What dates is the camp offered?

The 2026 youth camp runs June 29 to July 3, 2026.

What age is the camp for?

True Makers Camp is designed for children ages 11–14; campers must be 11 by June 1, 2026.

How long is each camp day?

Each day runs 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; optional Early Drop-Off (7:30–8:00 AM) and Extended Day care (3:00–5:00 PM) are available for a fee.

What does tuition cover and how much is it?

Tuition starts at $975 and includes all materials, tools, and instruction for the week.

What is the refund/withdrawal policy?

Notify hello@craftsmanave.com at least seven days before the start date to receive a refund. Notifications received less than seven days before camp earn a 50% refund; a $25 withdrawal fee applies.

Is the studio accessible and safe?

The studio is stroller- and wheelchair-accessible for drop-off/pick-up. Safety gear (goggles, gloves, aprons) is provided and instructors are background-checked practicing artists.

True Makers Camp: Weeklong Hands-On Maker Camp for Ages 11-14 in Brooklyn

True Makers Camp at Craftsman Ave Workshop sits inside Industry City in Brooklyn, New York, at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232. For five concentrated days—June 29 to July 3, 2026—middle-schoolers ages 11–14 step out of screens and into a workshop where leather, glass, wood, fiber, and copper meet real tools and real instruction.

The week is built like a craftsman's primer: each day focuses on a single project—hand-stitching a leather wallet, cutting and soldering stained glass, shaping and weighing a pinewood derby car, tufting a fiber wall hanging, and assembling a copper lamp. Master artisans and educators guide a deliberately small class—maximum six campers—so every sawing, sanding, and soldering move comes with direct feedback. That low camper-to-instructor ratio turns busy machine noise into teachable moments, and a half-finished project into a finished object a child can carry home.

This is a beginner-friendly place; no prior experience is required. Safety gear—goggles, gloves, aprons—and tools are provided, and the studio enforces close-toed shoes and a screen-free policy to keep focus on hands-on learning. Days run 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with optional supervised Early Drop-Off (7:30–8:00 AM) and Extended Day care (3:00–5:00 PM). Tuition starts at $975 and covers all materials and tools; registration opens May 1, 2026, and closes June 19, 2026.

What makes True Makers Camp stand out in Brooklyn’s crowded summer options is its commitment to craft as education. Rather than a single-activity day camp, this is a condensed apprenticeship: measurement, tool selection, iterative problem-solving, and finishing techniques taught by practicing artists who also teach. The Industry City location is easy to reach—take the D, N, or R train to 36th Street and walk eight minutes—and the studio is stroller- and wheelchair-accessible for drop-off and pick-up logistics.

Parents report more than projects returned home; they see kids who finished the week with sharper focus, better hand skills, and a quiet confidence that comes from making something tangible. Practical notes: pack a nut-free lunch, a refillable water bottle, and clothes you don't mind getting dusty. Questions can be directed to [email protected], and the camp reserves the right to cancel or reschedule if enrollment requires it; refunds follow published policies. For urban families who want a different kind of summer—one measured in joints, solder, and finished edges—True Makers Camp offers a week that teaches skill, patience, and pride.

Families should also note the withdrawal and refund policy: notify [email protected] at least seven days before start for a refund; less than seven days earns 50% refund minus a $25 withdrawal fee. A 5% sibling discount is available. Instructors hold college degrees and are practicing artists who have undergone background checks, a detail that underscores the camp’s professional, safety-first approach.

About Craftsman Ave

Craftsman Ave is a hands-on maker workshop company that runs a wide range of craft and fabrication classes. The business offers workshops in metalworking, woodworking, stained glass, bladesmithing, leatherwork, electronics refurbishment, and cocktail barrel aging. Classes range from brief 3–4 hour beginner sessions to intensive full-day experiences and intermediate blacksmithing, giving students practical, project-based learning.

Instructors at Craftsman Ave focus on safety and skill development, teaching soldering, welding, forging, knife heat-treating, CNC basics, and finishing techniques. Projects listed include stained glass nightlights and art pieces, copper lamp construction, steel planter fabrication, custom side tables and longboards, classic Game Boy refurbishment, and multiple knife-making formats from railroad spike blades to Damascus steel creations. Several offerings mention sessions held in Brooklyn.

Craftsman Ave emphasizes hands-on instruction with small-group workshops that guide participants from tool introduction to finished, personalized projects. The curriculum covers practical techniques—measuring, cutting, soldering, hammer-forging, quenching, polishing, and handle fitting—so participants leave with tangible skills and a completed object.

Bookings are typically organized per-session with explicit project outcomes, materials use, and instructor support. The business presents a diverse set of workshops that combine traditional craft methods and modern fabrication tools to help hobbyists, gift-givers, and aspiring makers create high-quality, customized goods. Safety protocols, instructor oversight, and supplied materials are standard for each session, and many workshops are suitable for group events, corporate team-building, birthday parties, and personalized gift-making. Participants receive step-by-step instruction and take home a finished, usable item that reflects individual design choices and learned techniques and continued support.