If your 5th through 8th grader has an eye for a good photo (or just loves messing around with a camera), The Weston Collective has an opportunity worth putting on your calendar. The nonprofit’s Community Youth Photography Program is back for the 2026/2027 school year, and it’s completely free for Monterey County families.
What the Program Offers
Held Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at The Weston Collective’s studio in Seaside, the program gives students in grades 5 through 8 a hands-on introduction to photography — both digital and darkroom. Kids learn to operate digital cameras, compose and edit their shots, and then take a step back in time to shoot and develop film in a real darkroom, a rare experience for a generation that’s grown up entirely with smartphones.
No experience and no equipment are required. The Weston Collective provides everything, and instruction is designed to welcome beginners and more experienced young photographers alike.
High schoolers looking for volunteer hours also have an option here: the program welcomes teens to serve as mentor assistants, which is a nice way to build a resume while giving back.
Dates and Details
The 2026/2027 session runs from Thursday, August 20 (first day) through Thursday, June 3 (last day), meeting most Thursdays throughout the school year (with breaks around the holidays). The full class calendar is posted on the program’s website, so families can plan around vacations and other after-school commitments.
The program is funded by the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, which is what allows The Weston Collective to keep tuition free and equipment provided at no cost to families.
How to Register
Enrollment opens in the fall. Families can register — in English or Spanish — through The Weston Collective’s website:
👉 Register for the ’26/’27 School Year
For more program details, visit thewestoncollective.org/community-youth.
About The Weston Collective
Based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, The Weston Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to keeping the legacy of photography alive throughout the Monterey Peninsula, with school partnerships that include Martin Luther King Jr. School of the Arts, The Dual Language Academy, Monte Vista Elementary, San Juan School, and Aromas School.
Questions can be directed to The Weston Collective at inspire@thewestoncollective.org or (831) 233-2100.
Photography opens up a whole different way of seeing the world for kids — and a free, supportive, local program like this one is a great way for Monterey County parents to help a curious kid discover a new creative outlet.
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