When Stephanie Erb opened MADE Chicago’s Bucktown studio last fall, this local mom already had big plans for a summer pottery camp for kids ages 5-12.
“We’re super excited,” says Erb, who has a 5-year-old herself. “Each project has something different you can learn. A kid is never doing the same thing twice.”
That kind of thoughtful energy is behind MADE Chicago’s first-ever camps. From trinket pizza boxes to wheel-thrown mugs, kids get messy, active and creative.
“It’s not a stuffy art camp,” adds Erb. “It’s very physical. There’s music playing. It’s a fun way to pass the time. And you’re building life-long pottery skills that you’ll always have.”
Learn more about this new day camp that runs June 16-Aug. 15, 2025.
Things kids will be making all summer long
For ages 5-8, it’s all about hand-building during nine themed weeks. “They’ll use their hands and simple tools to sculpt and build custom pieces,” Erb shares. A few highlights:
- The basics of pinch pots, coil building and slab building
- Alien-themed planters during Space Week
- Trinket dishes that look like a deep-dish pizza slice
- Chicago-style hot dog mugs
- Fairy houses, LEGO-inspired builds and garden gnomes
For ages 9-12, campers dive into wheelthrowing. “This one’s going to be so fun. It’s really good for that age. Kids pick up wheelthrowing quickly, like they do learning new languages.” They’ll:
- Learn to center and shape cylinders, bowls and mugs
- Attach handles to teacups
- Paint with slips (clay-based pigments) for color
- Leave glazing and firing to the staff
All campers also:
- Make a sketchbook on day one with a Polaroid cover photo
- Sketch and plan each project before sculpting
- Work on cardboard builds, such as castles
What kids would love this pottery camp?
“It’s for all kids — boys as well as girls,” Erb says. No experience is needed.
- Artsy and not: “For the kids that love art, obviously they’re going to love MADE’s camps,” says Erb. “But it’s also for the kids might not, or kids that are also doing soccer or swim camps. They can definitely find an entry point into being creative, because it’s fun.”
- Active kids: “Pottery is about positioning your body and feeling the flow of the clay,” which makes it tactile and engaging. “In the studio, kids move around, too.”
- Kids who go off-script: Individuality is encouraged, she adds. “If a kid wants to make something completely different, our teachers are on board. We find that fun.”
What parents should know before booking
- Location: MADE Chicago’s studio in Bucktown, at 1980 N. Milwaukee Ave.
- Schedule: Five-day classes (Monday-Friday) run for nine weeks, from June 16-Aug. 15, 2025. Ages 5-8 and 9-12 can each choose from:
- Morning sessions: 9 a.m.-noon (drop-off starts at 8:30 a.m.)
- Lunch: Noon-1 p.m. (crafts and games; bring your own lunch)
- Afternoon sessions: 1-4 p.m.
- Ages 5-8: Themes include LEGO, dragons, fairy houses, nature and more.
- Ages 9-12: They’ll focus on wheel throwing and multimedia design.
- Costs: $270/week (half-day), $50/week (lunch), $590/week (full-day)
- Registration tip: Enroll at least one month before your preferred week.
- Safety is paramount: All staff are CPR-certified and background-checked. No outside visitors during camp. Peanut-free policy.
- Pottery pickup: Final pieces are ready to pick up 3 weeks after class.
- Parking: Metered spots on Milwaukee and Armitage. Allow extra time on day one.
Why parents are already excited about this pottery camp
MADE Chicago may be new, but the team behind it has deep experience. “My co-owner has been running camps for 15 years,” Erb says. “Our director of student services ran a camp for eight years.” Many instructors are CPS art teachers or professional ceramicists.
Just as important? “We’re only hiring people who like hanging out with kids and being creative,” Erb says.
And the impact goes beyond clay. “Kids bring home functional ceramic pieces that will last over time — and always remind them of the memories they made that summer,” she says.
This content is sponsored by MADE Chicago. To learn more about its summer pottery camps for kids, visit the MADE Chicago camps website.
