Youth and family class topics mirror adult programming with subjects such as arts, nature, gardening, skill-building, and more. Current offerings are limited due to the pandemic but look for more classes soon. Classes are taught by community educators and 577 staff. Class sizes are small and may take place in the Cottage, House, and outdoors around the beautiful gardens and grounds of 577.
Upcoming Classes
Butterfly Feeder ~ Youth Pottery for Ages 7 to 17
Friday, June 16 ~ 10am to 12pm
This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required.
Join Emily, 577’s Pottery Fellow, in this fun class using clay to express your creativity! Each participant will make their own slab butterfly feeder, which is a shallow bowl for water. You will also receive instructions on how to use your new creation.
Emily will start with ways to be inspired by helping each student open up about what they want as their inspiration. Depending on the weather, we might even tour the gardens for a bit of inspiration. Emily will demonstrate the basics of slab construction and how to decorate using underglazes.
After the demo, students will have the opportunity to play in the clay creating their piece and then choosing their glaze color. The 577’s pottery staff will fire and glaze the pieces with pick-up scheduled a couple of weeks later.
Please note: Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Students may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time. Please remember to be on time.
No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!
June Family Pottery: For Ages 6 to 17 w/ Adult
Friday, June 16 ~ 2pm to 4pm
This family pottery class is open to children 6 to 17 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.
Join Emily, our Pottery Fellow, in this family clay class, where both adult and child can enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Learn how to make one small fish and one small owl using slabs and our “thumbprint” method for the feathers and the scales.
Emily will walk you through the simple steps of slab, coils, and thumbprint additions. Your creations will look so cute hanging on a fence, side of your house, on a garden shed, or even inside your home.
No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!
Class Registration Requirments:
• Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 6 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.
Kids Explore Nature: Bees Buzz
Saturday, June 17 ~ 10am to 12pm
Kids will love exploring the wonderful world of bees in this hands-on class.
Designed for kids ages 4 to 7 years old and an adult partner, this class will meet outside on the grounds of 577 to learn how bees give directions to their other bee friends by dancing, as well as how they buzz. They will also play games to learn about gathering nectar and be able to taste some honey.
Please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Class meets at the outdoor stage ~ please dress for the weather.
Community Instructor: Nancy and John Salerno
July Family Pottery: For Ages 6 to 17 w/ Adult
Wednesday, July 5 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
This family pottery class is open to children 6 to 17 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.
Join Emily, our Pottery Fellow, in this family clay class, where both adult and child can enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Join us for a fun morning making an extruded animal bell. Each participant will choose from 4 to 5 different styles of animals to make the outside of the bell. Each creation will also include a flapper and will be able to be hung inside or outside.
Emily will walk you through the simple steps of an extruded main body, and then how to use coils or slabs to decorate and make your animal come alive. You will then paint some or all of your creation with underglazes which is liquid-colored clay. The style and amount of painting will depend on your choice of animals and colors
No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!
Class Registration Requirments:
• Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 6 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.
Cacti & Succulents ~ Youth Pottery for Ages 10 to 17
Friday, July 7 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm
This class is open to children ages 10 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required.
Join Emily, 577’s Pottery Fellow, in this cool class using clay to express your creativity! Each participant will make a clay cactus and succulents. Each student will be provided with an already handmade pot to take home for future display of their new “plants”.
Using pinch pot, slab, and coil techniques, and being inspired by Emily’s demonstrations/example, each student will make 1 to 3 plants, depending on what style they choose and how intricate they work. Students will complete their projects by painting them with multicolored underglazes, also known as liquid-colored clay.
The 577’s pottery staff will high-fire them with pickup later in July. You will receive notification via email.
Please note: Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Students may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time. Please remember to be on time.
No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!
Little Chefs: Fiesta Fun
Tuesday, July 18 ~ 11am to 12:30pm
Calling all budding young chefs! Join us as we beat the heat while making some refreshing and delicious Mexican-inspired recipes and a fun suncatcher craft. Students will learn how to make homemade baked tortilla chips, as well as a simple and fresh guacamole. We’ll finish the class with a watermelon agua fresca – a tart-sweet drink made with one of summer’s best fruits.
Important Notes: Kids should come to class wearing closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing that can get a little messy. Aprons will be provided. We will be tasting the foods that we prepare, so please make us aware of any dietary restrictions, if they apply to your child.
577 Staff Instructor: Kelly Rose Hirsh
Kids Explore Nature: Trees
Saturday, July 22 ~ 10am to 12pm
Join us on a journey of scientific exploration to learn about the captivating world of trees. Designed for kids ages 4 to 7 year-olds with an adult guardian, students will discover why these beautiful giants around us are so special by going on a tree hunt through the 577 grounds. Kids will experience tree identification activities, try simple science experiments, and make a fun craft with paint.
Please register each child attending. Adults are free and do not need to register. Class meets at the outdoor stage ~ please dress for the weather.
Community Instructor: Nancy and John Salerno
Monster Candy Pots ~ Youth Pottery for Ages 6 to 12
Monday, July 31 ~ 10am to 11:30am
This class is open to children ages 6 to 12. No prerequisite or experience is required.
Join Emily, 577’s Pottery Fellow, in this fun class using clay to express your creativity! Each participant will make their own monster candy pot that can also be a cute vessel for things like paper clips, little trinkets, and snacks.
Using pinch pot techniques, students will make fun wide-mouth creatures from their imaginations. Emily will also demonstrate some examples for inspiration. Students will complete their projects by painting them with multicolored underglazes, also known as liquid-colored clay.
The 577’s pottery staff will glaze them clear and high-fire them to make them food safe. Pickup will be scheduled for a couple of weeks later with notification via email.
Please note: Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Students may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time. Please remember to be on time.
No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!
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.