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 29 at 9am. Click HERE to view a full list of upcoming classes.
Preschool Move, Play, & Grow: Autumn Leaves
Friday, October 10 ~ 10am to 11am
Join our seasonally 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 Davies, MS OTR/L
Kids Explore Nature: All About Bats
Saturday, October 11 ~ 10am to 12pm
Young explorers will learn all about the importance of bats in our environment and how to help these night time friends as together we make and take home a bat haven! Designed for kids ages 4 to 7 with an adult guardian, families will meet at 577’s Outdoor Stage for fun and games and then move to our Green Door Studio to build a wooden bat house with help from their adult partners. Completed bat houses will be approximately 18″ x 25″.
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. Please dress for the weather as part of the class will be outside.
577 Staff Instructors: Nancy & John Salerno
Watercolor for Kids: Pumpkins (Ages 7-12)
Monday, October 13 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Looking for a fun and creative way to spend the day off from school? This youth art class, designed for ages 7 to 12, invites young artists to explore the beauty of watercolor through seasonal subjects. We’ll begin by practicing watercolor tips and tricks, experimenting with techniques that bring color and texture to life. Then, we’ll turn our focus to observing the unique shapes, shades, and details of pumpkins, using them as inspiration for our artwork.
With plenty of guidance and encouragement, participants will have the freedom to make their work their own. Each artist can choose to use their final 9×12″ sheet of watercolor paper to create one or two detailed pumpkin paintings, or four smaller pumpkin-themed cards perfect for sharing with friends and family.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose
Youth Pottery: Draw & Sculpt Dragons (Ages 7-17)
Saturday, October 18 ~ 9:30am to 12pm
Let your child’s imagination take flight in this magical dragon-themed art class! In the first half, your child will learn basic drawing techniques while exploring how to draw their very own dragon. With step-by-step guidance, they’ll sketch unique dragon designs, learning about shapes, proportions, and expressions. A small sketchbook, pencil, and art eraser are included with the class.
In the second half, we’ll bring those dragons to life—using the pinch pot technique to sculpt a dragon from clay! Kids will learn how to form a basic shape and add features like wings, tails, horns, and more to match their sketches. Once their clay dragons are complete, everyone will have the opportunity to use colorful underglazes to paint them. After class, pieces will be clear-glazed and kiln-fired by our staff. Completed artwork will be ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks, with an email notification when they’re finished.
Class Notes: 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
Family Pottery: Turkey Platter (Ages 5-12/Adult 18+)
Saturday, October 18 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm
Create a lasting Thanksgiving memory together in this hands-on family pottery class! Each adult and child duo will design and decorate a one-of-a-kind large oval ceramic serving platter—perfect for your holiday table or as a cherished keepsake.
Using a pre-rolled clay slab, you’ll trace your handprints and turn them into festive turkeys using underglazes. Personalize your platter with fun texture stamps, fall-themed decorations, and a selection of letter stamps to add names, dates, or messages like “Give Thanks” or “Made with Love.”
No prior pottery experience needed. Your instructor will guide you through the fun process from layout and design to painting. Platters will be clear-glazed and kiln-fired by staff and ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks—just in time for Thanksgiving! We will send email notifications when they are ready. This class is designed for youth ages 5-12 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Preschool: Pumpkin Fun!
Tuesday, October 21 ~ 10am to 10:45am
Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will delight in a hands-on exploration of pumpkins and other plants and trees in fall. Together, you’ll enjoy a story, science experiment, songs, games, and a craft.
This engaging experience is designed to spark curiosity and creativity while fostering special moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, play, and grow together!
Class Notes: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.
Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider
Youth Art Adventures: Halloween Party!
Friday, October 24 ~ 10am to 11:15am
Friday, October 31 ~ 10am to 11:15am *New date added!
Celebrate Halloween through story, music, movement, and hands-on creativity. Designed for children ages 2 to 6 years old and their adult partner, this playful class explores lots of Halloween fun, including a story, song and dance, crafts, and a special sweet treat at the end! Kiddos can also come dressed up in their costumes.
Class Notes: Cost is per child; please register each child attending. Adults are free, and caregivers should attend class with their child. Treats may include dairy, wheat, and nuts.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
Mindfulness for Families
Saturday, October 25 ~ 11:30am to 1pm
Families are invited to explore mindfulness practices that promote focus, calm, self-awareness, and compassion. The first half of class will introduce fun and calming yoga poses, breathing techniques for focus and self-regulation, and a “kindfulness” approach to cultivate compassion for both self and others. Afterwards, families can continue their mindfulness journey on a self-guided tour through the 577 grounds, following signs from The Mindfulness Deck that will be displayed along the way.
