Where did the summer go? Labor Day is behind us and we’re heading into Fall, which means that many of our kids are going back to school. While some parents may be finalizing back-to-school plans…and probably struggling with difficult decisions we never thought we’d have to make…we are also looking ahead to Fall enrichment and afterschool classes to keep our kids busy and engaged this Fall (even if remote school doesn’t).
I don’t know about you, but we’re doing our best to normalize life during a pandemic, which means (safely) sticking to as many of the same routines and activities as possible… even if everything is a little different. While I don’t always feel like pretending that things are normal, we are trying to help our kid feel a little more stable and continue living our lives as much as we can in the midst of this pandemic. Virtual and in person afterschool classes are still taking place in many (adapted) forms, and we’re taking advantage of all the activities we can find to keep our kids busy and developing…and to remind them that some things don’t change by connecting with our favorite afterschool communities.
When school plans are nailed down and you’re ready to start thinking about afterschool, check out our list of favorite classes taking place in person and online this fall.
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX)
VIRTUAL – BAX has been a home for artists of all ages in Park Slope for nearly 30 years and their youth program fosters voice, creativity, and collaboration in a positive and nurturing environment. They are now offering live zoom classes in dance, drama, tumbling visual art, and early childhood for kids of all ages (ages 2-18). Community building is a focus and they include a variety of activities that nurture social interaction. Fall classes start on September 30th and tiered tuition rates are available. Ages: 2-18 years old / Cost: $120-200 per term (tiered tuition rates available).
BKCM- Day at the conservatory 2.29.20
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON (when possible) – BKCM provides music education and therapy to students through its Community Music School, Suzuki, Music Therapy, and Music Partners programs. Their classes include the baby-bopping Sing & Play class, Intro to DJ class, the Ukulele Adventures class, Composition Club, and more. Private lessons are also available for every major instrument including voice. They will continue operating remotely through September and will be fully prepared to reopen when circumstances are advisable (see website for updates). Ages: All Ages / Cost: Varies by program
Brooklyn Game Lab
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – They offer three different afterschool options with varying combinations of outdoor, and indoor, and online classes. Building on their outdoor summer classes, they will continue to offer outdoor classes in Prospect Park with over 40 outdoor games including verbal games as well as physical games using safe, foam weapons and props. As the weather gets colder, the Outdoor (+indoor) program moves fully indoors to one of their labs on 7th avenue in Park Slope while the Outdoor (+online) program moves fully online, where kids continue to play Dungeons & Dragons over Zoom. Alternatively, you can enroll kids (ages 8-16) in their Online (only) afterschool program to play Dungeons & Dragons online for the entire fall semester. Ages: 1st – 9th Grade / Cost: $180-360 per month
Brooklyn Robot Foundry
VIRTUAL- The Foundry allows students (ages 2-13) to learn engineering through hands-on building and creativity. Each week, students build a brand new robot (they’ll receive all parts in advance) while being introduced to different engineering concepts and components. The online class options include Robot Builders (afterschool class for ages 6-12), Robot Inventors (weekly class for ages 8-12), Robot Coders (6-week class for ages 9-13), Mini Robot Makers (4-class course for ages 2-5), S.T.E.A.M. RoboLab (enrichment classes for 6-12), and more. Classes have a very low student-to-teacher ratio so kids get individualized instruction and the opportunity to form social connections with classmates. Ages: 2-13 years old / Cost: $240-$450
Chess NYC
VIRTUAL – They are offering five levels of online group chess classes for the Fall: Head Start Jr. (for absolute beginners 9 years old and under), HeadStart 9+ (for older kids learning basics of chess), Advancing in Chess, GM Inspired TAG I, and GM Inspired TAG II. Classes focus on strategies, defense, tactics, and competitive online play in online groups of 12 or less on weekdays at 2:45-5:15 PM (NYC time). They offer single day or season passes as well as private lessons. Ages: All Ages / Cost: $554 (season pass) or $27 (single day pass)
Child’s Play NY
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – Outdoor Play Pod Classes allow kids (ages 4-9) to play socially-distant, physical, and artistic theater games in small groups (capped at 5 kids) in Cadman Plaza Park on Saturdays in September. Online programs include Production Classes where kids (grades 1-8) are cast in a play and work with a director, choreographer and music coach to produce plays like Twelfth Night and A Midsummer’s Night Dream via Zoom. They also offer Online Scene Study and Drop In Class option for kids (grades PreK-12) to develop characters and collaborate with actors and directors in Mini Musical: Under the Sea, Hogwarts School Scene Study, Musical Theater Lab, Shakespeare Scene Study and more. Ages: PreK-12th Grade / Cost: $120-$440
