Youth & Family

Intro to Loom Knitting for Families: Baskets

Saturday, April 19 ~ 10am to 12pm

This beginner-friendly class is the perfect, risk-free way for a child and their favorite adult to explore loom knitting together. Designed specifically for pairs—one child (ages 7-17) and one adult (18+)—this class provides a fun, hands-on experience using 577’s knitting looms.

In this class, you’ll learn loom knitting terminology and get familiar with the tools. You’ll master the basics, including how to cast-on, knit, and finish a project. By the end, you both will then create a 4 in. x 4 in. or 5 in x 5 in basket to take home. All materials are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own 24- or 31-peg loom and hook if they’d like. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm.

Each registration is for one (1) youth (ages 7-17) with one (1) accompanying adult (18+). Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany each registered youth.

577 Staff Instructor: Lindsay Grider

Kids Explore Nature: Plant a Healthy Garden

Saturday, April 19 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm

Young explorers aged four to seven and their adult partners will have fun discovering the connection between the food we eat and the health of our bodies. Through hands-on activities, we’ll learn which foods fuel our brains, hearts, lungs, and more. Children will also create seed tape to take home and plant for a healthy garden!

This engaging experience is designed to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, grow, and explore together!

Class Notes: Cost is per child—please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Caregivers should attend class with their child. Part of this class will take place outdoors—please dress for the weather. In the event of bad weather, the entire class will be held in Virginia’s House ~ Garage Studio.

Community Instructors: Nancy & John Salerno

Youth Art Adventures: Earth Day!

Tuesday, April 22 ~ 10am to 11:15am

Celebrate Earth Day (April 22) through story, art, music, and games! Designed for children ages 2 to 6 years old and their adult partner, this engaging experience will introduce little learners to the wonders of our planet. Together, we’ll enjoy short stories about recycling, litter, the importance of water, and caring for earth, followed by a fun sorting game and lively Earth Day tunes.

Each child will create an eco-friendly art project using recycled puzzle pieces and everyday household items like toilet paper rolls, bubble wrap, and cardboard. Weather permitting, we’ll also take a nature walk to explore the beauty and wonder of our surroundings. Come ready to celebrate, create, and connect with nature!

Class Notes: Cost is per child—please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Caregivers should attend class with their child. Part of this class will take place outdoors—please dress for the weather. In the event of bad weather, the entire class will be held in Virginia’s House.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Youth Art Adventures: The Living Wonder of Trees

Friday, April 25 ~ 10am to 11:15am

Celebrate Arbor Day (April 25) with stories, music, and art! Designed for children ages 2 to 6 and their adult partners, this engaging class will explore the wonders of trees through storytelling, music, and hands-on creativity. Together, we’ll read April’s StoryWalk book, “Pando: The Living Wonder of Trees” written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Turine Tran, enjoy fun preschool tunes, and discover fascinating facts about trees.

Each child will create a tree-inspired craft using a variety of art supplies. Weather permitting, we’ll also take a walk along the StoryWalk® trail to experience the beauty of trees up close. Come ready to read, explore, and create!

Class Notes: We will meet in Virginia’s House Dining Room before heading outside for the StoryWalk®. In the event of rain, we will stay inside to read the StoryWalk® book. Please dress appropriately. Cost for the class is per child—please register each child attending. Adults are free and should attend class with their child.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Flower Vases ~ Family Pottery: Ages 7-17 / Adult 18+

Monday, April 28 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

Join us in the Pottery Studio for a fun, hands-on family class where you’ll create two custom flower vases—one to give and one to keep, unless you can’t bear to part with either!

Each pair will receive two extruded cylinders to transform into unique vases by adding a base and embellishments. Led by Alison, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, the class will explore different decoration and texture techniques, with plenty of inspiring examples to spark creativity. If time allows, there will be an opportunity to paint our decorations with underglazes for that perfect pop of color!

Once completed, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed in your choice of color, and fired again. Finished pieces will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, with email notifications sent when they are ready.

