STEM Programs Near Me

Give your child the gift of confidence and the joy of cooking! Our culinary program offers hands-on cooking lessons for budding young chefs. We learn more than how to follow a recipe at Lil’ Chef School. We utilize math, science, teamwork, creativity, and more. Children learn the world's cuisines and enhance their experience with fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices while gaining confidence and experience in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime. Children will make 2 recipes each week and will get a tasting of the food they made at the end of class. Recipes are provided online.

Give your child the gift of confidence and the joy of cooking! Our culinary program offers hands-on cooking lessons for budding young chefs. We learn more than how to follow a recipe at Lil’ Chef School. We utilize math, science, teamwork, creativity, and more. Children learn the world's cuisines and enhance their experience with fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices while gaining confidence and experience in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime. Children will make 2 recipes each week and will get a tasting of the food they made at the end of class. Recipes are provided online.

Give your child the gift of confidence and the joy of cooking! Our culinary program offers hands-on cooking lessons for budding young chefs. We learn more than how to follow a recipe at Lil’ Chef School. We utilize math, science, teamwork, creativity, and more. Children learn the world's cuisines and enhance their experience with fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices while gaining confidence and experience in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime. Children will make 2 recipes each week and will get a tasting of the food they made at the end of class. Recipes are provided online.

Satisfy your curiosity, and experience a fun and thorough introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel. Learn the skills necessary to throw cylinders, cups, bowls and more in this exciting introduction to throwing fundamentals. Your instructor guides you through the process of throwing, shaping and trimming pots on the wheel. Special handbuilding projects will also included.   Basic surface decoration and glazing techniques are also demonstrated. This class is designed for students any level experience on the potter’s wheel.  Those who have more experience will complete more pieces/ advanced techniques. Those learning will master the basic skills to create wheel thrown pieces. Register for all classes, as we will build on experience of the students.  

Satisfy your curiosity, and experience a fun and thorough introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel. Learn the skills necessary to throw cylinders, cups, bowls and more in this exciting introduction to throwing fundamentals. Your instructor guides you through the process of throwing, shaping and trimming pots on the wheel. Special handbuilding projects will also included.   Basic surface decoration and glazing techniques are also demonstrated. This class is designed for students any level experience on the potter’s wheel.  Those who have more experience will complete more pieces/ advanced techniques. Those learning will master the basic skills to create wheel thrown pieces. Register for all classes, as we will build on experience of the students.  

Come out for a day of hands-on science, music, food, and family fun at the DreamFest Block Party on Saturday, September 12 in the heart of the Hill District. This free outdoor celebration brings the entire community together to explore, learn, and have fun. Whether you're a science lover, music fan, foodie, or just looking for a good time, there’s something for everyone. From youth STEM activities to live DJs and local vendors, the block party is where innovation meets joy. Admission is free and open to all. Event runs from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Bring your friends, bring your family, and come ready to dream big!🚀✨

Talk Trekkers” Intro to Public Speaking Series (NO Prerequisites) This fun, high-energy, and highly interactive public speaking series is perfect for young speakers of all experience levels! Whether your child is a beginner or already has some public speaking experience, this 5-session, 5-class-hour course provides individualized feedback and tailored challenges to help them grow while having a blast! Students will receive class materials, including a detailed class packet, to support their learning and practice. In each lively, engaging class, students will: LEARN - Learn and improve on the fundamentals of effective public speaking and explore different styles of speaking; - Learn to reduce and manage public speaking anxiety and nervousness; - Learn to implement DAILY positive public speaking and communication habits; - Learn to structure and improve their writing skills; - Understand the differences in various types of public speaking, such as persuasive, informative, storytelling, and conversational skills. DO - Practice their impromptu speech skills as well as prepared written assignments; - Present to the entire group and receive feedback from instructors and peers. IMPROVE - Each student will receive individualized feedback on their speaking to help them grow as confident and effective communicators. - If assignments are written, students will also receive individualized feedback on their writing to enhance clarity, structure, and impact. Every class is packed with high-energy activities, exciting public speaking games, and opportunities to practice new skills in a supportive, dynamic environment. For classes with more than 10 students, two engaging instructors ensure each child receives plenty of attention and feedback. Our instructors are professional teachers and public speaking experts with backgrounds stand-up comedy and performance, making sure every moment is as fun as it is educational!

Get ready to add up the fun! In Math FUNdamentals, we believe that early math skills are best learned through kinesthetic, joyful play. Rooted in Gymboree’s signature "play-osophy," this 1-hour drop-off class introduces your preschooler to the wonderful world of shapes, patterns, adding, subtracting and more through hands-on activities designed to develop their growing minds, bodies, and social interactions.

