Design Camp

In summer 2025, we will offer in-person camps on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, North Little Rock and Bentonville, as well as a virtual camp. Registration for the summer 2025 camps opens in late February 2025.   

What you need to know:

Design Camp offers the chance to learn about the design professions through hands-on design projects, tours, discussions and other activities created by Fay Jones School faculty who teach the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and interior architecture and design. In the school-guided camps, students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and collaborate with peers in a fun and creative on-campus studio or virtual studio environment as they explore the design process. 

Who can attend:

Weeklong Design Camps in Fayetteville and North Little Rock: students entering 9th—12th grades 
Weeklong Design Camp in Bentonville: students ages 8–10 and 11–13
Advanced Design Camp in Fayetteville: students entering 11th—12th grades  
Virtual Design Camp (school-guided): students entering 9th—12th grades*

* Students must be 13 or older when they attend the Virtual Camp.

North Little Rock Camp
June 9–13 / The Innovation Hub, North Little Rock
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
(entering grades 9-12)

This camp is led by Fay Jones School faculty and students with assistance from local Little Rock practitioners. This camp will be at The Innovation Hub and will focus on projects and sites in and around North Little Rock and downtown Little Rock. This camp will also include hands-on projects and field trips. All supplies, lunch and snacks will be provided as part of the camp fee.

Bentonville Camp 
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville 
Registration through Crystal Bridges
Camp 1 – ages 8-10
Camp 2 – ages 11-13

This is a weeklong summer camp led by Fay Jones School faculty and students. Participants will get to flex their creative muscles and learn how to problem-solve by (literally) building solutions. Inspired by the museum’s own unique design, aspiring architects will develop valuable STEAM skills and learn to draw inspiration from their surroundings — all while having a blast building their own models.

Fayetteville Camp 1
June 16–20 — University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
(entering grades 9–12)
Overnight Camp available (starts June 15)

Fayetteville Camp 2
June 23–27 — University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
(entering grades 9–12)
Overnight Camp available (starts June 22)

This camp is led by Fay Jones School faculty and students, and campers will participate in design projects, tours and discussions about architecture and design. Students will work in studio groups in Vol Walker Hall and have their own individual workspace. During the week, campers will tour the University of Arkansas campus, visit local design projects and meet local design professionals. Students have the option to stay overnight in a residence hall on campus. There are additional activities in the evenings for overnight campers. All supplies, lunch and snacks will be provided as part of the camp fee. Overnight campers will have breakfast and dinner in one of the campus dining halls.

Fayetteville Advanced Camp (two weeks)
June 15–27 — University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, plus evening and weekend activities
(entering grades 11–12)

This is a two-week-long, residential camp session for juniors and seniors in high school who have more experience in design. This camp provides advanced design students with an immersive design experience and more challenging design problems. Students will stay in a campus residence hall and have planned evening and weekend activities, including field trips. The camp is led by Fay Jones School faculty and students. All meals, supplies and housing are provided as part of the camp fee. Students interested in this camp must apply through our registration portal, which includes explaining their experience in design through attending our camp in the past or through high school classes or community projects. Students will be notified of their acceptance within two weeks of applying. Limited space is available for this camp.

Virtual Camp (School-Guided) 
June 23–27
(entering grades 9–12)

This camp is completely remote and will use an online learning platform with all of the Design Camp lessons imbedded, where students will be able to access the projects and videos and upload their work. There will be daily Zoom sessions to discuss projects, talk about design and the professions, to have “desk crits” and reviews. Students will be paired with a Fay Jones School faculty member and will be part of a “studio” group so that they will get to know the other students during the week. Supplies are provided through a materials kit that is mailed to camp participants.

More info:
Most camps meet on location daily, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Supplies and lunches will be provided.

For more information, contact faycamp@uark.edu.  

 

 

“I really enjoy being able to share my passion for architecture with young students and hopefully help inspire them to pursue their interests in the design professions.  Design Camp is a wonderful way for them to gain some insight into the process we go through in designing a project – and to take a little bit of the mystery out of how things are designed and built."

— Alison Turner, architecture professor