Whether you’re trying to fill the gap between when your kiddo’s classes end and you get home from work or you just need a safe space for your child to burn off the post-school wiggles, we’ve tracked down the most exciting and engaging extracurricular activities in the DMV. From flying on a trapeze to learning how to flamenco (and everything in between), these courses will captivate and educate your little learner beyond the classroom.

photo: Pexels

Big Learners
Parlez-vous Français? (Or Chinese? Or Spanish?) Let your petit Francophile explore all things French at Big Learners. This non-profit organization offers  language classes in French, Chinese and Spanish as well as instruction in the sciences. Native-speaking teachers provide an authentic learning environment for scholars to explore culture and customs while mastering fluency of a foreign language. The center also offers a Science and Engineering program that approaches problem solving hands-on. Classes start in October

Ages: 6-13
Cost: varies
Where: 11721 Kemp Mill Rd., Silver Spring, MD
Online: mccpta-epi.org

photo: Inside Ski Training Center 

Inside Ski Training Center
Your little skier can go from Pizza to French Fries at this indoor facility where you can hit the slopes year-round. The Center boasts that a one hour lesson can accomplish what a half-day group lesson can achieve on snow. You don’t have to buy lift tickets or rent equipment to participate, making this an affordable way to learn. Inside Ski also offers snowboarding lessons. In addition to group classes, the Center offers one-on-one sessions.

Ages: 3 & up
Cost: starting at $33.25/class
Where: 34-B Catoctin Cir. SE, Leesburg, VA
Online: insideski.com

Rock Creek Park Horse Center
Giddy up! If your child begs for pony rides in their sleep, it might be time to upgrade to riding lessons. Future equestrians should look no further than Rock Creek Park where classes little riders learn how to groom and care for horses while mastering walking, trotting, jumping and more.

Ages: 5 1/2 & up
Cost: starting at $55
Where: 5100 Glover Rd., Washington, DC
Online: rockcreekhorsecenter.com

photo: Ballet Center of Houston

The Washington Ballet
Young dancers can pirouette and plié with one of DC’s best dance companies, The Washington Ballet. Kids under 5 will be introduced to creative movement explorations using pretend play, props, and stories. Children over 6 will continue to build upon basic ballet knowledge like posture, steps, and etiquette. Children 7 and under are not required to audition for the company. Ballet is a great way to develop increased strength and motor coordination. Students can practice at either the NW or SE campus.

Ages: 3 & up
Cost: varies
Where: 3515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Online: washingtonballet.org

photo: I.Fly Trapeze via Yelp

Trapeze School New York
Circus work isn’t just for clowns! Learning aerial acts not only helps strengthen a child’s core, it also builds their self-esteem. The TSNY of DC offers drop-in classes as well as 6 week workshops. Mini trapezists will swing from silks, a lyra, a Spanish web and, of course, a trapeze. If your kiddo takes to the sky with ease, there are also camps available during school holidays.

Ages: 6 & up
Cost: starting at $40
Where: 1299 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
Online: washingtondc.trapezeschool.com

Play-Well TEKnologies 
Featuring LEGO-inspired engineering classes for kids in grades K-8, Play-Well
TEKnologies is in schools all over the DMV—just type in your zip code on their website to find the host school nearest you. Specific course themes vary, but your kids can always expect to apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects. Let them explore their craziest ideas in a supportive environment, or work on a concrete building project such as bulldozers, hovercrafts, hot air balloons, or the Great Wall of China design. Have a Minecraft fan? Give her an outlet to build a zoo, create a medieval castle, or design a tree house village! The possibilities are truly endless.

Ages: K-8th grade
Cost: varies
Where: varies
Online: play-well.org

International School of Languages
ISL is a community-oriented language school dedicated to offering language education for all ages.. Their main focus is on helping students who really have the will and desire to learn a foreign language. ISL offers Spanish, French, English, Chinese Mandarin, Farsi, Italian, Portuguese, German and Russian. These are fun classes where music and games are incorporated in the learning process.

Ages: 5-12
Where: 7906 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD
Cost: $364
Online: islanguages.com

photo: Guiomar Ochoa

Henry’s Sweet Retreat
An innovative version of an old-fashioned candy store is exactly what owner Patty Craver was trying to achieve when opening this fun place, with candy-lined walls. Henry’s Sweet Retreat is a modern take on an old world sweet shop that will satisfy anyone and everyone’s sweet tooth. And the best part: after school baking and decorating classes for kids aged 7-13 recently launched!  One hour classes are being offered three days a week, with over three different sessions. Each class has a baking and decorating element and the kids will bring home their goodies at the end of class. Some of the items include back to school pencil cookies, fall and Halloween bark, spider and turkey cupcakes football rice krispie treats and more! Super fun plus, who doesn’t love sweets?!

Ages: 7-13
Where: 4823 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, MD
Cost: $125
Online: henryssweetretreat.com

photo: LS Flamenco via Yelp

Flamenco 4 Kids!
At any age Flamenco is a lot more than just dance. But for young children it is a unique outlet for self-expression. Flamenco 4 Kids! balances discipline with fun and independence! Children ages 4-12 can learn Flamenco Rhythm, Music, and Dance. Teacher, Magdalena, uses a natural technique of ear training to build age-appropriate skills in movement and musicianship. If you stay for a class and peek through a window, don’t be surprised to see your little one standing tall and proud like royalty, or stomping her feet like a stampede of horses. Magdalena mixes rhythm and dance while traditional music from Andalucía plays in the background. 

