At the beginning of each semester, children are evaluated individually by our full-time aquatic director and certified teaching staff. Groups are assigned by age and ability. Classes are limited to 3-6 students per instructor, depending on the age and ability level of the swimmers. Parents receive progress reports at the end of each semester that outline the skills their children have acquired, as well as areas of potential improvement.

This class will explore a range of techniques for developing concept, writing, designing, animating and editing stop-motion animation projects. Students will create armatures, puppets and sets, and complete the production process of an animated movie using professional capturing and editing equipment and software.

Drawing from a variety of songs from classic jazz standards to pop tunes, we will teach students vocal production, singing and choreography. Classes introduce and develop rhythm, music theory, ear training and harmony.

From fresh butternut squash dishes in October, to Leak & Potato Soup in February, to Strawberry Tarts in June. Your child will dive into the kitchen exploring fresh, seasonal ingredients and learn basic culinary skills that make perfect meals happen. The flavors of the fall, winter, spring and summer will come to life every week!

Never mind that chess is a great exercise for the mind that increases math and literacy abilities. Chess is a great game, and kids love it! We offer beginner, intermediate and advanced chess classes, as well as an annual tournament for students in our Manhattan Youth programs.

Every kid knows that you don't really learn anything unless you make a mess and get your hands dirty. This class focuses on everything oozy, grimy, slippery and slimy that exists in nature or can be made (safely!) in a test tube. Fun for all!

Kids will learn the basic rules, skills, and sportsmanship to help improve their soccer game. All levels welcome!

From fresh butternut squash dishes in October, to Leak & Potato Soup in February, to Strawberry Tarts in June. Your child will dive into the kitchen exploring fresh, seasonal ingredients and learn basic culinary skills that make perfect meals happen. The flavors of the fall, winter, spring and summer will come to life every week!

Students learn fun circus skills from Cirque du Soleil performers and gymnasts. 2nd and 3rd grade skills: acrobatics, clowning, juggling, object manipulation, and stilt-walking. 4th and 5th grade skills: advanced tricks, aerial work and tightrope-walking. After exploring all skills, each student will specialize in one or two areas to perform in a semester-end circus spectacular!

Our teachers will help guide and encourage your child as they choose recyclables such as plastic bottles, cardboard and paper to create sculptures that, when combined with littleBits, come to life and light up, twist, turn, buzz, blink, and shake! Through the process of designing and building, your child will experience the practical and cultural possibilities of new inventions!

This introductory class will help students find ways to talk to computers beyond the keyboard and mouse. They will learn computer interaction concepts such as physical computing, computer vision and augmented reality. This class is about integrating all forms of creative expression with technology.

This class encourages students to discover their own & unique singing voice! Strengthening musicality & creativity, students will explore a variety of musical styles and genres from old school pop tunes to their favorite top 40 songs! Through engaging singing games, vocal technique & original songwriting, this class encourages confidence building and individuality. Come sing your heart out in this positive, hip & enthusiastic musical environment!

Inspired by their favorite comic book artists and armed with their imagination, student create characters and story lines, first in single panels, then in comic strips, and finally creating complete comic books at the end of each semester.

This hands on-club offers girls the opportunity to explore Video Game Design and Computer Generated Imaging in a project-based environment that both celebrates their gender and boosts their confidence in technology. All Girls Coding aims to get girls programming and creating interactive art, media and narratives while imparting valuable skills in computational thinking and mathematics.

A medley of sports and games, balancing individual and team games. Includes an eight week Olympics event incorporating what the students have been learning all year.

In this class students will find ways to talk to computers beyond a keyboard and mouse. Your child will build electronics they can wear, make controllers for games, use their own drawings or other pictures to change what happens on screen. This class is about integrating all forms of creative expression with technology.

Students learn fun circus skills from Cirque du Soleil performers and gymnasts. 2nd and 3rd grade skills: acrobatics, clowning, juggling, object manipulation, and stilt-walking. 4th and 5th grade skills: advanced tricks, aerial work and tightrope-walking. After exploring all skills, each student will specialize in one or two areas to perform in a semester-end circus spectacular!

Using screwdrivers, pliers and other tools, kids destroy discarded printers, blenders and other common electronics to get inside and see how they work. Then, using the components along with recyclables and other found materials, kids will construct new inventions or environments in the classroom. Kids learn about the inner workings of electronics (and that free art supplies are everywhere) while developing skills of innovation and invention.

This hands on-club offers girls the opportunity to explore Video Game Design and Computer Generated Imaging in a project-based environment that both celebrates their gender and boosts their confidence in technology. All Girls Coding aims to get girls programming and creating interactive art, media and narratives while imparting valuable skills in computational thinking and mathematics.

