Summer Program FAQs for Kids & Teens

Click here to see the class status for each class. For Music programs, see the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet for individual instruments availability. This information is manually updated weekly and is not a live document. Exact availability may vary slightly.

If you are interested in a program that is full, please be sure to join our waitlist! We will contact you if a space becomes available. 

You can register and make payments for Kids & Teens Programs online here. Our registration page includes illustrated enrollment help guides. We accept VISA, American Express, Discover or MasterCard and e-checks. Completed applications must include the $50 application fee and the per-course deposit to ensure placement. The deposit is applied toward tuition. If you are applying for financial aid, we encourage you to register early. If you cannot afford to pay the deposit, you can choose “Pay by Check ” as your deposit method on the billing page and your application will remain in Applied status. Your enrollment will not be confirmed until a scholarship is awarded or a deposit is paid. Scholarship applications in applied status will still be required to pay the non-refundable $50 application fee.

Enrollment status is confirmed upon payment of application fee and deposit. Enrollment (class placement) is not guaranteed until the balance is paid in full. Auditioned workshops also require acceptance before enrollment is confirmed.

The complete balance is due by June 1st. A $100 late fee will be assessed to past due accounts.

Click here for the updated Summer 2025 Enrollment Agreement

Below is a breakdown of our Kids & Teens Program costs based on the length of the program. Fees vary by program.

• Multi-Arts (ages 5-7) and Artist Discovery (ages 8-10)
  • Application Fee: $50 per summer session
  • Health & Safety Fee: $30
  • Lab Fees: $50
  • Day Tuition 2025: $750 per week
• 1 Week Jr Artists Programs – Day programs only
  • Application Fee: $50 per summer session
  • Health & Safety Fee: $100 per week
  • Lab Fees: Varies per program
  • Day Tuition 2025: $1090 per week
• 2 Weeks Teen & Jr Artist Programs
  • Application Fee: $50 per summer session
  • Health & Safety Fee: $200 (two weeks)
  • Lab Fees: Varies per program
  • Resident Tuition 2025: $4,700 (two weeks)
  • Day Tuition 2025: $2,180 (two weeks)

Application Fee:
There is a non-refundable $50 application fee. Only one application fee is charged per summer season, per child. If your child enrolls in more than one program, you will not be charged a second application fee.

Health & Safety Fee:
The Health and Safety Fee is $100 per week for Junior Artists and Teen programs and $30 per week for Kids day-only programs. Idyllwild Arts has a professional Health Care Center and Emergency Services Personnel (ERT) on site, available 24 hours per day.

Lab Fees:
Lab Fees cover the materials and supplies necessary for each student to participate in the program. The Lab Fee varies from program to program based on the amount of materials and supplies provided to the students. Please see the course description for the cost per program. You may still need to purchase and bring additional materials not covered by this fee for your child’s program.

Residential tuition covers all meals, housing, and the intensive or workshop, program instruction, concerts, student performances, student life, private instruction, and art showings. Residential options are only available to students who are at least 10 years of age at the time of the program.

Day tuition covers lunch, intensive or workshop, program instruction, concerts, student performances, student life, private instruction, and art showings.

Yes, Idyllwild Arts follows the same guidelines as CA school law and requires that all immunization requirements be met prior to arrival on campus. After enrolling, the Health History Form must be completed in full, including the immunization record. Students without the proper immunizations will not be allowed to attend. Exemptions must be for medical reasons and documented by a physician.

Kids (ages 5-10)

Multi-Arts (ages 5-7) & Artist Discovery (ages 8-10) are day programs only. These students are supervised at all times and move together as a group between activities and to/from the dining hall for lunch. Kids are required to attend Morning Sing at 8:30AM, where they will do warm-up activities as well as daily announcements. Kids must be picked up at 4:00 PM but they are allowed to use our campus pool between 4:00-5:45 PM with the supervision of a parent or guardian. They are not allowed to attend other evening activities after their program ends.

Junior Artists (ages 10-13)

*There are 12 and 13 year olds allowed in some Teen programs. See the program description to understand if you are enrolling in a Junior Artist or Teen program.

Junior Artists can be day or residential students. Day students should be dropped off each morning at Children’s Center and will be required to attend Morning Sing at 8:30AM, where they will do warm-up activities as well as daily announcements. Day students should be picked at 4:00 PM from the Children’s Center. Day students must be picked up at 4:00 PM but they are allowed to use our campus pool between 4:00-5:45 PM with the supervision of a parent or guardian. They are not allowed to attend other evening activities after their program ends unless it is an activity that is a part of the program they are enrolled in.

