Inspire curiosity and creativity with Youth & Family classes at 577. Designed to mirror adult programming, these hands-on experiences introduce young learners and families to arts, cooking, nature, gardening, skill-building, and more. Taught by passionate community educators and 577 staff, each class encourages exploration, learning, and connection in a supportive environment. With small class sizes, participants enjoy personalized instruction in the Pottery Studio, Cottage, Virginia’s House, and the beautiful gardens and grounds of 577—where discovery happens naturally.
Join us for engaging, family-friendly learning experiences that spark a love for creativity and the natural world.
Upcoming Classes
December classes open for registration on Wednesday, October 28, at 9am. Click HERE to view a full list of upcoming classes.
Family Pottery: Cookie Plate for Santa & Reindeer
Monday, November 2 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
Ages 5-8/Adults 18+
Designed for youth ages 5 to 8 and an accompanying adult, this hands-on family pottery class brings a little extra holiday magic to the table! Together, each pair will create two special holiday plates, one for Santa’s cookies and one for the reindeer’s carrots. These handmade keepsakes can become part of your family’s holiday traditions for years to come.
Your instructor will guide families step by step, beginning with pre-rolled clay slabs. Families will cut out their plate shapes and place them into molds before adding their own creative touches. Use festive stamps and textures, add personalized words or messages, and have fun creating two one-of-a-kind designs together.
Once the clay work is complete, families will decorate their plates with underglazes (liquid colored clay), bringing their designs to life with their own colors and creative details. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Families will be notified by email when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.
Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 5 and 8, with one accompanying adult age 18 or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany each registered youth. If an adult would like to attend with multiple youth participants, please register each youth individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Art: Tie Dyeing ~ Fall into Tie Dye
Tuesday, November 10 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm
Ages 7-17/Adults 18+
Learn how to create an autumn-inspired tie-dye design in this family class. Using a unique folding and dye placement technique, participants will create a colorful fall pattern featuring warm shades of burnt orange, mustard yellow, deep red, golden brown, and earthy greens. Each person will design and dye their own long-sleeve shirt while learning the basics of color placement, pattern folding, and dye application. With different color combinations and dye patterns, every shirt will be one-of-a-kind.
All materials are provided; simply note your shirt size at registration. Participants will take their shirts home damp and sealed in a bag, along with rinse-out instructions and textile detergent to help preserve the vibrant colors. Please come dressed to get a little messy and have a lot of fun!
Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) or two (2) youth between the ages of 7 and 17, with one accompanying adult age 18 or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the registered youth participant(s).
Community Instructor: Michelle Fisher
Preschool Move, Play & Grow: Leaves
Friday, November 13 ~ 10am to 11am*
Ages 2.5-5 & Adult 18+
Join our leaf-themed sensorimotor fun fest for kids ages 2.5-5 and their caregiver. Dive into creative activity stations designed and led by an occupational therapist to boost coordination for little hands, eyes, and the whole body as well as supporting sensory processing, social skills, self-regulation and more.
It’s a playful mix of learning, fun, and getting ready to conquer the world of play, sports, and beyond!
*New Class Date: Moved from October 23 to November 13
Community Instructor: Mary Davies, OT
Youth Art Adventures: Color Palooza
Friday, November 20 ~ 10am to 11am
Ages 2-6 & Adult 18+
Discover the magic of color through story, music, movement, and hands-on creativity. Designed for children ages 2 to 6 and their adult partner, this playful class introduces young learners to primary and secondary colors, color mixing, and more. Together, we’ll read a story or two about colors and color mixing, listen to some fun preschool tunes, and play with color in several craft stations.
Class Notes: Cost is per child; please register each child attending. Adults are free, and caregivers should attend class with their child.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
Youth Pottery: Holiday Gnomes & Trees
Saturday, November 21 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Ages 7-17
Celebrate the holiday season with a little extra creativity! In this hands-on pottery class, youth ages 7–17 will use the pinch pot method to create two festive sculptures: a holiday-themed gnome and an evergreen tree.
Your instructor will guide participants step by step, demonstrating how to make a pinch pot and transform it into the basic forms of both sculptures. Along the way, youth will learn how to create and attach extra details and accessories, including the gnome’s hat, beard, and other features, as well as decorations for their tree. Each child will also explore ways to add texture and personality to make each piece their own.
