Date/Time: June 15 - 26, 2026, 9:00AM to 12:00

Age Range: Rising 9th through 12th grade youth

Unreal Engine Game Design: From Beginner to Game Creator

Level up your game design skills with this two-week intensive course led by expert instructor Stephan Duga! This program caters to both beginners and those with some prior experience.

Week 1 (Beginner): Start with the basics, learning the Unreal Engine interface, creating 3D environments, designing characters, and implementing fundamental gameplay mechanics. No prior experience is needed!

Week 2 (Advanced): Build upon your new skills and delve deeper into advanced game development concepts. Explore topics like level design, scripting with Blueprints (Unreal Engine's visual scripting system), creating and importing assets, and more complex gameplay mechanics. This week will challenge you to take your game design to the next level and create more polished and engaging experiences. Some familiarity with Unreal Engine or other game development tools is recommended, but not required. Students who complete the beginner week are well-prepared for the advanced content.


INSTRUCTOR:
Stephan Duga is an educator who's been on a Latin-teaching journey for most of his career. A few years ago, he took a detour into Creative Media and Game Design, something he's been tinkering with since he was a kid. He's passionate about understanding how we learn and using the way we learn to play to enhance education. He firmly believes that game design should be open to everyone, and the more diverse minds we have shaping games, the cooler they become.

There’s a moment when a beat drops, a lyric lands, or a camera catches something honest and electric.

This camp lives in that moment.This summer, step inside a professional recording studio in Downtown Winston-Salem and learn the art and science behind audio recording, video production, songwriting, and digital content creation.

Mixxer is partnering with Bill Stevens and Ovation Sound to offer an immersive, hands-on experience led by Grammy-nominated professionals who’ve worked in the rooms where real records are made.

Campers won’t just talk about creativity. They’ll press record.

What Students Will Learn 
 - Studio signal flow and microphone techniques
 - Recording vocals and instruments
 - Beat production and basic music arrangement
 - Songwriting structure and lyric development
 - Video capture and editing fundamentals
 - Content creation for today’s digital platforms

From tracking vocals in a sound booth to building a song from scratch, students will experience the full creative process from idea to final product.

Instructor: Bill Stevens was born at a very early age to a musical family – father, James William Stevens, is a composer; mother, Carolyn Dorff, a singer of opera and musical theater; and sister, Becca Stevens, is a well known performer and composer.

He studied guitar at Berklee College of Music, composition with Ken Frazelle at the North Carolina School of the Arts and Music Business, focusing in the Recording Arts and minoring in Portuguese at Winston-Salem State University. While at WSSU he won the concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 466. He recently earned an MFA in composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he studied music composition with Tamar Diesendruck, John Mallia, and Roger Zahab.

In 2007, he joined forces with Evan Richey and Ovation Sound and since has been involved in numerous projects in various ways – as producer, engineer, composer, arranger, performer, and educator. He has produced records in a plethora of genres: classical, jazz, gospel, R&B, bluegrass, heavy metal, folk, Americana, rock, and musical theater. His favorite project is the project he is working on right now. No session is too big or too small.

Date/Time: June 22-26, 2026; 9AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: For rising 9th-12th graders

Discover the intricate balance of skill and artistry in welding. This comprehensive course, led by Mixxer Resident Artist Thaddeus Prevette, offers an introduction into the world of welding techniques and creative expression. The best part is - No Experience is Needed!

Over the five-day session, you'll gain hands-on experience with Arc Welding. Learn how to safely operate welding equipment, understand different metals and their properties, and master essential welding techniques like joint preparation, heat control, and puddle manipulation.

Beyond technical proficiency, this course introduces students to the artistic side of welding. Explore the possibilities of creating unique and visually stunning metalwork. Thaddeus will guide you through design concepts, project planning, and finishing techniques to help you bring your ideas to life.

This course is the perfect opportunity to ignite your creativity and forge your path in the world of metalworking. 

Instructor Bio: Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies. 

Date/Time: June 22 - 26, 2026; 9AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: Rising 6th through 12th Grade youth

Discover the art of sustainable fashion and learn how to upcycle existing garments into unique and stylish pieces. This course will teach you the techniques of deconstruction, reconstruction, and alteration to create one-of-a-kind clothing items.

You'll learn to:

• Deconstruct garments into usable materials
• Design and pattern-making techniques
• Sewing and stitching techniques
• Textile manipulation and embellishment
• Upcycling techniques like refashioning and repurposing

By the end of the course, you'll have the skills to transform old clothes into new, stylish pieces, reducing waste and expressing your individuality through sustainable fashion.All tools and materials will be provided, and lunch will be included.

Instructor Bio: Savannah Shanley (she/her) joined the Mixxer staff as Events Manager in May of 2023 after graduating from Salem College. She loves all kinds of creative mediums including painting and printmaking but her biggest passion is the art of quiltmaking and fiber arts. She loves helping others to learn and share their creativity with the world. Stop by to say hello whenever you're at Mixxer!

