American Girl Camp
Follow your inner star!
Back for the 4th consecutive summer, this popular camp is definitely a favorite! Pack your doll’s beach bag and get ready for a creative getaway!
What to expect
At our American Girl® Summer Seaside Camp, campers will craft ocean-themed art and design adorable beach accessories for their dolls while diving into imagination, friendship, and creative fun. An end of camp Showcase will be presented on the last day for camp families! Here are just a few of the fun things our American Girl® campers will create this summer:
- Under-the-Sea Canvas Art
- Mini Beach Towels & Blankets
- Seashell Jewelry
- Beach Bags
- Message-in-a-Bottle Art
Why you'll love it
Our American Girl Camp is where kids ages 5–10 craft, dress up, and create memories they’ll talk about all year long. Our campers make friends throughout the week, too, often planning to come back and join their friends again the next summer!
Class details
Drop-off is between 8:45–9:00 AM each morning, with pick-up at Noon. Please send your camper with a refillable water bottle and a peanut-free snack to stay fueled for fun. We recommend dressing in clothes that can get a little messy as we do lots of hands-on arts and crafts! And of course, don’t forget to bring a doll. She’s part of the fun too!
Jesse Armstrong
Art Teacher
Jesse Armstrong brings more than 15 years of art‑teaching experience, joining CMS after relocating to Charlotte from northwest Pennsylvania in 2016. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Art Therapy and Art Education from Carlow University. Jesse is currently the fine arts department chair and teaches Contemporary Craft and Design to 9th–12th graders at East Mecklenburg High School. Before her recent move to high school, she spent a decade teaching elementary art. She has led CMS elementary art teachers as the district facilitator, helped write the K–5 visual arts curriculum, and earned nominations for North Carolina Rookie Teacher of the Year (2018) and CMS 9–12 Visual Arts Teacher of the Year(2026). Jesse loves working with local Charlotte art communities and has also attended and presented at numerous state, national, and international arts education conferences. When she’s not teaching, Jesse enjoys time with her husband and their two‑year‑old daughter. She also creates her own artwork and stays active on Etsy and Teacher Pay Teacher. This will be Jesse’s fourth year at CAM, and she’s excited to create awesome art with you and your child!What’s next
Now in our 18th summer, SPLASH! Summer Camps have welcomed thousands of Charlotte area kids through our doors, many who return year after year to make camp a summer tradition. For many, that first week of camp sparks a creative passion that lasts well beyond summer, leading them to stay on at Charlotte Academy of the Arts for music lessons, theatre classes, and more.