The Champaign Park District offers a full range of pottery and ceramics classes for anyone ages 3 and up. Classes are taught by experienced instructors who are gifted at bringing out the artist in you. Their wealth of experience, education, and knowledge will truly make this an enjoyable experience for you and/or your family. We also offer group workshops. Check out our information on Group Pots-Abilities listed below. Our pottery studio is located at Springer Cultural Center.
Programs
Summer Special Interest Pottery Classes: Reptiles in Clay
Ages 6-15
We will make an assortment of reptiles in clay: snakes, alligators, crocodiles, frogs, salamanders, lizards and newts! We will experiment with making exact replicas and imaginative variations with life-like reptile skin and scales.
Jewelry Holders & Gift Boxes
Ages 6-15
Make a variety of jewelry holders like jars, dishes, trees, posts and hangers. We will also make small gift boxes and boxes for storing jewelry. Learn clay basics, no clay experience necessary.
Castles, Towers, Caves (and dragons)
Ages 6-15
Use clay to make castles, towers, and caves, and maybe add a dragon! We will explain the different methods of forming clay and glazing your finished pieces. We will also use the potter's wheel to make a tower. No experience with clay is necessary. Imagination required!
Preschool Clay Creations I
Age 3 with parent
Join your child in learning the beginnings of hand built pottery. With help from you, your child will expand their creativity with every project. Share the fun in making slab artwork, coil opts and animal figurines!
Preschool Clay Creations II
Ages 4-5
Preschoolers have fun learning the many ways to create with clay. In each class, students will create new projects that push their creativity and explore the many techniques used with clay.
Creative Clay for Kids 6-9 years
If you like to play in the mud, then you will like to play with clay. Students will have a blast making clay animals, castles, cups, bowls, tiles, sculptures and more. You can make anything with clay. Students will be shown how to make things on a spinning potter’s wheel and learn the basics of forming and decorating. This class can be taken as often as you want. Students who repeat the class will be challenged with new projects and techniques each week.
The Potter's Wheel
Ages 10-15
Here's your chance to learn how to throw on the wheel! Whether you are new to pottery or you're a wheel fanatic, thisis the class for you. You'll learn basic throwing techniques as well as how to change and alter your pots to make a finished product.
Parent and Child Pottery
8+years with parent/guardian
No games, no tryouts, no competition. Just you and your child, hanging out with other cool parents and kids, learning how to make cool stuff. Your kid will amaze you with their creativity, and you will amaze yourself. Learn to throw pots on the wheel, sculpt, coil, and build, make tiles, cereal bowls, magical creatures, and whatever your heart desires.
Studio Ceramics
Ages 18+
Those who want to take a night off from the lab, the office, school, study, work or worry. Let yourself relax into clay. Students will learn basic pottery skills including hand building, coils, slabs, and the wheel. You’ll learn to pull a handle, trim a foot, join a slab, and learn the mysteries of extrusion. If you have experience, this class is for you too. We can help you with advanced techniques and give you the opportunity to pursue your own projects.
Group Pots-Abilities
Clay is fun for everyone! Bring your next girls or guys’ night out, bridal shower, family get-together, co-workers, corporate team, Girl or Boy Scout troops, seniors club, or your neighbors for a special group workshop. We will create a workshop based on your group’s needs. Do some team-building, family bonding, strengthen friendships, create memories and something fabulous you will enjoy for years to come. Call Michelle at 398-2376 to schedule a workshop. You must schedule a workshop at least one month in advance.
Open Studio Time
Ages 18+ with experience
Do you have experience with clay and want a little time to make ceramics? Not getting enough time in the studio during your pottery class? Here's the opportunity that can fulfill those needs. You can buy time by the hour as you need it. Sign up at the Springer Cultural Center front desk for an orientation with one of our qualified instructors. The supply fee will be explained at orientation.
Pottery
Programs 
The Potter's Wheel 
Group Pots-Abilities