Ages: 4-12
Where: 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Cost: varies
Online:
flamenco4kids.com

photo: Great Adventure Lab

Great Adventure Lab
Have a coder in your midst? The Great Adventure Lab teaches kids grades K-7 how to love science, with super-fun hands-on classes in Lego Robotics, Programming, Engineering and more! The Great Adventure Lab hosts science, engineering and programming classes, camps and birthdays in metro DC (including NOVA, MoCo, Howard County PG County, and Baltimore County). Since their founding in 2010, The Great Adventure Lab has taught over 10,000 elementary school kids how to write their first robotics or video game programs. They have an array of after school classes to choose from depending on what your Einstein loves to do.!

Age: 5 & up
Where: varies
Cost: varies based on location
Online: 
thegreatadventurelab.com

photo: DC Fencers Club

DC Fencers Club
Why, yes, I fence! Whether you are a leading fencer or a “free-time” fencer, the DC Fencers Club is the place for you. For almost 30 years, the DCFC, has consistently produced winners both in the United States and around the world. Coaches help refine the skills of highly competitive fencers while emboldening more amateur fencers. Kids can take classes, participate in workshops, or opt for individual lessons. DCFC coaches are fencing masters and National Champions.

Ages: 7 & up
Where: 9330 Fraser Ave., Silver Spring, MD
Cost: $128
Online: dcfencing.com

photo: Paper Source

Paper Source Cursive Workshop
Who doesn’t need to work on their cursive?! Designed to Enhance your child’s penmanship, Paper Source’s Cursive Workshop is ideal for your 7-13 year old debutante! This six week after-school session is designed for elementary school students to learn lettering basics of cursive. At each 1-hr period, participants will spend time practicing their strokes with a little added crafting fun.  

Ages: 7-13
Where: various
 locations across the DMV
Cost: $150
Online: papersource.com 

Creative Youth
Dedicated to teaching fashion design and sewing, Creative Youth’s entire curriculum is tailored to the needs of their students with a focus on self-esteem building, creativity, and fun! Classes are offered after school and on the weekends on a rolling basis (students can begin at any time, and all skill levels are welcome). Students take home all work they’ve created in class, and all supplies and materials are included in the class fee—including New York designer patterns, couture fabrics, runway images, professional art tools, and more. Give your fashionista a chance to see what it takes to be a fashion star.

Ages: 7-18
Where: 4805 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, MD
Cost: starting at $35
Online: creative-youth.com

Rockin’ Railroad 
Each week,
Kidville’s live four-piece children’s band takes you and your child on a journey through tempo, rhythm, word recognition, and sound identification, exploring different instruments and musical genres and meeting special puppet friends along the way. The class makes stops at fun destinations including Instrumentville and Grandma’s House before heading back to Kidville Station, and is divided according to age group.

Ages: 0-5 years (with caregiver)
Where: 4825 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, MD
Cost: $308
Online: kidville.com

 

photo: LaterJay via Pixabay

Tiny Chefs
With the philosophy of
“learning through cooking,” Tiny Chefs encourages children to discover the joys of cooking while obtaining basic educational skills and culinary techniques. Instructors teach kids to follow recipes, measure and combine ingredients, and work together in a team all while promoting personal creativity. Classes strive to instill health-conscious values in kids along with the confidence to experiment with their own creations in the future.All of these skills are mixed in with delicious food and fun. Want your kids to learn to cook at home? After a two-hour lesson in your own kitchen, your entire family could be eating Vietnamese Summer Rolls, Chicken Pot Pie Bundles, and Sweet Mango Salsa with Homemade Cinnamon Tortilla Chips (!). We’ll be right over.

Ages: varies
Where: locations vary (including in-home classes, local elementary schools, and community centers)
Cost: varies depending on location
Online: tinychefs.com

Imagination Stage Introductory Dance
From Broadway and ballet to hip hop and
Hamilton, Imagination Stage offers a range of dance classes for all ability levels that help young dancers improve their performance skills, learn how to portray character, master choreographed routines, and develop a better understanding of history from a musical perspective. Some classes also incorporate singing, and many classes culminate in an end-of-semester final sharing.

Ages: grades K-12
Where: 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD
Cost: $190-525
Online: imaginationstage.org

 

photo: RawPixel

Abrakadoodle Art Classes
There’s truly something for every petit artist at
Abrakadoodle: toddlers can develop their sensory and fine and gross motor skills while they learn about color and texture and experiment with new, engaging materials. Preschoolers gleefully create their own masterpieces while developing school readiness skills. And elementary-age students hone their craftsmanship, build knowledge of artistic styles and art history, execute their own imaginative projects, and cultivate the power of self-expression. There are even special “themed” classes for drawing, canvas, and found art.

Ages: 20 months-upper elementary school
Where: locations vary throughout Montgomery, Loudoun, and Fairfax Counties
Cost: $85-195
Online: abrakadoodle.com

The First Tee
More than a chance to drive a cart, the founders of The First Tee believe that playing golf helps to reinforce values like integrity, respect, and perseverance. Their programs are delivered at golf courses, in schools, and at youth centers. Kids who have never held a club work with coaches who are highly trained in positive youth development, and everyone gets great exercise: young people can burn up to 800 calories walking nine holes!

Ages: 7-18
Where: locations vary throughout the DMV
Cost: varies (and chapters offer full scholarships or reduced-fee programming for those with financial need)
Online: thefirsttee.org

Writopia Lab 
Whether your burgeoning Pulitzer Prize-winning
author is interested in playwriting, filmmaking, graphic novels, creative writing, photojournalism, essay writing, or private lessons, you can trust that the instructors at Writopia Lab will help stoke that fire. The age-based workshops pledge to foster joy, literacy, and critical thinking in children and teens from all backgrounds.

Ages: 8-18
Where: Tenleytown, Capitol Hill, Falls Church, Rockville
Cost: varies based on location
Online: writopialab.org

—Meghan Yudes Meyers with Guiomar Ochoa and Katie Brown

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