Junior Artists who are residential students will be housed in rooms with other Junior Artists of a similar age and RA staff will make sure that they are awake on time each morning. Students will walk to breakfast with their RA and go together to Morning Sing to start their day. They will be escorted to/from lunch and back to their dorm after their program ends. Junior Artists are under supervision for evening activities and generally only move around campus in groups and with an RA escorting them. Lights out for Junior Artists is 9:30 PM.

Teen Programs (ages 14-17)

*There are 12 and 13 year olds allowed in some Teen programs. See the program description to understand if you are enrolling in a Junior Artist or Teen program.

Teens can be day or residential students. Day students should be dropped off each morning on campus and will be responsible for walking themselves to their classroom. Programs start at 9:00 AM unless you are told otherwise. Classroom locations will be given to students at check-in on the first Sunday of their program, and tours of the campus will be offered on check-in day so that students can learn where to go. Teens who are day students are allowed to attend evening activities but must be off campus by 8:30 PM. 

Residential Teens will be housed in rooms with other Teen participants of a similar age. They are responsible for waking themselves up on time and getting to breakfast and class themselves. They are not escorted to their programs but are encouraged to reach out to their dorm parents or RA’s if they have any questions about where to go or need assistance with anything. Lights out for Teens is 10:00 PM.

Below is the general schedule. Exact times vary, depending on the program they are enrolled in.

Kids | Multi-Arts & Artist Discovery | ages 5 – 10

Day Camp Only – Students are supervised at all times

• Drop off students at Children’s Center between 8:15 – 8:25 am
• 8:30 am: Morning Sing/Greeting
• 9:00 am – 11:45 am: Morning Classes (snack provided)
• 11:45 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch
• 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm: Supervised activities in Children’s Center
• 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm: Afternoon Classes (snack provided)
• Pick up from Children’s Center at 4:00 pm

Students will be allowed to use the pool from 4:00-5:45 pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) The pool is open Tuesday-Friday and is #A03 on the campus map. Lifeguards will be present.

Final culminations occur every Friday and parents/families are encouraged to attend. Multi-Arts will perform at 3:30 PM and Artists Discovery will perform immediately afterwards at 4:00 PM. Students are dismissed to go home with their parents when it is finished.

Junior Artists | ages 10 – 13

*There are 12 and 13 year olds allowed in some Teen programs. See the program description to understand if you are enrolling in a Junior Artist or Teen program.

Students are supervised at all times.

Day and Residential

• 7:00 am – 7:30 am: Wake up and get ready
• 7:30 am – 8:30 am: Breakfast (Residential Only)
• 8:30 am – 9:00 am: Morning Sing/Greeting
• 9:00 am – 11:45 am Morning classes
• 11:45 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch is served
• 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm: Supervised activities in Children’s Center
• 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm: Afternoon Classes 
• 4:00 pm: Pick up from Children’s Center

Day Students will be allowed to use the pool from 4:00-5:45 pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) The pool is open Tuesday-Friday and is #A03 on the campus map. Lifeguards will be present.

Residential students (10 – 13 years)

• 4:00 – 5:45 – Pool time or other supervised activity
• 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm: Dinner
• 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm: Supervised evening activity
• 9:00 pm: Check into dorms/curfew
• 9:30 pm: Lights out

Weekend | Examples of both Junior Artist and Teen Activities

Some programs will have a half day of instruction on Saturdays, it is at the discretion of the teacher. There are planned activities occurring throughout the day on the weekends for students to participate in whenever they are not in class. Sundays are off for all students. Meals times on the weekend follow a similar schedule to weekdays

Examples of structured activities for Kids & Teens
During free time, students will be able to choose from a variety of planned social activities for each age group. Activities include hiking, field games, swimming, pool parties, dances, basketball, game nights, jewelry making, movie nights and many other fun social events. Each Wednesday night we have an outdoor BBQ dinner with music and an open mic. The middle Sunday of the program is our Meadows Fest, including Native Arts activities, water play, carnival games and snacks.

Teens /High school | ages 14 – 17

*There are 12 and 13 year olds allowed in some Teen programs. See the program description to understand if you are enrolling in a Junior Artist or Teen program.

Day and Residential

• 7:00 am – 8:00 am Teens are responsible for waking up themselves and getting to class on time
• 7:30 am – 8:30 am Breakfast (Residential Only) 
• 9:00 am – 12:00 Morning classes – some classes will start as early as 8:30 am
• 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch is served
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Afternoon Classes – some classes will go later, end time is at teacher discretion
• 4:00 – 5:45 pm Pool time or other structured activity

Day Students in teen programs are allowed to stay for dinner and evening activities but must be picked up from Krone Library by 8:30pm.

