Growing Outdoors at Brookside Elementary

Spring Trimester – Happening Now!

Spring Trimester Registration Closed March 5th

Spring Trimester Exploratory descriptions are listed below

Spring Trimester Exploratories will begin on Monday, March 10th.
Exploratories will meet 6-8 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 Spring Trimester (March 10 – May 8).

Click to View Your Student's Registration for:

Spring Trimester After-School Exploratories

Kindergarten Exploratories: Spring Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)

Fantastic Gymnastics! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier
GroovinKids brings the studio experience right to your child’s school! Our gymnastics program offers a safe and fun environment for your child to learn rolls, bridges, cartwheels, handstands, and more. Our attentive and highly trained coaches know how to challenge and support our students and keep them excited for the next class. Each lesson includes a fun warm up, skill work and circuits, and a gymnastics game and stickers to finish. We hope to see you soon!
Cost: $175 (6 Classes) Class Dates: March 10, 24, 31; April 7, 21, 28 (No class: March 17; April 14; May 5)

Young Ninjas! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier
Discover your inner ninja! Young Ninjas is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental martial arts elements, like blocks, kicks, strikes, situational awareness, basic self-defense, 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-competitive setting. C’mon, how cool!
Cost: $215 (7 Classes) Class Dates: March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 22, 29 (No class: April 15; May 6)

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: $160 (7 Classes) Class Dates: March 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1 (No class: April 17; May 8)

1st – 3rd Grade Exploratories: Spring Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)

Fantastic Gymnastics! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
GroovinKids brings the studio experience right to your child’s school! Our gymnastics program offers a safe and fun environment for your child to learn rolls, bridges, cartwheels, handstands, and more. Our attentive and highly trained coaches know how to challenge and support our students and keep them excited for the next class. Each lesson includes a fun warm up, skill work and circuits, and a gymnastics game and stickers to finish. We hope to see you soon!
Cost: $200 (7 Classes) Class Dates: March 10, 24, 31; April 7, 21, 28; May 5 (No class: March 17; April 14)

~ or ~

LEGO Engineering! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm
Mini figures unite! It’s time to join the wonderful world of Mini figures, LEGO® bricks, and engineering. Our LEGO® STEM class is the perfect place for young minds to explore, create, and discover the endless possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Cost: $200 (7 Classes) Class Dates: March 10, 24, 31; April 7, 21, 28; May 5 (No class: March 17; April 14)

Glass Art Fusion! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here for a neat video about Fireglass Studio!
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: $260 + $20 materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 22, 29; May 6 (No class: April 15)

~ or ~

Young Ninjas! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Discover your inner ninja! Young Ninjas is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental martial arts elements, like blocks, kicks, strikes, situational awareness, basic self-defense, 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-competitive setting. C’mon, how cool!
Cost: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 22, 29; May 6 (No class: April 15)

GO Chess! – 1:05pm – 2:05pm – Click here to view flier
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Our exploratory classes help a child become more creative, discover patterns, calculation, critical thinking and strategy through the game of chess!
Cost: $250 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 23, 30; May 7 (No class: April 16)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:05.

~or~

Games & Cards! – 1:10pm – 2:10pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Put your game-playing skills to the test in our Games and Cards Exploratory! Students will have opportunities to play new and familiar games, from classics like Clue and Monopoly to exciting new games to stretch our imaginations. Games are a terrific way for students to develop skills in communication, strategy, teamwork, and much more! We hope you’ll join us for the fun!
Cost: $180 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 23, 30; May 7 (No class: April 16)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:10.

Woodworking: Train Project! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
All aboard the Growing Outdoors Express!!! This fall, we’re building our own train to transport us to new places around the world. Trains are possibly the greatest mode of travel of all time, allowing us to discover different areas easily, transport supplies, and expand civilization! 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 train, so it stands out wherever it goes!
Cost: $235 + $45 materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1; 8 (No class: April 17)

~ 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: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1; 8 (No class: April 17)

4th – 5th Grade Exploratories: Spring Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)

LEGO Engineering! – 3:00 pm – 4:00pm
Mini figures unite! It’s time to join the wonderful world of Mini figures, LEGO® bricks, and engineering. Our LEGO® STEM class is the perfect place for young minds to explore, create, and discover the endless possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Cost: $200 (7 Classes) Class Dates: March 10, 24, 31; April 7, 21, 28; May 5 (No class: March 17; April 14)

Glass Art Fusion! – 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Click here for a neat video about Fireglass Studio!
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: $260 + $20 materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 22, 29; May 6 (No class: April 15)

GO Chess! – 1:05pm – 2:05pm – Click here to view flier
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Our exploratory classes help a child become more creative, discover patterns, calculation, critical thinking and strategy through the game of chess!
Cost: $250 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 23, 30; May 7 (No class: April 16)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:05.

