Youth Classes & Camps
Throughout the year, we offer weekend and after school classes, as well as weeklong camps during spring and summer for youth, ages 8-18, in the industrial arts. Give your child a creative experience—pouring molten metal, forging a steel hook, bending glass into an illuminated neon sign—there’s no place like The Crucible.
Youth Classes & Camps during Covid-19
2021 Spring and Summer Camps are currently open for registration for youth ages 8-18.
Morning sessions run 9am-12pm and afternoon sessions run 2-5pm. This two-hour break between sessions ensures our team has adequate time to clean across the campus. Unlike last summer, campers can register for both morning and afternoon camps, and Mid-Day care is available. There will be a designated place outdoors for students to eat lunch during the break.
All Crucible youth classes have been modified with new health and safety policies in place, like mandatory masks, health checks upon entry, and individualized toolsets. In order to ensure adequate physical distancing in the classroom all class sizes are capped at six students or fewer. Please review our Covid-19 policies before registering.
How Old Is Your Youth?
We offer a wide variety of age-appropriate youth classes for youth ages 8-18. For the safety of your child and their fellow students, our age limits are strictly enforced. Younger than 8? You are welcome to visit for a free tour, field trip or upcoming open house.
Weeklong Youth Camps
Spring Camp: April 5–9, 2021
Summer Camps: June 14–July 30, 2021
In The Crucible’s Youth Camps, students get hands-on learning STEM concepts through the industrial arts, experimenting with different media and techniques, and connecting with creative mentors and new friends. All youth classes have been modified with new health and safety policies in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Week 1: June 14–18, 2021
Week 2: June 21–25, 2021
Week 3: June 28–July 2, 2021
Week 4: July 12–16, 2021
Week 5: July 19–23, 2021
Week 6: July 26–30, 2021
Weeklong spring camps
Youth can safely learn in weeklong classes, meeting from Monday through Friday, this spring. Youth spring camps fall during Oakland Unified School District’s spring break, April 5, 2021–April 9, 2021. The Crucible offers youth classes for ages 8–18, who can learn everything from how to fix their own bicycles to how to sculpt with clay.
Weeklong summer camps
This summer, The Crucible’s summer camps return for another 6 weeks of creative education for youth ages 8–18. Youth can learn in our studios this summer in morning and afternoon sessions, running Monday through Friday.
Youth Offerings in 15 Departments
Thousands of Bay Area youth, ages 8-17, have attended Crucible classes, camps, and workshops. From metal to wood to glass we provide a unique setting for youth to explore their creative voices, while absorbing real-life lessons in science, technology, engineering and math.
More Ways Youth Get Creative
Youth Scholarships
Each year, The Crucible offers over $100,000 in full and partial scholarships to local youth, reserving 20% of spots in all our youth classes for scholarship students. Scholarship applications are considered based economic need, artistic ability and/or promise, and applicants zip code—with priority given first to our neighbors in West Oakland, then Oakland residents, and then Greater Bay Area residents.
Individual Instruction
During one-on-one instruction, youth develop their artistic skill and technique at their own pace. Our most popular departments for youth private instruction are Blacksmithing and Glass Blowing, however we can tailor a curriculum for any of our departments. Individual instruction can be project focused or technique focused.