Origin Stories: The Art of Characters

Our favorite stories, from Avatar to K-Pop Demon Hunters and everything in between, all started with a brainstorm, a storyboard, or a sketch. In this week of camp, we’ll work on our own origin stories, starting from scratch to write and illustrate the tales that make our heroes and villains who they are.

In this week of camp, students will read graphic novels alongside other stories where illustrations and artwork help us understand the world and woes of the characters and draft their own action-packed script. Students will create key concept art and illustrations, like character profiles and setting sketches.

As we map out the hopes, dreams, and hijinks of our characters, we’ll use artwork to help envision our characters and their world. We’ll end the week with a new character expo for friends and family!

About 826NYC Day Camp

In 826NYC’s day camp, we bring the joy and excitement of storytelling off the page.  Each week, we pair a fun writing theme with hands-on art and learning activities, matching performances with playwriting, comics with heroic tales, and science fiction with circuit-building.

This day camp will include a daily trip to JJ Byrne Playground for kickball, climbing, and other outdoor shenanigans. Camp hours are 9:00-3:00, Monday-Friday.

Questions? Email programs@826nyc.org or call 718-499-9884.

Who Can Participate

This day camp is for students who will be entering grades 4-6 in September 2026.

Don’t worry! 826NYC’s classes for grades 1-12 will return in September 2026.

What to Bring

Please ensure your child brings the following items to camp each day:

• A refillable water bottle
• Lunch and a healthy snack
• Sunscreen and any other items your child needs to comfortably spend time outdoors

826NYC will provide notebooks, pens, art supplies, and all other materials needed for participation in camp activities.

Cost

826NYC is committed to keeping our programs available to the young writers who need our support most. You can choose between the following fee options for summer camps:

• Full price: $600 per week, with a $100 discount if you sign up for multiple weeks and pay for all at once
• Partial scholarship: $300 per week
• Full scholarship: Free, with a $25 deposit that won’t be charged if your child attends.

We invite families to select the fee that works best for them upon registration. No additional scholarship application is required.