Youth & Family

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

Youth Art Adventures: Shapes Galore
Friday, March 15 ~ 10am to 11am

Designed for 3- to 6-year-olds with their adult guardian, children will explore various shapes through story and art! We will read Brown Rabbit’s Shape Book by Alan Baker, play a shape sorting game, craft with upcycled stamps, and explore the grounds to search for shapes and colors (weather permitting).

*Cost is per child~ please register each child attending. Adults are free and caregivers MUST attend class with their child.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

March Family Pottery: For Ages 10 to 17 w/ Adult
Saturday, March 16 ~ 9am to 11:30am

This family pottery class is open to children 10 to 17 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.

Join Emily, 577’s pottery assistant, for a new family class featuring Chia Pets! This family clay class is for both child and their accompanying adult to enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Spend a fun morning in the 577 Pottery Studio and create an unforgettable project that will have you singing chi-chi-chi-chia!

Chia Pets have outlasted the 70s and now you and your little one can create one of your own. Originating in Mexico this quirky houseware is a great project not only to make but to take home and watch grow. We will use pinch pot techniques to create a pet of your choice, (dog, cat, sheep, etc.) and paint with underglazes. Once you get your project back it’s time to plant up with chia seeds provided by 577. These projects will not be glazed as they only work with permeable ceramic walls. We will create small trays for our pets to sit on to catch any water that may seep. Each pair will receive a notification via email a couple of weeks later about a pickup date.

No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!

Class Registration Requirments:
• Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 10 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.

My Home ~ Youth Pottery for Ages 10 to 17 
Monday, March 18 ~ 4:30pm to 6:30pm

This class is open to children ages 10 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required.

Join Emily, 577’s pottery assistant, in this fun class using clay to express your creativity! March’s adventure is creating a tile piece resembling your home. Using slab techniques, Emily will demonstrate how to roll out the tiles and create slab pieces that resemble the roof, siding, windows, and more. After the demo, students will have the opportunity to play in the clay creating their pieces. This is a great class for those artists who are into detail.

Students will finish class painting with underglazes to further the likeness of their home. Once finished these tiles will be made to hang on the wall. Students are encouraged to bring a photo of their home as a reference. After the tiles are bisque fired, Emily will glaze with clear to give the projects a beautiful shine and keep them durable. An email will be sent out with a pick-up date 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!

Exploring Nature’s Treasures ~ Youth: Ages 5 to 10 years old
Monday, March 25 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Start your spring break at 577! Designed for kids aged 5 to 10-year-olds, we will spend the morning having fun studying nature by sharpening our observation skills and exploring the wonders of 577. We’ll get hands-on and examine nature items found here on the grounds, such as bones, feathers, seeds, etc.

Each student will use their science and art skills to record their observations in a take-home field journal. Students will then take a walk through 577 to gather found materials they’ll use to create a nature-inspired craft.

*Cost is per child~ please register each child attending. Please dress your child(ren) for the weather, as part of class will be spent outdoors.

577 Staff Instructor: Chayli Buenger

Solar Eclipse Mythology ~ Youth: Ages 5 to 10 years old
Friday, March 29 ~ 10am to 11am

End your spring break at 577! Designed for kids aged 5 to 10 years old, this fun class will focus on learning about the upcoming solar eclipse. Time will be spent learning how people across many cultures have used mythology to explain this phenomenon. Then together, each student will have the opportunity to create a piece of art using watercolor and other mediums that feature the various examples of this mythology.

*Cost is per child~ please register each child attending. Please dress your child(ren) for the weather, as part of class will be spent outdoors.

577 Staff Instructor: Chayli Buenger

Preschool: Animals A to Z
Wednesdays, April 3, 10, 17, 24 ~ 10am to 10:45am

Designed for preschoolers and their adult caregivers, children will grow in their love for animals by exploring four different types of animals through games, songs, stories, crafts and a walk around The 577 Foundation.

*Cost is per child~ please register each child attending. Adults are free and caregivers MUST attend class with their child.

Community Instructor: Elaine Sneider

Aquarium/Terrariums ~ Youth Pottery for Ages 6 to 11 
Monday, April 1 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

This class is open to children ages 6 to 11. No prerequisite or experience is required.

Join Emily, 577’s pottery coordinator, in this fun class using clay to express your creativity! April’s adventure is perfect if the kiddo in your life is interested in aquatic or plant life. Emily will start class by demonstrating how to roll out slabs, clean edges, and make all kinds of creative shapes like fish, plants, sea life, for the aquariums and plants, bugs, and other fun for the terrariums. Reference photos will be available to help with their design.

Students will finish class customizing their designs by painting with underglazes. Adding bright stripes and patterns to fish and foliage will bring this project to life. After the first fire, Emily will glaze with clear to give the projects a beautiful shine and keep them durable. An email will be sent out with a pick-up date scheduled a couple of weeks late to schedule pickup.

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!

April Family Pottery: For Ages 7 to 17 w/ Adult
Thursday, April 4~ 5pm to 6:30pm

This family pottery class is open to children 7 to 17 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.

Join Emily Horst, 577’s pottery coordinator, for a new family class featuring a monograph letter. This family clay class is for both child and their accompanying adult to enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. This month’s adventure in the 577 Pottery Studio will be to create a wall hanging piece personalized with the letter of your choice. They will be perfect for hanging in a bedroom or on a door, or try placing on a mantle or in the garden. The options are endless.

The class will begin by rolling out slabs of clay together in preparation for cutting out the letter of your choice. Once cut out, Emily will demonstrate how to add pizzazz using coils, stamps, carving tools, and more to create a dynamic and sculptural piece. After construction, you can choose to either paint your letter with underglazes or pick from the many colors of our class glazes.

No experience is necessary. Come play in the clay!

Class Registration Requirments:
• 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.

Youth Art Adventures: Earth Day!
Monday, April 15 ~ 10am to 11am

Celebrate Earth Day through story and art! Designed for children ages 3 to 6 years old and an adult guardian, together we will read Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and create an eco-friendly art project. We will explore using common household and craft items like pipe cleaners, Q-Tips, toilet paper rolls, and bubble wrap. We will also walk the grounds (weather permitting) to explore Earth’s beauty and wonder.

*Cost is per child~ please register each child attending. Adults are free and caregivers MUST attend class with their child.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Kids Explore Nature: Bats are Back!
Saturday, April 27 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Young explorers will learn all about the importance of bats in the environment. 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 Garage Studio to build a bat house for home in this indoor and outdoor class. Completed bat houses will be approximately 15″ by 24″.

*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.

Community Instructors: Nancy & John Salerno

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. 

Join us on March 20 for a Day of Giving to celebrate Virginia’s birthday! Join us and make a gift to protect, preserve, and support the evolution of this magical place. Won’t you help us reach our goal?

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