Fall 2023

Ages: All are Welcome
Time: 9:00-9:30
Room: Gym
Max. Students: 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!

Class leader Jay

Ages: All are Welcome
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10 Additional Class Fee: $5

The focus of this class will be on making artwork using materials we find in nature. There will be a specific type of project for each week. Some weeks, we will take a walk around the neighborhood to gather leaves and other treasures to use.

Projects are subject to change as needed, but will likely include:

Week 1: September 29: Mobiles – Marie

Week 2: October 6 : Nature Walk and Collection – Amanda

Week 3: October 13: Paper making – Marie

Week 4 : October 20: Leaf art – Amanda

Week 5: October 27: Candle decorating

Week 6: November 3: Stick structures (and wands) – Amanda

Week 7: November 10: Return of the glass mug: Natural textures as prints – Marie

Week 8: November 17: Play dough stamping with nature – Amanda

This class is open to all ages. If you would like to create some artwork in a group setting using natural materials, this is the place to be. Parents are welcome but siblings should be quietly engaged in their own activity (unless signed up for the class).

Class Leaders: Marie and Amanda

Ages: All are Welcome
Time: TBA
Room: Gym
Max. Students: 15

In this class we will explore ways to express ourselves through movement, sound, and dialogue, beginning with simple theater games and working towards improvised scenes.

No performance experience is required

Parents and (quietly self engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay

Class leader Jay

Ages: 2-6
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 8

This class is geared toward littler kids, as I will be leading it with my 4 year old. That said, any age is welcome, as long as they can be patient for the littler kids. This will be a class with two parts, which will alternate every week. “Learn to cook your favorite food”, and “early literacy, circle time, and kinesthetic fun”.

For the cooking class weeks, one kid and parent combo per week will pick a favorite food to teach the class to cook. They will bring ingredients and tell class members any special cooking equipment to bring, as well as how much money is needed to cover ingredients. This can be as simple as apple slices dipped in peanut butter, or as involved as a family wants to get!

My son has been talking about wanting to learn how to make hash browns, so that may be what we teach. If families don’t wish to lead a cooking activity, I can lead all four of these. My thought is for the little kids to gain cooking skills and see how they can make yummy food to feed themselves and others!

The alternate weeks from cooking class will be kinesthetic fun, circle time, and early literacy. This is the part that’s not fully hashed out yet. But we have one person who wants to do a story time on one week, and another mom who mentioned a circle time, reading a book, and leading a simple activity. My vision for this part was kids using modeling clay to make long skinny snake of clay, and then learning to form number and letter shapes out of it. I remember this from kindergarten. I am open to others leading or contributing ideas that I lead.

I look forward to having fun learning together with my 4 year old and anyone who’d like to participate and or lead!

Participants should be able to listen and follow directions, Parents should plan on attending and assisting in class leading their kid to follow the directions and not distract with side conversations (understandably these are little kids so… we will try our best to respect the activity and stay focused as a group)… and siblings should be quietly engaged in their own activity (unless signed up for the class).

Class may not be held Oct 6, 20 & 27. Working on getting a subs, and have two parents offering to be involved, as well as a kid professional who will attend NL with my son for one of those days

Class leader is Lydia with guests.

Ages: 7 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 9

Everyone is a math person! We will play math games, do some math activities, and practice working in groups to solve math challenges/problems. I will review/teach math concepts as needed. This class is aimed at children working on upper elementary (2nd-5th) grade math.

This class is aimed at those students working on upper elementary (2nd-5th) grade math. This typically means that children can add and subtract multi-digit numbers and have familiarity with multiplication. Students at this math skill level usually fall in the 8-12 age range. Children should be able to work/play games independently and in groups without parental support. Please contact me if you have specific concerns or needs.

Class leader Rachel

Ages: 8 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 16

A rotating group of parent teachers (Liz, Lydia, Jeanette, Tamar, Shannon and Chelsea) will lead a variety of creative writing sessions across many styles and formats, such as: –

• Written conversation like dialogue in a play, could be between silly characters.

• Writing funny recipe/instructions, like “How to plant a tool garden” or “Recipe for making a chocolate moose topped with antlers.”

• Group fantasy animal drawing (everyone adds a part), build a story around this animal.

