Growing Outdoors at MATES
Spring Trimester Exploratories Are Happening Now!
Spring Trimester Registration CLOSED on March 9
Spring Trimester Exploratory descriptions are listed below
- Winter Trimester Exploratories will begin on Monday, March 14.
- Exploratories will meet 8-9 times, depending on the day of the week and the grade level.
- Exploratories take place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday each week.
- Exploratories are divided into two age groups: Kindergarten and First-Fifth Grades
- Registration must be completed and submitted online.
- If you have credit left over from the school closures in March 2020, it will apply automatically when you check out.
*Please note that these are the exploratories being offered for the Spring Trimester (March 14 – May 20).
Click to View Your Registration For:
Kindergarten Exploratories: Spring Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Viridian Art – Journey Into Space! – 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Click here to view the flier
Come learn real fine art skills taught by talented and experienced Viridian Art instructors. Create beautiful finished artwork and sculptures, including drawing, watercolors, acrylic painting, sculpting, and more! Join us on-campus, after school! This session’s theme: “Journey Into Space!”
Cost: $225 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11, 25; May 2, 9, 16 (No Class: April 18)
TGA Tennis – 1:30pm – 2:30pm
*This exploratory will have two groups: Kindergarten-1st Grade & 2nd-5th Grade
TGA makes it convenient and fun for your child to learn and play tennis right on their school campus! Our proprietary curriculums for elementary school and middle school were created by TGA’s education experts and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Students will experience a mix of tennis instruction, rules & etiquette lessons, educational components, character development lessons and physical activity as they advance through the five-level program. Our screened and certified instructors have a passion for working with children and are trained to help your student-athlete develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge as well as a passion for the sport.
Cost: $225 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17 (No Class: April 19)
Yoga & Meditation with Miss Julie! – 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Click here to view the flier
Each week children will learn age appropriate traditional yoga poses that build strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility, in addition to breathing practices that develop inner calm, mind-body awareness, concentration, confidence, compassion and patience – all tools that will last a lifetime! Children who practice yoga regularly are more relaxed, centered and steady.
Cost: $180 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13, 27; May 4, 11, 18 (No Class: April 20)
Sky High Dance – 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Click here to view the flier
Sky High Dance is devoted to motivating and inspiring youth to live richer and fuller lives through dance. We use captivating stories, special dance games, and positive music to cultivate every dancer’s confidence. Our class is open to all students of ALL LEVELS! At the end of the session, parents, teachers, and friends are invited to watch our Sky High Dance showcase. Students will perform what they’ve learned, and will take part in an awards ceremony to reward them for their hard-work and dedication.
Cost: $180 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 17, 24, 31; April 7, 14, 28; May 5, 12, 19 (No Class: April 21)
Egghead Inventors with Professor Egghead! – 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Click here to view the flier
This session, students become real-life inventors on Professor Egghead’s team as they experiment with awesome inventions like helicopters, rockets, and catapults, and learn the science behind what makes them work! Then they’ll create their very own inventions to take home at the end of each class. At the end of the session, students will receive their “degree” proving they’re ready to go out and invent something amazing on their own!
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 29; May 6, 13, 20 (No Class: April 15, 22)
1st – 5th Grade Exploratories: Spring Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Viridian Art – Journey Into Space! – 2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
Come learn real fine art skills taught by talented and experienced Viridian Art instructors. Create beautiful finished artwork and sculptures, including drawing, watercolors, acrylic painting, sculpting, and more! Join us on-campus, after school! This session’s theme: “Journey Into Space!”
Cost: $225 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11, 25; May 2, 9, 16 (No Class: April 18)
TGA Tennis – 1:30pm – 2:30pm
*This exploratory will have two groups: Kindergarten-1st Grade & 2nd-5th Grade
TGA makes it convenient and fun for your child to learn and play tennis right on their school campus! Our proprietary curriculums for elementary school and middle school were created by TGA’s education experts and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Students will experience a mix of tennis instruction, rules & etiquette lessons, educational components, character development lessons and physical activity as they advance through the five-level program. Our screened and certified instructors have a passion for working with children and are trained to help your student-athlete develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge as well as a passion for the sport.
