Kids can get their summer off to a creative start at the Summer Clay Camp at STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise in Star.

The pottery camp for youth 8 to 11 years old will take place June 20-24, from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.

"We have had a lot of requests to conduct a camp like this because pottery is such a popular traditional art of this region," says instructor Hitomi Shibata. "We have designed the camp to give kids a real hands-on potter's experience."

Shibata is a seasoned instructor of youth. She has a master's degree in education, fine arts and crafts and has recently completed the residency program at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove.

During the one-week session, she will instruct students on basic pottery making, and everyone will create a variety of functional ceramic pots.

"We will also have two guest artists from the Seagrove area come in to conduct demonstrations and talk about how they developed their individual styles," Shibata says.

Each day's instruction will build their skills, culminating on Friday with the creation of their final project. Over the three weeks following the camp, the students' work will be fired, and their work will be put on display at STARworks Ceramics, along with a photo display that will highlight activities at the camp.

Then on July 15, STARworks Ceramics will host an artist exhibition so the young potters can show off their work to family and friends.

The fee for the full week, including materials and snacks, is $75, payable at time of registration.

Children are asked to bring an apron, if they have one, and a hand towel. Snacks will be served during the afternoon break.

To register for the camp, visit STARworks at 100 Russell Drive in Star or download a registration form from the website www.starworksnc.org. To learn more, call (910) 428-9001. Space is limited and the deadline for registration is June 8.

STARworks receives support from the Montgomery County Community Foundation for this program.