Classes
Northern Light Fall 2025 Session
Fall Session will run on Fridays, September 26th -December 5th 2025.
NLLC is not a drop off program, but an opportunity to co-create a community for your whole homeschooling family.
2025 Fall Session Important Dates:
First Round of Class Proposals Due: September 2nd
Final Round of Class Proposals Due: September 8th
Class Leaders/Early Registration: September 22nd
Open Registration: September 24th
Orientation: Sep. 26th
Classes: Oct 3rd to Nov. 21st, 2025
Thanksgiving Break Nov 28
Session Culmination & Board Meeting Dec. 5th
Last Updated: 9-21-25
2025 Fall Class Descriptions
Class Proposals that have been submitted as of September 1st 2025.
Classes have a base $15 fee to help cover rent. Some classes also have materials fees collected.
| Class Name | Class Time & Room | Materail Fee | Ages Parental involvement max students | Class Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slime Exploration | 11:30-12:25 Room A | $10 | 9+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 8 | Slime isn’t just fun—it’s science! In this 8-week course, students will explore the fascinating world of polymers through hands-on slime experiments. Each week we’ll make and test different slime recipes, experimenting with textures, colors, and reactions while learning the chemistry behind them. This class is designed for curious and creative learners who enjoy hands-on activities and experimenting like scientists. The ideal student is responsible, follows directions carefully, and is a good listener, as we’ll be working with materials that require safe handling. Students should be willing to share supplies, clean up their work area, and respect their classmates’ creations. Led by Susanne Q. and Student Leaders Grace 12 and Sloan 11 |
| Let's Start with Art | 9:30-10:25 Room A | $10 | 7-9 and Adult Participants All grownups are welcomed and encouraged to stay and participate in the activity with your child and the group. Parents may be required to help younger children fully participate. max students: 9 | Every week we will look at a work of art. We’ll discuss the piece and a bit about the artist. Then taking a theme or element as a basic building block, we’ll all make our own art piece using our conversation as a launching point. This class will be about art appreciation, noticing shapes, lines, geometry in art and exploration of materials to make art and express ourselves. The ideal student for this class is ready to do the activities that will be offered. This student can wait their turn, participate in class conversations through listening and speaking, follow instructions on their own or have a parent/guardian there to assist as needs arise. All grownups are welcomed and encouraged to stay and participate in the activity with your child and the group. Parents may be required to help younger children fully particiapte. Led by Margaret S. |
| Explorations in Sacred Geometry | 11:30-12:25 Gym Annex | $15 | 9-13 Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 8 | Who knew math could be so beautiful!? Let’s discover together ways to understand what the pillars of life are built upon, by looking through the lens of Geometry. This class will reveal how these frameworks help explain, and when applied, can facilitate beauty—with plenty of real-life evidence from the natural world. Beginning with studies of the Seed and Flower of Life and expanding to Fibonacci patterns and beyond; this class will use visual representations and physical prompts to inspire the students’ awareness around the ways these patterns are part of our daily existence. Students will use a compass and ruler to draw and re-create repetitive patterns by hand and ideally are able and willing to focus on drawings that require fine motor skills. Led by Peaches and Deb L. |
| Tea and Haiku | 9:30-10:25 Lunch Room/Kitchen | $3 | 10+ Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students: 12 | Slow down, sip, and savor words. In this class, we’ll begin each session by preparing a cup of tea together. With a new theme each week, we’ll set the timer and dive into writing our own haiku—short, powerful poems that capture a moment in just a few lines. Afterward, we’ll share our work in a supportive circle, exploring the beauty and variety of everyone’s expressions. A calm, creative space to enjoy poetry, conversation, and connection. Please bring a to-go mug for tea, a notebook and writing implement each week during the session. Ideal student would be interested in poetry and connection, craving a low pressure environment in which to practice self expression. Led by Darcy R. and Susanne Q. |
| Seasonal Sprites | 9:30-10:25 Room B | $5 | 3-6 Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 13 | Follow us through the seasons with story, song, play, and art. For ages 3–6 (0-3 may also enjoy) Children will explore nature’s changes through gentle, seasonal themes. Each week includes a story, seasonal songs, free play, and an art activity. Art mediums will include watercolor, modeling, crafting, and more. The ideal student is a child who loves song & story and will engage with art. Class Leaders will be absent Friday December 5th. Full year- 30 Weeks. Might need a co-teacher for part of Spring. Led by Ash F. |
| Queer Craft Club | 11:30-12:25 Ping Pong Lounge | $10 | 11+ Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students:10 | In this class we would be making art, messing with Kandy, painting rocks, braiding friendship bracelets, and other rainbow related projects. We will sit around, chat, and craft. People are encouraged to bring snacks to share. We are hoping to create a calm and supportive environment. Queer, Questioning, and Allies welcomed. This is meant to be a safe and supportive group, so come with an open heart. Class Leaders will be absent Friday October 17th. Led by Elena M. and Cadence 12 |
