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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Hearts to Art? Hearts to Art is an annual fine arts summer camp designed for young people 7-14 years old who have experienced the death of one or more parents. It combines creativity and clinical care to focus on the healing power of creative play!

When is camp? Hearts to Art holds two sessions over the summer, the first for ages 7-10 and the second for ages 11-14. Each Session runs for two weeks.

Dates for 2024 are:

Session I – July 15 – July 26
Session II – July 29 – August 9

What is the cost of Hearts to Art? Hearts to Art is offered at no cost to families!

How many campers will be accepted? We accept a maximum of 35 campers per session with priority given to returning families. Campers are enrolled on a first come first serve basis, and we will open a waitlist once we hit capacity for our program.

When is the deadline to apply? The deadline for Session One campers to apply or to be admitted off of the waitlist is July 1st. The deadline for Session Two campers to apply or to be admitted off of the waitlist is July 15th.

After I have applied is there anything I need to do? Once you apply to Hearts to Art, you will receive a confirmation of your acceptance within a few days. Next steps will be mentioned in that follow-up email if applicable. If you apply but do NOT receive confirmation, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Does Hearts to Art fill up? Yes! Typically, we are able to get many campers in off the waitlist, but unfortunately this isn’t always guaranteed. We do encourage you to apply early to claim your spot!

Where will camp be held this year?

Hearts to Art 2024 will be held at…
St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater
5649 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660

Will there be transportation this year? Two busses will be offered, one from the South Side of Chicago and one from the West Side. Busses pick-up and drop-off locations are still to be determined.

Does Hearts to Art accept children experiencing non-parental loss, like a sibling or grandparent? Hearts to Art specializes in working with children who have experienced the loss of a parent. Please explore our additional resources for other programs and camps that may be better suited to your child’s needs.

What is achieved at Hearts to Art? Using several different areas of the performing arts, Hearts to Art encourages communication, fosters emotional growth, and provides friendship, compassion, and community. Camp activities encourage team building, self-esteem, consciousness, and problem-solving. Through interaction with other children who have experienced a similar loss, campers understand that they are not alone.

What are some camp activities? Hearts to Art is a performing arts camp, meaning that each day campers work in developing skills in acting, movement, improvisation, singing, and more through fun and exciting classes. Additionally, small group healing sessions and our guest speaker sessions provide campers with the opportunity to share about their loss, if they so choose. Campers also rehearse and stage a final showcase performance.

Does my camper have an opportunity to talk about their loss? Small group healing sessions are facilitated by professional counselors. This provides campers a safe time and place to express and share their feelings with peers.

Does Hearts to Art have a program for teens? Our Junior Counselor program is designed for previous campers ages 15-18 who want to remain connected and give back to camp.

Is Hearts to Art a suitable environment for a child with special needs? While we are not specifically a special needs camp, our staff is trained to handle special circumstances to a limited extent. Please contact us with specific questions or needs, and we’d be happy to discuss possibilities!

Who are the camp instructors? Our staff is comprised of a wide variety of people with a passion for, and experience in, the arts and working with children. Previous staff members hold degrees in education, music, dance and theatre performance, social work, and counseling. Our healing counselors are therapists and/or social workers with experience in grief counseling. All staff have prior experience working with young people, have cleared background checks, and are trained as mandated reporters through the Auditorium Theatre.

What is the ratio of adults to students? To ensure a fun, safe, and supportive camp, we keep a high ratio of caring adults to campers at Hearts to Art.

How long has Hearts to Art been running? Hearts to Art started in 2005!

How do I apply? Applications for new campers for our 2024 season will be available on our website on February 9th.

Who can I contact for additional information? For questions regarding enrollment, please email [email protected].

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