Class notes: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers. For ages 4+. The Mindfulness Deck is authored by instructor Jenn McCullough and illustrated by the late Sara Kear. The Mindfulness Deck is available for purchase in 577’s Welcome Center and Curiosity Shop.
Community Instructor: Jenn McCullough
Intro to Crochet for Families (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)
Saturday, November 1 ~ 10am to 12pm
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
Family Pottery: Plates for Santa & Reindeer (Ages 5-8/Adult 18+)
Saturday, November 8 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Bring the holiday magic to life in this festive family pottery class. In this workshop, children ages 5 to 8 and their accompanying adult (18+) will work together to create two special Christmas snack-sized plates—one for Santa’s cookies and one for the reindeer’s carrots. The result is something to cherish, as these handmade keepsakes are sure to become a treasured part of your family’s Christmas traditions for years to come.
Guided by your instructor, families will cut plate shapes from pre-rolled clay slabs and place them into molds. From there, you’ll decorate with festive stamps, textures, and personalized words or messages. Once the designs are complete, you’ll use colorful underglazes to paint your creations, making each plate truly unique.
Staff will glaze and fire the plates after class, ensuring food-safe, beautifully finished pieces. Expect pickup in about two to three weeks, and we’ll send an email when they’re ready. This class is designed for youth ages 5-8 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Preschool: Sleepy Animals
Tuesday, November 11 ~ 10am to 10:45am
Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will have fun learning about animals that hibernate. Together, you’ll enjoy a story, music, games, and a craft.
This engaging experience is designed to spark curiosity and creativity while fostering special moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, play, and grow together!
Class Notes: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.
Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider
Youth Pottery: Clay Igloo Diarama (Ages 7-17)
Tuesday, November 11 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
This class is perfect for the kiddo in your life who loves winter. Young makers will create a pinch pot and transform it into a charming igloo with just a few easy steps. Next, they’ll craft an “ice slab” base and add playful decorations to make each igloo one-of-a-kind.
Demos will include how to make penguins, snowmen, ladders, polar bears, campfires, and other winter-inspired creations. Participants will add color with underglazes during class, and staff will apply the final glaze after the bisque firing. Pottery will be ready for pick-up in about two to three weeks, and an email notification will be sent when it is ready.
Class Notes: 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
Preschool Move, Play, & Grow: Squirrels & Acorns
Friday, November 14 ~ 10am to 11am
Join our seasonally 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 Davies, MS OTR/L
Preschool: Trees in Winter
Tuesday, November 18 ~ 10am to 10:45am
Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will have fun learning about about what happens to the trees during winter in Ohio. Together, you’ll enjoy a story, music, games, and a pinecone craft.
This engaging experience is designed to spark curiosity and creativity while fostering special moments between you and your little one. Come ready to learn, play, and grow together!
Class Notes: Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.
Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider
Youth Art Adventures: Thanksgiving in the Woods
Friday, November 21 ~ 10am to 11am
Celebrate the season of gratitude through story, music, movement, and hands-on creativity. Designed for children ages 2 to 6 years old and their adult partner, together we will read “Thanksgiving in the Woods” by Phyllis Alsdurf, listen and dance to some fun preschool tunes, and create a fun fall craft with nature’s materials.
If time and weather permit, we will also take a short walk around the 577 grounds finding things in nature to be grateful for.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
Family Pottery: Snowpeople! (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)
Monday, November 24 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
Get into the winter spirit with this fun and festive pottery project. In this family class, children ages 7–17 and their accompanying adult (18+) will each create a clay snowperson using simple pinch pot techniques. These handmade snowpeople will be a charming seasonal keepsake to display year after year.
Learn to shape cheerful snowpeople and add fun details, then craft accessories like scarves, hats, or earmuffs to give each piece personality. Once the designs are complete, you’ll decorate the accessories with colorful underglazes to make every snowperson unique.
Staff will apply a final clear glaze and complete the firing after class, ensuring beautifully finished, durable pieces. Expect pickup in about two to three weeks, and we’ll send an email when they’re ready. This class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Handmade Holidays: Upcycled Cards, Tags & More!
Tuesday, November 25 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Welcome the holiday season by creating one-of-a-kind and sustainable holiday crafts! As a way to reduce waste and create handmade gifts this season, we will reuse materials like Christmas cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, scrapbook paper, fabrics, ribbon, and more, to create exciting papercrafts to share with friends and family.
Each participant has the option to create gift tags, greeting cards, paper garlands, and/or collages from a plethora of holiday ephemera. All supplies are provided, but feel free to bring any special or antique holiday keepsakes to incorporate into your art—think Christmas cards and notes, stamps, decorated shopping bags, wrapping paper scraps, ribbon, and more.
Class Note: Participants ages 12-15 may join with a registered adult, and ages 16-17 are welcome to attend on their own.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
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.