Katy Perry's arts camp has reached nearly 1,000 kids; permanent site planned

For some children, summer camp is a few days away from home. For others, it can be the first place where creativity feels like a possibility rather than a privilege. That idea has shaped Camp Firework, an arts-focused summer programme created by Katy Perry and her sister Angela Lerche to give underserved children in California a space to explore, connect and discover their potential. What began in 2019 has now grown into a wider initiative, with nearly 1,000 middle school students attending 12 camps over seven years, states a recent report by KEYT News Channel. A camp built around creativity Organised through the Firework Foundation, co-founded by Perry and Lerche, Camp Firework brings together children from North and South Santa Barbara County for a three-day residential experience, states the online report. The latest session, held during the summer of 2026, welcomed more than 85 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 13. The programme blends creative pursuits with outdoor activities, giving campers the chance to experience music, dance, hiking, archery and other experiences away from their everyday surroundings. Rather than focusing solely on traditional classroom learning, the camp places the arts at the centre of personal development. Creativity becomes a way for children to build confidence, form friendships and imagine possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances, adds the report. Reaching children who need it most According to the official website, Camp Firework works with community organisations to identify and refer children who may not otherwise have access to experiences of this kind. Its partners include Girls Inc, the Housing Authority, Boys & Girls Club of Goleta, Boys & Girls Club of Lompoc and the Lompoc Teen Center. Over the years, the programme has become more than a summer camp. As some of its earliest participants have grown older, the foundation has begun looking at ways to maintain those relationships and provide support beyond the three-day experience, adds the online report. The next phase includes mentorship, leadership development and opportunities designed to help young people navigate high school and prepare for life beyond it, claims the report. Looking beyond the summer camp That longer-term vision is now taking shape through Gratitude Canyon, a proposed permanent home for Camp Firework in an unincorporated area of Goleta Valley. The planned site could give the programme a lasting base from which to expand its work and create more opportunities for young people in the region, states the report as well. Seven years after its first camp, the Firework Foundation is looking beyond a single summer experience. Its growing ambition is to build a sustained ecosystem where creativity, mentorship and opportunity can continue to support children as they grow into young adults. Images Courtesy: What's Trending