Junior Center of Art and Science
For rising 1st-8th graders, the Junior Center of Art and Science Summer Camp (CAMP JCAS) offers full day, arts-integrated engagements for young artists, makers and thinkers. Our projects are led by professional artists and educators who inspire a safe, open, and creative environment where campers feel encouraged to take risks, explore, and try their hand at a wide variety of arts and science activities including carpentry, game design, comics and more!
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 before April 15th.
Don’t worry about camps filling up, we account for this and ensure every camp is available for scholarship students.
Parents! Did you know JCAS is a 501c3 nonprofit? We are dedicated to offering equitable access to arts and science education. You can now support our mission directly using our Pay It Forward Program.
When registering your student for a camp, 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.
Learn more about our pay it forward program.
We provide one-of-a-kind learning experiences for more than 1,500 students every year. Most of our students – more than 70% – get financial assistance from Junior Center to be able to attend our classes and camps. You can make a donation today to support all of our programs – camps, classes, free workshops, and a gallery space for emerging Bay Area artists – to ensure equitable access to arts &science education for all.
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 Thursday, 12/12 at 12:00 PM
Registration closes on Friday, 1/10 at 4:00 PM
Join us for STEAM Night 2024 at Franklin Elementary in Oakland, CA.
STEAM is an educational approach that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM is an evolution of STEM education that adds the arts to the mix. It’s designed to help students develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation skills.
Here at the Junior Center we harness the power of creativity and experiential learning to inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Join JCAS Teaching Artist Zachary Sweet as he works with ARISE High schoolers on bringing their Poster Art to life!
Poster Arts is a chance for students to build graphic design skills while imagining themselves working in their dream industry. Some students chose to make concert posters, while others made political posters.
JCAS is pleased to introduce a new Early Childhood Enrichment program in collaboration with The Center for Early Childhood Connections (CECC).
CECC provides relationship focused, culturally attuned, and collaborative educational, mental health and wellness supports starting from pregnancy through age eight, for young children and those who care for them.
All classes take place at 558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA.
The Peace Arts class is designed to promote the resilience of young children ages 2 – 5 by building trust with their caregivers and engagement in positive, therapeutic and FUN arts experiences. The class is co-taught by two experienced staff: a Teaching Artist and an endorsed Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioner who lead the group in engaging projects that allow for healthy relationships building, self-expression, sensory integration and exploration of the amazing world around us. One infant sibling (Under 6mo) may participate for free with an older sibling and adult caregiver.
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, please email us at [email protected] for financial aid. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. Apply today!
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.
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.
In the event you need to cancel your child’s enrollment, we offer the following refunds:
All purchases include a 10% non-refundable deposit to cover administrative costs.
From 12/2 – 12/28, you will receive a 90% refund.
From 12/29 – 1/14, you will receive a 40% refund.
From 1/15 on, we are not able to offer any refunds.
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’.
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 or camp, 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.
Your donation of either 100%, 50%, 25%, or 15% of the cost of tuition will go directly to our Scholarship Fund. This fund subsidizes tuition costs for low-income members of our community. We encourage families to help support our efforts to make programs available to those in need.
This portion of your purchase will be 100% tax deductible. You will be emailed a gift receipt to reflect the portion of your purchase that is a donation.
If you have any questions about this process, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support of our mission.
Looking for a fun and enriching way for your young creative to spend the day while you finish your holiday preparations? Join us on Monday, December 23rd for our Winter Camp!
Our camp is packed with hands-on activities that celebrate the season. Campers will explore printmaking, digital illustration, and 3D design, creating festive projects like luminaries, sculptures, and holiday cards to take home.
Monday, Dec 23rd 9am – 3pm
$85 – $125 Sliding scale
Aftercare available until 4pm for $25
Scholarships available! See below
For ages 6-11. Campers will be split off into two age groups. Read the descriptions below to learn about each group’s focus.
At the end of December, many cultures and traditions celebrate the longest night and shortest day of the year, and the return of the light. We gather together out of the cold and bring light and warmth to the darkness. Let’s make luminaries to celebrate light! Students will learn to build two different types of wooden frames, which will be covered in tissue paper and glue. When dry, the luminaries will be lit with battery operated tea lights.
Students will create digital masterpieces, and bring them time life as cards, gifts and other holiday artworks. Students will first learn the fundamentals behind creating digital artwork using iPads and the ProCreate drawing tool, and then create handmade treasures based on their digital creation. Students will be able to use JCAS’ unique tech offerings as well as more traditional art materials such as paint, collage and plenty of glitter!
Throughout the class there will be tons of opportunities for exploration, play and silliness as we dive into the world of both digital and multimedia artwork!
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, please email us at [email protected] for financial aid. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. Apply today!
OUR REFUND POLICY HAS CHANGED.
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 11/23 – 12/07, you will receive a 90% refund.
From 12/08 – 12/15, you will receive a 40% refund.
From 12/16 on, we are not able to offer any refunds.
At the Junior Center, we are working hard to implement best practices to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. We are following guidelines put forth by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the City of Oakland, the State of California, the Center for Disease Control, the federal government, and the World Health Organization.
If an individual has had prolonged contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must quarantine for 5 days from known contact. On the fifth day, they must test negative and be asymptomatic before returning to the classroom.
If an individual tests positive, they must quarantine for 7 days. On the 7th day they must test negative and remain asymptomatic before returning to the classroom.
If an individual is experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 they must quarantine for 5 days from beginning of symptoms. On the fifth day, they must test negative and be asymptomatic before returning to the classroom.
If you have any questions or concerns about our policies, feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Thank for your cooperation in keeping our community healthy and safe.
AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES ARE BACK Fall 2021 After school opens Friday, September 3rd! Virtual and In person classes, everything from carpentry to technology to music. Join in the fun today – http://www.juniorcenter.org  Junior Center Space Update Junior Center will be under renovation through June 2022. While we get ready for an improved facility, we will be located in Downtown Oakland behind the Fox theatre. You can find us at 555 19th Street, Suite 131. Fall 2021 in person program will happen at this location.  |
