Cartoon Camp After School is Upchuckle Education's premier program for young artists and creators in and around Barrie, ON

Turn Screen Time Into Skill Time


Weekly After School Training for Inspiring Creative Growth (and FUN!) For Ages 7-13

Seats are limited!

Upchuckle Education is the 2025 Canadian Choice Award Winner for Best Art School in Barrie, ON

“Best Art School in Barrie”

Visit Our Other Cartoon Camp Programs:

Upchuckle Education in Barrie, ON has 20+ Years of Award-Winning Professional Animation Industry and Post-Secondary Leadership Experience

20+ Years of Award-Winning Professional Animation Industry and Post-Secondary Leadership Experience.

Upchuckle Education in Barrie, ON was voted “Best Art School in Barrie” & “Business Champion” 2025

Voted “Best Art School in Barrie” & “Business Champion” in 2025.

Upchuckle Education in Barrie, ON is trusted by Students, Families and Community Partners and a safe, supportive and inspiring safe space for all.

A safe, inspiring and supportive space for all. Sibling Discount: 10% off the 2nd seat to the same month.

Every Cartoon Camp at Upchuckle Education in Barrie, ON includes all traditional materials

1 light snack, a juicebox and all traditional art materials included with each session.

Fun & supportive mentorship at the “Best Art School in Barrie” (2025)

Upchuckle Education provides confidence to children. The photo is of a happy boy, proudly holding his art work at Cartoon Camp

When: Every school-day Wednesday from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.

🎨 For Who: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.

✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided with each class—just bring your imagination!

🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group learning environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning animation industry veteran and educator.

👫 Sibling Savings: Automatically save 10% on your second seat when siblings enroll for the same month.

👍 Flexibility: Enroll for each individual month or SAVE by joining us for the full term.

(3:45 - 4:00pm is flex arrival with fun creative time!)

Have Questions?

PLEASE NOTE: Upchuckle Education is strictly a NUT-FREE space. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe & healthy.

FALL 2026 TERM

• Held every school-day Wednesday from 3:45 - 6pm

• 1 juicebox and 1 light snack included with each class

• Sibling discount: 10% off your 2nd seat to the same month (Ultimate Creator Pass excluded)

Bundle the FULL TERM & GET 1 CLASS FREE + $14 BONUS SAVINGS!—Make it an EPIC creative Fall! This deal’s gone on Sept 4th!

(Student Work)

September:

Flipbook Animation

4 Wednesdays:

Sept 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th

Animation is about so much more than just moving drawings. It’s about drawings that move audiences, and this month, your child will learn that skill and discover that joy.

(Click + below to learn more).

4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:

$169

(Less than $20/hr!)

After School (September): Flipbook Animation
CA$169.00

9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!

Animation is about so much more than just moving drawings. It’s about drawings that move audiences, and this month, your child will learn that skill and discover that joy.

  • The Goal: We start simply with a two-pose exercise to build an understanding of the foundation of movement. From there, your child will dive into the physics of motion by tackling the "Bouncing Ball"—the essential exercise for understanding weight and timing that all pro animators start with. They’ll learn how to use squash and stretch to give their drawings a sense of reality and weight.

  • Mini Final Project: Students will design and animate their own straight-ahead story flipbook. Whether your creative child chooses to animate something silly, an action scene, or something abstract—we’ll be here to support them through every page of their journey. You’ll also receive a video of their finished animation after our month wraps up!

THE LOGISTICS

  • ⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on September 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.

  • 🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.

  • ✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!

  • 🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.

  • 👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!

  • 👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month

View our FAQ HERE

Enrollment closes:

Friday, Sept 4th @ 9am

ENROLL FOR THIS MONSTER-FILLED MONTH AND GET AN EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT ON OUR VERY SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CARTOON CAMP!

October:

Monster Mash Month

Upchuckle Education Cartoon Camp After School Program for October is Monster mash Month. The image is a cartoon drawing of a werewolf illuminated by the red full moon.

4 Wednesdays:

Oct 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

Get ready for a month of imagination & learning to create monsters, ghouls & goblins that will be so much fun it’s spooky! PLUS get a discount on our HALLOWEEN CARTOON CAMP with costumes, prizes, pizza & art for kids who aren’t able to Trick-Or-Treat!

(Click + below to learn more).

4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:

$169

(Less than $20/hr!)

After School (October): Monster Mash
CA$169.00

9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!

Get ready for a month of imagination & learning to create monsters, ghouls & goblins that will be so much fun it’s spooky!

  • The Goal: We focus on building memorable creatures using the core principles of character design and dynamic composition. Your artist will learn how to express their spookiest imaginings while mastering pro tricks for giving non-human characters wildly expressive personalities.

  • Mini Final Project: Move over Hollywood! Students will design, compose, and color their own Retro Monster Movie Poster. They’ll invent a giant cinematic beast interacting with a "hero" character escaping the chaos, script their own suspenseful taglines, and learn stylized hand-drawn typography to create a custom masterpiece they'll be proud to hang on their wall!

