Growing Outdoors at Oak Hills Elementary
Fall Exploratories Start Tuesday, September 5th!
Fall Trimester Registration is Now Closed!
Fall Trimester Exploratory descriptions are listed below
- Fall Trimester Exploratories will begin on Tuesday, September 5th.
- Exploratories will meet 5-10 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.
- Registration must be completed and submitted online.
- If you have credit left over from the school closures in March 2020, it will applied automatically when you check out.
*Please note that these are the exploratories being offered for the Fall Trimester (September 5 – November 17).
Click to View Your Registration For:
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Hip Hop Dance! – 1:20pm – 2:15pm – Click here to view flier
Are you ready to ROCK! Learn the basic techniques of dance and how to move to the beat. We promote a healthy lifestyle through fun, physical activity that encourages self-expression through music and movement. This is a performance-based class, designed to help students gain confidence and self-esteem. We teach age-appropriate dance routines to pop music and classics from the past!
Cost: $155 (5 Classes) Class Dates: September 11, 18; October 2, 16; November 13 (No Class: September 4, 25; October 9, 23, 30; November 6)

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: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 10, 31; November 7)

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: $265 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 7, 14, 21, 28; October 5, 19, 26; November 9, 16 (No Class: October 12; November 2)
Egghead Explorers! – 12:45pm – 1:45pm – Click here to view flier
Strap on your gear, grab your binoculars, and join the Egghead Explorer Squad as we fizz, pop, mix, and experiment our way around the Earth! As Egghead Explorers, students will make a sundial to keep track of the time, a flashlight to see in the dark, fake tar pits, fossils, volcanoes, snow, magnetic cars, and tons more. The best part? They get to take it all home! All Eggheads will also get their Explorer ID card and an Egghead Explorer Degree authorizing them to use real science to explore the globe!
Cost: $240 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 17 (No Class: September 15; November 3, 10)
*For students enrolled in this exploratory, Growing Outdoors provides a supervised lunch period before the exploratory begins at 12:45.
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Hip Hop Dance! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – Click here to view flier
Are you ready to ROCK! Learn the basic techniques of dance and how to move to the beat. We promote a healthy lifestyle through fun, physical activity that encourages self-expression through music and movement. This is a performance-based class, designed to help students gain confidence and self-esteem. We teach age-appropriate dance routines to pop music and classics from the past!
Cost: $175 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 11, 18; October 2, 9, 16; November 13 (No Class: September 4, 25; October 23, 30; November 6)
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Academic Chess! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm – 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: $150 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 11, 18; October 2, 9, 16; November 13 (No Class: September 4, 25; October 23, 30; November 6)

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: $265 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)
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: $300 + $20 materials fee (10 Classes) Class Dates: September 6, 13, 20, 27; October 4, 11, 18, 25; November 8, 15 (No Class: November 1)
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: $290 (10 Classes) Class Dates: September 7, 14, 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19, 26; November 9, 16 (No Class: November 2)
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Animal Robotics! – 2:40pm – 3:40pm
Build a robotic zoo featuring models with working motors and sensors! Work in teams under guided instructions to build and program LEGO models. Build a different model for each class!
Cost: $290 (10 Classes) Class Dates: September 7, 14, 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19, 26; November 9, 16 (No Class: November 2)

*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students
Explore, Learn, Create with GO Nature! Join us as we explore the wonderful world around us while learning about our plants, animals, ecosystems, conservation, and so much more. Each week will focus on a different activity with students creating a fun craft to take home. Don’t miss your opportunity to be stewards of your environment and unleash the Naturalists inside you!
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 17 (No Class: September 15; November 3, 10)
~or~
Woodworking! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm – Click here for a photo of the project!
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
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 cut, 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 travels to!
Cost: $245 + $45 materials fee (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 17 (No Class: September 15; November 3, 10)
(Select the tabs below to see all options)
Academic Chess! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – 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: $150 (6 Classes) Class Dates: September 11, 18; October 2, 9, 16; November 13 (No Class: September 4, 25; October 23, 30; November 6)

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: $265 (9 Classes) Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 14 (No Class: October 31; November 7)
Glass Art Fusion! – 3:05pm – 4:05pm – 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: $300 + $20 materials fee (10 Classes) Class Dates: September 6, 13, 20, 27; October 4, 11, 18, 25; November 8, 15 (No Class: November 1)

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: $290 (10 Classes) Class Dates: September 7, 14, 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19, 26; November 9, 16 (No Class: November 2)

*This exploratory is open to 1st-5th grade students
Explore, Learn, Create with GO Nature! Join us as we explore the wonderful world around us while learning about our plants, animals, ecosystems, conservation, and so much more. Each week will focus on a different activity with students creating a fun craft to take home. Don’t miss your opportunity to be stewards of your environment and unleash the Naturalists inside you!
Cost: $200 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 17 (No Class: September 15; November 3, 10)
~or~
Woodworking! – 1:15pm – 2:15pm – Click here for a photo of the project!
*This exploratory is open to students in 1st-5th Grade
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 cut, 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 travels to!
Cost: $245 + $45 (8 Classes) Class Dates: September 8, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 17 (No Class: September 15; November 3, 10)
Click to View Your Registration For:
What happened to the credit I received when schools closed in March 2020?
Why aren’t Transitional Kindergarten (TK) exploratories offered?
What happens on Fridays after school gets out before the exploratories begin?
What happens if my child participates in Club Oak Park?
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?
- 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!