NZ SUMMER 2024
This summer join us for six weeks of free, open, drop-in programming July 1-August 8. Teens are welcome daily, Monday- Thursday from 3:30 - 6 PM. Come every day, join for a few weeks, or just attend on the days you want.
NOTE: There are no programs on Thurs, July 4th
New to NZ? (or not) Make sure you don’t miss the BBQ Kickoff on June 28, 3-6 PM (with optional parent /staff meet and greet from 3-4 PM).
ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE. Please complete the registration form linked below to participate. Programs are for high-school-aged teens (entering grades 9-12 in fall 2024). Please register online in advance, however, teens can always register on-site when they get here.
If you’re in a position to do so, we welcome donations to help keep our programs accessible to everyone: donate here.
Questions? Contact Hananiah Wiggins, hananiah@neutral-zone.org, or 734-214-9995.
Summer Programs by the Week
Each week Monday-Wednesday offers a daily drop-in space, healthy snacks, and three activity options that include featured artists. On Thursdays, we host a community activity engaging everyone. We welcome new youth at any time throughout the summer, all levels of experience are welcome.
Week 1: July 1-3
(NOTE: No programs Thurs, July 4)
Music & Singing with Featured Artist Dani Darling
Learn vocal technique, practice harmony, and find your range:
-The voice as an instrument. Basics of solfege, warm up, and finding your range.
-Songs & Harmony. We'll group up and work on fine-tuning our ears to harmonize and then work on individual songs.
-Performance fundamentals, opportunity to sing (in group or solo).
Trading Card Camp: Enjoy a relaxing artistic activity along with staff supporting a conversation on mental health.
Kitchen Savvy: Make a little food and have a lot of fun with staff each week with a new recipe and/or cooking technique.
Thursday - NO PROGRAM (JULY 4th)
Week 2: July 8-11
In Defense of Self with Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt Daniel Bigham
Join Daniel for lessons in Self-Defense. Learn practical self-defense habits, while creating a holistic mindset. Each day builds upon the last:
-What is self-defense
-Self-Defense habits
-Building self-defense skills
Social Media: Transform yourself into a social media expert! Learn content creation tips and tricks to take your digital presence to the next level!
Kitchen Savvy: Make a little food and have a lot of fun with staff each week with a new recipe and/or cooking technique.
Thursday Feature
UMMA Field Trip: Walk over to the University of Michigan Musem of Art and explore art exhibits together.
Week 3: July 15-18
Creature Costumes with Featured Artist Trevor Stone
Use cardboard, duct tape, zip ties, paint, and more to create creature costumes to roam downtown town with. Learn about sculpture and performance art, and become a strange spectacle for the public.
Artist website for We Draw Together
Creative Writing: Explore in a small series of workshops focused on exploring what makes your world (and yourself) special while engaging in active, low-stakes, writing exercises! (poetry, drama, prose all welcome and encouraged!)
Kitchen Savvy: Make a little food and have a lot of fun with staff each week with a new recipe and/or cooking technique.
Thursday Feature
Ann Arbor Art Fair: We are not purchasing art, but exploring the area as a group!
Week 4: July 22-25
Studio & Recording with Featured Artist Clay Conley
Learn the basics of a music-recording studio. NZ provides electronic music workstations for beat making and recording arts featuring Maschine, Reason, Garageband, Logic Pro and ProTools software, and a full recording studio.
Featured workshops include music recording, mixing, and editing, as well as ample time for music creation and collaboration with other artists. No experience necessary!
Astrology: Astrology is known as a “pseudoscience” but it wasn't always that way. Learn how Astrology began and more about what the planets mean to you. Create a birth chart and unlock a piece of your universe.
Kitchen Savvy: Make a little food and have a lot of fun with staff each week with a new recipe and/or cooking technique.
Thursday Feature
Movie Day: Teens can help select the features and we’ll flip on the popcorn machine!
Week 5: July 29-Aug 1
Music Mayhem with Featured Artist Ki5
Join local performer Ki5 for songwriting, looping, music production, and performance development. No experience necessary; all levels welcome.
Tie Dye: Summer is the best time to tie dye! We’ll provide blank t-shirts, socks and more - or bring your own.
Kitchen Savvy: Make a little food and have a lot of fun with staff each week with a new recipe and/or cooking technique.
Thursday Feature
Hands-on Museum Field Trip: Walk over to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and explore the exhibits together.
Week 6: Aug 5 - 8
Summer Finale Week
Tie Dye: Summer is the best time to tie dye! Bring some color to shirts, socks, and more.
Karaoke: Sing your heart out for the last week of summer.
Table Tennis: Flex your ping pong skills, learn more about proper playing etiquette or just have some fun.
Thursday Feature - Aug 7th
Summer Mini Showcase & BBQ
Time to show off all the cool stuff that we did during the summer! Whether you learned at Neutral Zone or not, we want to see your talents and celebrate your skills.
3 PM- 4:30 Teen BBQ
4:30 - 5 PM Mini Showcase for Family & Friends
Hang out at the BBQ from 3-4:30, and invite your parents/ guardians/ caregivers/ siblings grandparents or other guests at 4:30 to join in as teens share, perform or demonstrate some of the things we did this summer.
Donate to Support Free NZ Summer Programs for All Youth
Our commitment is to support free, no cost programming to ensure all youth have access to high quality programming where they know that they belong and matter. Please consider a donation this summer.
Thank you, Sponsors!
Thank you to our many local donors as well as DTE Energy Foundation, Michigan Arts and Cultural Council, and National Endowment for the Arts for supporting summer programs at NZ!
