Frequently Asked
Questions

The Charles River Creative Arts program is not your typical program. Our campers get to plan their schedules and focus on the things they are most interested in with built-in time for fun, play, and relaxation. The best comparison might be an intensive-style camp where each student is focused on really gaining skills and learning, mixed with a “choose your own adventure” model where your child has agency over the direction of their day.

CRCAP is a multi-arts program that allows campers to choose from visual arts, drama, music, dance, STEM,and sports. Campers design their schedule to include five classes that are attended each day of the two-week session. The last day of each session is a festival for all to share their growth and accomplishments in exhibits, performances, and publications.

Here are a few sample campers and a look at their days:

Campbell the Camper
Campbell is a kid with a wide variety of interests who loves to play and try new things.  

Pavilion Meeting
Period 1 – Animation
snack
Period 2 – Fencing – Foil Basics
Period 3 – Daily Double (our daily newspaper)
Check in – Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Free Choice from any of our joyful daily activities such as games, bubbles, sprinklers, reading, painting, and sing-a-longs
Period 5 – Garden Tenders
Period 6 – Big Games
Pavilion Meeting – check out
Dismissal

Dana The Dancer
Dana first learned about CRCAP at dance class and loves to stay fit, practice all kinds of dance, and be on stage as often as possible.

Pavilion Meeting
Period 1 – Morning Yoga
snack
Period 2 – Gymnastics
Period 3 – Barre Workout
Check in – Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Free Choice from any of our joyful daily activities such as games, bubbles, sprinklers, reading, painting, and sing-a-longs
Period 5 – Hip Hop
Period 6 – Dansical – our dancing musical revue
Pavilion Meeting – check out
Dismissal

Alta the Artist
Alta loves anything artsy and wants to create things all day long to gain skills and build a portfolio.

Pavilion Meeting
Period 1 – Animation
snack
Period 2 – Drawing from Nature
Period 3 – Printmaking
Check in – Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Free Choice from any of our joyful daily activities such as games, bubbles, sprinklers, reading, painting, and sing-a-longs
Period 5 – Advanced Clay
Period 6 – Painting Lab
Pavilion Meeting – check out
Dismissal

Marley the Musician
Marley plays any and every instrument and wants to sing, play, and drum along to every song that exists. 

Pavilion Meeting
Period 1 – Musical Theater Production
snack
Period 2 – Musical Theater Production
Period 3 – Musical Theater Production
Check in – Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Free Choice from any of our joyful daily activities such as games, bubbles, sprinklers, reading, painting, and sing-a-longs
Period 5 – Rock Band
Period 6 – Guitar Workshop
Pavilion Meeting – check out
Dismissal

Star in Creative Starts
Star is a 4 – 7 year old camper with a desire to try new things, make art, play, and sing.

Creative Starts campers get to make choices all day long – giving them the opportunity to make art day after day, prepare a song to perform, or run in the sprinkler and enjoy time in the play barn. All our Creative Starts staff are focused on working with our youngest campers and giving them just the right amount of connection and independence to spark creativity and let them shine bright!

Creative Starts Meeting (in our Early Childhood Building classrooms)
Period 1 – Musical Theater, Art, or Gymnastics
snack
Period 2 – Art, Music, or Dance
Period 3 – Writing or Playground
Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Free Bees, Sprinkler, Chill Out and Read or Nap (4 & 5 year olds)
snack
Period 5 – Play Barn Games, Sprinkler or Fun Science
Period 6 – Free Build, Chill out and Read, or Crafts
Pack up
Dismissal

Kit the CIT
Kit is a teen looking to find a meaningful way to help others, learn new skills, and have fun this summer.

Pavilion Meeting
Period 1 – Morning Yoga
snack
Period 2 – Drawing from Nature
Period 3 – CIT Corner (CIT time to learn about leadership, community, and helpful skills such as child care, communication, cooking, CPR, and First Aid)
Check in – Lunch – Noontime Show (our daily variety show)
Period 4 – Time for CITs to run some of the joyful daily activities such as games, bubbles, sprinklers, reading, painting, and sing-a-longs
Period 5 – Creative Starts Helper
Period 6 – Painting Lab
Pavilion Meeting – check out
Dismissal

Depending on the age group and program, the ratio of counselors to campers is between 1:5 and 1:10. Programs are staffed with a combination of counselors and junior counselors.

All of our counselors have experience working with children in educational and/or summer camp programs. CRS Summer programs also have a dedicated on-site nurse.

In all programs at CRS Summer, campers are grouped according to age and will spend most of the day in those age groups. However, certain activities might be specific to an age group or skill level, or a combination of both.

One of the benefits of our programs sharing one campus in the summer is that campers of all ages have a chance to play together, recreating the neighborhood community feel.

Yes, we offer Extended Day for campers from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. an an additional cost.

Yes, we offer a 5% discount to students who attend a full summer of camp.

Counselors offer fun daily activities in Arts, Sports, STEM, and more, or the opportunity to learn from special guests! And, campers can choose to play in the playground, take some quiet time, or participate in water play activities.

Yes! On the last day of every session, there are short performances, showings and film screenings scheduled that parents are welcome to come in and watch. The times for these will be decided and shared with parents at the beginning of each session.

All registered families will receive a course list prior to the start of camp with all available classes for each session. Campers are able to select their top three choices for each of the four class periods and will receive a schedule prior to the start of camp. Every Session has slightly different course offerings and every class looks a bit different each session, even if it is offered in several sessions.

Yes. For more information about financial aid, contact summer@charlesriverschool.org.

Your camper should wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothes. Campers should also always bring a water bottle.

We provide snacks and lunch, as well as any materials needed for the programs.

There is a full-time summer camp nurse on-site every day. In the event that your child becomes ill or injured, you’ll receive a phone call and may be asked to pick up early.

Yes! Please contact us for information on our bus lines.

Once you pull onto the main road of campus, you’ll be directed by staff to the carpool circle. This is where you’ll drop off each morning, and pick up each afternoon. We’ll provide name placards to each family and ask that you keep it displayed on your dash during drop-off/pick-up.

We take pride in being good neighbors. We do ask that all camp families obey all traffic signs and rules, and are courteous when driving in the neighborhood.