AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Fall Session 2025
Week of Sept 8 – Week of Nov 10
Create and explore with us after school! Our classes are engaging hands-on fun for young artists, makers, and inventors aged 6-13. Classes are small, student-centered experiences where youth can build skills, experiment with a variety of media, and connect with their creative selves.
All classes take place at 558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA.
Registration opens on Monday, 7/21 at 12:00 PM
Registration closes on Wednesday, 9/3 at 4:00 PM
Class Schedule
Intro to Sewing
Tuesdays • 4-6 PM • Sept 9 – Nov 11
Ages 9-11 • $200-$350
In this hands-on sewing class, students will discover the fundamentals of sewing both by hand and machine. They’ll explore a variety of fabrics and materials while learning how to read and customize patterns. Measuring skills will be taught to ensure the perfect fit for every project. Throughout the class, students will create fun and functional items like a stylish tote bag, a comfy t-shirt, and much more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills, unleash creativity, and create something truly one-of-a-kind!
Magical, Mythical Realms
Tuesdays • 3:30-5 PM • Sept 9 – Nov 11
Ages 7-9 • $200-$325
Put your fairy wings on and explore the captivating world of magic, imagination and nature in the realm of fantasy. In this weekly class, artists will explore myths, legends, fairy tales, and the hero’s journey, allowing them to unlock their imaginations to create their own original stories and characters. Through a hands-on approach, students will experiment with a wide variety of 2D and 3D materials, including drawing, collage, clay, assemblage, and book-making, bringing their narratives to life in unique and creative ways. Artists will document evidence of Lake Merritt’s magic in their field notes, craft original creatures, build fairy dwellings, and so much more!
Creative Technology and Engineering
Wednesdays • 4-5:30 PM • Sept 10 – Nov 12
Ages 8-10 • $200-$350
A three module class, each focusing on a different type of creative technology! This would be a continuation of the current creative tech class – but would allow both new and existing students to enroll.
Module 1: Visual technology! Students will use Procreate and cospaces to craft digital masterpieces.
Module 2: Three Dimensional printing! Students will design, download and print their own 3D inventions
Module 3: Makey Makeys – we will use Makey Makeys to see what we can hack or invent!
Ending in a showcase where the students can show off their work, share how they used their technology and collaborate with other students’ projects.
Showstoppers
Wednesdays • 4-6 PM • Sept 10 – Nov 12
Ages 9-12 • $200-$325
Showstoppers is a theater class. Collectively we will build a play together. Students will learn about themes, storyline, and character development. We will build props, paint backdrops, and create costumes. Will perform on stage the play we created and developed. This exciting class has many modes of art making and creating. If you have a show stopper in your family unit sign them up, they will love this class!!!
Comics and Zines
Thursdays • 4-5:30 PM • Sept 11 – Nov 13
Ages 7-10 • $200-$325
Create and publish your own story! Tell your own tale! In this class, we will explore the world of visual storytelling. Artists will be introduced to basic concepts of cartooning, inking, storyboards, and more. They will also learn the cultural and social history of Zines and comics, using artists and collectives like Riot Grrrl, Lynda Barry, Kate Bingaman Burt, and others. Artists will share their work with their peers and the larger community.
Carpentry
Fridays • 4:30-6:30 PM • Sept 12 – Nov 14
Ages 6-13 • $200-$350
Students will learn to use a complement of hand tools during a course that emphasizes safe tool use, practical problem solving and creative development. Projects increase in difficulty as experience grows. Students will begin with projects such as a small toy boat and work up to full-sized furniture and professional skateboards.
**All first-time carpentry students MUST attend the first day of class to safely participate in the course.**
Wild Botanicals
Saturdays • 10-11:30 AM • Sept 13 – Nov 15
Ages 6-8 • $200-$325
Explore all the creative possibilities of plants and animals right in our backyard! Artists will engage with botanicals and animals using various artistic mediums including watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic and sculpture. They will make pigments out of plants, learn about native vs non-native species, and even learn to weave dream catchers and webs! Scientist artists will document their findings in their field notebooks, sketch local insects, fauna and flora, and explore the abundant habitat of our beloved Lake Merritt.
SLIDING SCALE PRICING
All JCAS classes are made available to families on a sliding scale. Families choose the amount they are able to pay, considering the top end of our scale is how much it costs us to run the class. We encourage families to help support our efforts to make programs available to those in need.
If the sliding scale prices are still out of your family’s budget, we do offer scholarships. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please give us 7 business days to process applications. All scholarship requests must be made by Friday, August 22nd.
Don’t worry about classes filling up, we account for this and ensure every camp is available for scholarship students.
PAY IT FORWARD PROGRAM
JCAS is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to offering equitable access to arts and science education. We serve more than 1,500 students every year and most of our students – more than 70% – receive financial assistance.
You can now support our mission directly using our Pay It Forward Program. When registering your student for a class, you’ll have the opportunity to Pay It Forward and contribute to our Scholarship Fund. Your donation ensures that students from all backgrounds can experience the joy and enrichment of our classes and camps—at little to no cost to them.
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
REFUND POLICY
ACTIVE now offers self-cancelations! If you need to cancel your registration for any reason, log in to your ACTIVE account, locate the registration you wish to cancel, and select ‘cancel’.
Our Refund Policy is as follows:
All purchases include a 10% non-refundable deposit to cover administrative costs.
From 7/21 – 8/12, you will receive a 90% refund.
From 8/13 – 9/3, you will receive a 40% refund.
From 9/4 on, we are not able to offer any refunds.
Please note:
JCAS enrollment is non-transferable. That said, we do understand that sometimes your family schedule changes! We offer a one-time enrollment transfer for your child to another week of class that has spaces available free of charge.
Unfortunately, because spots are limited, no credit is given for partial attendance. No portion of the tuition will be refunded if the child is absent, withdrawn, or otherwise fails to complete the activity.