Class note: This family class is for both children and their accompanying adults to enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Class is open to children 7 to 17 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Nature Collages: Butterflies & Moths • Ages 12+

Thursday, May 1 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm

Let your creativity take flight as you transform paper scraps into vibrant collages inspired by butterflies and moths. Using recycled book pages, scrapbook paper, marbled paper, scrap art pages, and more, participants will cut and paste beautiful and one-of-a-kind collages of various butterflies and moths. Stabilo woody pencils and other drawing utensils such as oil pastels and crayons will also be available to add more color, detail, and fun mark-making to the paper scraps.

Finished collages will be on 8.5″ x 11″ speckled or plain paper. All supplies are included, but feel free to bring any ephemera you would like to incorporate.

Class Note: Participants ages 12 to 15 may attend with a registered adult; both the youth and accompanying adult must register. Ages 16 to 17 may attend independently with their own registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Preschool: Are You My Mother?

Monday, May 5 ~ 10am to 10:45am

Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will enjoy hearing the classic children’s story, “Are You My Mother?,” written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss. We’ll also enjoy activities inspired by the story such as games, music, and a special craft each child will make as a gift for their mother.

This hands-on experience is designed to spark curiosity and creativity while fostering special moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, play, and explore together!

Class Note: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.

Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider

Youth Art Adventures: Fancy Fish

Friday, May 23 ~ 10am to 11:15am

Dive into the fascinating world of fish through story, music, movement, and hands-on creativity. Designed for children ages 2 to 6 years old and their adult partner, this playful class introduces young learners to the many wonders of fish life.

Together, we’ll read “Freaky, Funky Fish: Odd Facts About Fascinating Fish” by Debra Kempf Schumaker, sing along to fun preschool tunes, and create a unique art project using recycled materials. At the end of class, we’ll take a short walk to the Geodesic Biodome to visit 577’s koi pond and learn more about these colorful fish in their home habitat.

Class Notes: Cost is per child, please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Caregivers should attend class with their child. Part of this class will take place outdoors, please dress for the weather. In the event of bad weather, the entire class will be held in Virginia’s House.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Little Chefs: Pizza Party!

Tuesday, May 6 ~ 11am to 1pm

School’s almost out for the summer – let’s celebrate with a pizza party! Get your chef-in-training registered for this hands-on cooking class where students will work together to prepare delicious, personal pizzas using naan bread and bake up an easy parmesan garlic knot appetizer. We’ll conclude with one of summer’s best treats, an ice cream float, but with a cream soda twist and homemade whipped cream. It’s pizza party time!

Recommended for ages 7 to 12. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis—please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Kids should arrive wearing closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing that can get a little messy (aprons will be provided). Perrysburg Schools are closed for Teacher Inservice on this day, and homeschoolers are warmly welcome, too.

577 Staff Instructor: Kelly Rose Hirsh

Preschool Move, Play, & Grow: Springtime is Here!

Friday, May 9 ~ 10am to 11am

Join our Springtime themed sensory + motor fun fest for kids ages 2.5 to 5 and their caregiver. All activities are designed and led by an occupational therapist to boost coordination for little hands, eyes, and the whole body, while also supporting sensory processing, social skills, self-regulation, and more. It’s a playful blend of learning, fun, and helping kiddos get ready to conquer the world of play, sports, and beyond.

Class Note: Weather and time permitting, we may venture outside onto the beautiful 577 grounds toward the end of class.

Community Instructor: Mary Davis

Preschool: Science, Stories & Songs

Wednesday, May 14 ~ 10am to 10:45am

Spark curiosity and connection in this playful, hands-on class designed for preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners. This session invites little learners to explore the wonders of science through simple experiments, interactive games, joyful music, a themed story, and a fun, science-based craft to take home.

This engaging experience is more than just learning—it’s about sharing sweet, creative moments together and building a love for discovery that lasts a lifetime. Perfect for curious minds and playful hearts!

Class Note: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.

Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider

Porcupine Pencil & Pen Holders ~ Youth Pottery: Ages 7 to 17

Thursday, May 15 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

This fun and interactive pottery class is perfect for the young artist in your life! In this hands-on session, each child will create a quirky porcupine pencil holder using simple pinch pot techniques. Led by Alison Buchanan, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, children will learn how to shape their pot and bring their porcupine to life by adding a head, eyes, and nose.

Once complete, each child will have the opportunity to finish their piece with underglazes. After bisque firing, staff will apply a final glaze. These whimsical pencil holders will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, with email notifications sent when they are ready.

Class note: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required. Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Youth participants may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time. 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Intro to Crochet for Families

Saturday, May 17 ~ 3pm to 5pm

Learn to crochet together as a family! Whether you need a refresher or you’ve never picked up a hook before, each adult and child pair will focus on how to tie a slip knot, how to chain stitch (the foundation of crochet), and the single crochet stitch. Each participant will create a project of their choice – a dishcloth, a coaster, a scarf, or a little lap blanket.

Participants will have a variety of yarns and tools on hand to choose from. We’ll start by choosing your desired project, your yarn color, and the correct sized hook. All supplies are included to reduce beginner frustration from using the wrong tools. Everyone will receive a crochet hook and a ball of yarn along with handouts for reference when practicing and helping each other at home.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7 to 17, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

Community Instructor: Annie Johnson

Kids Explore Nature: What is this Rock?

Saturday, May 24 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Young explorers aged four(4) to seven (7) and their adult partners will have fun discovering the beauty and science of rocks. Through hands-on activities, we’ll learn the different types of rocks and how they are formed. We’ll observe their colors, textures, and shapes, perform a simple science experiment, and finish by starting our very own rock collection.

This engaging experience is designed to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, grow, and explore together!

Class Notes: Cost is per child—please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Caregivers should attend class with their child. Part of this class will take place outdoors—please dress for the weather. In the event of bad weather, the entire class will be held in Virginia’s House ~ Garage Studio.

Community Instructors: Nancy & John Salerno

Fantastic Clay Fishbowls ~ Youth Pottery: Ages 7 to 17

Wednesday, May 28 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

This fun and creative pottery class is perfect for the young artist in your life—especially those who love aquatic or plant life! In this hands-on session, each child will roll out slabs of clay and use them to create their own imaginative fishbowl or terrarium scene. Led by Alison Buchanan, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, children will learn how to clean edges and shape all kinds of fun additions—like fish, sea creatures, and plants for aquariums, or bugs, leaves, and flowers for terrariums.

Once their designs are assembled, each child will personalize their creation with underglazes, adding bright stripes, colors, and patterns to bring their scene to life. After the first kiln firing, 577 staff will apply a clear glaze to give each piece a glossy finish and added durability. Projects will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, and an email will be sent when they’re ready.

Class note: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required. Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Youth participants may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time. 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Slab of Summer ~ Youth Pottery Camp: Ages 7 to 13

Session I: Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Session II: Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25 ~  9:30am to 11:30am

Slab of Summer ~ Youth Pottery Camp: Ages 14 to 17

Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Join the 577 pottery staff for a fun and creative weeklong exploration of clay! Led by Pottery Coordinator Alison Buchanan, this exciting camp invites young artists to explore the endless possibilities of clay.

Throughout the week, your kiddo will learn foundational hand-building techniques such as pinch, slab, and coil to craft a variety of unique projects. Inspired by animals, nature, and the beautiful surroundings of 577, we will create a new piece each day, with a special project designed exclusively for summer camp. Toward the end of the session, everyone will get to experience the glazing process firsthand on one of their pieces (all other pieces will be glazed by staff due to firing limitations).

This camp is open to two age groups, with dedicated sessions for each. For ages 7 to 13, we are offering two sessions. Each session will feature fresh projects, so students are welcome to sign up for both. All materials and firings are included. No prior experience is necessary. Drop-off and pick-up information: Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Children should be dropped off at the start of class and picked up promptly at the scheduled end time.

Get ready to roll up your sleeves, play with clay, and bring your imagination to life at 577 this summer!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Registration opens on Wednesday, April 30, at 9am for all sessions.