Shape Theory Studio

Summer Clay Camp

San Diego Pottery Camp for Kids & Teens

Hands-on clay projects, new friendships, and a week of creative summer camp at Shape Theory Studio

Group of four girls with green aprons standing in a pottery studio, showing their hands covered in clay, smiling at the camera.

📅 Week-long camps (Monday—Friday)

⏰ 9AM—12PM

Ages 10-16

🏺All Materials Included

Reserve Your Camp Spot
A young girl with long brown hair in a braid is focused on shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a classroom or studio setting, wearing a yellow apron over a gray T-shirt and blue jeans.
A young boy in a yellow apron working with clay on a pottery project at a pottery studio, with a young girl in a yellow apron sitting beside him, also working with clay.
A boy wearing a yellow apron is sitting at a pottery workbench, using a tool to carve into a large, decorated clay bowl. There is a small wheel on the table and pottery equipment in the background.
A young woman with long blonde hair working on a pottery project in a ceramics studio. She is pressing a textured ball of clay onto a flat clay surface.

2026 Summer Camp Details & Curriculum

  • Ages: 10 — 16

    Dates: June 1st — June 5th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Class info:

    Every week starts with studio safety and etiquette.

    🌀 Monday: First Spin on the Wheel

    • Learn pottery wheel basics and studio tools

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Start shaping pieces into tiki cups or small vases

    🍶 Tuesday: Forms + Function

    • Continue wheel throwing

    • Create bowls and plates

    • Explore surface texture + design techniques

    🏺 Wednesday: Handbuilding Day

    • Learn coil building techniques

    • Create a coil pot (with optional lid!)

    • Focus on structure, shaping, and creativity

    🎨 Thursday: Glazing Magic

    • Learn how to mix and apply glazes

    • Practice brush techniques + color layering

    • Glaze all finished pieces

    🏁 Friday: Finish + Celebrate

    • Final touches and project completion

    • Sign and prep all pieces for firing

    • Group reflection: “What was your favorite piece?”

  • Ages: 10-16

    Dates: June 8th-12th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Schedule:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing Foundations

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping forms that will become ceramic lanterns

    • Focus on control, centering, and confidence on the wheel

    🏮 Tuesday: Lantern Design + Details

    • Refine and transform cylinders into functional lanterns

    • Add cutouts, texture, and surface design

    • Explore how light interacts with form

    🍽️ Wednesday: Forms + Surface Design

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Learn texture techniques + decorative details

    • Encourage patience and craftsmanship in each piece

    🐚 Thursday: Pinch Pots + Tide Pools

    • Create pinch pots and transform them into mini tide pools

    • Sculpt and attach tiny sea creatures

    • Learn basic sculpting + attachment techniques

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix and apply glazes

    • Practice brush techniques + color layering

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing


  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 3

    Ages: 10 — 16

    Dates: June 15th — June 19th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Schedule:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing + Form Building

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping forms into tall mugs and vases

    • Focus on height, control, and clean forms

    🏺 Tuesday: Handles + Design Details

    • Learn how to pull and attach handles

    • Explore cut-outs, attachments, and added elements

    • Customize mugs and vessels with personal style

    🍽️ Wednesday: Bowls + Surface Design

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Learn texture techniques + decorative finishes

    • Emphasis on slowing down and refining details

    ⚪ Thursday: Pinch Pots + Spheres

    • Create pinch pots

    • Learn how to join forms to build a hollow sphere

    • Explore sculptural techniques and form-building

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix glazes to create custom colors

    • Practice brush techniques + application methods

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing

  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 4

    Ages: 10–16

    Dates: June 22nd — June 26th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Class info:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing + Surface Design Intro

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping mugs and vases

    • Introduction to sgraffito (carving designs into clay)

    ✏️ Tuesday: Sgraffito Techniques

    • Apply underglaze (3 coats) to pieces

    • Learn how to carve designs and patterns into the surface

    • Explore contrast, linework, and personal style

    🍽️ Wednesday: Bowls + Decorative Surfaces

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Practice texture + surface design techniques

    • Focus on detail and craftsmanship

    🎭 Thursday: Mask Making

    • Roll slabs using guides and rolling pins

    • Build masks using molds and layering techniques

    • Add features and details to create a fully unique character mask

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix glazes for custom colors

    • Practice brush techniques + application

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing

  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 5

    Ages: 10 — 16

    Dates: June 29 — July 3rd

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Class info:

    Every week starts with studio safety and etiquette.

    🌀 Monday: First Spin on the Wheel

    • Learn pottery wheel basics and studio tools

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Start shaping pieces into tiki cups or small vases

    🍶 Tuesday: Forms + Function

    • Continue wheel throwing

    • Create bowls and plates

    • Explore surface texture + design techniques

    🏺 Wednesday: Handbuilding Day

    • Learn coil building techniques

    • Create a coil pot (with optional lid!)

    • Focus on structure, shaping, and creativity

    🎨 Thursday: Glazing Magic

    • Learn how to mix and apply glazes

    • Practice brush techniques + color layering

    • Glaze all finished pieces

    🏁 Friday: Finish + Celebrate

    • Final touches and project completion

    • Sign and prep all pieces for firing

    • Group reflection: “What was your favorite piece?”

