Summer Arts Program Promotional Image with students and instructors moving and dancing as the text information floats above.

July 12 to August 6

Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Program options for students entering grades 1st through 5th 

Flexible, week-long sessions

Sliding Scale Tiered Tuition

Creative Play at the BAX Building and Outdoors!

About the 2021 Summer Arts Program

At BAX, we foster creativity and encourage playful exploration in a positive and nurturing environment. Our Summer Arts Program (SAP) draws from our year-round education programs to provide young artists with opportunities to explore different forms of mixed media art and performance around a specific themed week thoughtfully designed for active and fun engagement. Arts Specialists teach daily workshops, while a well-trained, creative staff supports a healthy balance of fun indoor (at the BAX Building in spacious, well ventilated studios) and outdoor (at the Old Stone House in Washington Park/JJ Byrne Playground) play, performance, and art-making activities. Children entering 1st through 5th grade participate in two different groups, organized by age: NanoBAXers (rising 1st and 2nd graders) and MegaBAXers (rising 3rd to 5th graders). 

Register by Week

Program Week Theme & Description Nanos Entering 1st – 2nd Megas Entering 3rd – 5th
Week One
July 12-16
Homelands & Heartlands
Home is where the heart is! Through visual art, song, and movement, we’ll explore the places, people, and things that make our homelands unique and heartlands special.
Register Nanos FULL
Week Two
July 19-23

Giving, Growing, Greening

With creativity, music, and collaboration we will explore how we each play a role in helping each other, our communities, and environments thrive! 

Register Nanos Register Megas
Week Three
July 26-30
Map Makers & History Shapers
We will celebrate history shapers known and unsung, and chart our own course of places real and imagined using the power of our voice, feet, and imaginations.
Register Nanos Register Megas
Week Four
August 2-6
Tall Tales of Today
What tall tales can we tell today?! From the BAX Building and JJ Byrne Park to the depths of our imaginations, we’ll use creative play, site-specific exploration, and art-making to tell the great adventures of our time.
Register Nanos Register Megas

Program Schedule | Monday to Friday

9:00am to 3:00pm (Drop Off may begin as early as 8:30am)

Click the drop downs below to view a sample day for each group!

Sample Day - Nanos (entering 1st & 2nd graders)
8:30-9:00am Drop Off BAX Building
9:00-9:30am Morning Meeting & Welcoming BAX Building
9:30-10:00am Group Leader Led Activities BAX Building
10:00-10:30am Transition to Park, Morning Snack Old Stone House
10:30-11:30am Performing Arts Specialist Workshop Old Stone House
11:30-12:00pm Group Leader Led Activities Old Stone House
12:00-1:15pm Lunch and Play Old Stone House
1:15-1:45pm Transition back to BAX, Afternoon Snack BAX Building
1:45-2:30pm Visual Arts Workshop BAX Building
2:30-3:00pm End of Day Activities BAX Building
3:00pm Dismissal BAX Building
Sample Day - Megas (entering 3rd to 5th graders)
8:30-9:00am Drop Off BAX Building
9:00-9:30am Morning Meeting & Welcoming BAX Building
9:30-10:00am Group Leader Led Activities BAX Building
10:00-11:00am Performing Arts Specialist Workshop BAX Building
11:00-11:30am Transition to Park & Morning Snack Old Stone House
11:30-12:00pm Group Leader Led Activities Old Stone House
12:00-1:15pm Lunch and Play Old Stone House
1:15-2:15pm Visual Arts Workshop Old Stone House
2:15-2:30pm Transition Back to BAX BAX Building
2:30-3:00pm End of Day Activities BAX Building
3:00pm Dismissal BAX Building

Babysitting Add-On, 3:00pm to 4:00pm 

For families who are unable to pick up promptly at 3:00pm, BAX will be offering a Babysitting Add-On, which extends pick up time to 3:45-4:00pm. Nanos and Megas will be in separate areas within Studio B, participating in self-directed activities, games, and art projects under the supervision of BAX program staff. Students are also welcome to bring any favorite books, coloring pages, playing cards, etc. Babysitting costs $15 per child per day, and will be capped at 10 spots. 

  • Advance sign up is encouraged, day of requests will be processed on a first come first serve basis, and subject to availability. 
    • Advance Sign Up: Families can add on Babysitting at the time of registration. After registration, they can log into their Active account and add Babysitting on to their child’s existing registration. Or, they can email summer@bax.org to inquire about space. 
    • Day of Requests: Families who wish to make a day of request will fill out an online request form at drop off. BAX staff will be in touch with an update by 9:30am each day. 
  • Students who are not picked up promptly at 3:00pm will be added to Babysitting and the parent/caregiver will be charged the $15 fee.

