Growing Outdoors at Brookside Elementary
Fall Trimester Continues!
(Winter Trimester Registration is Coming Soon!)
Fall Trimester Registration Closed August 27th
Fall Trimester Exploratory descriptions are listed below
- Fall Trimester Exploratories will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd.
- Exploratories will meet 5-9 times, depending on the day of the week and the grade level.
- Exploratories take place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week.
- Exploratories are divided into three age groups: Kindergarten, First-Third Grade, and Fourth-Fifth Grade.
- There is an additional $25 “Facility Use Fee” per exploratory. This helps Growing Outdoors pay for the “rent” that OPUSD charges to run our program on campus.
- Registration must be completed and submitted online.
- Any late registrations are at the discretion of the Growing Outdoors Director based on enrollment and staffing. All late registrations will be charged an additional fee of $25 per exploratory.
*Please note that these are the exploratories being offered for the Fall Trimester (September 2 – November 13).
Click to View Your Registration For:
Kindergarten Exploratories: Fall Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
GO Art! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier
Join us as we explore the colorful universe of art techniques, mediums, & history! Students will dabble in watercolors, pastels, charcoal and more while engaging with their inner artist and utilizing challenging techniques including perspectives, blending, and proportions. This exploratory will focus on the many disciplines of the practice of art, such as patience with the process, working independently, sharing art experiences, and encouraging art and creation in others.
Cost: $150 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 13; November 10 (No Class: October 6, 20, 27; November 3)
GO Chess! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm
Our exploratory classes help a child become more creative, discover patterns, calculation, critical thinking and strategy through the game of chess!
Cost: $155 (5 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 14 (No Class: September 23; October 7, 21, 28; November 4, 11)
Young Ninjas: Patient Spider! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier!
For eons, people of the world recoiled in fear at the sight of a spider. But the truth is, a spider’s greatest skill is its patience. To earn your YELLOW headband, you must display great PATIENCE, just like a spider.
Young Ninjas is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental martial arts elements, like blocks, kicks, strikes, and the all-important KI-YAH! Through skill training, fun games, creative challenges, and Pad work on foam targets, children develop self-confidence and learn to enjoy being physically active in a non-contact setting. KI-YAH!
Cost: $220 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 9, 30; November 6)
1st – 3rd Grade Exploratories: Fall Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Coding & Game Design! – 2:40pm – 4:00pm – Click here to view flier
*This is an 80 minute exploratory!
Instead of burning out on repetitive coding puzzles, Lando coding students design multiple mini-games each class—blending creativity and fun while mastering sequencing, variables, conditionals, and events. From maze racers to platformers, every class has challenges that adapt to each child’s pace and skill level. After class, parents get links to creations so kids can show off or keep building at home.
Cost: $225 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13; November 10 (No Class: October 20, 27; November 3)
GO Chess! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm
Our exploratory classes help a child become more creative, discover patterns, calculation, critical thinking and strategy through the game of chess!
Cost: $180 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 7, 14 (No Class: September 23; October 21, 28; November 4, 11)
~ or ~
Woodworking – Porch Swing Project! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Join us this fall for woodworking where we will learn how to cut and assemble your very own mini wooden porch swing! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this hands-on project welcomes all students to create and modify their own unique versions to take home. Our trained instructors will teach you how to saw, glue, sand, and more to be able to complete the project using the skills you learn. At the end of the session, you will add your own touches to your project, so it stands out in your home with your family!
Cost: $180 + $45 materials fee (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 7, 14 (No Class: September 23; October 21, 28; November 4, 11)
GO Engineering! – 1:05pm – 2:05pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Get ready to build, design and discover in this hands-on engineering class! Each week, young engineers will tackle exciting challenges using real-world problem-solving skills. From building bridges and designing rollercoasters, students will learn how things work – and how to make them better!
Cost: $235 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)
*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:05.
~or~
Glass Art Fusion! – 1:10pm – 2:10pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Growing Outdoors and Fire Glass Studio are proud to offer a unique art enrichment program! In this class, participants will discover the amazing world of fused-glass and mixed-media. Each student will create beautiful projects such as candle holders, holiday ornaments, small dishes, suncatchers, and much more. Come learn how to cut, shape, and form glass to make amazing artworks out of glass and other media too!
Cost: $315 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)
*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:10.
Young Ninjas! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
For eons, people of the world recoiled in fear at the sight of a spider. But the truth is, a spider’s greatest skill is its patience. To earn your YELLOW headband, you must display great PATIENCE, just like a spider.