  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 6

    Ages: 10-16

    Dates: July 13th - July 17th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Schedule:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing Foundations

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping forms that will become ceramic lanterns

    • Focus on control, centering, and confidence on the wheel

    🏮 Tuesday: Lantern Design + Details

    • Refine and transform cylinders into functional lanterns

    • Add cutouts, texture, and surface design

    • Explore how light interacts with form

    🍽️ Wednesday: Forms + Surface Design

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Learn texture techniques + decorative details

    • Encourage patience and craftsmanship in each piece

    🐚 Thursday: Pinch Pots + Tide Pools

    • Create pinch pots and transform them into mini tide pools

    • Sculpt and attach tiny sea creatures

    • Learn basic sculpting + attachment techniques

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix and apply glazes

    • Practice brush techniques + color layering

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing

  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 7

    Ages: 10 — 16

    Dates: July 20th — July 24th

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Schedule:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing + Form Building

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping forms into tall mugs and vases

    • Focus on height, control, and clean forms

    🏺 Tuesday: Handles + Design Details

    • Learn how to pull and attach handles

    • Explore cut-outs, attachments, and added elements

    • Customize mugs and vessels with personal style

    🍽️ Wednesday: Bowls + Surface Design

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Learn texture techniques + decorative finishes

    • Emphasis on slowing down and refining details

    ⚪ Thursday: Pinch Pots + Spheres

    • Create pinch pots

    • Learn how to join forms to build a hollow sphere

    • Explore sculptural techniques and form-building

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix glazes to create custom colors

    • Practice brush techniques + application methods

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing

  • REGISTER FOR WEEK 8

    Ages: 10–16

    Dates: July 27th — July 31st

    Time: 9am - 12pm

    Class info:

    🌀 Monday: Wheel Throwing + Surface Design Intro

    • Practice throwing cylinders (with a fun height challenge!)

    • Begin shaping mugs and vases

    • Introduction to sgraffito (carving designs into clay)

    ✏️ Tuesday: Sgraffito Techniques

    • Apply underglaze (3 coats) to pieces

    • Learn how to carve designs and patterns into the surface

    • Explore contrast, linework, and personal style

    🍽️ Wednesday: Bowls + Decorative Surfaces

    • Throw bowls and plates

    • Practice texture + surface design techniques

    • Focus on detail and craftsmanship

    🎭 Thursday: Mask Making

    • Roll slabs using guides and rolling pins

    • Build masks using molds and layering techniques

    • Add features and details to create a fully unique character mask

    🎨 Friday: Glaze + Celebrate

    • Learn how to mix glazes for custom colors

    • Practice brush techniques + application

    • Finish and prep all pieces for firing

Register Here

Why parents love our pottery camps

Hands-on Creativity

Experienced Instructors

Screen-free Summer

Supportive Environment

Confidence Building Activities

Small Classes

Give Your Kids a Creative Summer!

Instead of another week of screens, give them a week of hands-on creativity and real artistic skills with our San Diego pottery classes for kids and teens.

Spots are limited.

Reserve your camper’s spot today.

Register Today

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our camps are designed for kids 10-16 years old

  • Campers will create multiple ceramic pieces throughout the week, including both wheel-thrown pottery and hand-built projects.

    Projects may include things like:

    • Cups and mugs

    • Bowls and plates

    • Sculptures and decorative pieces

    • Themed projects based on that week’s camp theme

    Every camper will finish the week with several unique pieces they designed and created themselves.

  • Not at all! Our pottery camps for kids and teens are perfect for both beginners and experienced students.

    We guide campers step-by-step through:

    • Pottery wheel basics

    • Hand-building techniques

    • Decorating and surface design

    Students with experience are encouraged to advance their skills and explore more creative techniques.

  • Camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

    This 3-hour format gives campers plenty of time to:

    • Learn pottery techniques

    • Work on projects

    • Experiment creatively

    • Clean up and reset the studio

  • Campers should bring:

    • Clothes that can get messy

    • A water bottle

    • Optional small snack

    Clay washes out easily, but we recommend wearing comfortable clothes that parents don’t mind getting dirty.

  • Yes — and that’s part of the fun!

    Pottery is a hands-on creative activity, so campers will likely get clay on their hands and clothes while working. We provide aprons, but dressing for mess is recommended.

  • Pottery needs time to dry, be kiln-fired, glazed, and fired again, so finished pieces will be ready approximately 3–4 weeks after camp ends.

    Parents will receive an email notification when artwork is ready for pickup.

  • Camp runs during the morning, so lunch is not provided. Campers are welcome to bring a small snack and water bottle.

  • Yes! Many campers sign up for multiple weeks.

    Each week features different projects and themes, so returning campers always create new pieces and learn new techniques.

  • Because projects build throughout the week, make-up sessions are not available for missed camp days.

    However, campers will still be able to complete projects even if they miss part of the week.

  • Camp registrations are non-refundable, but if plans change we may be able to transfer your registration to another camp week if space is available.

    Review our full cancellation policy

    HERE

  • We intentionally keep camps small so every student receives individual instruction and support.

    Each session is limited to 12 students.

    This helps create a relaxed, fun, and focused creative environment.