COVID Safety and Community Commitments 

Welcome back to the BAX Building! The below information and included Building Guide will serve as a guide of BAX’s Covid-related safety protocols for the 2021 Summer Arts Program. Please take the time to read through it in its entirety to help us keep you and all of our community members safe. Questions? Feel free to email summer@bax.org

Following CDC covid safety guidelines of at least 3 ft of social distance, groups will be limited to 12-15 children with three program staff assigned to each group: Group Leader, Lead Counselor, and Assistant, providing at least a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio.

The Summer Arts Program will split its programming day between in-door studio time (spacious and well ventilated studios) and outdoor park program (JJ Byrne Park). In case of extreme weather (a “feels like” of 100+, under 30 degree weather, or severe rain), BAX will adjust the outdoor time to be predominantly indoors. BAX will utilize open windows, air purifiers, and AC ventilation, as necessary to maintain healthy and CDC recommended air-flow.

Click here to view BAX’s full COVID-Safety Building Guide for Youth and Adult Programs. Families who enroll in SAP will receive a SAP-specific Building Guide Addendum as part of their Welcome Packet, which is sent two weeks prior to their program start date.

Click here to view BAX’s 2021 Summer Arts Program Release Form and COVID-19 Waiver. 

A program phone and number will be shared with enrolled families so that they can contact the Group Leader and vice versa in case of emergency at any time during the program, including when the groups are outside.

Community Commitments
  • Families agree that during the weeks their children are enrolled in the program that they will follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), New York State Department of Health, and NYC Department of Health guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing, to the best of their ability. 
  • Families will adhere to current New York State Guidelines for COVID-19 Travel Activity: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory 
  • Children also agree to follow CDC social distancing guidelines of 3-6 feet, to the best of their ability. 
  • Children must be tested for COVID-19 in the 96 hours prior to the start of their first day of the program, and documentation of a negative PCR result must be provided to BAX before or at the first Monday’s drop off. If you need support finding free testing locations, please contact BAX Education (summer@bax.org) and we will assist you. 
  • Before drop off each day, families will need to e-submit a simple daily health screening form for their child. 
  • If a child begins to feel unwell (and in particular if they have a fever) during program hours, we will contact the parent/guardian so that the child can be picked up immediately. We will have the child wait in an isolated, supervised space at the BAX Building until they are picked up. 
  • If a child leaves the program because of an illness that includes any covid-symptom (see above), they will need to show proof of a negative COVID test before returning.
  • Masks will be worn at all times during the program, except when eating and drinking. If children need a brief “mask break” staff will be prepared to help them do this. 
Staff Expectations

All SAP direct program staff (Group Leaders, Lead Counselors, and BAX Admin Staff)…

  • Are following CDC building safety and vaccine guidelines and recommendations, to the best of their ability.  
  • Will comply with all stated Community Commitments including testing, health screenings, mask, travel, and following of national, state, and city guidelines. 
  • Staff agree to follow CDC social distancing guidelines of 3-6 feet to the best of their ability while also prioritizing the safety of the children for whom they are caring. 

Accessibility

BAX is on the second and third floors of the building. Physical access is restricted due to stairwells that extend from the ground floor entrance to the building’s third floor. There is no elevator or ramp at this time. BAX is committed to finding ADA compliant solutions that open the spaces to all bodies. For accessibility requests or information, please contact info@bax.org

During online registration, you will have the option to share any information with regards to accommodations, supports, and/or modifications that will help BAX staff best serve your child. Our teachers are experienced working with children with a variety of physical, cognitive, sensory, and socio/emotional needs and we are committed to collaborating with you to make our programs as accessible as possible. Please be as specific as you can be so that we can provide individualized and personal support for your child so that they will thrive in this program.

The 2021 Summer Arts Program is sponsored in part by:

Investors Bank Logo
conEdison and Arts Al Fresco
What to Wear
  • Sunscreen 
  • Swimsuit (for water play activities; top and bottom preferable)
  • BAX T Shirt (each child will receive 2 BAX t shirts and be expected to wear this daily) 
  • Shorts
  • Comfortable, close toed shoes
What to Pack
  • Backpack with:  
    • Snacks and Lunch in an Insulated Lunch Box or Bag 
    • Reusable Water Bottle
    • Extra Sunscreen (spray preferable)
    • Full change of clothing
    • Extra Mask
    • Personal Hand Sanitizer 
  • Sun Hat/Baseball caps are encouraged 
  • Towel