MIDLAND WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
Midland’s Summer Studio: A Week Building a Room in Miniature at the Alden Dow Home & Studio
A hands-on, weekday camp for 7th–9th graders that pairs design exercises and historic tours with a pond paddle—this guide tells you what to expect and how to prepare.
Midland’s Summer Studio: A Week Building a Room in Miniature at the Alden Dow Home & Studio.
Over four afternoons, students immerse themselves in the overlapping languages of architecture, color and craft: designing a room diorama and handmade furniture, studying historic and contemporary work, touring the Alden Dow Home & Studio and another Mid‑Century structure, and — weather permitting — canoeing the pond that skirts the property. The week is built around touch-and-make activities that sharpen visual thinking while offering fresh perspectives on place and midcentury design.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Design a Room Diorama and Handmade Furniture
Campers spend the week developing a primary project: a room diorama finished with original, handmade furniture. The curriculum emphasizes color, texture and shape through a series of hands-on studio activities drawn from historic and contemporary artists and movements.
Tours of the Alden Dow Home & Studio and a Mid‑Century Structure
As part of the week, campers tour the Home & Studio and an additional Mid‑Century building to see design principles at human scale—context that informs their studio exercises and diorama compositions.
Canoe the Pond for a Different View
Weather permitting, the program includes a canoe paddle on the pond surrounding the Home & Studio, giving students a new vantage point on the site and an outdoor counterpoint to indoor studio work.
What the day feels like
A focused, hands-on week of making and observation
Days run as concentrated studio sessions in which instructors introduce design principles—color, texture, shape—then set short exercises that feed into the campers’ diorama projects. Interspersed are experiential anchors: guided tours of architecturally significant spaces and a pond paddle to shift scale and mood. The rhythm balances instruction, experimentation, and quiet looking so each camper leaves with a built piece and sharpened design instincts.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this camp is built for — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Campers must have camp packets filled out and turned in prior to the first day. The camper-parent packet is attached to the program materials and is available online in the Education/Camp section of the Alden Dow website.
Each session runs Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; specific session dates are published for the season.
The stated rate for campers is $190.00; scholarships are available—contact the operator for details.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What grades is the camp for?
The camp is for students in grades 7 through 9.
When and how long does the camp run each day?
Sessions run Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How much does the camp cost?
The rate for campers is $190.00; scholarships are available by contacting the operator.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Full refunds require cancellation at least 30 days before the first day; cancellations 29–15 days out receive a 50% refund; cancellations 14–1 days out are not refundable. Cancellations due to illness may be issued a credit.
Is there a minimum number of campers required?
Yes. A minimum of six campers must be enrolled for a camp session to run.
How do I apply for a scholarship or get more information?
Contact the program for scholarship information at 989.839.2744.