What ages can attend?

The class is recommended for children aged 8 and up.

Are materials provided?

Yes—clay, templates, tools, and paints are included in the session.

How long does the piece take to fully cure?

Air-dry pieces may take about a day to fully cure; staff will advise on handling and drying times.

Can I drop my child off?

Supervision rules vary; check with the booking provider but many parents prefer to stay for younger children.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

The front door is wheelchair friendly, but the bathroom is small and may not accommodate all needs.

How do I reserve a spot?

Book through the referral link provided to secure places during busy school holiday periods.

Hands-On Scallop Shell Clay Workshop for Kids in Shellharbour

On Wentworth Street in Shellharbour, New South Wales, a short walk from the village waterfront, Blackduck Studio invites children to shape their own scallop shell plates in a lively, 1.5-hour clay workshop. This hands-on session teaches kids how to roll a clay slab, trace shell templates, press forms into a plastic plate for curvature, texture the surface with simple tools, and finish with bright air-dry paints. The result: a playful keepsake that captures the coast in a child's handiwork.

The studio’s focus is straightforward and tactile: slab construction, patterning, and color. Working with air-dry clay removes the wait and uncertainty of firing, so young makers see their work complete in a single visit. Tools and templates guide accuracy while encouraging individuality—no two shells leave exactly the same. The scallop shape ties the craft to Shellharbour’s shoreline, where local sandy beaches and shell deposits have long been part of the town’s identity.

Families often pair the class with a stroll along the nearby village jetty or a picnic at the Wentworth Street reserve, turning a short workshop into a full afternoon by the water. The room is wheelchair-friendly at the entrance, though the bathroom is small and may not accommodate all accessibility needs; parents should note this in planning. Age limits start at eight years, making it ideal for school holiday bookings and group outings.

What makes this experience stand out is its local specificity and immediacy: children leave with a finished, painted piece that speaks to Shellharbour’s coastal character. In a region known for rocky headlands and calm harbor waters, the workshop offers a quiet indoor option when weather or tides limit beach time. The process also introduces basic handbuilding skills that translate to larger ceramic work if kids want to continue learning.

Practical details: the session runs about 1.5 hours and is best suited to kids comfortable sitting and using small tools for that duration. Materials are provided; bring a change of clothes and a towel for accidental paint or clay. Booking through the provided referral link secures seats during busy school holiday periods.

This classroom-meets-studio is less about perfection and more about curiosity—children learn by doing, seeing how texture, pressure, and color change a flat slab into a curved, painted shell. For families visiting Shellharbour, it’s an accessible, creative way to bring a piece of the coast home.

Instructors keep groups small so each child receives direct attention and safety guidance around tools and paints. Finished pieces may take a day to fully cure; staff will advise on handling and sealing at home. The studio also offers repeat sessions and holiday specials—check the booking page for dates and times to reserve your child’s spot during peak season now.

About Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd

Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd operates a hands-on ceramics studio offering classes, workshops and a local firing service. The studio runs after-school and homeschool clay clubs, term-based kids programs, multi-week handbuilding courses, one-off open hand-building sessions, and school holiday workshops. Many classes accept deposits to secure places, including Term 1, 2026 bookings with limited availability; if a preferred day is full the studio offers alternatives or refunds deposits.

Programs include dedicated kids courses for ages eight to teens with materials provided, 10-week after-school terms, and casual homeschool sessions. Adult learners can join an 8-week handbuilding and glazing course with expert guidance, or participate in open workshops designed for experienced potters wanting 90 minutes of clay work plus a painting session. The studio also runs themed workshops such as make-a-mug, make-a-dish, make-a-platter, and seasonal Christmas activities.

Black Duck Studio accommodates NDIS clients with two-hour workshops offering hand-building or glazing and complimentary beverages. A firing service supports local artists and crafters from drop-off through firing with pick-up updates. Event inquiries include private parties, donut tower involvement, and bespoke bookings for celebrations.

Bookings, deposits, and workshop details are published for each offering, and all class descriptions list included materials, session lengths, and post-firing pickup times where applicable. Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd presents practical, activity-based ceramics experiences aimed at learning, creativity, and accessible studio access for students, hobbyists, and community participants. Finished pieces are typically fired and available for pickup within two weeks when specified in the class description. Bookings are required online.