Cost: $225 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17 (No Class: April 19)
~or~
Bricks 4 Kidz LEGOs: A LEGO Pirate Adventure (New LEGO Program)! – 1:40pm – 2:40pm – Click here to view the flier
Come join the fun with this new-to-MATES LEGOs program this spring! Shiver me timbers as we explore the popular culture and science behind the life of a pirate! Build a motorized pirate ship, a helm, an anchor, and more as we batten down the hatches and prepare for mutiny. Protect the hands on deck by building a launching trebuchet! Beware, me mateys, if it’s too late, you must abandon ship and build a rowboat to escape. Watch out for crocodiles! Anchors aweigh!
Cost: $215 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17 (No Class: April 19)
Yoga & Meditation with Miss Julie! -2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
Each week children will learn age appropriate traditional yoga poses that build strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility, in addition to breathing practices that develop inner calm, mind-body awareness, concentration, confidence, compassion and patience – all tools that will last a lifetime! Children who practice yoga regularly are more relaxed, centered and steady.
Cost: $180 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13, 27; May 4, 11, 18 (No Class: April 20)
~or~
Academic Chess -2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
We are devoted to promoting the merits of chess among children by using stories, dances, and catchy songs to make the game of chess exciting and easy to understand. Children participating in our program: Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills; Have better concentration and mental discipline; Gain confidence and have lots of FUN!!! All students in the chess club receive an exclusive Academic Chess workbook, prizes for good sportsmanship and participate in the “BIG TOURNAMENT” on the last day where all kids take home a prize! New and returning students are welcome!
Cost: $180 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13, 27; May 4, 11, 18 (No Class: April 20)
Sky High Dance – 2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
Sky High Dance is devoted to motivating and inspiring youth to live richer and fuller lives through dance. We use captivating stories, special dance games, and positive music to cultivate every dancer’s confidence. Our class is open to all students of ALL LEVELS! At the end of the session, parents, teachers, and friends are invited to watch our Sky High Dance showcase. Students will perform what they’ve learned, and will take part in an awards ceremony to reward them for their hard-work and dedication.
Cost: $180 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 17, 24, 31; April 7, 14, 28; May 5, 12, 19 (No Class: April 21)
~or~
Sports Club with Coach Russell! – 2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
Coach Russell is back at MATES! He is the founder of Kids in Motion LLC! We will play a new sport or game out on the playground every Thursday. Sportsmanship and teamwork will be emphasized and age-appropriate rule structures will be utilized to ensure the safety of all students. A game or sport will be introduced and then we will do some skill development and learn about the general rules as well. Then, we will play several great rounds of games!
Cost: $145 (9 Classes) Class Dates: March 17, 24, 31; April 7, 14, 28; May 5, 12, 19 (No Class: April 21)
Egghead Inventors with Professor Egghead! -2:55pm – 3:55pm – Click here to view the flier
This session, students become real-life inventors on Professor Egghead’s team as they experiment with awesome inventions like helicopters, rockets, and catapults, and learn the science behind what makes them work! Then they’ll create their very own inventions to take home at the end of each class. At the end of the session, students will receive their “degree” proving they’re ready to go out and invent something amazing on their own!
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 29; May 6, 13, 20 (No Class: April 15, 22)
Click to View Your Registration For:
What are the Covid-19 Procedures for Growing Outdoors?
All exploratories will take place outside, and only during inclement weather will we move indoors for that day of class. Indoors or outdoors, all students, instructors, and Growing Outdoors staff will wear masks while near each other and participating in our programs. Students may step away from the group for a “mask break” at any time, and are welcome to drink water whenever they like.
In order for Growing Outdoors to be back on campus, we have agreed to follow all rules and regulations regarding Covid that has been put in place by district, county, and public health officials. Under this guidance, any student who is under “quarantine” or “modified quarantine” is not permitted to participate in Growing Outdoors exploratories until they have been released from quarantine by their school.
What happened to the credit I received when schools closed in March 2020?
All credits have been applied to their corresponding accounts on our online registration site. When you register your student, you will see the credit applied on the payment page. If you think this information is incorrect, or if you have any questions about credit, please contact Alec at 818-889-8383 ext, 704 or alec@growingoutdoors.com.
What happens if my child participates in the YMCA after-care program?
At the end of each exploratory, Growing Outdoors staff will walk those children enrolled in YMCA program from their exploratory to the appropriate location.
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!
What do I do if my child has to miss an exploratory day?
Please call us as early as possible (before 10:00am 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.
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 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.
- Each school district requires use rental fees for all indoor and outdoor exploratory locations. These fees go directly back to your school district!