Residential students

• 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm Dinner
• 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Evening activity – Some programs may have evening rehearsals
• 9:00 pm – Check into dorms/curfew
• 10:00 pm – Lights out

Weekend | Examples of both Junior Artist and Teen Activities

Some programs will have a half day of instruction on Saturdays, it is at the discretion of the teacher. There are planned activities occurring throughout the day on the weekends for students to participate in whenever they are not in class. Sundays are off for all students. Meals times on the weekend follow a similar schedule to weekdays

Examples of structured activities for Kids & Teens
During free time, students will be able to choose from a variety of planned social activities for each age group. Activities include hiking, field games, swimming, pool parties, dances, basketball, game nights, jewelry making, movie nights and many other fun social events. Each Wednesday night we have an outdoor BBQ dinner with music and an open mic. The middle Sunday of the program is our Meadows Fest, including Native Arts activities, water play, carnival games and snacks.

Residential opportunities are available for students aged 10 and up. Students 9 and younger must enroll as day students and have a parent or guardian bring them to and from campus daily. Below is a list of skills that are needed in order to be successful as a residential student at Idyllwild Arts.

1. Can independently follow a schedule
2. Requires minimal support to organize and prioritize their daily schedule and commitments
3. Able to eat meals with the dining hall schedule without reminders/supervision
4. Able to perform personal hygiene without assistance (showering, cleaning after using the restroom, etc.)
5. Can handle living in a dorm, in a building that can have up to 120 other students
6. Can follow various dorm rules (curfew, quiet hours, etc.)
7. Can live with roommates and maintain a friendly relationship with the roommates
8. Can maintain a friendly relationship with neighbors
9. Can follow instructions and can take constructive criticism from dorm staff
10. Can maintain their side of the room in a clean and tidy manner
11. Can handle social situations in a boarding school environment with 280 other students
12. With minimal support, is able to manage stress and anxiety, and has understanding of appropriate self-care
13. If a musician, can practice their instrument independently and without personal supervision in the practice room
14. Can overcome disappointments and setbacks
15. Can handle the stress and rigor of a day that often goes from 8 AM to 8 PM
16. Responsible use of the internet

The Idyllwild Arts dormitories are designed to provide our students a “home away from home” and a welcoming, comfortable, and friendly environment in which to relax between classes, rehearsals and other student life activities. Each dormitory on campus also has a common room or outdoor social gathering space so students can enjoy social interaction with fellow dorm mates. Each dorm room has a maximum capacity of three students and each room has their own en suite bathroom.

We do our best to provide a family-like atmosphere in our dorms. There is close interaction between students and residential life staff, fostering an atmosphere of care and mutual understanding.

Here is a link to some pictures of our facilities on campus, including our dorms. Here is a link to our website with some general information about our campus.

Dorm Parents and Counselors

Residential life staff reside in or next to the dormitories. They are visible, available, and approachable for students. They  are responsible for the well-being of students and the implementation of dormitory policies.

Other information regarding Student life and Dorms

How many students are there per room?
Each room has a maximum capacity of three students.

What is dorm housing like?
Our campus has a variety of dormitory-style housing options for residential students. Our dorm rooms have attached private bathrooms and have a maximum capacity of three students. Students can attend as a residential student starting at ten years old.

How do you decide who gets what bed in the room?
Beds are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. Each student chooses their own bed upon arriving in their room.

Is my child responsible for getting themselves up in the morning?
Junior Artists: Students living in Junior Artists dorms will have a counselor making sure that they are awake on time. Students will walk to breakfast with their counselor and have enough time to get to class on time.

Teens: Teen students are expected to set an alarm on their phone or alarm clock in order to get to class on time. If they do not arrive to class on time, our counseling staff is informed by faculty and will check on them.

What are the expectations for the condition of the room? Do you make students keep their rooms clean?
Dorm Staff encourage their students to maintain a certain level of tidiness in their rooms. If a dorm parent or counselor believes a room needs to be cleaned up a bit, they will let the students know and provide them with the proper cleaning supplies to address the issue. Roommates are each assigned a specific chore (vacuuming, trash removal, cleaning the sink, toilet, etc.) at the end of the session, and they will not be permitted to check out if their designated chore has not been completed.

Campus Facilities and Services

The campus features several residence halls/dormitories and a large dining hall. The Health Center, The Krone Library, campus bookstore and laundry facilities are also available for summer students. Indoor and outdoor art studios and exhibition areas include the Parks Exhibition Center and the Eymann Sculpture Garden. Performance halls include the William M. Lowman Concert Hall, IAF Theater, Stephens Recital Hall, Holmes Amphitheatre, and the Junior Players Theater. Dance studios, rehearsal halls, film studio and practice rooms are located across the campus.