A high-energy, intense class for dancers of all experience levels. The dance studio will be hopping to today's pop stars as students learn individual and teamwork skills that evolve into polished dance numbers. All students participate in a Manhattan Youth dance performance at the end of each semester

At the beginning of each semester, children are evaluated individually by our full-time aquatic director and certified teaching staff. Groups are assigned by age and ability. Classes are limited to 3-6 students per instructor, depending on the age and ability level of the swimmers. Parents receive progress reports at the end of each semester that outline the skills their children have acquired, as well as areas of potential improvement.

A real treat with recipes from Celtic Knot cookies, Egyptian Palace Bread, Argentina's Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies), to France's Madeleines plumped with vanilla custard filling, and Italy's tiny Strufoli balls! Cookies have been around since 7th century Persian times spreading from Persia throughout Europe along trade routes since they were so portable and delicious. This carefully designed class will take your child on a journey, with a tradition behind each cookie.

Students will learn all about ecosystems and how we can preserve them. From worm composting and recycling to green energy and sustainable power, students will explore how the world works, and what it will take to keep it going! Upper grades will participate in service projects at their schools and in the community.

Pop Jazz is a fun, upbeat dance style that is guaranteed to make your child feel high-spirited and confident. It combines the traditional jazz technique mastered by the greats like Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins and gives it some hip hop flare using today's favorite pop songs. East semester culminates in a spectacular production featuring all 25 Manhattan Youth dance classes.

Students will explore music and percussion from a new country every month, including Ghana and Guinea West Africa, Cuba, Brazil, India, Israel, Turkey, and the United States. Not only will we learn about the music of these countries, but many aspects of their cultures as well!

Students invent their own superheroes: complete with unique superpowers, original alter egos, handmade capes and costumes, cartoons, skits, stories and more! The class explores a variety of stories and comics, while learning about all kinds of superheroes to figure out what it takes to become one.

Most children entering kindergarten are not ready for full-on team sports. We use active games to introduce young children to fundamental sport skills, and get their bodies moving by running, jumping, throwing, and catching.

Through the use of active group games, high-yield learning activities and super fun challenges! Team Builders is the perfect club for your child's physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Each Team Builders session includes a fun physical challenge tied to concepts like teamwork, integrity, community and FUN!

The science lab at the Downtown Community Center will be bubbling with curiosity as young scientists examine the curious reactions that everyday materials have when they combine or change state. This class will emphasize the fun of experimentation, while teaching the complexities of all matter, right down to the atomic level. Pick-up is at the Downtown Community Center at 5:50pm.

Students will sketch fashion figures, design fabrics, and create full lines of clothing, producing their own style books. Students will work toward an end of semester Fashion show featuring the design pieces they've worked on.

This class will start in TinkerCad, an Autodesk software accessible through a browser, to teach 3D modeling basics such as sketching, sculpting, textures and prototyping. This class may lead your child into 3D printing their finished project for use in Augmented Reality. Upper level students can move on to tools Maya or Mudbox.

Knives down, plates up! Inspired by the popular TV show, this engaging cooking class will teach your child the best culinary techniques to cook efficiently with flavor and a little competition. Each week, students will be given a challenging concept and ingredient mix to prepare into a delicious dish. The winners will be chosen by the kids in our Friday Night program. Let the games begin!

A fun way for your child to engage his or her mind while learning a timeless strategy game. All levels are welcome.

Students learn the basics of flag football, good sportsmanship and a sense of team spirit. Players are divided into groups based on experience and skill level. Each class session includes a lesson, drills and a game or scrimmage.

We offer a formal Homework Club, as a class choice for students who need extra help focusing on their assignments. 

Students build awareness of action, character and theme through theater games, improvisations, playmaking, rehearsal and performance. 

Students will sketch fashion figures, design fabrics, and create full lines of clothing, producing their own style books. Students will work toward an end of semester Fashion show featuring the design pieces they've worked on.

In this class, students learn the basics of level design, computational thinking, and storytelling by creating different worlds in Minecraft. Students start to use Minecraft as a design tool, and build spaces with intent, while learning to consider both the aesthetics and function of the worlds they create! This introductory class is designed to teach your child the basics of coding, 3D modeling and computer environments using concepts such as sketching prototyping, level design, mathematics and environmental storytelling.

Kids will learn the basic rules, skills, and sportsmanship to help improve their soccer game. All levels welcome!

Children let their imaginations run free as they explore and experiment using clay, paint, found objects and other unusual materials to create their own masterpiece. This open ended class provides different stations with various art materials to help bring your child's vision to life!

At the beginning of each semester, children are evaluated individually by our full-time aquatic director and certified teaching staff. Groups are assigned by age and ability. Classes are limited to 3-6 students per instructor, depending on the age and ability level of the swimmers. Parents receive progress reports at the end of each semester that outline the skills their children have acquired, as well as areas of potential improvement.

