Growing Outdoors at White Oak Elementary!

Winter Trimester Registration IS CLOSED!
Programs begin Monday, December 12th!

Registration is Now Closed
Winter Registration Deadline was Wednesday, December 7th

Winter Trimester Exploratory descriptions are listed below

Winter Trimester Exploratories begin on Monday, December 12.
Exploratories will meet 7-8 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 two age groups: Kindergarten-Third Grade (TK option on Wednesdays!), and Fourth-Fifth Grade.
Registration must be completed and submitted online.

*Please note that these are the exploratories being offered for the Winter Trimester (December 12 – February 16).

Click to View Your Student's Registration:

Winter Trimester After-School Exploratories

Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Exploratories: Winter Trimester
(Select the tabs below to see all options – TK option on Wednesdays!)

Academic Chess! – 2:15pm – 3:15pm – Click here to view 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: $185 (7 Classes) Class Dates: December 12, 19; January 9, 23, 30; February 6, 13 (No Class: December 26; January 2, 16)

Woodworking – Delivery Truck Project! – 2:15pm – 3:15pm – Click here for a photo of the project!
*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students only
Your package is on its way! With the creation of the Interstate Highway System to connect major cities across America, Trucking has become one of the most important ways that we transport packages, food, liquids, building materials, and more, all over the nation. Did you know that last year, delivery trucks were responsible for hauling over 72% of all items shipped within the United States? That’s a lot of stuff! In this class, you’ll get to build your very own model delivery truck out of wood, complete with wheels and room in the trailer to store your belongings! Trained instructors teach you how to safely cut, glue, sand, and more. At the end of the session, you’ll add your own touches to make your delivery truck one of a kind!
Cost: $275 + $35 Materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 13, 20; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14 (No Class: December 27; January 3)

~ or ~

Professor Egghead: Secret Agent Science! – 2:15pm – 2:45pm – Click here to view flier!
Your mission? Become the world’s greatest secret agent! Once the challenge is accepted, Egghead Agents will write with invisible inks by making chemical reactions, make spy tools like periscopes and spy glasses to take home as they learn about mirrors, and crack secret codes with the science of cryptography on their way to becoming super spies. At the end of the session, students will receive an Egghead Secret Agent Degree.
Cost: $225 (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 13, 20; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14 (No Class: December 27; January 3)

Sky High Dance! – 1:00pm – 2:00pm – Click here to view flier!
*Open to TK too!
Sky High Dance is devoted to motivating and inspiring children to live richer and fuller lives through dance. We use captivating stories, special dance games, and positive music to cultivate every child’s confidence. Our class is open to ALL LEVELS, both boys and girls! New and returning students are welcome!
Cost: $220 (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 14, 21; January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15 (No Class: December 28; January 4)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:00.

~or~

KinFlow! – 1:00pm – 2:00pm – Click here to view flier!
Click here to watch a KinFlow video!
*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students only
KinFlow is a new and engaging mindful team sport. Based on the principles of collective flow states, KinFlow is a breath of fresh air in the world of youth sports. For more info on the field disc sport, please visit www.kinflow.com
Cost: $245 (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 14, 21; January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15 (No Class: December 28; January 4)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:00.

Glass Art Fusion! – 2:15pm – 3:15pm – Click here to view flier!
*Open to Kindergarten too!

*This exploratory is now full. We hope you’ll consider signing up for our waitlist!

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: $235 + $35 Materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 15, 22; January 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9, 16 (No Class: December 29; January 5)

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

Academic Chess! – 2:45pm – 3:45pm – Click here to view 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: $185 (7 Classes) Class Dates: December 12, 19; January 9, 23, 30; February 6, 13 (No Class: December 26; January 2, 16)

