Youth & Family

Youth Art Adventures: Monarchs

Friday, August 22 ~ 10am to 11am

Discover the magical world of monarch butterflies 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 the many wonders of a monarch’s life cycle.

We’ll read The Monarch by Kirsten Hall and Isabelle Arsenault, sing along to fun preschool tunes, explore the stages of a butterfly’s life, and create a colorful monarch craft to take home. Weather permitting, we’ll wrap up with a short walk to visit the Flutter Hut on the 577 grounds.

Class Notes: Cost is per child; please register each child attending. Caregivers attend for free and must stay with their child for the duration of the class.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Family Pottery: Fall Fun! (Ages 5-6/Adult 18+)

Tuesday, August 26 ~ 9:30am to 11am

Join us for a hands-on, creative afternoon perfect for little hands and big imaginations! In this family-friendly pottery class, children ages 5 to 6 and their grown-up partners will roll up their sleeves to make festive fall-themed decorations like pumpkins, bats, apples, and more.

We’ll start with soft, pre-rolled clay slabs—no mess or stress! Using fun cookie cutters, your family will create a variety of autumn shapes, then add texture and detail for extra fall flair. Finish by painting your pieces with bright, cheerful colors to bring your creations to life. Each family will leave with their own collection of handmade hangers, ornaments, and magnets—perfect for decorating your home or sharing as seasonal gifts. These little treasures look adorable on wreaths, in windows, or on the fridge!

After class, your pieces will be bisque-fired, glazed with a clear coat for shine and durability, and fired again by our staff. We’ll email you in about two weeks when your finished pieces are ready for pickup. This class is designed for children ages 5–6 with an accompanying adult (18+). No pottery experience needed—just bring your smiles and get ready for a clay-filled afternoon of creativity and fall fun!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Preschool Move, Play, & Grow: Insects!

Friday, August 29 ~ 10am to 11am

Join our insect-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

Family Pottery: Fall Into Clay! (Ages 5-6/Adult 18+)

Friday, September 5 ~ 10am to 11am

Celebrate the cozy season with a creative family experience in clay! In this playful, hands-on class, young artists (ages 5 and 6) and their grown-up (18+) will work together to make fall/Halloween-themed trinket trays using the push-pot method—a fun way to create shallow, bowl-like pieces perfect for holding treasures, snacks, or seasonal décor.

Your instructor will guide everyone through the process as they choose from a variety of festive shapes like pumpkins, leaves, apples, silly ghosts, spider webs, candy corn, and even real leaves. Learn how to press and shape soft clay over molds or into forms to give each piece depth and structure. Every creation will be one-of-a-kind! Once shaped, families will decorate their trays with underglazes, adding bright fall colors and personal touches to bring their pieces to life.

After class, artwork will be bisque-fired, glazed with a clear coat for durability, and fired again by our studio staff. You’ll receive an email when your finished creations are ready for pickup, usually in about 2 to 3 weeks. This class is designed for children ages 5–6 with an accompanying adult (18+). No pottery experience needed—just bring your smiles and get ready for a clay-filled morning of creativity and fall fun!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Kids Explore Nature: The Magnificent Vulture

Saturday, September 6 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Young explorers aged four (4) to seven (7) and their adult partners will have fun learning about this majestic bird and its importance in nature. We’ll do some family science activities and spend time outside on the beautiful grounds of 577 exploring the amazing abilities of these incredible creatures. We’ll even create our own make & take vulture wings project. 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.

Community Instructors: Nancy & John Salerno

Preschool: Fun with Frogs ~ Look Who’s Jumping!

Tuesday, September 9 ~ 10am to 10:45am

Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will delight in a hands-on exploration of frogs. Together, you’ll enjoy a frog story, songs, games, and a hoppin’ good 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

Little Chefs: Fantastic Fruit Pizza

Thursday, September 11 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

Get your young chef in the kitchen with friends to make a delicious and beautiful fruit pizza! We’re taking advantage of the season’s abundance of fresh fruit by arranging it on top of a homemade, soft cookie crust covered in cream cheese frosting. Kids will work together in Virginia’s Kitchen as they learn the steps to prepare the cookie and simple frosting base. Then, we’ll let their creativity flow, as they decorate their own personal pizza with their favorite fruit toppings in a delightful pattern of their choice. Recipes will be sent home with each little chef so that they can recreate their masterpiece at home!