Once the clay work is complete, participants will decorate their sculptures with underglazes (liquid colored clay). They can choose traditional holiday colors or create unique color combinations and designs of their own. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each sculpture will be fired and glazed to create a finished holiday keepsake. Families will be notified by email when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.
Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Youth Pottery: Cat Snack Plate & Bowl
Thursday, December 3 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
Ages 7-17
Get creative with a playful pottery project! In this new, hands-on class, youth ages 7 to 17 will create their own adorable cat-themed snack set, featuring a square plate decorated with a cat’s body and a matching bowl shaped like a cat’s head.
Your instructor will guide participants step by step, beginning with pre-rolled clay slabs. Youth will learn how to cut out their square plates and carefully place them into molds to give them shape. They’ll also learn how to form their cat-head bowls, creating ears and adding fun details and textures to bring their cats to life. Along the way, participants will explore ways to add personality and make each piece their own.
Once the clay work is complete, participants will decorate their pieces with underglazes (liquid colored clay). They can get creative with different colors, markings, and facial features to give their cats their own unique personalities. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Families will be notified by email when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.
Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Pottery: Cookie Plate for Santa
Monday, December 7 ~ 10am to 11am
Ages 4-6/Adults 18+
Designed for youth ages 4 to 6 and an accompanying adult, this hands-on family pottery class brings a little extra holiday magic to the table! Together, each pair will create a special plate for Santa’s cookies on Christmas Eve, complete with a handmade clay cookie. This personalized keepsake can become part of your family’s holiday traditions for years to come.
Your instructor will guide families step by step, beginning with a pre-rolled clay slab. Families will cut out a plate and carefully place it into a mold to give it shape. They’ll also learn how to create and attach a clay cookie before adding their own creative touches. Use festive textures, stamps, and personalized details to make each plate one of a kind.
Once the clay work is complete, families will decorate their plates with underglazes (liquid colored clay), bringing their designs to life with their own colors and creative details. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Families will be notified by email when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.
Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 4 and 6, with one accompanying adult age 18 or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany each registered youth. If an adult would like to attend with multiple youth participants, please register each youth individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Art: Tie Dyeing ~ Merry & Bright
Tuesday, December 15 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm
Ages 7-17/Adults 18+
Get into the holiday spirit by creating a festive red and green tie-dye design in this family class. Each participant will design and dye their own T-shirt while learning the basics of color placement, pattern folding, and dye application. With different color combinations and dye patterns, every shirt will be one-of-a-kind.
All materials are provided; simply note your T-shirt size at registration. Participants will take their shirts home damp and sealed in a bag, along with rinse-out instructions and textile detergent to help preserve the vibrant colors. Red and green are the featured dye colors, but other colors can be accommodated upon request. Please come dressed to get a little messy and have a lot of fun!
Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) or two (2) youth between the ages of 7 and 17, with one accompanying adult age 18 or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the registered youth participant(s).
Community Instructor: Michelle Fisher
Holiday Soap Making for Families: Festive Fun
Saturday, December 19 ~ 10am to 12pm
Ages 7-17/Adults 18+
Create fun and festive holiday-themed soaps together in this beginner-friendly family class using the Melt & Pour method—a safe, simple, and quick way to craft soaps with no lye or long curing times required.
In this class, you’ll learn the basic equipment and techniques needed to get started, along with an introduction to different soap bases, scents, colors, and additives. Adult and child pairs will then put their new skills into practice by creating four (4) unique holiday soaps. Have some festive fun and create something new while the aromas of candy cane, Christmas pine, gingerbread, and fresh snow will fill Virginia’s kitchen with holiday cheer. Participants will take home their finished soaps, soap molds, and instructions to continue creating custom soaps 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 registered youth participant. 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.
577 Staff Instructor: Lindsay Grider
Program Registration Policies & Forms
577 is committed to creating welcoming and inclusive experiences for all participants. If you have accessibility needs or require reasonable accommodations to fully participate, we encourage you to contact us before your class so we can work with you to provide appropriate support whenever possible.
Class Locations & Parking Map
Signed up for a class and need help finding your classroom location and parking? Each class description lists its location. Click the button below to view a full map of the grounds and buildings with two lots available for easy and convenient parking.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Because space is limited, we rely on you to register for classes thoughtfully. Please help us continue to offer these wonderful classes as affordably as possible by adhering to the following registration, cancellation, and refund policies.
Photo & Video Release
Photos and videos may be taken during 577 classes and events for use on our website and other relevant media outlets and your attendance constitutes consent. View the full policy below including how you can opt-out of this release.