CinemaKidz
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – This Brooklyn-based film, animation, and media arts education program offers kids (ages 5-15) the opportunity to explore film and media with both in-person and virtual afterschool classes this fall. Their interdisciplinary classes allow opportunities to build, create, act, design props, explore storytelling, utilize technology, and more. Fall virtual class options include Game Art Design, Costume Design, Special Effects and prosthetics, Video Editing, GameShow, and more. Materials kits will be delivered for all virtual classes. They are also offering in person outdoor workshops including Survivor Kidz and NYC Movie Adventurers. Ages: 5-15 / Cost: $275-300 (11 or 12 online sessions)
Geek Forest
VIRTUAL – This Makerspace offers a variety of remote coursework this fall for kids (ages 5-17) to explore DIY projects, collaborations, self-learning, making, exploring, sharing, and tinkering. Their remote classes include Science & Plant Exploratorium, Sustainable City Design, Storytelling through Comics, Code & Craft: Computer Science, Dungeons & Dragons, JavaScript Coding for Artists and more. They also offer Remote Tutoring and Homework Support and are introducing new DIY Pod Courses where they help you design your own classes at designated times with your Pod. Courses have a 1:6 teacher student ration and will be conducted via Google Meet. Ages: 7-15 years old / Cost: $390-585 per semester
Gotham Gymnastics
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – The gymnastics school offers virtual and in-person classes as well as mini camps (three-hour sessions in the morning or afternoon) for kids of all ages to learn gymnastics and play games that build strength, confidence and flexibility. In-person class size is limited to 8 kids and they will take place on weekdays and weekends at their gymnastics facility in Gowanus. In person class options include Toddler & You (walking to 3 years old), Gotham Kids (ages 3-5), Girls Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced, Boys Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced, and Tumbling. Other options include private lessons, Gotham Pod classes, and online virtual classes (for kids and adults) on their Gotham2Go app. Ages: Toddler (walking) to Adult / Cost: $864-$912 (in person) or $30/month (virtual)
Homage Skateboard Academy
IN PERSON – Indoor and outdoor weekday skateboarding programs are available for group, private, semi-private, and create-your-own-pod (5-8 kids) classes this fall. Their indoor facility has H13 HEPA air filtration and the school follows COVID-19 guidelines for cleaning, physical distance, pre-screening at checking and contact-free temperature checks. Their indoor program take place in their 2,200 square foot facility in Gowanus, but they spend as much time as possible skateboarding outside in the park down the street. The outdoor-only program take place entirely outside in Golconda Skatepark in Downtown Brooklyn. Kids are grouped by age and there will be 2 coaches per cohort/pod. Cost: $320 for 4 consecutive weeks
Mark Morris Dance Group
VIRTUAL – The School at MMDG offers fall programming for students of all ages (with and without disabilities) mostly livestreamed by faculty from the studio with live musical accompaniment. Zoom classes for children and teens (ages 4-18) are offered in a variety of styles including ballet, creative dance, hip-hop, jazz, modern, tap, and West African Dance. They also offer Music & Dance class, Special Kids Dance class, and Student Company. Parent & Toddler Movement classes are a great option for toddlers (18 months – 3 years old) and they are offering a few outdoor Family Fun dance classes on The Plaza at 300 Ashland this fall. Ages: 18 months – 18 years old / Cost: $130-$160 per quarter
NORY
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – NORY is offering Virtual Afterschool classes as well as in person Pod Enrichment classes this fall. In their Virtual Afterschool classes, they will learn core robotics concepts and eventually solve complex problems using coding and unique inputs. They also explore science and engineering concepts through chemical reactions and building challenges. The NORY Pod program provides customized support for school work (virtual classes and homework) as well as STEM and arts-based enrichment in safe locations for small groups of 4-7 children. Ages: 5-12 years old / Cost: $145-160 per day (full day pod) or $75-85 per half day (half day or afterschool pod); $650 per semester of $50 per session (virtual afterschool)
NYC Guitar School
VIRTUAL – NYC Guitar School offers a variety of virtual music classes for kids of all ages this fall including Kids and Teens Rock Band, Guitar (basics to advanced), Guitar Ensemble, Vocal Workshops, Teen Digital Music and Production, Teens Collaborative Songwriting Band, and more. You can get a monthly subscription that includes unlimited drop in classes, electives, and two weekly core classes with teachers. If you prefer private lessons, they also offer weekly online 1-on-1 private lessons with guitar specialists for all levels and all ages. Ages: 8 years old+ / Cost: $129 per month (unlimited virtual classes)
One World Project