~ or ~

Games & Cards! – 1:10pm – 2:10pm
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
Put your game-playing skills to the test in our Games and Cards Exploratory! Students will have opportunities to play new and familiar games, from classics like Clue and Monopoly to exciting new games to stretch our imaginations. Games are a terrific way for students to develop skills in communication, strategy, teamwork, and much more! We hope you’ll join us for the fun!
Cost: $180 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 23, 30; May 7 (No class: April 16)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:10.

Woodworking: Train Project! – 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Click here to view flier
All aboard the Growing Outdoors Express!!! This fall, we’re building our own train to transport us to new places around the world. Trains are possibly the greatest mode of travel of all time, allowing us to discover different areas easily, transport supplies, and expand civilization! 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 train, so it stands out wherever it goes!
Cost: $235 + $45 materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1; 8 (No class: April 17)

~ or ~

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: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1; 8 (No class: April 17)

Click to View Your Student's Registration for:

Spring Trimester After-School Exploratories

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren’t Transitional Kindergarten (TK) exploratories offered?

Great Question. Because TK class release times are earlier than Kindergarten and are not consistent with the rest of our programming times, we have limited space and staff on campus to supervise and support a TK program at this time. We hope to meet your child next year as they enter Kindergarten!

What happens on Wednesdays after school gets out before the exploratories begin?

Great question! After school gets out on Wednesdays and before our exploratories begin, there is a 25 minute window of time where Growing Outdoors provides lunch supervision on the quad. At 1:05 our staff gathers all of the students enrolled in our programs and gets the afternoon fun started!

What happens if my child participates in Club Oak Park?

At the end of each exploratory, Growing Outdoors staff will walk those children enrolled in Club Oak Park from their exploratory to the appropriate location and transfer their care to the Club Oak Park staff.

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?

Please call us as early as possible (before 11 is preferable!) at (818) 889-8383. The Growing Outdoors adminstrative staff will be creating daily attendance sheets for each exploratory, so it would be helpful to have that information as early as possible. If a child that is expected does not show up for their exploratory, we will first check with the school to confirm that they were in attendance that day, and then we will call the parents to confirm their child’s safety.

Why does registration close before the first day of each exploratory?

Growing Outdoors wants to provide the best possible after school enrichment program. Therefore, we need time to train and prepare our staff, in addition to reviewing each child’s health form, prior to the first day of each exploratory.

Why are the exploratories divided into trimesters?

We feel that students will get the most out of each exploratory when they have consistent time to be with the same students and the same instructors to build a rapport. By making each trimester eight to ten weeks in length, students will have three opportunities during the school year to try different exploratories. Each trimester will offer different class options for the various age groups!

Why are the exploratories priced differently?

The price of all of our exploratories is based on number of class meetings, supply costs, staffing needs, and specialized instructor costs. By basing it on these factors, you can rest assured that you are getting what you pay for!

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.

Is it possible for an exploratory to be cancelled?

Occasionally, Growing Outdoors has to cancel an exploratory because low enrollment numbers make it logistically and financially nonviable. Should this happen to any exploratory for which you have signed up your child, we will contact you to discuss all alternative options (including the option of a full refund for the cancelled exploratory).

Could an individual class meeting be cancelled?

On very rare occasions, an exploratory does not happen quite as we planned! If there is ever an exploratory meeting that needs to be rescheduled, we will notify you in advance, and will still offer optional care for your child during their normal exploratory hour in the form of fun games and activities led by Growing Outdoors staff. Should an instructor be late or unable to make it to an exploratory meeting due to unforeseen circumstances, we will work with the school and vendor to reschedule the “missed” class. Never fear! Growing Outdoors staff will always be there to collect and care for your child and to make sure that they have a great time!

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