Learning Adventures Chess WizardsLet your child be a part of a successful local chess academy. Chess Wizards is offering specifically designed classes that cater to all levels of chess ability. Each child is challenged by fun games and lessons from real Wizard teachers. It is proven that chess enhances cognitive development in children, improves both verbal and mathematical skills, and increases all levels of academic performance! Playing chess stimulates the mind and helps children strengthen skills such as focusing, visualizing goals, abstract thinking, and forming concrete opinions. Chess Wizards is so successful because their approach is so unique. Classes and lessons are based around fun, and high-energy Chess Wizards curriculum. Regardless of a child’s ability Chess Wizards makes chess fun for all! This afterschool program would be located in Wilson Creek and Anna McDonald schools. We are currently doing a survey to see if our community would be interested. To get additional information about Chess Wizards go to www.chesswizards.com Please call the park at 815-478- 3324 and let us know what you think. Creature Connections Do your children find animals fascinating? If so, the Manhattan Park District has just the class for you! Each action packed class will be filled with amazing and fascinating REAL!! animals, birds, bugs and more. There will be stories and lessons on becoming responsible stewards of the land. Participants will have an up close and personal look at the wonders of nature! Michael Levins is our instructor for this exciting wildlife education program. Michael comes to us from Reptile Rampage Wildlife Discovery Center, an organization that takes in confiscated, abused and unwanted animals. These animals are then rehabilitated and cared for. Reptile Rampage is owned by Jaime McInerney who says that they are dedicated to bringing the joys of the natural world to our youth. Jaime has been awarded with the Outstanding Excellence in Environmental Education Award from the State of Illinois three years in a row. Join Michael and Jaime in this fun and exciting wildlife adventure! This is a drop-off class.
Super Heros A class designed for future Super Heroes! In each class Coach Dave will focus on developing a different heroic trait: like Spiderman’s agility, moving like a ninja, techniques of a Jedi, and building amazing strength and speed like Superman. Besides the athletic activities, you will also develop skills to deal with real-life emergencies like fire safety, stranger danger, injuries, and making the right choices. Children will learn confidence in life, sports, and extreme situations. Wear good gym shoes and be ready to run, jump and become a hero! This is a drop off class.
ComputerTots This national program has been developed by educators to engage inquisitive minds and has been featured on CNN and in Parents Magazine. Children will explore exciting computer activities in a small interactive group, using a laptop computer and educational software. The Pediatrics Medical Journal states, “Computers boost preschoolers’ intelligence. Children with ready access to computers scored an average of 12 points higher in IQ tests”. Our programs encourage reading readiness, math readiness, creativity and teamwork, to help prepare your child for kindergarten and the future. Each new session provides new learning adventures and software. Even children with computers at home will benefit from the social interaction and academic skills reinforced on this class. This is a drop-off class.
Movie Making - Make your own SpongeBob Movie What is the next underwater adventure for SpongeBob and Patrick? You decide! Using your own imagination, creativity, special digital movie making cameras, software and SpongeBob™ Lego sets, you will create your very own SpongeBob™ movie with COMPUTER EXPLORERS! You will become part of a team of writers, photographers, directors and producers and create your own story and script, build various SpongeBob™lego ®scenes and film your own movie. You will use graphic editing techniques and stop motion animation, add background noise and music, and show your movie at a private screening on the last day of class. All students will get a CD copy of their movie after class is complete. This is a drop- off class.
Basics to Building Young children love to build with Legos™ and building is a great way to enter the world of engineering! Using Lego™ educational sets, we will explore simple machines by building fun moveable models while learning the basic concepts of physical science & engineering in a fun and creative way. 2 students per Lego ™ set. This is a dropoff class.
Video Game Design If you love to play video games, here is an opportunity to design your own! Dive into the wo r l d of video game design and animation with COMPUTER EXPLORERS by creating and programming characters that dance, sign and Interact with one another. Add sound effects and music clips to create a dynamic video game by using software created just for kids. Afterwards, you will receive a copy of your game so that your friends, your parents, even your grandmother can play! You will even be able to continue to work on our project after class is complete. If you are creative, there are many possibilities to show off your design skills. This is a drop-off class.
Robotic Adventures Yes, We CAN learn about Robotics! With COMPUTER EXPLORERS and the LEGO® WE DO™ Robotics System, young children can build and program their own robotic creations. Designed by the experts at MIT, this unique system teaches children about simple machines, engineering, programming and so much more. Young imaginations soar! Students will work together in teams of 2. This is a drop-off class.
Rock and Roll Robotics Create robots that rock that roll with COMPUTER EXPLORERS! Using the LEGO™ Wed Robotics System your robots will include a monkey who plays a drum to a rock & roll beat, a lion that roars, a bird that flaps its’ wings to create a big wind, a sleeping giant who will awaken on your command and a boat that will rock on the rough seas. This course builds knowledge of simple machines, engineering, programming and teamwork in n environment full of Rockin’ Fun! Students will work in teams of 2. This is a drop-off class.
Infant/Toddler Music This unique class focuses on musical fun and games for parents/guardians and their little ones age 6 months through the 3’s. You will spend quality time with your infant and/or toddler while doing sing-alongs, play-alongs, and dance-alongs, to sing-able songs! This class will stimulate the imagination and creativity of both you and your child. Rhythm instruments will be provided. Handouts with songs and activities will be available at each class.
Guitar Lessons Beginner Level Have you always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, but never taken the time or had the chance? Start your musical journey today by joining our beginner level class! You’ll learn chords, simple strums, scales, and some all-time favorite guitar songs in an open and relaxed environment. You’ll be playing in no time and having fun making music. (This class is designed for beginners who have little to no experience). This is a drop off class.
Guitar Lessons Intermediate Level If you already know how to play a few songs and want to take your playing up a notch, join our intermediate level. This class spends equal time on learning some of your favorite songs along with essential lead and rhythm guitar techniques. (Students song recommendations are welcome!) This is a drop off class.
Private Lessons
Baby / Parent Signing Bridging the Communication Barrier! This class is designed to spend some quality time with your child working on bridging the communication barrier! Baby and parent will have fun learning some basic sign language together. In this exciting one-hour class we will give you verbal and visual gestures that can be used for labels for things our little ones want to talk about long before they have words to do so. Research has shown that signing actually speeds up learning to talk! For example, words like mom, dad, water, milk, juice, play, etc. One or both parents may attend with child.
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