option of another class or a full refund.
For some reason, should the studio have an unforeseen need to reschedule the class, you will be notified and given the option to take a class at a later date or receive a refund. Examples of these include power outage, covid flare up, or force majeure.
*A minimum of 8 participants is required to run the Clay Camps. If a class does not meet this, we will give advanced notice about any cancellations and a refund will be issued.
