LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — With the summer comes new beginnings for the Laguna Art Museum.

At over 100 years old, the museum is one of the oldest in the state, and this year introduces new kinds of programs for kids.

What You Need To Know

  • The Laguna Art Museum is running new summer programs for kids that aim to build group discussion tools in students 9 through 12-years-old

  • The museum will hold four camps during the day and two at night, designed to give kids an immersive experience at the museum while it is closed to the public

  • The day camps run from $35 for members to $45 for non-members and the night events range from $70 for parents registering two or more kids, $80 for members, and $90 for non-members

  • Some events include an ice cream party or scavenger hunt, all built around various artists and art pieces within the museum

“We’re trying to conduct much more immersive and dynamic experiences for the kiddos,” said Victoria Gerard, deputy director of the museum.

Outside the Lines Summer Day Camps start at $35 for museum members and $45 for non-members. Kids’ Night Out, which is an ice cream party or scavenger hunt, depending on the day, is $80 for museum members and $90 for non-members. Two or more kids and the cost drops to $70.

New leadership recently arrived at the museum, affecting change in programs, and using the upcoming single day camps as a proving ground for new strategies. Gerard said the museum is looking to continue a closer relationship between the methodology used in schools and what they offer at the museum. Specifically, discussions about the art which can help students to give space to their classmates as they offer their thoughts, and then form a response.

“It’s much more intrinsically linked to social, emotional learning,” she said. “It’s a method of learning and exploring where we focus on our emotions in a communal sense.” 

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Some sessions are for kids 6 to 9-years-old while others are for 10 to 12-year-olds. The camps give the kids full run of the museum, which will be closed to the public. Running from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., each of the four separate days has a different theme. Occurring twice in July, the 13 and the 20, and twice in August, the 3 and the 10, it aims to reestablish the museum as a place with defined, evolved programs.

It also will put on two night events for parents who want their kids to enjoy a fun and educational evening while they hit the town. All the activities get the kids to collaborate and perform discussions and tasks as a group, or otherwise with cooperation and help from each other.

“We believe that art is for all ages and that kids can enjoy the museum just as much as adults,” said Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of Laguna Art Museum in a news release. “The Outside the Lines Summer Day Camps and Kids’ Night Out programs are the next step in educating kids about the importance of art and exploring their creative side.”