Welcome to the Creature Academy
LEARN ABOUT OUR 25/26 Theme
In another dimension, there's a place where creatures are trained to use their special gifts…
ABOUT THE CREATURE ACADEMY
The academy is cooperative school nestled deep within the enchanted wilds, our students are not mere pupils. Each member of our learning community shares in: cooking, cleaning, teaching, tending to the gardens, and maintaining the grounds. At Creature Academy, we cultivate the values of creativity, kindness, discipline, and mutual respect.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
In 2024–2025, Art Camp 504’s Stardust Krewe embarked on an intergalactic journey to free the Zanzibraxians from the wrath of IGRAC — the most ruthless realtors in the galaxy.
Long story short: our camp counselor, Ziggy Stardust, isn’t just any counselor — he’s a legendary rock star from Planet Zanzibrax. His band, the Kings of Karnage, played music so powerful it kept the evil realtors at bay. When Ziggy traveled to Earth for hip surgery, he got a job at Art Camp 504 and started a new band, Freddie & the Chins. In his absence, IGRAC began wreaking havoc on Zanzibrax, unopposed without the music of the Kings of Karnage.
To free the Zanzibraxians, the Stardust Krewe built a spaceship and blasted off with Ziggy, Freddie & the Chins, and all the kids for an epic reunion show. The concert was an intergalactic success — they banished IGRAC once and for all!
…or did they?
✨ Discover the full saga HERE.
THROUGH THE COSMIC POND
Everyone knows that Princess Supernova loves sipping from puddles and ponds. And even through she loves cheering on her friends, the Kings of Karnage’s music can be a bit too loud and thrashy for her delicate little ears.
So, as the band began their final songs, Princess Supernova decided to take a quiet stroll. She wandered along the edge of the venue and, to her delight, discovered an especially inviting pond. Feeling quite thirsty, she leaned in for a sip—and suddenly fell straight through!
In an instant, she was blasted through a shimmering portal and tumbled into an enchanted forest. It was breathtaking—giant glowing flowers, curious creatures, and a soft sparkle drifting through the air. “I have to go back and tell the others!”
Behind her shimmered the same pond. She hopped right in and was back at the concert venue, where everyone was celebrating—the realtors had been defeated!
“Hey everyone!” she called out. “Follow me! I found something incredible!”
The entire Stardust Krewe—plus Freddie and the Chins—followed Princess Supernova to the pond. One by one, they hopped in and vanished into the magic beyond.
THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOUR IDEAS!
We would also like to acknowledge the other excellent theme submissions we received from Penn, Florence and Elodie. Each of them have ideas we love that we hope to implement in future projects!
Penn - Prehistoric Ocean Monsters
There are so many crazy ocean monsters to learn about, draw and make out of materials and junk (recycled stuff).
PROJECT IDEAS: Make a deep sea diver costume for Ziggy, Ocean Diorama, Making fish monster crafts, Make a short film about a diver going into the ocean and seeing prehistoric monster fish
HOUSE FLOAT DESIGN: The house float should have a Tullimonstrum on top and normal ocean animals inside.
FLORENCE - The arctic circle
Snowy, very wintery, with polar bears, penguins and maybe some Christmas vibes
PROJECT IDEAS: Ginger bread men, Winter themed clothing, Cute costumes, Arctic themed display
HOUSE FLOAT DESIGN: Some fake snow and pine trees, lots of icicles and little polar bears, and penguins and other arctic and cold weather animals
ELODIE - WACKY SHACK
This Wacky Shack theme is a really fun, weird, funky but cool collaboration made mainly from repurposed art projects from previous themes. It would reflect on New Orleans, its wacky people, and our creative traditions because we should embrace our passions and talents while sharing them as well! Inside the Tigermen Den, we will transform the normal building into an amazing experience for people of all ages. Instead of an ordinary Wacky Shack, this one will have an art camp 504 twist.
PROJECT IDEAS: Distortion mirrors, interactive art work, colorful, eye-catching decorations, artistic performances, art camp 504 merch, etc.
HOUSE FLOAT DESIGN: Lots of mirrors, some distorting, reflecting on more colorful objects. Interactive buttons, switches, and carnival- like decorations that one might find in a Wacky Shack.
- House Float Design by Penn, "The Arctic Circle"