ArtJoy WonderWorks: Puppet & Story Makers
A Multi-Puppet Creation, Storytelling & Performance Camp
Hosted by & Booked through The Center for the Arts (CFTA), Grass Valley
Details
June 15–19 | 12:30–3:30 PM
July 27–31 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Studio 2
Registration will be through the CFTA website
Ages: 5–9
Format: 5 days, 3 hours per day
Developed and taught by:
Toni Mikulka-Chang, Founder of ArtJoy & Giant Puppets Save the World
Program Overview
ArtJoy WonderWorks: Puppet & Story Makers is a joyful, hands-on puppetry and storytelling camp where children explore many different forms of puppetry while learning how characters, movement, and stories come to life.
This camp blends art-making, imaginative play, movement, and storytelling into a rich creative experience. Each day, campers will explore a different kind of puppet, learn how it works, and build their own puppet using safe, age-appropriate materials and techniques.
Throughout the week, children will:
● Play with and explore many kinds of puppets (hand puppets, giant puppets, bird/kite puppets, character puppets)
● Learn how puppets express feelings, move, and interact
● Build multiple original puppets to take home
● Develop characters and simple stories
● Practice collaboration, confidence, and creative expression
● Share their work in a playful, informal performance at the end of the week
All construction methods are child-safe:
● No hot glue
● Uses white glue, tape, grommets/eyelets, and large child-safe yarn needles ● Close supervision and age-appropriate tools at all times
Overarching Theme
“So Many Ways to Bring a Puppet to Life!”
Children discover that puppets can be made in many ways — and that every puppet has a story to tell.
Daily Curriculum
Day 1 — Welcome to the Puppet World
Theme: Puppets Can Be Anything
Focus: Puppet exploration + Hand & Upcycled Puppets
Activities:
● Explore and play with many kinds of puppets: hand puppets, giant puppets, bird/kite puppets, and character puppets
● Learn how puppets move, rest, dance, and express emotions
● Guided puppet play and movement games
● Story circle: What makes a good character?
Build:
● Sock puppets
● Upcycled puppets (turning stuffed animals or found objects into puppets)
● Simple sewing with large yarn needles, plus white glue and grommets (no hot glue)
Skills Introduced:
● Bringing a puppet to life with one hand
● Basic character emotions and movement
● Safe tool and material use
Day 2 — How Does It Move?
Theme: Strings, Sticks & Joints
Focus: Sculptural & Marionette-Style Puppets
Activities:
● Explore puppets that move in different ways
● Learn about joints, balance, and connections
● Movement games: sleepy puppets, excited puppets, sneaky puppets, bouncy puppets
Build:
● Sculptural puppets using tape, paper, cardboard, and tinfoil
● Add eyelets/grommets and strings to create simple marionette-style moving puppets
Skills Developed:
● Building a puppet body
● Understanding movement and control
● Gentle manipulation and coordination
Day 3 — Big Mouths & Silly Voices
Theme: Talking, Singing, Chomping Puppets
Focus: Sandwich-Style Mouth Puppets
Activities:
● Learn how mouth puppets work
● Practice talking, singing, reacting, and expressing feelings
● Voice and expression games
Build:
● Large-mouth “couch cushion sandwich” puppets using felt, foam, fabric, and found materials
● Focus on expressive faces, big mouths, and fun personalities
Skills Developed:
● Coordinating hand and voice
● Expressing character through movement and sound
● Developing personality and humor
Day 4 — Every Puppet Has a Story
Theme: Practice, Play & Story Building
Focus: Storytelling & Performance
Activities:
● Choose favorite puppets from the week
● Learn:
○ How puppets enter and exit a scene
○ How puppets meet each other
○ How to show feelings and actions with movement ● Create short group stories
● Rehearse scenes through guided play
Build:
● Finger puppets
Skills Developed:
● Beginning / middle / end storytelling
● Cooperation and ensemble play
● Puppet stage presence
Day 5 — The Puppet Celebration Theme: Sharing Our Stories
Focus: Performance & Celebration
Activities:
● Final touches on puppets
● Rehearse short scenes
● Informal puppet sharing or mini performance ● Create a gallery of puppets and characters
Closing:
● Celebration of creativity
● Each child goes home with multiple puppets they created
Teaching Philosophy
This program emphasizes:
● Process over perfection
● Imagination over products
● Play as a form of learning
● Confidence, collaboration, and creative courage
About the Instructor
Toni Mikulka-Chang is the founder of ArtJoy and Giant Puppets Save the World. She is a professional puppeteer, teaching artist, and arts educator with over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults. She has studied and worked in puppetry, theater, visual arts, and ceramics, and has taught at museums, community art centers, schools, and festivals throughout California and beyond. Her work blends storytelling, movement, visual art, and imagination into deeply engaging creative experiences. Visit ArtJoy.org to learn more.
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ArtJoy WonderWorks: Puppet & Story Makers is an original program developed by Toni Mikulka-Chang / ArtJoy.
© 2026 ArtJoy / Toni Mikulka-Chang. All rights reserved.
Program name, structure, curriculum, and teaching methodology remain the intellectual property of the creator and are licensed to presenting organizations for the duration of the contracted engagement only.