First Coast Cultural Center is launching its summer activities season starting in June until August with weekly camp programs for children including Jaws, Claws, and Dinosaurs, Enchanted Wood, Explore Italy as an Ancient Roman, Magical Creations, Explore the Deep Blue, African Safari, Art History Detectives, Backpacking through South America, Drama and Improv with Disney and Nickelodeon Acting Coach, Sheri Lahris. FCCC also offers Culinary Camps for children. Classes and camps are held from Monday through Friday at First Coast Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle, and at PVPV/ Rawlings Elementary School, 610 A1A North in Ponte Vedra Beach. Pricing begins at $350 per child for non-members and $325 per child for members. Multiple week sessions may be purchased online at https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org/programs-events/youth-art-programs.

According to Silvia Romero, the Cultural Center’s Director of Programs, camps and classes are available for children from 6 to 12 years of age with indoor and outdoor activities, high quality art making, learning to observe the natural world in arts, culture, and history, and entertaining educational activities. All supplies are included and campers may bring their own snacks, lunch, and water bottles. Registered parents will receive a welcome email prior to the start of their child's camp.

“Camp and class activities feature unique and fun-filled experiences with new themes and the instructor’s own expertise. Our camps have a strong arts-process focus, with campers exploring mediums like watercolors, drawing, collage, and clay,” said Romero. “Young artists will complete art projects to bring home. We will also incorporate broader art and culture activities such as geography, music and movement activities, and story time. Campers will go out and play in our backyard areas, so warm weather apparel and comfortable footwear is recommended. Dress for messy success!” she said.

Additionally, summer adult classes and workshops will run from July until August for participants to explore, develop and re-visit a hobby, meet new people, enjoy classes with friends, and more. One-time classes and reoccurring series are held on weekdays, evenings, and weekends including Embroidery Basics with Charlotte Chastain, Geometric Patterns from the Alhambra Palace: Drawing and Watercolor Painting with Dima Kroma, Cultural History Presentations, such as, Religious Vision for Natural Spaces with Frederick Law Olmsted, Founder of American Landscape Architecture. Fall and winter classes are currently listed for enrollment. Pricing for adult summer programs start at $15 to $125 for members and non-members. For registration and online course purchasing, visit the website at https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org/programs-events/adult-art-programs. For general program, class and membership information, contact Silvia Romero at (904) 280-0614, ext. 1206 or email [email protected].

First Coast Cultural Center’s new building is formally opened with arts, culture, community activities, and a gift shop at 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach. The two-story, 6,000-square-foot space was funded in part by local donors and additional support campaigns. Camp programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

First Coast Cultural Center is a place to create, understand, and experience the arts. The organization accomplishes its goals through exhibitions of local, regional, and national artists in a variety of media through educational and enlivening events, quality arts classes, lectures, and workshops. Key programs include Sound Connections® Music Therapy for children with disabilities which is offered free of charge to students at St. Johns County schools including Title I schools which provide additional resources to economically disadvantaged students. Also, Kick StART after school arts enrichment programs and services are available and include Title 1 schools with the help of grant funding. Visit the website at https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org.