• Descriptive writing, interviewing, or letter writing.

• Writing for Pets.

• Kinetic Storytelling.

• If I were in charge (creating your own land).

• PJ Party (writing a bedtime story).

• Writing jokes and riddles.

• Spy School.

• Inspirational quotes laid out on table as prompts for free write session.

• Approx age 8+, any child comfortable writing on their own. Focus will not be on spelling or grammar skills. Parents and (quietly self engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay.

Class leader is Ken, and the class will feature guest teachers.

Ages: 7 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 12 Additional Class Fee: $5

Megan used to run classes out west introducing newbies to backpacking. This class will introduce kids to nature and history.

Hiking and woodsman skills will also be discussed and demonstrated as able or appropriate. Example of safety around campfires or sleeping outdoors and setting up a tent. We will practice setting up doll sized tents and some people sized ones in class.

Topics like life cycles, sharing scavenger hunt finds like fossils or rocks, insects, plants, etc. How people lived in earlier times. Drawing and reading will be integral to learning. Science and history will be incorporated.

Mr. McDonald, who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, will be a guest speaker to talk about backpacking.

Students who as young as 6 who can sit still to learn and follow directions who are interested in the topics to be explored. Parents are expected and siblings should be quietly engaged in their own activity  (unless signed up for the class).

Class leader Megan

Ages: 7 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 12

This will be taught with Liz and Tracy. I will fill in the details shortly on this, but it will be for tweens/teens. Liz is a nurse and Tracy is certified EMT. This will be fun and educational.

Parents and (quietly self engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay.

Ages: 13 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10

Teen Hangout is a place for teens 13+ to explore, talk, draw, share music or other interests, face painting, and other fun activities!

Students should be willing to make new friends! With the ability to be kind & inclusive.

Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area.

Class leader is Laura with student leaders: Arvelle & Sylvanna

Ages: 8 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 12 Additional Class Fee: $20

This class will be a series of fun and engaging workshops where you will get to explore & learn: • leatherwork • basket weaving • cheese making • bread baking • soap making • textile weaving • crochet & knitting • candle dipping

You will leave each workshop with something you created!

Students should be able to listen and follow safety directions with their adult’s help. 8+ please

Class leaders Chris & Laura

Ages: 9 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10 Additional Class Fee: $10

New and returning members’ welcome!

Let’s take Activism Club to the next level by focusing on specific actions we can take to improve our world and community. We will learn about local groups working around sustainability and social justice issues and create our own action plans. This session I hope to bring in some guests to share their experiences in social and environmental justice works and to organize some optional outings outside of class time.

Parents and (quietly self-engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay.

Class Leader Shira with support from Susanne and encouragement of students moving into leadership roles!

Ages: 9-11
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 9 Additional Class Fee: $5

Super Sleuth students will engage in problem solving while honing their detective skills in our first five weeks of class. Skills include mystery ink, ciphers, microscope work, line plots, locks, and map skills. Class will divide in half and each group will design a mystery to solve for the other group. Our mystery solving may take place outside in downtown Ithaca.

Class will be hands-on with students working in small groups. We can support a wide-range of reading and writing skills.

Parents are requested to join – but siblings should be quietly engaged in their own activity (unless signed up for the class)

Class Leaders Shannon and Susanne

Ages: 9 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 15

In this class we will continue to explore the rock and roll music of the 60s and 70s. We will sing songs in class and listen to music as well; we will also explore connections between the music and the history of those decades.

Parents and (quietly self engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay.

Class leader Jay

Haunted High Tunnel Planning Committee

Ages: All are Welcome
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 20

The Vidal family and the O’Connor-Reynolds family have teamed up to create a Samhein celebration on Sunday, October 29 from 5-8pm.

In this class we are seeking to support a planning committee of youth and adults. Some of our kids have already started discussing plans. We will meet on Fridays at the end of the day, in October. Feel free to send ideas via email or to stop out and see the space.

Our party will be located in the orchard at Blackduck Cidery in Ovid. We are planning a creepy snack potluck, pinata, haunted hightunnel walk and bonfire. In the event of rain, festivities will be held in a large hightunnel space. This party will be for all ages and all homeschool families are welcome to participate.

