Children's Arts Center (Ages 5-12)
The Children’s Center provides an opportunity
for students 5–12 years of age to be intensely involved
in the process of exploring, creating and performing.
Children enroll in one course per session through which
they are exposed to the necessary steps and processes
required for the completion of a finished product, be
it a painting, a poem, a theatre production or dance recital.
Skilled and experienced artist-educators use age appropriate
materials and methods to convey the excitement and discipline
necessary for achievement in the arts. Students are given
technical instruction mixed with strong encouragement
to come up with creative solutions posed by artistic challenges.
Instructors are chosen for their ability to work in a
focused and supportive atmosphere with students of all
backgrounds.
Children’s Center students work hard yet never lose
sight of the fun involved in their personal pursuit of
artistic goals. Small classes and a low student to teacher
ratio—approximately 9:1—ensure that students
receive a great deal of individual attention and support.
An important goal of the Children’s Center is for
students to gain an enthusiasm and excitement for the
arts as well as a basic foundation of technical knowledge.

Daily Schedule-Resident
Students
Children’s Center classes run from 9 a.m.–3:30
p.m. Monday through Friday with special interdisciplinary
workshops on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m.–Noon. Saturday
and Sunday afternoons are filled with recreational activities
created by the Student Services Staff. Students may sleep
in and rest on Sunday mornings. Students meet at 8:30
a.m. at Bowman Arts Center for announcements, and walk
with their counselors to the Children’s Center for
9 a.m. classes. Students have a one-hour lunch break,
from 11:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m., plus a morning and
afternoon snack break. Healthy snacks are provided by
the school.
The afternoon class session ends at 3:30 p.m. Students
have the option of returning to the dormitory area for
relaxation and play or may go to the swimming pool for
more vigorous exercise. Students choosing to swim are
escorted in a group by a counselor. The counselor and
lifeguards are always on duty at the pool when children
are present.
Daily Schedule-Day
Students
As above. Parents are requested to drop off their children
by 8:30 a.m. at Bowman Arts Center Monday through Friday
for Multi-Arts and Monday through Saturday for Specialized
Programs. Counselors walk the students to the Children’s
Center, to lunch and to the swimming pool. Counselors
supervise the children during the entire lunch hour. Lunch
in the Dining Hall is included in the day student tuition.
Students may bring their own lunches if they wish.
Day students who wish to swim in the afternoons should
bring a bathing suit and towel. Parents may pick up their
children at 3:30 p.m. at the Children’s Center or
by 5 p.m. at the pool. Idyllwild Arts cannot supervise
day students after 5 p.m.
Student
Pick-Up and Check-Out
Students are free to be picked up by their parents at
the conclusion of their final performance or culmination,
and after they have been checked out of their dormitory
rooms by their counselors In general, room cleanup and
checkout occurs on the final Friday night before the end
of the session. Most students depart on Saturday. Students
whose final performance/culmination takes place on Friday
evening are welcome to stay until Saturday, and should
be picked up no later than 11 a.m. Students whose final
performance takes place on Saturday are requested to leave
on Saturday.
Recreational
Activities
All residential students participate in an extensive program
of recreational activities organized and run by the counselors.
Game nights, short hikes, pool parties and dances are
just some of the activities offered each evening from
7–9 p.m. On weekends, longer more extensive activities
including art projects, informal drama productions, and
field games are scheduled for Children Center students.
Day students are welcome to return to the campus in the
evenings or on weekends to participate in recreational
activities.
Supervision
Students are supervised in the dormitories by counselors.
Most counselors are college students or recent graduates
with a major or strong interest in the arts. Counselors
are rigorously screened and interviewed before being hired.
The Summer Program receives approximately ten applications
for every open position. Counselors are selected by the
Director of the Summer Program and the Dean of Students
based on their experience and interest in working with
young people, their character references and their interpersonal
communication skills.
The Dean of Students organizes a comprehensive 11-day
training and orientation session for all counselors prior
to the beginning of the Summer Program. Topics covered
during orientation include first aid, responsible counseling,
conflict mediation, and campus safety.
In the Children’s Center students are supervised
closely. They are escorted by counselors when walking
across the campus. All resident students eat meals with
their counselors and participate in evening activities.
Counselors are the primary link between students and the
Summer Program. Students can feel free to approach their
counselors with questions, concerns, problems or just
plain homesickness. Every effort is made to provide as
much individual student-counselor contact as possible.
Housing
There are four Children’s Center dormitories, three
girls dorms with four student rooms, one counselor room
and shared bathrooms. Students are housed by sex and age.
Girls are housed four or five to a room. The boys’
dorm is divided into two large rooms each with twelve
beds. Two or three counselors live in each dorm. There
are three girls’ dorms and one boys’ dorm.
Supervised by their counselors, students are responsible
for cleaning their own rooms and the common bathrooms.
Cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaners are supplied by
the school. Students are responsible for damages to facilities
and property. Idyllwild Arts reserves the right to bill
students for repair and/or replacement costs.
Policy
On Phoning/Contacting Home
Children’s Center and Junior Artist students are
encouraged to contact their families via letter while
they are in residence at the Summer Program. The daily
schedule contains a letter-writing/quiet time supervised
by the counselors from 12:15 to 12:50 p.m. Counselors
will be available to assist as necessary.
Students may use campus pay phones to call home Saturdays
and Sundays. Calls must be completed by 9 p.m. Students
are not permitted to call home at any time from check-in
on Sunday through Friday evenings. Parents are requested
to refrain from calling their children during this period
as the children will not be permitted to talk on the telephone.
Meals
Meals are included in the fees for resident students.
Idyllwild Arts contracts with SACCO food service. Meals
are served cafeteria-style in the dining hall. Food is
wholesome and prepared for the general taste. There are
vegetarian options at every meal including a hot entree
at every lunch and dinner. In addition, an extensive salad
bar featuring fresh fruits and vegetables is available
at all lunches and dinners.
At lunch, Children Center students eat a simplified (fewer
choices) version of the regular lunch. Lunch is included
in the day student fee. Day students may purchase breakfast
or dinner at the door, if desired.
The school also offers a snack bar which operates on a
cash basis. Sandwiches, snacks and soft beverages are
available from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.
General Information
Please visit the Registration and Student Life sections for additional information about campus location, transportation, suggestions for items to bring, discounts, credits, scholarships and the school’s Standards of Behavior.