Arts Camp Structure

Arts Camp serves children age 5 through teens. There are 2 sessions for the youngest Campers (Primary, ages 5-8), morning and afternoon.

Older children meet for 4 hours in the afternoons (Intermediate, ages 9-14).

More about camp structure…

Summer 2023

Girdwood Fine Arts Camp is in its 4th decade of operation offering intermediate, primary morning, and primary afternoon camps! 2023 Arts Camp dates are July 24th-28th and July 31st-August 4th.

Registration for 2023 will open in April

Go to www.fourvalleys.org to register for intermediate and primary camps when registration opens in April 2022.

Girdwood Fine Arts Camp Continues into it’s 4th Decade!



The Girdwood Fine Arts Camp fosters natural artistic talents by giving young artists instruction in the crafts and techniques of the fine arts. Students closely collaborate with professional artists who are chosen to teach at Arts Camp for their ability to teach and inspire. The finest art materials are provided. The Student to adult ratio is 1:6.

Arts Camp is held for two weeks at the end of the summer in the spectacular natural setting of Girdwood Valley. The whole town gets involved with this annual cultural event which inspires and connects everyone who participates with the high energy of artistic spirits. Parents and townspeople are treated to an exhibition of student work on the last day of Camp.

Latest News

The Girdwood Arts Camp offers several teenage apprenticeships with support from the grant from the Girdwood Board of Supervisors (GBOS). Apprentices play a vital part in the camp’s day-to-day operations, learning from art instructors along with the camp participants but also helping out with a multitude of various tasks: helping younger campers stay focused on their art projects getting supplies ready before sessions / cleaning supplies after sessions assembling art portfolios getting ready for the art show getting daily snacks … read more

Apprentice Leadership program supports teenagers and young adults in developing their teaching and mentoring skills through working at the Girdwood Art Camp. Many apprentices have been participants at the camp in the past, and it is great to see their growth both as artists and mentors to younger children. They are an integral part of the camp team, and we are very grateful to have these young people contributing to the camp’s success. Watch this video where the apprentices talk … read more

Once again, we held a series of winter classes during this challenging COVID winter 2020-21. Local artists Catherine Lindquist, Jimmy Riordan, and Tommy O’Malley led small groups of kids in creative explorations. The topics ranged from ice and paper sculptures, paper marbling, and mini-paintings to digital art and FIMO sculpting techniques. Winter Art Camp was organized in cooperation with the Four Valleys Community School

2020 Art Camp is over! COVID did not stop us, and we are proud to see that our safety measures have worked and the camp was COVID-free. Thank you to our supporters and partners: Four Valleys Community School, Challenge Alaska, Bake Shop, Spoonline, Lions Club, and numerous individuals who showed up or donated or raised the young artists. Thank you! Looking forward to 2021! See Camp 2020 picture stream

Girdwood Arts Camp is not just a summer event. This winter, artists and Arts Camp directors Jimmy Riordan (Intermediate Camp Director) and Tommy O’Malley (Primary Camp Director) facilitated an after-school program for K-8th grades. Their printmaking project created a Girdwood alphabet postcard and poster using the ideas and artistic creations of Girdwood students. Over two weeks the students came up with a Girdwood alphabet, designed illustrations for each letter and put together an alphabet postcard and poster. Many paint-covered hands … read more