Growing Outdoors at Oak Hills Elementary

Fall Trimester Continues!

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 6-9 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 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 14).

Click to View Your Registration For:

Fall Trimester After-School Exploratories

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

Exploring Music! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier
Each day is a new musical journey! Miss Hannah will lead students through vocal exploration games, group singing, rhythm exercises, and more. No musical experience is required to enjoy music making, learn to listen actively, build interpersonal skills, and have fun along the way.
Hannah Lewis is a professional vocalist as well as the director of Valley Music Workshop, a musical collective set in one of the San Fernando Valley’s most historic homes offering music lessons, recording services, and live events year-round.
Cost: $240 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 13, 27; November 10 (No Class: October 6, 20; November 3)

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: $180 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 14, 28 (No Class: September 23; October 7, 21; November 4, 11)

Adventures in Watercolor! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier!
Here’s where you learn how to draw and paint! In this class, students learn the basics of painting pictures – from shadows, shapes, and colors to portraits, landscapes, and comics. Kids will end this program with new skills, greater confidence, and visual and creative thinking skills that will last a lifetime. All levels of experience are welcome! The class is taught by local painter Miles Lewis who will guide beginning students through fun fresh projects and happily help more advanced artists to develop the skills for their own picture ideas. All materials are included. Students will have paintings to take home every week.
Cost: $225 (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)

Sports ‘n More! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Our class will take your child away from the screens and into the sun. Participants will exercise and have fun while learning fundamental skills of each game, social skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 27; November 10 (No Class: October 20; November 3)

Young Ninjas! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – C lick 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: $210 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 7, 14, 28 (No Class: September 23; October 21; November 4, 11)

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: $275 + $45 materials fee (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)

Adventures in Watercolor! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier!
Here’s where you learn how to draw and paint! In this class, students learn the basics of painting pictures – from shadows, shapes, and colors to portraits, landscapes, and comics. Kids will end this program with new skills, greater confidence, and visual and creative thinking skills that will last a lifetime. All levels of experience are welcome! The class is taught by local painter Miles Lewis who will guide beginning students through fun fresh projects and happily help more advanced artists to develop the skills for their own picture ideas. All materials are included. Students will have paintings to take home every week.
Cost: $250 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)

~ or ~

GO LEGO Sports! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Mini figures unite! It’s time to join the wonderful world of Mini figures, LEGO® bricks in our sports themed class! 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: $220 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)

Glass Art Fusion! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm
*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students
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: $295 + $20 materials fee (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)

~or~

GO Chess! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm
*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: $280 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)

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

Sports ‘n More! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – Click here to view flier
Our class will take your child away from the screens and into the sun. Participants will exercise and have fun while learning fundamental skills of each game, social skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 27; November 10 (No Class: October 20; November 3)

Games & Cards! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – Click here to view flier!
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: $150 (7 Classes) Class Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 30; October 7, 14, 28 (No Class: September 23; October 21; November 4, 11)

Woodworking – Porch Swing Project! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – 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: $275 + $45 materials fee (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22; November 12 (No class: October 29; November 5)

GO LEGO Sports! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – Click here to view flier
Mini figures unite! It’s time to join the wonderful world of Mini figures, LEGO® bricks in our sports themed class! 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: $220 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23; November 13 (No Class: October 2, 30; November 6)

Glass Art Fusion! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm
*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: $295 + $20 materials fee (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)

~ or ~

GO Chess! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm
*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students
Our exploratory classes help a child become more creative, discover patterns, calculation, critical thinking and strategy through the game of chess!
Cost: $280 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)

Click to View Your Registration For:

Fall 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 Fridays after school gets out before the exploratories begin?

Great question! After school gets out on Fridays and before our exploratories begin, there is a 25 minute window of time where Growing Outdoors provides lunch supervision on the quad. At 1:10 (or 12:40 for Kindergarten students) 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.
Each school district requires use rental fees for all indoor and outdoor exploratory locations. These fees go directly back to your school district!

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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