Discover the fascinating intersection of acoustics and engineering. In this workshop, students will investigate the physics of sound, learning how vibrations travel to create the music we love. Through the lens of 'Musical STEMology,' we will analyze the mathematical patterns in rhythm and harmony, utilize digital technology to create soundscapes, and apply engineering principles to design custom instruments. Join us for an acoustic exploration of how science brings sound to life. Note: Aftercare runs until 5:30 PM on 12/21–12/23, and until 4:00 PM on 12/24.

This combination class offers children a sampling of art projects using various media such as painting, clay, watercolors, collage, and pastels. It is amazing what you can create when you explore with your imagination. A variety of materials are used to create your many masterpieces – Many projects are “built upon” each class, so that students experience a variety of mediums and take home several projects. Projects are new every session & seasonal, so sign-up for all sessions.

Perfect for your young scientist, this program introduces fun, hands-on activities that make science easy and exciting to understand. Tailored just for kids, Mini Lab sparks curiosity while helping them discover the wonders of science in an engaging, playful environment.

Deconstruct, Design, and Discover! Step into the shoes of an engineer as we investigate how things work and find ways to make them even better. Our young innovators will tackle real-world challenges through immersive building activities, using critical thinking to turn new ideas into reality. Join us for a week of hands-on experimentation as we build the future, one project at a time!

Give your child the gift of confidence and the joy of cooking! Our culinary program offers hands-on cooking lessons for budding young chefs. We learn more than how to follow a recipe at Lil’ Chef School. We utilize math, science, teamwork, creativity, and more. Children learn the world's cuisines and enhance their experience with fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices while gaining confidence and experience in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime. Children will make 2 recipes each week and will get a tasting of the food they made at the end of class. Recipes are provided online.

Outdoor field games in local area parks, weather permitting. We spend the first and last hour of the day inside doing arts and crafts, STEM projects, and indoor sports such bowling and ping pong. The rest of the morning and afternoon we are outdoors doing field games and traditional camp activities utilizing local area parks. We are open rain or shine, during inclement weather and poor air quality days we spend more time inside doing crafts, indoor sports and other activities. Hot lunch and healthy snacks are included. There is a sibling discount of 20% for each child beyond the first. Be sure to pack your child with comfortable sneakers for running, clothes that can get dirty and stained, and a reusable water bottle. Please send your child in wearing an orange shirt. Camp shirts are $15 each and will be charged to your account if needed.

Game design with SCRATCH is coming back again after popular demand with all new games! It’s fun to play video games, it's even more fun to design your own game! Students will not only learn the characteristics of a good game like speed, obstacles, scoring, visual appeal and sound effects, they will also learn the basics of coding like variables, if then statements, logic, loops etc. To add to this students will learn to create cool characters (sprites) for their game and build the backdrop for the games they create. (Please note: Children will be given a pen drive as a takeaway at the end of the course with all their projects)

Join us every Friday this fall for our *NEW* Homeschool Play Club. We will explore art, STEM, movement, problem-solving, social-emotional learning, play, team building, all while learning from one another. Bring whatever fun stuff you've been working on or join in with a fun project the coaches offer in this learning and social time just for home schoolers. Using ESA? Please purchase your class with your ESA issued debit card, submit an invoice to ClassWallet OR purchase on your own card and submit for reimbursement. Read our ESA policy and find the attestation form here: https://www.playformancetucson.com/esa Please contact Katie at katie@playformancetucson.com for help or questions. ESA funds may be used for semester registration only.

Don't worry about a sitter! Give yourself a parents' night off and send your child to our Kids' Night Out! Pizza party dinner will be included, as well as multiple arts and crafts, and a big, instructor-led project! $40 for the first child and $35 for additional siblings. Each child will go home with a full bag of art that they create.

In the Applied Science Lab, students explore real-world science through fun, hands-on experiments. Each week, they build working projects like helicopters, flashlights, wind turbines, and more using everyday materials. The class encourages creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork while teaching core science and engineering concepts. No screens or kits—just engaging, interactive learning. It’s the perfect class for curious kids who love to build, explore, and discover how things work

Children and grown ups separate for 60 minutes gently easing them into the preschool experience in a familiar, safe environment. Purchase the corresponding membership, THEN reserve your child's spot in the desired class(es) to be attended. You will then be emailed additional information and waivers to sign before your child can attend class.

In Drawing/Painting Class we will create a variety of fine art projects focusing on technique and style, composition, brushwork, and systematic practice. KVArteest will give input on our subject matter, as we together decide what we want to learn.

Uncover the mysteries of the molecular world! In this immersive lab experience, campers will dive into the fascinating chemistry of pH balances and the power of acids and bases. Through a series of thrilling experiments, young scientists will create reactions that pop, change colors, and transform into entirely new substances. Come see how exciting science can be!