Date/Time: July 6-10, 2026, 9:00AM to 12:00

Age Range: Rising 9th through 12th grade youth

Unleash your inner blacksmith at our week-long Summer Blacksmithing Camp.

Get hands-on with fire and steel as you master the fundamentals of forging, bending, twisting, and shaping metal into unique creations. Under expert guidance, you’ll learn proper techniques and tool functions, gaining the skills to turn raw metal into art. You’ll primarily work with gas-fired forges but also get the chance to experience the raw, old-school power of wood and coal-fired forges. Each day brings new challenges, from crafting functional items to experimenting with decorative twists and designs. Whether you’re a future artisan or just ready to try something awesome, this camp is your forge for creativity and confidence. Grab your gloves—it’s time to heat things up!

Instructor Bio: Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies.

Date/Time: June 8 - June 12, 2026; 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: This course is for rising 6th -12th grade youth

Step into the world of metalworking with a modern twist. In this hands-on class, students will learn how to create custom jewelry using base metal clay—a unique material that can be shaped like clay and transformed into solid metal through heat.

Working with experienced instruction, participants will explore the full process from start to finish. Students will learn how to form, texture, carve, and refine their designs while the material is in its clay state. They’ll also be introduced to essential tools and techniques used in jewelry making, including shaping, detailing, sanding, and finishing.

As the clay is fired, designs are transformed into durable metal pieces. Students will then complete the finishing process by polishing and assembling their jewelry into wearable art.

Throughout the class, participants will build foundational jewelry-making skills while gaining an understanding of how material properties, design choices, and craftsmanship come together.

By the end of the session, each student will walk away with one or more unique, handcrafted metal jewelry pieces—and the skills to continue exploring the art of jewelry making.

Instructor Bio: Bonnie Toney’s passion has been creating beautiful things since she was first able to hold a pencil and paintbrush. She got interested in gems and jewelry in elementary school, and sold her first pair of earrings at age 11. A lifelong learner with diverse interests, Bonnie has pursued many types of artistic expression, and it’s not unusual to find several different disciplines contributing to a single piece. Bonnie ran a successful facepainting business for 20 years, in addition to teaching, creating her own art, and raising a family.   A move to North Carolina in 2013 gave Bonnie the chance to spread her wings artistically, pursuing both traditional metalsmithing and metal clay with vigor. She is currently an instructor at Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston-Salem and has taught students of all ages at various venues in the Piedmont Triad. Her work is available at multiple locations in the area, including the Sawtooth Gallery in Winston-Salem, the Southwinds Gallery in Kernersville, and the GreenHill Center for NC Art Gallery in Greensboro. Bonnie was the Featured Artist in the Summer 2024 issue of Metal Clay Today. She is also an enthusiastic participant and exhibitor in the Arts & Health at Duke program. Follow Bonnie on social media to see more of her work and her techniques.   “I find inspiration in nature, and in artistic traditions like Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement. Elegance of line speaks to me, and I find the interplay of light and color fascinating. I find joy in the creative process, and I love to help others find their joy.”

Date/Time: July 6 - July 10, 2026; 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: This course is for rising 9th -12th grade youth

Turn raw branches into functional works of art. In this hands-on class, students will explore the unique craft of stick furniture—designing and building one-of-a-kind pieces using natural wood materials.

Participants will learn how to transform sticks, शाखes, and reclaimed wood into structurally sound furniture while developing core woodworking and design skills. The class will cover essential techniques such as selecting and preparing materials, cutting, joining, shaping, and assembling organic forms.

Students will also dive into key design concepts like balance, stability, proportion, and form, learning how to work with the natural shapes of the wood rather than against them. Along the way, they’ll gain experience using a variety of hand and shop tools in a safe, supportive environment.

By the end of the class, each student will complete a small piece of stick furniture—such as a stool, chair, or decorative structure—combining craftsmanship, creativity, and natural materials into something truly unique.

Build it from the ground up—literally

Instructor: Brandon York

Date/Time: July 13 - July 17, 2026; 9:00AM - 12:00PM.

Age Range: Rising 6th through 10th Grade youth

This hands-on robotics course teaches students the essential skills needed to imagine, design, build, and program functional robots. Participants will learn the core principles that support all branches of robotics—from industrial automation to creative engineering to competitive battle bots.

Throughout the program, students will:

Learn the fundamentals of robot design and structural planning

Practice coding and sensor integration using beginner-friendly tools

Build, test, and refine their own robot through guided challenges

Explore pathways into different robotics fields and competitions

Every participant will leave with their own working robot, along with the foundational knowledge needed to continue into more advanced robotics, engineering, or competitive programs.