Young Ninjas is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental martial arts elements, like blocks, kicks, strikes, and the all-important KI-YAH! Through skill training, fun games, creative challenges, and Pad work on foam targets, children develop self-confidence and learn to enjoy being physically active in a non-contact setting. KI-YAH!
Cost: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)
~ or ~
Sew Fun! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Ripped a hole in your favorite backpack? A button popped off your coat? Not to worry! Growing Outdoors is here to guide students in developing the incredibly helpful life skill of sewing! Not only can sewing help solve the issue of rips and tears from everyday life, it can also inspire creativity, boost problem-solving and fine-motor skill coordination, and – our favorite part – IT’S FUN! Together we will explore hand-sewing, sewing machines (provided), and everything in-between. We hope to sew together soon!
Cost: $255 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)
4th – 5th Grade Exploratories: Fall Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
GO Art! – 3:00 pm – 4:00pm – Click here to view flier
Join us as we explore the colorful universe of art techniques, mediums, & history! Students will dabble in watercolors, pastels, charcoal and more while engaging with their inner artist and utilizing challenging techniques including perspectives, blending, and proportions. This exploratory will focus on the many disciplines of the practice of art, such as patience with the process, working independently, sharing art experiences, and encouraging art and creation in others.
Cost: $165 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13; November 10 (No Class: October 20, 27; November 3)
Woodworking – Porch Swing Project! – 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Click here to view flier
Join us this fall for woodworking where we will learn how to cut and assemble your very own mini wooden porch swing! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this hands-on project welcomes all students to create and modify their own unique versions to take home. Our trained instructors will teach you how to saw, glue, sand, and more to be able to complete the project using the skills you learn. At the end of the session, you will add your own touches to your project, so it stands out in your home with your family!
Cost: $180 + $45 material fee (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 7, 14 (No Class: September 23; October 21, 28; November 4, 11)
Glass Art Fusion! – 1:05pm – 2:05pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Growing Outdoors and Fire Glass Studio are proud to offer a unique art enrichment program! In this class, participants will discover the amazing world of fused-glass and mixed-media. Each student will create beautiful projects such as candle holders, holiday ornaments, small dishes, suncatchers, and much more. Come learn how to cut, shape, and form glass to make amazing artworks out of glass and other media too!
Cost: $315 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)
*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:05.
~ or ~
GO Engineering! – 1:10pm – 2:10pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Get ready to build, design and discover in this hands-on engineering class! Each week, young engineers will tackle exciting challenges using real-world problem-solving skills. From building bridges and designing rollercoasters, students will learn how things work – and how to make them better!
Cost: $235 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)
*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:10.
Sew Fun! – 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Click here to view flier
Ripped a hole in your favorite backpack? A button popped off your coat? Not to worry! Growing Outdoors is here to guide students in developing the incredibly helpful life skill of sewing! Not only can sewing help solve the issue of rips and tears from everyday life, it can also inspire creativity, boost problem-solving and fine-motor skill coordination, and – our favorite part – IT’S FUN! Together we will explore hand-sewing, sewing machines (provided), and everything in-between. We hope to sew together soon!
Cost: $255 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)
Click to View Your Registration For:
Why aren’t Transitional Kindergarten (TK) exploratories offered?
What happens on Wednesdays after school gets out before the exploratories begin?
What happens if my child participates in Club Oak Park?
What is the additional "Facility Use" fee in my registration?
OPUSD charges Growing Outdoors “rent” to provide our programming to Brookside families. These fees are set by the OPUSD school board.
Growing Outdoors has separated this expense from our tuition to help you better understand what your payment is going towards!
What do I do if my child has to miss an exploratory day?
Why does registration close before the first day of each exploratory?
Why are the exploratories divided into trimesters?
Why are the exploratories priced differently?
What does my exploratory tuition pay for?
There are many factors that affect Growing Outdoors exploratory prices! These might include:
- We have a Site Coordinator on campus from before the first program begins until the last child is picked up!
- There is a Growing Outdoors Exploratory Leader in each class! Our trained staff person is there to focus on the students’ well-being, while the Vendor or Program Specialist will handle the instruction of the activity.
- We are dedicated to offering the highest quality after-school programs to our families! Each exploratory has a Vendor or Program Specialist who provides specialized and exciting instruction. To make this possible, each has a fee of their own which makes up the bulk of our exploratory pricing.