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – The afterschool program allows children to play, explore, discover, have fun, and make friends while they learn or practice Spanish. They will offer in person afterschool class five days a week (Monday-Friday, 3-5 PM) in their spaces on Vanderbilt Avenue, which will be cleaned and disinfected every day before children arrive and after they leave. They will also spend as much time as possible outside and limit the program size to 10 kids. In addition to in person afterschool, they are also offering private and small group Spanish classes online. The “Spanish for All” online program will include art, cooking, songs and games to support Spanish language learning for all levels and all ages. Cost: $6,900 for academic year (in person afterschool) / $50 per 30-minute private class (online Spanish for All )
School of Rock Williamsburg
VIRTUAL/IN PERSON – The music school offers virtual one-on-one music instruction for all ages in “School of Rock Remote” program. The online classes include weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a virtual lesson room. They also offer in person group classes including Little Wing for ages 3-5 (in person or virtual), Rookies for ages 6-7 (in person), Rock 101 for ages 8-13 (in person group or 1-on-1 virtual/group), Performance for age 8-18 (in person virtual/group or 1-on-1 virtual/group), the Adult Program (in person group or 1-on-1 virtual/group), and Songwriting for ages 8-18 (in person group or 1-on-1 virtual/group). Ages: 3 years old to Adult
SKATEYOGI
IN PERSON – They are offering cohort-based multi-week skateboarding sessions for students (ages 7-15) of all experience levels. Sessions are 3 hours long and will be available on weekdays and weekends in the morning, early afternoon, and afterschool hours. With a low student-to-teacher ratio, students are grouped based on level in order to learn skateboarding basics or more advanced techniques and tricks. While the SKATEYOGI facility in Prospect Leffert Gardens will be their home base, kids (ages 7-13) also spend lots of time outdoors skating in a nearby park with ramps and smooth ground. More advanced students (ages 9-15) also have sessions at Golconda Skatepark in Downtown Brooklyn. Ages: 7-15 years old / Cost: $460 per weekday series (7 sessions); $395 per weekend series (6 sessions)
The Brooklyn Strategist – (VIRTUAL/IN PERSON) Afterschool classes include RPG, Magic: The Gathering, Mind Masters, Chess, Creative Game Design, and more. Their in person classes include strict safety precautions including mask wearing (required for students and staff), maintaining social distance, and more. The programs focus on neurodevelopment by having fun, developing and articulating strategies for game play and through socialization. Ages: 5-15 / Cost: $385-$490 per semester (virtual); $495-$630 per semester (in person)
Dancewave – (VIRTUAL) Drop-in and semester-based dance classes that prioritize whole person development and joyous expression through movement. Younger kids (ages 3-6) can choose from Creative Movement, Storytelling through Dance, and Creative Ballet. Older ids (ages 7-9) can enroll in Modern Fundamentals, Ballet Fundamentals, or Hip Hop Fundamentals while the oldest kids (age 9-18) learn Ballet, Modern, or Hip Hop Technique. Ages: 3-18 / Cost: $245-$284 per semester or $20-$25 per drop in class.
Dinosaurs Rock – (VIRTUAL) This 5-week Virtual Science Museum class includes weekly 1-hour Zoom lessons and DIY at-home activities with a box of activity supplies shipped to you. Each week has a different theme: Dinosaurs Rock; Prehistoric Seas; Gems, Geodes & Volcanoes; Prehistoric Insects; and Dinosaurs in Space, Meteorites & Rockets. They also offer a more advanced Dinosaurs Rock II class. Cost: $299 for 5-week class
Outschool – (VIRTUAL) They offer a huge variety of virtual classes, including one-time classes as well as longer semester-based classes, designed by hundreds of independent teachers based on their expertise/interests. They have over 50,000 unique classes on almost every subject imaginable. In addition to more traditional academic classes, you can also find fun classes that kids will love like Frozen ballet and Mario workout classes. Ages: 3-18 years old / Cost: Varies by class/teacher
Super Soccer Stars – (VIRTUAL/IN PERSON) In person soccer classes for all ages and levels are taking place in parks and other outdoor spaces around New York during the fall semester. COVID precautions include requiring parents to fill out a daily health screening form before leaving home, temperature checks, hand washing, and more. They are also continuing to offer weekly virtual soccer classes at home for all ages. Ages: 3-10 / Cost: In Person – $235-$620 per semester; Virtual – $45 per class (get a second weekly class for $20 per month or unlimited classes for $40 per month)
TADA! Youth Theater – (VIRTUAL) The theater school offers a variety of interactive online musical theater classes for all ages and abilities to engage in musical theater training, stay active while at home, and make connections with new friends around the world. Small class sizes allow their Professional Teaching Artists to provide personalized attention and one-on-one coaching in the areas of singing, dancing, and acting. Ages: 2-18 / Cost: $120-$900 per session (Use Code EB10 by September 15th for 10% off)
THESE ENRICHMENT PROVIDERS WERE CHOSEN BY OUR EDITORS AND INCLUDED AT NO COST, BUT SOME PROVIDERS HAVE CHOSEN TO SPONSOR THEIR LISTINGS AFTER SELECTION. *We have added additional providers to this list who are current advertisers upon request. Please note that we often know these enrichment providers through recommendation, but we don’t have personal experience with all of them.