Woodworking – Delivery Truck Project! – 2:45pm – 3:45pm – Click here for a photo of the project!
Your package is on its way! With the creation of the Interstate Highway System to connect major cities across America, Trucking has become one of the most important ways that we transport packages, food, liquids, building materials, and more, all over the nation. Did you know that last year, delivery trucks were responsible for hauling over 72% of all items shipped within the United States? That’s a lot of stuff! In this class, you’ll get to build your very own model delivery truck out of wood, complete with wheels and room in the trailer to store your belongings! Trained instructors teach you how to safely cut, glue, sand, and more. At the end of the session, you’ll add your own touches to make your delivery truck one of a kind!
Cost: $275 + $35 Materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 13, 20; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14 (No Class: December 27; January 3)

~ or ~

Professor Egghead: Secret Agent Science! – 2:45pm – 3:45pm – Click here to view flier!
Your mission? Become the world’s greatest secret agent! Once the challenge is accepted, Egghead Agents will write with invisible inks by making chemical reactions, make spy tools like periscopes and spy glasses to take home as they learn about mirrors, and crack secret codes with the science of cryptography on their way to becoming super spies. At the end of the session, students will receive an Egghead Secret Agent Degree.
Cost: $225 (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 13, 20; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14 (No Class: December 27; January 3)

KinFlow! – 1:00pm – 2:00pm – Click here to view flier!
Click here to watch a KinFlow video!
*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students
KinFlow is a new and engaging mindful team sport. Based on the principles of collective flow states, KinFlow is a breath of fresh air in the world of youth sports. For more info on the field disc sport, please visit www.kinflow.com
Cost: $245 (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 14, 21; January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15 (No Class: December 28; January 4)

*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 1:00.

Glass Art Fusion! – 2:45pm – 3:45pm – Click here to view flier!
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: $235 + $35 Materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: December 15, 22; January 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9, 16 (No Class: December 29; January 5)

Click to View Your Student's Registration:

Winter Trimester After-School Exploratories

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Covid-19 Procedures for Growing Outdoors?

Growing Outdoors will follow all rules and regulations regarding Covid-19 that have been put in place by district, county, and public health officials. Under this guidance, any student who is under “quarantine” is not permitted to participate in Growing Outdoors exploratories until they have been released from quarantine by their school.

Following updated guidance from the CDC and the California Department of Public Health, masks became optional during Spring 2022 Growing Outdoors programs. As we enter the 2022-2023 school year, we will continue to monitor guidance and requirements, and adjust accordingly, as needed.

What are the additional LVUSD fees in my registration?

LVUSD charges Growing Outdoors facility use fees as well as a custodial cleaning fees to provide our programming to White Oak families. These fees are set by the school board and are the same fees a community organization (like AYSO, etc.) would be charged to rent a space on campus.

While we’ve built these fees into our exploratory costs in the past, we have made them separate to help you better understand what your payment is going towards!

Why a new After-School Enrichment Program?

We’ve been brought on by White Oak to bring a cohesiveness and centrality to the after-school exploratories. We hope to provide great service, purposeful programming, and a safe environment where your child can thrive.

A few features of the Growing Outdoors program:

We have a Site Coordinator on campus from before the first program begins until the last child is picked up! The Site Coordinator will be reachable by phone while program is running, have a health form for each child, a first aid kit, student lists, and release/emergency information.
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. Our staff person can help with any individual or emotional problems that may arise, so the instructor can focus on the activity as a whole. They will also handle attendance and dismissal (don’t forget to bring your picture ID!) so you can be sure that your child is well cared for.
The Site Coordinator and each Exploratory Leader will have a walkie talkie so additional assistance is only a walkie talkie call away!
Registration and payment for all after-school exploratories happens online, making it easier for you!

What happens if my child participates in the YMCA after-care program?

Because the YMCA program at White Oak picks up students right after school and buses them to another LVUSD campus, it is not currently possible for students to participate in both Growing Outdoors and YMCA on the same day.

If YMCA opens back up on campus at White Oak, then Growing Outdoors will return to our usual policy: 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 aren’t there more options for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students?

Great Question. Because TK release times are earlier than Kindergarten and are not consistent with the rest of our programming times on Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we have limited space and staff on campus to supervise and support a TK program on those days. On Wednesdays, school release time is the same for everyone! TK students are eligible for K-2nd grade exploratories offered on Wednesdays (unless otherwise noted in the exploratory description).

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!

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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