The Commons, located at the heart of campus between Lowman Concert Hall and the IAF Theatre, offers areas to relax, converse, and mingle. Smoking is prohibited in all campus facilities.

The Idyllwild Arts campus is rustic with several steep hills. While we make every effort to keep our campus accessible to students, we recommend that you visit campus and assess the terrain with respect to your specific mobility needs and comfort. If you would like to schedule a visit to assess campus accessibility for your specific workshop, please contact the Summer Registration Office for more details.

Food Service and Dietary Accommodations
Food service is provided by SAGE Dining Services. Whenever possible, SAGE caters to specific student needs and student food preferences (e.g., vegetarian, food allergies, etc.). Our dining hall staff are used to dealing with specific diets, it is the same staff who feed the 300 teenagers that attend the Idyllwild Arts Academy for 9 months out of the year. There are always vegan and vegetarian options and gluten-free choices as well.

There are plenty of food options in the dining hall for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is always a salad bar at both lunch and dinner as well. Our dining hall can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies.

All meals are provided to residential students. Options include:

• Healthy hot and cold options for each meal
• Fruit and salad bar
• Gluten-free options (students will need to ask for these)
• Vegetarian options
• Allergens like nuts, honey, etc. consistently posted for meal selections
• Hot and cold beverage station

*Medical meal accommodations can be made if needed*

How do I let Idyllwild Arts know about my child’s food allergies and dietary restrictions?

All campers are required to complete a Health History Form, this form will ask about allergies and any other medical conditions the nursing staff will need to know. Any food allergy information will be given to our Dining hall. Our dining hall is able to accommodate these dietary needs.

We suggest that your child speaks to the Director of Dining Services when they go to dinner the first night or have them talk to their RA or dorm parent. This way the dining hall can let your child know the food options available to them. Our dining hall is really good about labeling any food in the salad bar that contains an ingredient that someone on-site is allergic to, for example peanuts and shellfish.

Health Center & Services

See Idyllwild Arts Health Center and Services page for information.

Student Book Store
There is a student store on campus that sells books, snacks, clothing and apparel, personal supplies, water bottles, school, and art supplies, Idyllwild Arts memorabilia, and more.

Student I.D. Badges
All students and employees are issued an ID card which must be worn on a lanyard or clipped to their clothes and clearly visible any time they are outside of their dorm.

Idyllwild Art Summer Program does allow the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices by students. Please be aware that as we are located in a remote mountainous area and cell phone reception is limited on campus. WIFI is shut off daily from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM to ensure that students are not on their devices throughout the evening. Students who do not bring a personal device can use the landline located in the dorm office to call home at any time. 

Some program information is shared through student email or web links, so having a phone or tablet can be a useful tool, but it is not required. The padlet is an online tool that notifies students about evening and weekend activities. This information will also be posted on a board next to the dorm office.

Mail for Kids and Teens is delivered to dorm offices Monday through Friday.

The Campus Address for sending packages or mail is:

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
(Student’s name and dorm building)
52500 Temecula Road #38
Idyllwild, CA 92549

Packages will be delivered to the dorms and the dorm parent on duty will notify students to collect their packages from the dorm office. Please note that regular mail can be slow on the mountain. Plan for a few extra days before your package or letter arrives.

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program is committed to supporting arts education for students from a wide variety of backgrounds, regardless of a family’s ability to pay the full tuition amount. We encourage any family interested in an Idyllwild Arts Summer workshop to apply for a financial need-based scholarship. Idyllwild Arts Summer Program now uses Clarity to produce an unbiased analysis of your family’s financial need. During the summer registration process, select ‘yes’ when asked if you are interested in financial aid and the link to fill out your Clarity application will be emailed to you.

Click here to learn more about scholarships.

Partial refunds are available up until 30 days before the program start date, based on the sliding scale outlined in our policy below. Programs are not refundable for any reason within 30 days of the program start date. 

Please understand that the programs have limited enrollment and that IAF makes arrangements for the accommodation, housing, and instruction based on anticipated enrollment. The overhead expenses of the programs do not diminish with the departure of students during the course of any program. 

It is highly recommended that parents purchase Program Protector, a third party camp insurance, in order to plan for unforeseen circumstances. You will be required to Accept or Decline the Program Protection at the time of application to a program. 

View our full refund policy here.

Click here to see the “What to Bring List” for Kids & Teen Programs

Yes, Idyllwild Arts offers airport pick-up and drop off. See more information here.

All applications, payments, and forms are done online through your CampInTouch account.

Summer & Auxiliary Programs Team
951.468.7265
summer@idyllwildarts.org

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