| Teen Gym Hangout | 1:45-2:40 Gym | NA | 13+ Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students: 10 | Maybe we will play basketball, maybe soccer or dodgeball. Maybe we will tie our shoes and chew gum. Who knows. Teen driven activity with light adult supervision. The ideal student is someone looking for a group of guys to hangout and goof off with. Class Leaders will be absent Friday October 17th. Led by Elena M. |
| Drama Club | 10:30- 11:25 Gym Annex | NA | 11+ Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students: 9 | Over the course of 8 weeks, we will write a short skit and be prepared to perform it at the end of the session. We will start with Improv to get story ideas then work together to write it all down. Then, we'll get to work on costumes, production and rehearsing. No theater or writing experience needed, but please bring a willingness to contribute, focus at times, and work together. Led by Michael McA. and Student Leader Gemma (13) |
| Yes And, Improv | 9:30-10:25 Room C | NA | 9-13 Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students: 8 | Improv is imagination and spur of the moment thinking. You get to create a character and then the first thing that comes into your head you say. We will be doing fun improv games for most of the session, and then at the end class we will do a performance, but of course, nothing scripted! More like we vote on which improv game we want to do, (the funnier the better!) and do it! It is definitely not required to do the performance if you don't want to. Also, there is literally no way to do it wrong. Unless you think improv is another word for underwater basket weaving, you're good. The ideal kid would be an imaginative good listener and not afraid to be weird Led by Fern P. |
| Cardboard Mask and Armor Creation | 10:30- 11:25 Gym | $12.00 | All Are Welcome Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 12 | Calling all creators! Join us for some cardboard and hot glue fun!! Bring an idea of the type of creature you would like to make a mask of, and your engineering brain! Leo will help with design/creation if anyone needs it, but participants will be making their own masks in class over the 8 weeks. Recommended to wear un-precious clothing in case we get hot glue or paint on ourselves:) The ideal student is anyone who wants to make a mask! And who likes working with their hands! Participants should be able to use scissors, a utility blade, and hot glue guns without too much support. Parental guidance for kids under 9 suggested. Please collect and bring clean and flat cardboard with you to class through out the session. Led by Sara T. and student leader Leo |
| Social Committee | 1:45-2:40 Lunch Room/Kitchen | NA | All Are Welcome Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 30 | Social Committee participants plan, promote & execute activities outside of our Friday classes. During class time, we plan our events, create props and decorations, bake, and prepare snacks for our events. Participants also help set-up, run and clean up after our outside events. This fall, expect to prepare for the Haunted Lodge & Gingerbread House Build. We love the party planners! We need those who prefer behind the scenes - creating flyers, creating social media posts, decorating, helping to sweep the floors after an event. We need technology help - creating spreadsheets, managing Google Drive, and managing photos. Led by Susanne Q. Gini V. Shannon O'C |
| Design & Create | 10:30- 11:25 Room A | $15 | 7-11 Parents are welcome to assist, but not necessary. max students: 13 | Each week experience a new hands-on STEM-related project. Work with natural materials, launch a rocket, build a paper flower, create a print - a fun project will be presented each week by adults and students. Families are encouraged to explore topics outside of class. Oct. 3 - Gini V. - bottle rockets Oct. 10 - Gini V. - bottle rockets Oct. 17 - Kristen & Sequoia M. - Rock Art Oct. 24 - Uriel C. - TBD Oct. 31 - Kristen & Sequoia M.- Nature Tribe Mini Build Nov. 7 - Meghan A. - tiny clay creations Nov. 14 - Kristen & Sequoia M. - Paper Work Nov. 21 - Katie M. - candle Students must listen to directions and work with their hands independently. Led by Shannon O'C and Kirsten M |
| Local Botany | 1:45-2:40 Gym Annex & Playground | $5 | 12+ Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area. max students: 8 | Lets explore what botany is, take walks to identify local species, and collect flowers to press. We will learn and diagram parts of flowers, seeds and plant cells, talk about plant defenses, and more. Each kid will get a journal to record our work in class and make observations on their own. The ideal student is able to work respectfully with the group in the class room and on walks; and is interested in observing local plants and learning more about how plants work. Led by Liz H. |
| Ukulele Ensemble | 11:30-12:25 Room C | NA | 7+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 10 | Welcome to ukulele ensemble, where we learn how to ukulele. You’ll help us choose songs you know and love. You do not have to know how to play - we’re here to teach you or help you improve. If you want to learn piano… this is not the class for you. Ukulele is a great beginner instrument. If you have a ukulele lying around, this is your chance to use it! Don't worry if you don't have a ukulele – we'll do our best to get you one to use during class. For kids excited to learn and play the ukulele (and sing along as we play)! And for kids willing to keep practicing when it's a challenge. Led by Matt J. and Student Leader Nidav J. |
