Top-Rated Kids Art Camp in the Bay Area: PAL’s 2025 Summer Recap
2025 Summer Art Camp Academy at Pacific Art League: A Season of Creative Growth in Palo Alto
Looking for a Bay Area art camp that sparks imagination and builds real skills? This summer, the Pacific Art League (PAL) welcomed over 250 young creatives to downtown Palo Alto for our 2025 Summer Art Camp Academy—an 8-week celebration of visual storytelling, technical skill, and joyful self-expression.
From Studio Ghibli sketches to oil-painted cupcakes, campers explored a world of artistic possibilities while making new friends and growing their confidence as artists. If you're searching for youth art camps near Palo Alto that are high-quality, hands-on, and fun—we’ve got you covered.
What Makes Our Art Camps Special
Professional instructors who are working artists and experienced educators
All materials included—no need to shop for supplies
A welcoming, creative environment that encourages experimentation and growth
Student art shows every Friday to celebrate the week's work
2025 Summer Highlights at a Glance
Week 1: Paint, Clay & Ghibli Magic — Painting, hand-building, and anime drawing inspired by Studio Ghibli
Week 2: Watercolor & Fashion Illustration — Classic techniques meet design-forward flair
Week 3: Book Arts & Realism — Bookbinding, watercolor painting, and color pencil realism
Week 4: Pastels, Pop Art & Oil — Vibrant mixed media, street art, and delicious oil paintings
Week 5: Portraits & World Building — Figure drawing meets imaginative character design
Week 6: Foundations & Fine Art — Drawing basics, acrylic exploration, and oil portraits
Week 7: Studio Practice & Storytelling — Painting, clay, and character design for games and cartoons
Week 8: Kawaii & Creative Journaling — Cute mixed media, sketchbooking, and oil landscapes
A Creative Hub in Downtown Palo Alto
Our downtown location makes drop-off and pick-up easy for families throughout Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos, Redwood City and East Palo Alto. Campers ended each week with a student art show, where family and friends could celebrate their creations.
What Parents Are Saying
"The perfect balance of learning and fun. My son learned so much—and had a blast every day!"
– Maria H., Los Altos
"The instructors are phenomenal. It’s the one camp my daughter begs to return to each year."
– Kevin R., Redwood City
Plan Ahead for Summer 2026
Our camps fill quickly, and returning families get early access. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear when registration opens for next summer.
Explore. Express. Connect.
Art builds confidence, curiosity, and community. At Pacific Art League, our mission is to empower young people to explore who they are and how they see the world through the arts.
To learn more about our year-round youth programs and upcoming camps, visit www.pacificartleague.org and sign up for our email newsletter.