  • The HALLOWEEN BONUS: Enrolling in this after-school month automatically hooks you up with an exclusive $20 discount for our special Halloween Cartoon Camp on Saturday, October 24th! More details on that Cartoon Camp are coming soon!

THE LOGISTICS

  • ⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.

  • 🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.

  • ✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!

  • 🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.

  • 👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!

  • 👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month

View our FAQ HERE

Enrollment closes:

Friday, Oct 2nd @ 9am

November:

Sculpting Expressive Characters

Upchuckle Education Cartoon Camp After School Program for November is Sculpting Expressive Characters. The image is a clay sculpture of a happy looking octopus-like muppet character

4 Wednesdays:

Nov 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th

This month, we're giving our pencils a break as we step into the third dimension! Your young artist will discover the tactile magic of plasticine modeling, learning how to mold raw material into highly animated, freestanding figures that practically jump to life.

(Click + below to learn more).

4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:

$169

(Less than $20/hr!)

After School (November): Sculpting Expressive Characters
CA$169.00

9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!

This month, we're giving our pencils a break as we step into the third dimension! Your young artist will discover the tactile magic of plasticine modeling, learning how to mold raw material into highly animated, freestanding figures that practically jump to life.

  • The Goal: We dive into the physical mechanics of modeling. Your artist will practice structural balance and weight distribution, learning how to build sturdy, dynamic figures that stand perfectly on their own without slouching or breaking. We will focus heavily on sculpting personality into the medium—molding distinct facial structures, storytelling eyes, and custom textures whether clothing folds, warty flesh, or wild hairstyles.

  • Mini Final Project: Straight from the pipelines of professional animation studios, students will design and sculpt their own Signature Character Maquette. They will construct a wire armature (the internal skeleton), block out the primary masses, and refine the surface with specialized tools. Your child will walk away with a solid, custom-built character model born entirely from their own imagination.

THE LOGISTICS

  • ⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on November 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.

  • 🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.

  • ✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!

  • 🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.

  • 👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!

  • 👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month

View our FAQ HERE

Enrollment closes:

Friday, Oct 30th @ 9am

December:

Animated Video Christmas Cards

(Just a fun Christmas image we created—not the class project!)

3 Wednesdays:

Dec 2nd, 9th & 16th

Give the gift of animation this Christmas! Your child will have a blast creating a hand-drawn flipbook card that literally moves family and friends. It will be filmed and sent to you in time to give the recipient.

(Click + below to learn more).

3 Wednesdays (6.75hrs) For:

$129

(Less than $20/hr!)

After School (December): Animated Video Christmas Cards
CA$129.00

6.75 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!

Give the gift of animation this Christmas! Your child will have a blast creating a hand-drawn flipbook card that literally moves family and friends. It will be filmed and sent to you in time to give the recipient.

  • The Goal: We focus on the simple mechanics of making drawings look alive. Before starting on their cards, students will brainstorm different ideas and then practice the basics of timing—learning how small changes from page to page create the illusion of motion, giving them the tools to tell any holiday story or sequence they imagine.

    Mini Final Project: The Animated Christmas Flip-Card. Students will bring their own festive idea to life, sketching and binding a working flipbook card. We will film the final product and email the video to you before the break. Whether the recipient lives in the same house or on the other side of the world—it’s a truly unique, personal, and memorable gift.

THE LOGISTICS

  • ⏰ When: 3 Wednesdays on December 2nd, 9th, and 16th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.

  • 🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.

  • ✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!

  • 🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.

  • 👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!

  • 👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month

View our FAQ HERE

Enrollment closes:

Friday, Nov 27th @ 9am

  • Limited seats (Max 12 per Month)

  • Children must be enrolled by their own parent/legal guardian.

  • All prices are subject to HST.

Your After School Leaders

Award-Winning Animation Professional and Educator, Brad Ferguson is Upchuckle Education's Cartoon Camp After School Program's Lead Instructor in Barrie, ON

BRAD FERGUSON

Brad is a professional artist, animator, storyboard artist, director and showrunner with over 20 years of award-winning industry experience.

As the Founder and Director of Upchuckle Education, he draws on his extensive background as a former Post-Secondary Animation Instructor, Coordinator and 4-year Animation Diploma Program Director to provide high-level mentorship and support to every student.

Some Studios & Networks Brad has worked with:

Upchuckle Education-Clients Your Instructor, Brad Ferguson has worked with
Cartoon Camp After School Assistant, Emily-Mae Van Der Ster is passionate about art and supporting children. Check out Upchuckle Education in Barrie, ON

Emily-Mae Van Der Ster

Discovering her own creative spark as a young child greatly contributed to Emily-Mae's appreciation of the profound and positive impact creative expression has on people.

With a background that includes experience in early childhood education and social work, inspiring and encouraging the unique minds of children is her passion. Artistically, Emily-Mae enjoys working across both digital and physical media, exploring everything from drawing and colouring to clay sculpture and storytelling. Emily-Mae is a welcomed addition to the Upchuckle team.

Your After School Questions, Answered

(Click your question from the list to see the answer)