Animation Program
This immersive five-week summer course lets young creators (ages 12-17) explore the art of storytelling through motion — whether in 2D, stop-motion or clay-animation. You’ll start by learning the fundamentals of keyframes, timing and movement, build your own characters and sets, then bring them to life with hands-on production.
Throughout the course, you will collaborate in small teams, receive mentorship from working animators, and culminate with a final screening of your original short-form animations.
Duration
5 weeks
Slots
16 students maximum
Dates
Monday June 29, 2026 — Friday July 31, 2026
Hours
12.30PM — 5.30PM, Monday — Friday
Location
Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Pricing
The course is free of charge for all participant except for the application fees.
Application fee for DC residents is $75.
Application fee for anyone living outside of DC is $95 *
About the Animation Program
Get ready for an amazing summer in animation! Our five-week course invites young filmmakers aged 12-17 to explore storytelling through motion. You will learn about 2D animation, stop-motion, and clay-animation.
We start by teaching you key techniques like keyframes, timing, and movement. Then, you will use your creativity to design characters and sets, bringing your ideas to life through hands-on production.
This course is not just about learning. You will create stories while working with small teams. Industry professionals will mentor you, sharing valuable insights and advice.
The experience ends with a final screening where you can show your original short animations to friends, family, and fellow fans. Join us from Monday, June 29, to Friday, July 31, 2026, at Foundry Church. You will make friends, improve your skills, and leave with a portfolio piece to be proud of. Don’t miss this chance to spark your passion for filmmaking and animation.
Who can apply?
In order to participate, applicants must prove to be between 14–18 years old.
No experience required. We can accommodate beginners and those with experience. You must attend 75% of the course to receive a Certificate of Completion and to be listed as Crew on a project. So taking a one week vacation is fine but please do not sign up in you know you will miss a lot of the course. This is not a drop-in experience.
Selection & Fee Payment
Our team will review applications upon reception. Applicants will be informed of our selection decision within a week after submitting the application.
Notices of selection will come with instructions to pay the registration fee. In order to confirm admission to the program, we ask all selected students to pay the fee promptly.
Need help applying? Do not hesitate to reach out for guidance about eligibility, timelines, or application forms → info@y-cam.org