Archery

Archery promotes self-discipline, patience, and persistence while being a fun and exciting challenge that students consistently rate as one of their favorite summer afternoon classes.

Offered to students of all skill levels, the class begins with safety protocols and fundamental techniques. Students learn the value of perseverance as they improve in real time through practice. They master abilities such as holding a bow and hitting a target, with opportunities to complete increasingly complex challenges and target-shooting games as their skills improve. 

The class includes:

• Technical archery skill building
• Fun games and challenges
• Safety training and target practice etiquette

The archery field takes advantage of temperate summer weather, providing students with a chance to get active, enjoy the outdoors, and engage with their surroundings while developing patience and the self-confidence that comes with learning and improving challenging skills.

All equipment, including safety gear, bows, and arrows, is provided, along with instruction from experienced instructors.

 

Art Exploration 

The Delphian art room is a vibrant, engaging, and hands-on space filled with creativity, imagination, and endless possibilities. This class invites artists of all skill levels to become familiar with art materials and techniques. 

The class is a combination of guided instruction on the fundamentals of drawing and the opportunity to put theory into action with self-directed projects. This approach helps students develop technical skills and techniques that allow them to grow as artists and take their projects to the next level.

The class includes:

• Technical skill-building across a variety of fine art mediums
• Guided instruction in the principles of drawing and perspective 
• Self-directed creative projects
• Access to expert-level instruction and resources

Art provides students the opportunity to express themselves through various mediums such as paint, pencil, and mixed media. Students receive instruction on the seven principles of drawing and perspective, learning about surface, size, surface line, overlapping, shading, density, and foreshortening, and are then encouraged to apply what they have learned to create art that challenges their abilities and pushes their skills to the next level.

All art supplies and materials are provided, along with extensive resources for skill development. At the end of the summer, students are encouraged to take home their artwork.

 

Athletics

The summer athletics program offers students the opportunity to train with some of Delphian’s junior and senior-level varsity athletes to improve their skills in sports such as volleyball, soccer, tennis, pickleball, and basketball. The program also focuses on improving overall physical fitness, giving students a competitive edge for their upcoming sports seasons.

The program includes:

• Technical skill-building across a variety of sports
• Physical education and improved personal fitness
• Access to Delphian’s athletic facilities and fields
• Team building and training drills

The instructors of these classes bring knowledge and experience to guide students through personalized training, helping them to improve in strength and proficiency in skills fundamental to each sport. Oregon’s mild summer temperatures mean students can utilize the fields and trails of Delphian’s 720-acre campus for endurance and agility training. Additionally, students have the opportunity to practice teamwork through competitive scrimmages and games, learning to collaborate effectively toward common goals and fostering camaraderie with their peers.

Athletes should come prepared with exercise clothes, shoes, and equipment such as shin guards or knee pads, or be prepared to purchase them locally if they plan to participate in the summer athletics program. 

 

Sports Camps

Sports camps take place in the evening from 6-9 pm and are for students aged 12 and over.

Week 1 - Volleyball

Volleyball skill training drills from our varsity coach, with team building activities and get in great physical shape.

Week 2 - Basketball Camp

Learn and drill basketball skills such as shooting form, ball handling and passing, plus team building activities, taught by our varsity coach and Athletic Director.

Week 3 - Soccer Camp

Practice your touch, dribbling, juggling, passing, and more. Get competitive with your friends during scrimmages. Whether you’re an experienced player or a beginner, this is a great opportunity to improve and have a blast out on the field.

 

Ceramics

The ceramics studio is a fun and relaxed environment where students enjoy the freedom to experiment, take risks, learn from failures, and try again as they work to master the art of ceramics.  They have the opportunity to hand-sculpt, model, use a pottery wheel, etch, glaze, and even to kiln-fire their creations. resulting in truly unique ceramic pieces.

The class includes:

• Clay sculpting using traditional tools
• Pottery wheel technique and training
• Access to skilled instruction and resources

These classes are open to all skill levels and give students a chance to get their hands dirty while cultivating patience, confidence, and skill. Delphian’s on-site kiln allows students to see and participate in the entire process from soft clay to treasured art, including selecting and applying professional-quality glazes.

Materials, including clay, sculpting tools, pottery wheels, glazes, and aprons, are provided, along with fun, encouraging instruction and resources. 

The craft class provides a relaxed, creative environment where students learn through doing. Open to Elementary to Middle-school-aged students, this class provides them with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of creative mediums through projects designed to spark curiosity and build confidence.

Each day, students work on guided projects that teach them new crafting techniques through creative projects such as weaving, crochet, origami, beading, and friendship bracelets.