We are looking forward to creating a spooky, fun party this fall!

Class leaders Gini and Shannon

Ages: 10 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: All are welcome

Do you\shoot hoops in the backyard? Want to play a game or practice drills, or just hang out and shoot some hoops?

Join Jack and play basketball with some other teenagers at the basketball courts in the park a few blocks down on Cascadilla St.

Student class Leader Jack and Parent support is Erin who will of course hang out and read a book or something while they played and make sure everyone was safe

Ages: 9 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10 Additional Class Fee: $10

“Young Entrepreneurs in Action” is an engaging course designed specifically for kids aged 9+ who want to explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship. This course provides a fun and interactive learning experience that empowers young minds to think creatively, develop problem-solving skills, and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. Participants will have the option to vend in our own NLLC Market in December.

The ideal participant would be ages 9+ and have a desire to come up with ideas for a small business of their own. They would have some conversational skills that could lead to success at a market. They should be able to work independently with support from an adult or other participants, but also be able to participate and a group discussion.

Parents and (quietly self engaged) siblings are welcome to stay in the room but are not required to stay.

Class Leaders are Susanne and Tracy with Student Leader Grace.

Ages: 3-7, 7-10, 10 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 16 per class

Hello parents, I hope you are well, I wanted to introduce myself to you. My name is Drucila Francisco, I’m from Guatemala. I’m excited and happy to be able to be your children’s Spanish teacher.

I also wanted to tell you a little about the things I plan to do in class, first I plan to evaluate how much Spanish your children know to determine what I should teach.

I plan to teach things in Spanish to the children according to their age. My plans for the youngest children (ages 3-7) class: learn the Spanish alphabet and its sounds, learn numbers and colors, do some crafts and art, read children’s stories and learn children’s songs in Spanish. I plan to teach them to do crafts among other fun things in Spanish so that they learn important words in a creative and fun way. 

For the two classes for the older children, first I plan to evaluate how much Spanish your children knows to determine what I should teach them but in the meantime these are my plans for the class: learn the Spanish alphabet and its sounds, learn numbers, colors and things like “where is the bathroom?” etc, art, crafts and also grammar in Spanish.

There will be three classes for different ages and levels to learn Spanish. One class for younger children (ages approximately 3-7) another for middle aged children (ages approximately 7-10) and a third for, one for older children (ages 10 and up).

Parents are strongly encouraged to enroll and learn with their child(ren). There will be a $25 fee per participant to cover the cost of this paid instructor. ( example 1 parent and 1 child enroll in the class the total fee would be $50. The parent will need to sign up with a separate enrollment)

Ages: 9 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10

This is a group for experienced fans of the Wings of Fire Series!

The group will create a field guide to Wings of Fire, share ideas and work for short stories, drawings, maps and comic books based on the world and talk about the series.

The ideal student has read the Wings of Fire Series (1-10) and is interested in creating the projects outlined above.

Students should bring whatever they need to write, draw, create, or get inspired. Parents and younger siblings are asked to remain in the waiting area.

Classes will only be held: 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 11/3, 11/10 (five weeks, not the full eight weeks)

Class Leader is Jeanette

Ages: 7 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10

Join me as we travel around the world in…168ish days. Each week you do a little research on a country- what language do they speak, games do they play, holidays do they celebrate– and share something with the class. That sharing could be in the form of a new game or a snack, or pictures of the landscape, or bits of the language that you found. We will build up our maps, add flags to our string of flags, and build up our appetite for geography.

Ideal students must be able to listen to other kids as they present.

Class leader is Liz

Ages: 7 and up
Time: TBA
Room: TBA
Max. Students: 10

Introduction to Irish tin whistle playing and Irish music. We will learn a variety of tune types by ear and learn about important Irish musicians and instruments.

Ideal student can comfortably cover the holes on a D tin whistle, wants to be in the class, is interested in Irish music and learning the tin whistle.

No additional fee. Bring your own tin whistle in key of D. You can buy one at Hickey’s in Fall Creek if you don’t have one already.

Parents are encouraged to stay in the class. Siblings should be quietly engaged in their own activity (unless signed up for the class)

Led by Marie and Amaya