At Dragonfly Designs, we believe the most beautiful and meaningful art starts with something invisible: connection.

Before a brush ever touches canvas or a bead slides onto a wire, our teachers are looking for something else—eye contact, a shared laugh, a spark of confidence… that moment when a child feels truly seen and heard.

This isn’t a happy accident. It’s the heart of our intentional, child-centered approach to creative education, and it’s the reason families return to our art camps year after year. 

More Than Just Art Projects—We Build Belonging

We know that learning and creativity flourish in an environment where children feel safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are. That’s why we make connection our first and most important priority at every single Dragonfly Designs Summer Art Camp. 

Whether your child is diving into watercolor painting, jewelry design, tie-dye, or mixed media, our experienced teaching artists begin by creating a foundation of trust. That could mean learning everyone’s name with a silly song, giving a warm welcome at drop-off, or simply listening closely when a camper shares a story about their dog or their favorite color.

This sense of emotional safety and belonging becomes the launchpad for real artistic expression.   

The Dragonfly Difference: Trained Teaching Artists Who Lead With Heart

Much of this magic comes down to our teachers—and the way they’re trained.

Our Staff Mentor, Sherry Kaufman, brings decades of expertise in early childhood education to her work with Dragonfly Designs. Sherry has taught at virtually every grade level, from early childhood education through graduate school.

Before joining our team, Sherry was a professor on the adjunct faculty at Erikson Institute Graduate School of Child Development in Chicago and led teacher development at Google’s Children’s Center, where she specialized in helping educators build emotional intelligence and connection into their daily routines. She has also served as the director of a nonprofit Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood education program that emphasized the importance of children’s natural desire for exploration and social interaction.

At Dragonfly, Sherry works closely with our teaching artists to ensure they aren’t just sharing skills, but also cultivating curiosity, kindness, and courage.

This philosophy shapes everything we do. It’s why we:

• Welcome children of all temperaments and experience levels

• Embrace process over perfection (hello, joyful messes!)

• Encourage children to follow their inspiration, even if it means changing direction mid-project

• Create a space where making mistakes is part of the fun

Our teachers are trained to notice each child’s energy and needs. Some children arrive ready to dive in, while others take time to warm up. We honor all of it. Because connection isn’t just a goal—it’s a practice, woven into every brushstroke, bead, and block of time we share.   

Why This Matters—Especially in the Summer

Summer camps can be thrilling, but they can also feel overwhelming—especially for younger children or those trying something new. By leading with empathy, inclusion, and relationship-building, we help children feel more confident from the very first day.

And when they feel confident, they’re more likely to:

• Try a new technique without fear of “doing it wrong”

• Express themselves authentically

• Collaborate and build friendships with fellow campers

• Leave camp feeling proud—not just of their art, but of themselves

Our camps are designed to be a creative sanctuary where children can slow down, explore, and rediscover the joy of making something with their hands—and their hearts.     

Real Creativity Starts With Real Connection

So, what does connection actually look like in a Dragonfly Designs Summer Camp?

• It looks like a teacher kneeling to meet a shy camper at eye level and gently inviting them to help mix paint colors.
• It looks like a group of children working together to design a collaborative mural, laughing as they accidentally invent a new shade of green.
• It looks like a high-five when a child ties their first friendship bracelet.
• It looks like choice, voice, and respect woven into every part of the day.

When we center connection, creativity becomes a natural extension of who the child already is.   

A Summer to Remember—One Connection at a Time

Every Dragonfly Designs camp is crafted to do more than just fill time—it’s created to ignite joy, spark friendship, and help children come home a little more confident than they were before.

We offer a variety of Summer Art Camps across the San Francisco Bay Area, including in San Mateo, Millbrae, Burlingame, Redwood City, San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Gatos. Additional locations include Encinitas in San Diego and Berkeley in the East Bay. Each location is stocked with premium art supplies, imaginative projects, and compassionate educators who can’t wait to meet your child.

And whether your child is passionate about painting, curious about clay, or excited to try a little bit of everything, there’s a place for them here.   

Experience the Magic Yourself

The art your child brings home from camp will be beautiful, yes—but the real masterpiece is the confidence, joy, and connection they’ll carry with them long after summer ends.

Come see what makes Dragonfly Designs different. Explore our Summer Art Camps, meet our dedicated team, and give your child the gift of a creative experience they’ll never forget.