Campers are introduced to improvisation, prompts, characters, and theatre games designed to create "on the spot" scenes and stories. Through the games and scene work, students learn skills, such as being present and aware on stage, listening to fellow actors, and working collaboratively while creating unique (and often hilarious) characters, situations, and scenes. The COCA Improv Project concludes with an in-person performance for family and friends during the final 20 minutes of camp.

Explore this form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into something new—altering both its appearance and meaning. Cut, tear, glue, fold, paint, add texts and drawings, rebind, create pop-ups, rubber-stamps, drill, and bolt. Add pockets and niches to hold objects. The only limit is your imagination! Altered Books concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

Beginner level dancers explore some of the world's best loved ballets using dance steps and art. Learn to dance to classical ballet music, such as Coppélia, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty, as you focus on technique. Get inspired and create art projects and props. Students should attend with ballet shoes. Ballet Fundamentals concludes with an in-person performance for family and friends during the final 20 minutes of camp. No additional dress code, and no previous experience required.

Create garden art that dance in the wind—from spinners and whirligigs to wind chimes and wheels—in this STEAM camp. We twist, sculpt, bead, and paint using a range of mediums to create every imaginable style of outdoor kinetic art, from the beautiful and meditative to the whimsical, and try them all out in COCA's outdoor spaces. Blowin' in the Wind concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

We explore the fun and creativity in making delicious breakfast items from waffles and muffins to quiche, as we share our own favorite sweet and savory breakfast combinations. We decorate aprons and learn to safely cut and chop while practicing basic kitchen safety. Information about food restrictions or allergies must be provided to COCA during the registration process or by contacting the Registration Office by email at least two weeks prior to camp. Campers should have their hair pulled back. All culinary supplies and groceries included in price.

Campers explore concepts of balance, shape, color, and design as we construct kinetic sculpture. Inspired by the work of Alexander Calder, young artists use wire, beads, paper, natural items, and cardboard to create suspended mobiles and balanced standing sculptures. These unique art pieces “dance” in air currents and wind, and we explore them inside and outside COCA. Calder Creation concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

Athletic campers practice skills, such as tumbling, aerial, and mini-trampoline; explore stilt walking, rola bola, and rolling globe; and work on balancing on the low wire and ground work with juggling, spinning plates, diablo, flower sticks, and more. After learning a little about each of these circus skills, campers select where to place their focus and master the circus element. Circus Explorer concludes with an interactive sharing experience for family and friends during the final 40 minutes of camp. Campers should wear shorts or shorts under skirts or dresses.

Be the camera crew of your very own cooking show. Campers expand their skills in producing, filming, and editing while creating their own episode of sweet competition. COCA Cooking Competition concludes with families receving a digital link to their camper's work sent the week following camp. Art and technology supplies and equipment use included in price.

Learn about the costume design process by reading Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical JR. and creating ideas for character looks and garments. We explore images of costume designs from a variety of styles, practice rendering and illustration, learn to measure and fit costumes to actors, and create a sourced costume from costume storage. We learn hand and machine sewing technique while we build accessories and costume pieces that will appear in COCA's production of Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical JR.

Calling all artists and animal lovers. Young artists focus on drawing canine friends and raise awareness of animals in shelters. Campers also take a field trip to Saint Louis County Pet Adoption to draw some furry friends in person. Art for Paws concludes with campers bringing home the work they created. Camp price includes field trip.

Focus on the fundamental formal skills in drawing and painting while experimenting with a wide range of materials and artistic genres. The studio teaches observational skills as well as uses projects that cultivate individual intuition and imagination. Glean inspiration by looking at master works by contemporary artists that use drawing or painting as a main component of your works. Drawing & Painting concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

Campers learn about the fashion design process from design concepts to building garments. We practice rendering and illustration, learn basic machine and hand sewing techniques, and build some simple garments we design ourselves. The possibilities are endless in this exciting introduction to fashion camp. Fashion Design concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

Explore epoxy resin to embed flowers, vintage beads and buttons, photographs, and drawings to create beautiful coasters, paper weights, mobiles, and other decorative items for your room. Use the same techniques and materials to create personal items like jewelry and key chains to take your glassy art objects along with you everywhere you go. Glassy! concludes with campers bringing home the work they created.

Campers focus their work on learning horror stage makeup techniques to transform into characters from haunted houses. They learn to give themselves the illusion of cuts, bruises, and scars, and create monster and zombie characters. They use latex, bruise wheels, stage blood, and highlight/shadow techniques and use their own face as a canvas. Campers receive a photo record of their transformations.

What is better on a hot summer day than your favorite ice cream treats? How about learning to make your own? Campers spend each day with COCA’s culinary instructor learning how to make some of the most popular summer treats, from their favorite flavor of ice cream to warm brownie sundaes with hot fudge. Along the way, we learn about kitchen safety and practice basic cooking skills. Information about food restrictions or allergies must be provided to COCA during the registration process or by contacting the Registration Office by email at least two weeks prior to camp. Campers should have their hair pulled back. All culinary supplies and groceries included in price.