The class includes:

• Opportunity to work and experiment with a wide variety of craft supplies 
• Technical skill-building across various craft mediums
• A variety of completed craft projects to bring home

Whether they are building fairy garden habitats, creating clay creatures, constructing paper lanterns, making bracelets, or sewing stuffed companions, students have the chance to try new and unconventional tools, explore different materials, and master new techniques—all while having a lot of fun creating unique projects.

All materials—including gems, yarn, beads, paper, glue, paint, stamps, fabric, modeling clay, cardboard, wire, wood, recycled materials, pom-poms, and googly eyes—are provided.

Culinary Arts for Young Chefs

This class introduces students to the world of cooking. Beginning with planning and recipe preparation, students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of standard kitchen tools, measuring ingredients, and kitchen safety, as well as how to become comfortable combining ingredients and flavors to create delicious dishes.

The class includes:

• Practical, hands-on understanding of the culinary arts
• Increased understanding of nutrition and ingredient selection
• Understanding of food weights and measures.
• Access to instruction from knowledgeable staff

This class is led by knowledgeable staff who provide students with the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of how to be successful in the kitchen. Through recipes, challenges, and group projects, they’ll learn to properly manage heat on the stove and in the oven, how to safely use different types of kitchen knives, the importance of a clean workspace, why internal food-safety temperatures matter, and how to prepare ingredients for recipes.

This fun, learn-while-doing approach to cooking helps students become comfortable in the kitchen and confident in their ability to cook and bake a variety of tasty dishes to sample in class, add to their recipe box, and make again at home and share with friends and family. 

All ingredients, kitchen space, cooking equipment, and safety gear are provided. Students should come prepared to cook with long hair tied back.

Digital Art

The digital art class invites students of all skill levels to explore the unlimited world of technology-based art, such as digital illustration, photography, photo editing, animation, and more.  They dive into technical skill-building and design principles, unlocking the power of precision-based software to create digital illustrations, colorful graphics, and animation. 

This class gives students the opportunity to develop a practical understanding of professional-grade software such as Adobe Creative Suite. By balancing technical instruction with hands-on projects in areas of interest, students have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills to develop beautiful and functional works of art.  

The class includes:

• Technical skill building in computer-based design software 
• Access to knowledgeable instructors, digital design tools, and resources
• Self-directed creative projects

Supportive and knowledgeable instructors help students as they embrace the role of creator, take design risks, experiment with new techniques, expand technical skill sets, and refine their art style. By the end of the summer, students will have created colorful works of art, learned new skills, and developed a foundation in digital design techniques to support their future creative endeavors. 

All computers, design software, digital drawing tablets, and resources are provided.

Horse Camp 

Horse camp provides a unique opportunity for students of all skill levels to connect with nature and animals on Delphian’s beautiful 720-acre campus. Offered weeks 2-5 of the summer, this one-week intensive camp provides Elementary, Middle, and Upper School students with two hours of daily instruction and hands-on activities.

This camp introduces students to the essentials of equestrian science, including information about different breeds, markings, and coloring.  Students participate in hands-on care, grooming, and trust-building exercises to foster mutual confidence and respect between rider and horse. These activities not only improve riding skills but also help to promote a sense of responsibility toward animals.

The class includes:

• Horsemanship and riding skills in the arena and on trails
• Individualized instruction from experienced trainers and instructors
• Safety training and confidence-building in working with large animals
• Fun and interactive challenges, games, and activities 

With the guidance of experienced trainers and instructors, students learn about safety, develop a deep appreciation for the equestrian arts, and gain practical skills and values along the way.  

All gear, safety equipment, and learning resources are all provided. Students should come prepared to ride wearing close-toed shoes and long pants.

Music

The summer music program provides students of all skill levels with the opportunity for individualized instruction to build their musical skills.   This class helps students focus on the joy of music and learning new instruments or improving upon their existing skills. 

Students build confidence in their abilities through music studies, jam sessions, and personalized instructions. Students can work on vocals or instruments such as guitar, bass, drums, piano, and more.

This class includes:

• Chance to learn a new musical instrument
• Opportunity to perform at the summer talent showcase
• Technical skill building through learning music theory

Students begin with an assessment of their skill level, followed by practice with songs that challenge them and help them improve their reading of music, rhythm, and pitch. Towards the end of the summer, students have the chance to audition and perform individually or as part of a group at the summer talent showcase, where the entire community comes out to support and celebrate the hard work and practice of Delphian’s performers. 

Most instruments, music, equipment, and resources are provided for students to use while attending this class, though students can bring their own instrument if they wish.

Outdoor Engineering Camp

The outdoor engineering camp provides students ages 11 and older, of all skill levels, with the opportunity to develop practical, hands-on engineering skills. Utilizing Delphian’s 720-acre campus and facilities, students engineer exciting, large-scale projects such as boats, trebuchets, and gravity-powered go karts. 