Class Notes: Recommended for ages 5–12 (exceptions may be considered; contact cstose@577foundation.org). Kids should wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get messy—aprons provided. We’ll be tasting the food we prepare, so please inform us of any dietary restrictions before registering. This menu includes dairy and gluten; while we try to accommodate allergies, substitutions may be limited due to cost and class time.

577 Staff Instructor: Kelly Rose Hirsh

Youth Art Adventures: Dot Day!

Friday, September 12 ~ 10am to 11am

Celebrate International Dot Day (September 15) in this fun and colorful class for 2 to 6-year-olds and their adult guardian, designed to explore creativity, color, and art together. We will first meet in the Dining Room of Virginia’s House, and then head out to the StoryWalk trail to read “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. Then we will gather back inside to get hands-on by experimenting with different craft materials and techniques, such as paints, pencils, and crayons, to create Dot Day works of art.

Class Notes: In the event of rain or extreme heat, we will stay inside Virginia’s House to read the StoryWalk book. Please register each participating child individually; adults attend free as part of their role as caregivers.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Preschool: Fun with Birds ~ Where Are They Going?

Tuesday, September 23 ~ 10am to 10:45am

Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will learn why birds and other animals migrate south for the winter. Together we’ll enjoy a story, music, games and a craft. Weather permitting, we’ll also take a walk on the 577 grounds to see if we can spy any migrating birds. 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: Ramen Bowl & Cup (Ages 7-17)

Thursday, September 25 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Calling all young artists ready to get creative! In this hands-on pottery class, kids will explore texture, form, and design while making their very own ramen bowl and matching cup—perfect for their next noodle night.

Your instructor will guide each participant as they begin with a pre-made bowl base, then roll and shape clay coils to build the walls of their bowl. For the cup, kids will use the pinch pot method—a fun, beginner-friendly technique that lets them shape the clay with their fingers to create a small drinking cup. Along the way, they’ll add fun details, stamps, and surface textures to personalize their pieces. After class, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed with a clear coat, and fired again by our studio staff. We’ll email you in about 2 to 3 weeks when your finished artwork is ready for pickup.

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: Birds!

Friday, September 26 ~ 10am to 11am

Join our bird-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

Family Pottery: Painted Sipper Cups (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)

Monday, September 29 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

Join us in the Pottery Studio for a fun, hands-on family class where you’ll create two custom sipper cups hand-painted by you! This class is open to children ages 7–17 with an adult over 18. No experience needed—just come ready to get creative and make something special together!

Receive step-by-step guidance as you transform two extruded cylinders (one per person) into unique sipper cups by adding a base, top, and decorative elements. You’ll explore different decoration techniques with plenty of inspiring examples to spark creativity, and paint your decorations with underglazes for that perfect pop of color.

Once completed, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed in clear, and fired again. Finished pieces will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, with email notifications sent when they are ready. This class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+). 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Pumpkin Trinket Tray (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)

Monday, October 6 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Celebrate the season with some fall-inspired creativity! In this hands-on family pottery class, each adult and child duo will create their very own Pumpkin Patch Trinket Tray—perfect for holding treasures, treats, or festive decor.

Start by learning how to roll out your own clay slabs, then shape them into a tray form. Together, you’ll sculpt miniature pumpkins and fall-themed accessories—like leaves, vines, or acorns—to decorate your tray. Kids and adults will both enjoy the creative process of building and designing side-by-side.

Once your tray is assembled, you’ll have fun painting it with vibrant underglazes. Afterward, our studio staff will apply a clear glaze and fire it in the kiln. Completed artwork will be ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks, with an email notification when they’re finished. This class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+).

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Preschool: Spectacular Spiders!

Tuesday, October 7 ~ 10am  to 10:45am

Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult partners will delight in a hands-on exploration of nature’s eight-legged artists: spiders! Together, you’ll enjoy a spider story, 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

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

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

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

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 11am

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