| Nature Crafts | 11:30-12:25 Room B | $3 | All Are Welcome I ask that the younger students have a adult if needed (especially 3 & under). max students: 15 | We will be connecting to nature through crafting, using natural materials to create various forms of art, crafts and projects. Through nature based art we can encourage connection to nature, promote creativity, well being, confidence as well as expression of thoughts and feelings. Anyone interested in creating art with natural materials. Nature provides endless opportunities for creative expression. We will experiment with unique materials and form. Possible crafts: Autumn crafts- felted acorns, branch weaving, nature wreaths, nature bug mobile, forest fairies, leaf printing, nature bracelet, ect. Led by Ananda B, |
| Craft Club | 10:30- 11:25 Ping Pong Lounge | $6 | All Are Welcome Parents may be required to help younger children fully participate max students: 15 | Come and create with us! We'll provide a variety of fun materials each week, just bring your creativity and see what you can make! We'll have a suggested activity for each week (Collage, mosaics, fiber arts, models made from recycled materials, etc.), but there will be lots of room for free exploration. And participants are welcome to bring projects from home to work on as well. All ages welcome, kids under 7 need to have an adult with them. There is a small materials fee so that we can provide basic supplies like paper, hot glue, tape, etc., plus some fun extras! The ideal participant for this club would be excited to explore their creativity in a fun and collaborative space with others. Class Leaders will be absent Friday October 3rd. Led by Johanna B. and Nora B. |
| Adventures in Engineering | 11:30-12:25 Lunch Room/Kitchen & Playground | $5 | 7-9 Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 8 | Come join in working through engineering challenges with us! Activities may include building a nest out of natural materials, creating a homemade beaver dam, testing the strength of bubble solutions, crafting boats to withstand various terrain, and making structures to keep an egg from cracking! Please be prepared that some classes may take place partially or fully outside. Students should be able to listen to directions, work through potential frustrations that may arise, and collaborate in a group setting. Led by Amanda S. Liz H. and Meghan A. |
| Historic Ithaca | 11:30-1:15 Walking | NA | 11+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 10 | Explore the rich history of Ithaca through a series of self-guided tours; learn how to research using a database and archival materials; create an independent research project over the course of the year. Our fall session will begin with tours of the DeWitt Park Historic District, the architecture of William H. Miller and the Ithaca City Cemetery. This class will take place outside of St. Paul's with weekly walks and indoor visits to TCPL and the History Center. Students should be able to read/write independently, or be accompanied by an adult to help with the research portion of this class. Students need a willingness to walk in a variety of weather and an interest in listening to tour information. Please bring a notebook and folder. Lunchbox and water bottle. Class leaders will be absent Friday November 14 Led by Shannon O'C |
| Social Spanish | 9:30-10:25 Ping Pong Lounge | $10 | 7+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 10 | We'll do a socialization exercise. We'll say greetings in Spanish. We'll sing to get more in the mood and build vocabulary. And we'll finish with conversational language. "Lesson Plan (1 hour) 1. Welcome and Warm-up (10 min) Greeting song: A short, repetitive melody with gestures. Example: “Hello, hello, how are you? Very well, thank you.” Accompany with clapping and simple movements. Each child says their name in Spanish: “My name is ____.” Quick game: Pass a ball and say “Hello, [name]!” 2. Vocabulary with movement (15 min) Theme of the day (example: colors, animals, numbers, or body parts). Picture card game: Show a card and have children repeat the word aloud. Active play: If the theme is colors → “Run and touch something [red/green/blue].”" Any kid really wanting and willing to introduce/ learn Spanish language. Led by Liliana A. |
| Pop Star Dance Trio | 11:30-12:25 Gym | NA | 11-13 Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area max students: 2 | In this class we will be singing "Golden" by Huntrix. you will get to learn a choreographed dance to the song. we will be singing and dancing at the same time and do a creative performance at the end. we will discuss costumes, a group name, and other things. we will each pick a color to incorporate into our costumes and makeup. It is required to buy a costume and have some singing and dancing skills. In each class we will start with dancing and singing warmups. we will first learn the song, then the dance. Please bring a water bottle, wear shoes you can dance in easily, and wear comfortable clothes. get ready to learn something, and have fun! Ideal student is someone who wants to learn singing and dance choreography and has a passion for singing and dancing with a little experience. Please bring a water bottle. Led by Alicia S. and Student Leader Leona |