In this project-oriented class, students will have the opportunity to take advantage of the wood and metal shops where they can learn to use hand and power tools, including hammers, saws, sanders, clamps, and drills, to engineer raw materials into fun and functional projects. Throughout this process, they will build confidence in their craftsmanship and develop skills that will benefit them in future DIY projects.

The class includes:

• Safety training and workbench etiquette
• Practice using hand and power tools properly
• Opportunity to create, complete, and test exciting projects
• Practical problem-solving skills

With the help of our knowledgeable instructors, students learn how to bring their ideas to life and solve problems while seeing the importance of math, geometry, and physics through real hands-on applications.  

All tools, fastenings, hardware, wood, metal, and supplies are provided, and students have the opportunity to test out their inventions, including floating their completed boats on the pond and riding their go-carts on paths around campus.

 

Outdoor Skills

In this hands-on class, students explore Delphian’s beautiful 720-acre campus, which features forests, meadows, creeks, trails, and ponds. Knowledgeable instructors serve as guides, personalizing the curriculum for all skill levels. Each day, students participate in outdoor skill-based challenges and activities. Can they build a shelter? Navigate to buried treasure using only a compass? Safely build a fire?

This class focuses on practical outdoor skills, including knot tying, shelter building, survival skills, and plant identification. It fosters awareness and appreciation of the local environment, helping students see their impact and understand the role they can play in conserving natural areas.

The class includes:

• Survival skills such as shelter science and wilderness basics
• Wilderness navigation skills with environmental cues and a compass 
• Environmental appreciation and stewardship 

The class encourages students to take healthy risks and build self-confidence.  Students develop their observation skills of truly seeing and hearing the world around them, which prepares them for a lifetime of enriching outdoor adventures. 

We provide gear, water, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Students who wish to participate in this camp should dress appropriately for the outdoors, wearing sturdy walking shoes and clothing.

 

Stop Motion Animation

This class offers students of all skill levels the chance to bring their imagination to life through stop motion video animation. Whether they are aspiring creators with dreams of a career in animation or simply exploring a new hobby, students learn the art of frame-by-frame storytelling and video editing. Throughout the class, they learn the essential skills and software for creating short animations, including storyboarding, set design, frame-by-frame movement-illusion techniques, character creation, and editing.

Classes start with the fundamentals of animation and storytelling. Students learn to create storyboards, design miniature movie sets, and develop characters using materials such as clay, Lego®, paper cutouts, and everyday objects. From there, they dive into production from filming to editing, concept to completion. 

The class includes:

• Technical skill-building in storytelling, film
• Access to editing software and skilled instruction 
• Practice in taking a project from concept to completion

The digital arts studio provides a supportive environment that fosters creativity and encourages creative problem-solving in animation. By the end of the summer, students will have completed a short animation they can share with their friends and family, along with their newfound knowledge, skills, and confidence in animation.

All cameras, editing software, tablets, and computers are provided, along with access to a wide variety of set and prop pieces for students to use in creating their films.

Theater Arts

Theater arts class introduces Elementary and Middle School students to the exciting world of stage performance. Students learn the basics of working collaboratively to build a world, play a role, project their voice, and tell a story that communicates to a live audience

Beginning with fun, interactive games and improv,  this class challenges students to take on roles, practice acting, and gain confidence in their ability to develop characters with different perspectives, mannerisms, and attitudes. By the end of the summer, they will have performed for a live audience either a skit or a short musical number. 

The class includes:

• Opportunity to perform at the summer talent showcase
• Practice performing on stage
• Practice in taking a theater production from casting to performance

By the end of the class, students will have a deeper understanding of what it means to be an actor and newfound confidence in their ability to communicate both on and off stage. 

They will learn how to be successful on stage through foundational public speaking skills such as voice placement and projection, the use of different tones, and the fundamentals of stage manners. 

All props, costumes, scripts, music, and materials are provided.

Woodshop

The woodshop offers students of all skill levels the opportunity to use both hand and power tools—such as hammers, saws, sanders, and drills—to turn raw lumber into fun, functional, and unique projects. 

The class includes:

• Safety training and workbench etiquette
• Practice using hand and power tools properly
• Opportunity to create and complete creative projects

Woodworking is a project-oriented class that helps students build confidence in their craftsmanship through tangible achievements. It teaches students how to bring their ideas to life and solve problems while illustrating the application of math and geometry through real hands-on application. With the help of knowledgeable adult instructors, students have the freedom to explore woodworking as both an artistic pursuit and a practical craft.  

All tools, fastenings, hardware, wood, and supplies are provided. All completed projects are available for students to take home, serving as lasting evidence of their hard work and new skills.