The Charles River Creative Arts Program (CRCAP), the summer day program of the Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts, was founded in 1970 to provide an environment in which young people could pursue and develop an interest in the arts.



Students pick their own schedule from a wide range of classes in the visual and performing arts as well as sports and writing. At CRCAP, young people can pursue current interests or investigate new areas of endeavor. We offer two four-week sessions for children ages 8 to 15.

Approximately 550 students from around the state, ages 8 to 15, enroll in the program each year. The summer is split into two four-week sessions attended by 275 participants each.The program offers over 130 courses in art, dance, drama, gymnastics, music, video production, writing, photography, textiles, sports and other fields. Participants choose their own schedule.From 1974 to 1980 CRCAP received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, designating CRCAP as a nation-wide model for multi-arts programs.



Programs based on the CRCAP model have been established in 20 states, including six other programs in Massachusetts. CRCAP-inspired programs have also been initiated in Geneva, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.Guest artists to the program have included William Wegman, James Taylor, Madeleine l'Engle, Tracy Chapman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Noel Stookey, William Hurt, Israel Horovitz, Jane Alexander, Yo Yo Ma, Liz Swados, John Hockenberry, and Julie Harris.