Arts Explosion and Performance Focus Summer Camps
Guelph Dance is looking forward to the return of Summer Camps during July, 2026!
Registration opens February 10th, 2026 at 11 AM.
Priority registration for returning families opens February 3, 2026 at 11 AM.
Please direct any camp inquiries to our Camp Manager, Jennifer, by emailing [email protected] or by phoning (519) 780-2220 Ext. 103.
*** Please note, once you have completed registration an email will be sent shortly after to confirm your spot. This is so we can manage the number of children per age group per week.
Location
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St, Guelph, ON N1H 3V1
Arts Explosion Summer Camps
For ages 4-11 (entering SK – Grade 6 in September 2026).
Arts Explosion Summer Camps are a pressure-free, fun-filled exploration of the arts. Exceptional teaching artists teach a variety of arts activities including Dance, Music, Visual Art, Theatre, Mindfulness, Yoga and Story Creation. Campers are grouped by age with approximately 15 campers per group.
- Week 1: July 6 to 10, 2026
- Week 2: July 13 to 17 2026
- Week 3: July 20 to 24, 2026
Cost: $375 per camper (5% sibling discount)
“It’s a heartwarming, healthy, safe, balanced environment to explore and express themselves.” – Camp Parent, 2024
Performance Focus Summer Camp
For ages 8-13 (entering Grade 4-8 in September 2026).
Performance Focus is a camp for our older campers. It is a multi-arts extravaganza incorporating dance, theatre, music, song, and set design and construction. Campers will create a contemporary and socially relevant production. They will be grouped by age and experience to work with our teaching artists on different aspects of the production. Then, the week will culminate in a showing of the production at 4pm on the Friday afternoon of camp.
- July 27 to 31, 2026
Cost: $375 per camper (5% sibling discount)
“{My child} talked a lot about the evolution of her group’s ideas and performance. She sang the songs around the house. She was excited to talk about thinking up and then making the props.” – Camp Parent, 2024
Typical Schedule
Hours:
9:30 AM-3:30 PM (scheduled arts activities)
Pre-camp care:
8:30-9:30 AM (free and optional)
Post-camp care:
3:30-4:30 PM (free and optional)
Additional post-camp care:
4:30-5:30 PM $35/week (Monday to Friday) this will be invoiced separately.
A typical day starts with campers arriving between 8:30 to 9:30 AM, during which time, there is supervised play. Scheduled arts activities begin at 9:30 AM; typically two activities before lunch and two activities after lunch. Lunch is supervised in the River Run Centre lobbies then followed by supervised outdoor play. Because we go outside, please ensure your child has adequate clothing for a variety of weather situations. Scheduled arts activities wrap up at 3:30 PM, and campers can be picked up between 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Children who are signed up for additional post-camp care can be picked up before 5:30 pm. Check out our video showcasing some camp highlights!
“My son LOVES the counsellors and the activities are so fun and inspiring.” – Camp Parent, 2025
Sample Schedule for Red and Blue Group (Grade 1-5) Arts Explosion
| 8:30 to 9:30 AM | 9:30 to 9:45 AM | 9:45 to 10:45 AM | 10:45 to 11 AM | 11 AM to 12 PM | 12 to 1 PM | 1 to 2 PM | 2 to 2:15 PM | 2:15 to 3:15 PM | 3:15 to 3:30 PM | 3:30 to 4:30 PM |
| Drop-off Supervised free play | Opening Circle | Activity #1 E.g. Visual Art, Music, Dance, Theatre, OR Yoga. | Snack | Activity #2 | Lunch & Outdoor supervised play | Activity #3 | Snack | Activity #4 | Closing Circle | Pick-up Supervised free play |
Sample Schedule for Orange Group (JK/SK) Arts Explosion
| 8:30 to 9:30 AM | 9:30 to 9:45 AM | 9:45 to 10:30 AM | 10:30 to 10:45 AM | 10:45 to 11:30 AM | 11:30 AM to 1 PM | 1 to 2 PM | 2 to 2:20 PM | 2:20 to 3:05 PM | 3:15 to 3:30 PM | 3:30 to 4:30 PM |
| Drop-off Supervised free play | Opening Circle | Activity #1 E.g. Visual Art, Music, Dance, Theatre, OR Yoga. | Snack | Activity #2 | Lunch & Outdoor supervised play | Activity #3 | Snack | Activity #4 | Closing Circle | Pick-up Supervised free play |
Sample Schedule for Performance Focus Week
| 8:30 to 9:30 AM | 9:30 to 9:45 AM | 9:45 to 10:45 AM | 10:45 to 11 AM | 11 AM to 12 PM | 12 to 1 PM | 1 to 2:30 PM | 2:30 to 3:15 PM | 3:15 to 3:30 PM | 3:30 to 4:30 PM | 4:00 PM Friday** |
| Drop-off Supervised free play | Opening Circle | Singing & Acting | Snack | Singing & Acting continued | Lunch & Outside time | Visual Art *snack and break when needed. | Dance | Closing Circle | Pick-up Supervised free play | Performance on Friday afternoon at 4 PM |
Counsellor in Training (CIT) Program (Tentative)
Summer Camps 2026: These are a fun-filled weeks of professional artist mentorship, leadership skill-building, and hands-on volunteering with young campers. A terrific opportunity for youth aged 13 (going into Grade 8) interested in gaining leadership experience in a camp and arts environment.
The CIT program aims to:
– instill, encourage, and foster healthy leadership skills.
– encourage team work.
– to educate youth about teaching the arts.
– to build confidence.
$150/week CIT program
Please email Leslie Fisher [email protected] if you are interested in this program. The CIT will be offered if there is enough interest.
Subsidies: Guelph Dance is often able to offer full and/or partial subsidies for those in need.
Camps fill up fast, so we recommend early registration!