(PRESS RELEASE) ATLANTA, GA — No matter their age, every child who attends the AJS Kids Jewelry Camp begins an experience designed to plant the seed of entrepreneurship and craftsmanship.
What started in 2018 as the first program of its kind in the jewelry trade show world has now grown into a dynamic, two-tiered journey — giving young creators real skills, real confidence, and a real sense of what it takes to build a brand and a future in the jewelry industry.
This fall, the Atlanta Jewelry Show is proud to debut Kids Jewelry Camp 2.0 and the newly expanded Next GEM Academy (Next Generation Emerging Makers) — two age-specific programs that nurture creativity and business-minded thinking for the makers of tomorrow.
🔹 Kids Jewelry Camp 2.0 (Ages 7–11)
From creative play to purposeful making — it all starts here.
Young campers get hands-on with real tools and materials as they learn to design, build, and personalize their own wearable art.
Why They’ll Love It:
- Learn jewelry basics like metal folding, stamping, and surface texture
- Create multiple finished pieces — not just crafts, but keepsakes
- Hands-on instruction in resin work, bezel setting, wire wrapping, design thinking
- Brainstorm a business name and sketch a logo in their Maker Notebook
- Earn badges and build confidence through doing
“This age group leaves camp saying: Look what I made — and I can’t wait to make more.”
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🔸 Next GEM Academy (Ages 12–17)
For serious young makers with big ideas and bold ambition.
This immersive track empowers teens to refine their jewelry skills while gaining real-world insight into building a brand, running a business, and becoming part of the jewelry community.
What Makes It Different:
- Build a brand concept with pricing, packaging, and social media strategy
- Meet and learn from working jewelers and mentors
- Begin a creative portfolio and track growth in a digital or printed Maker Hub
- Eligible to apply for the Emerging Artist Spotlight table at a future AJS show
- Learn what it takes to join the industry — or one day take over the family business
“We’re not just teaching jewelry. We’re showing them how to turn ideas into impact.”
🎯 Why It Matters — For Families and the Future
AJS Kids Jewelry Camp 2.0 and Next GEM Academy are more than side activities — they’re incubators for creativity, connection, and legacy. While parents and grandparents shop the show, the next generation is discovering how to design, market, and share their work with the world.
“Our goal is simple,” says Libby Brown, Executive Director of the Atlanta Jewelry Show. “We want to inspire a love of the craft, introduce them to the idea of owning or contributing to a business, and hopefully help raise the next generation of jewelers. The passion is already there — we just give it a place to grow.”
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📅 Registration Now Open
The updated AJS Maker Program launches during the Atlanta Jewelry Show, August 23–24, 2025 at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA.
Limited space is available. Register today and spark something lasting.