| Social Justice Murals | 1:45-2:40 Ping Pong Lounge | $15 | 9+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 20 | This class is designed to be an all ages, co-learning experience – parents and kids are invited to participate equally as we learn about our local social justice murals and the issues they explore through weekly teach-ins. We will also collaborate to design and create our own justice-themed mural(s), stickers, and wheat paste posters. We will go on walks to look at murals up close and hopefully have some local muralists come by as guests! If you've taken the class before, you are welcome to participate again! There are many new murals to explore and art to be made! he class will be designed for kids ages 9 and up, but I’m open to younger kids who are super interested. Parents are welcome to audit the class, even if you don’t have a kid in the class, just show up! You don’t have to be an artist or want to paint to participate as there will be other roles such as conceptual design, buying paint, securing mural locations, etc. Led by Shira E. |
| Community Chefs! | 10:30- 11:25 Lunch Room/Kitchen | $20 | 9+ Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students:11 | This is a cooperative, student run cooking club! Participants in this class will work together with their peers to decide what to make, source ingredients, and make foods to share with the NLLC community such as soup, pasta and cookies. The class supplies fee will become a shared pool of money that will be spent on ingredients based on group decisions. Club members will need to be responsible about cleaning up, dealing with food waste, etc. The ideal Cooking Club member enjoys cooking and is open to discussion and decision-making as part of a group. Members should be responsible about following through on getting ingredients, bringing equipment if needed, cleaning up, etc. Entrepreneurial experience and/or interest is also welcome! You don't have to be a seasoned chef (pun intended) to join 🙂 Please bring an apron (optional), ingredients (if asked). Led by Shira E. and student leader Lion |
| Dance | 12:30- 1:25 Gym | NA | 7-13 Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. | We will have fun with dance! We'll begin with warmup exercises, then learn/practice a few short dances, and all pick music and choreograph an upbeat/pop/hip hop dance together to perform at the end of the semester. Students should be interest or experience in dance. Please bring water and comfortable clothes to dance in. Led by Nate Student Leader by Everly, 9 |
| Morning Singing | 9:00-9:25 Gym | NA | All Are Welcome | We will start off each Friday morning with an open singing class led by Jay Leeming. Jay is a guitarist and songwriter who has made many different kinds of music over the last thirty years, and he will lead everyone in easy yet interesting songs from around the world. This will be a judgment-free zone where we can all play with sound together. Come join us! All are welcome, and no musical experience is required. The instructor will be absent after October 24th. And would be happy to have another parent step in to lead the group in his absences. Led by Jay L. |
| Nonviolent Communication Lunch Club | 12:30- 1:00 Room B | NA | All Are Welcome Parents may be required to help younger children fully particiapte | We will explore how we can make life more wonderful for ourselves and the people around us by connecting to our feelings, identifying the needs they are connected to and practice tapping into the myriad ways we can meet our needs once we know what they are. The nonviolence communication process is like a road map out of any uncomfortable situation you can image. Come practice using it! Anyone who has feelings and needs are welcome. What do you call a person with no needs? Dead. Class leader will be absent during board meetings. 10/21 Class leader Marie |
| Waste Not Want Not | 12:30- 1:25 Gym Annex | N/A | 7+ Parents may be required to help younger children fully particiapte and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. | In this class we will be discussing ways that waste affects our lives and our environment. Identify ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and the fourth R repair. Students should be able to communicate in a group setting, use basic hand tools (including sharps) safely in a class with other students nearby. Students may be asked to bring materials to apply the 4R's to. Led by Jack E. |
| Teen Hangout | 9:30 -10:25 Gym Annex | NA | 13 + Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area | Come hang out with friends, chat about random stuff, read, listen to music, or whatever chill activity we feel like doing. The ideal student just wants to have a chill start to the day with peers. Led by Kia B. Student Leader Fiona |
| Nature Study w/ Burgess Animal Book | 10:30- 11:25 Room B | NA | 5-7 Parents and siblings are welcome but not required to stay in the room. max students: 11 | Join us for a literature-based nature study using The Burgess Animal Book for Children. Each week, we’ll read about different North American mammals, explore their habitats and behaviors, and reflect on our learning through group discussion and nature journaling. Not only will we be doing a read aloud but also applying that to nature journaling and discovering North American mammals. So if you love story, drawing, and discussing then this class is for you. Class Leaders will be absent Friday December 5th. A Full Year. Using all the sessions will help us read through the entire book. Led by Ash F. |