Splashball is designed to introduce the sport of water polo to swimmers in K through 5th grades. This class will teach basic skills and understanding of the water polo in a fun, non-competitive format. Although water polo is known for its toughness and endurance, Splashball harnesses all the fun, dynamic aspects of the game in a safe, easy to learn aquatic experience that will motivate kids to swim and stay fit. Splashball also provides the team element that supports social development and interactive fun! 
Children may need to complete an evaluation session to register and must be able to swim multiple lengths of the pool and tread water for 3 minutes or more. Flotation support as needed such as noodles and swim belts may also be used in this class.
Sample a new sport! Meet new friends in a safe, fun environment! Build endurance and strength! Learn water polo basics designed by the US Water Polo Association. Splashball is a great add-on to group swim lessons! 
 

From Cookies, to Cakes to Cupcakes and Crapes; Student work with a professional pastry chef to learn the art of baking.

An introduction to ballet vocabulary and technique. Students develop strength, alignment, musicality, and the grace that is inherent in the form. Dancers in our ballet classes are prominently featured in each semester's dance performance.

The power of paper will come alive in this interactive design fantasy class. Exploring the many different ways of using paper: sculpting, folding, 3D Origami, construction and Paper Mache creating everything from super heroes, animals, creatures, floral design, stage sets, pop up books and more!

We offer an introduction to the piano keyboard in a group lesson setting. All levels are welcome. These classes are an excellent introduction to rhythm, melody and music theory.

A veteran puppeteer, actor, circus performer and maskmaker, introduces students to many styles and techniques of creating, building and manipulating puppets. Each semester will culminate in a spectacular presentation.

Kids will receive daily challenges of structures to build with Legos. There will also be time for students to explore on their own and in small groups, building creations of their own invention.

Student work with a professional pastry chef to learn the art of cake decorating. Students will partake in measuring and mixing the wonderful ingredients that make delicious cakes, cookies and other pastries rise. And also learn how to make them look appetizing and artful.

An introduction to ballet vocabulary and technique. Students develop strength, alignment, musicality, and the grace that is inherent in the form. Dancers in our ballet classes are prominently featured in each semester's dance performance.

Your child will learn to build interactive animations which rely on code that detects, sends and responds to signals between different elements of each scene. Using various editing software and coding languages such as Adobe Photoshop, Processing, Resolume and Jitter. Your child will discover the wonders of image editing techniques that dive into graphic design and live video processing.

Making art outside the box! An interdisciplinary art class taught by a professional artist. Your child will come home with completed works of art designed and created by them. We will work both flat and three dimensionally. Projects range from soft sculptures made from fabric, cityscapes made from found materials to paper-Mache animals and figurative wire drawings. DIY: Grades 3rd- 5th will work in a more self-directed manner, building their own projects advancing their technical and creative skills with instruction and guidance from the teacher.

Calling all directors, screen play writers, actors and videographers! Join us as we write, direct, and shoot original short films.

Discover the chemistry involved in making things that you would experience in a spa! Soaps, body scrubs, cosmetics, nail polish and color, bath oils, lipstick, perfumes and more! Students will make their own line of products that are safe to use at home!

Students learn basketball skills, good sportsmanship, and sense of team spirit. Players are divided into groups based on experience and skill level. Each class session includes a lesson filled with drills and a game or scrimmage. 

Young students with little or no chess experience learn the fundamentals of chess, beginning with game board setup, and an introduction to how the pieces move. Students will learn to play full games from opening moves to checkmates within the first semester.

We offer a formal Homework Club, as a class choice for students who need extra help focusing on their assignments. 

An introduction to the LEGO Robotics League, this course offers young students an opportunity to work with LEGO Mindstorms technology to build functional robots that can perform simple tasks.

A high-energy, intense class for dancers of all experience levels. The dance studio will be hopping to today's pop stars as students learn individual and teamwork skills that evolve into polished dance numbers. All students participate in a Manhattan Youth dance performance at the end of each semester

Using various editing software and coding languages such as Adobe Photoshop, Processing Resolume, and Jitter, your child will discover image editing techniques that can range from graphic game design to live video processing. Projects range from splicing images of animals together, completely removing an object or person from a photo or using live input to distort and alter images.

Working on age-appropriate scenes for film and TV, student actors transition from performing on stage to acting within a camera frame. Each week, the actors get to see their own work played back and critiqued.

Discover the chemistry involved in making things that you would experience in a spa! Soaps, body scrubs, cosmetics, nail polish and color, bath oils, lipstick, perfumes and more! Students will make their own line of products that are safe to use at home!

Making art outside the box! An interdisciplinary art class taught by a professional artist. Your child will come home with completed works of art designed and created by them. We will work both flat and three dimensionally. Projects range from soft sculptures made from fabric, cityscapes made from found materials to paper-Mache animals and figurative wire drawings. DIY: Grades 3rd- 5th will work in a more self-directed manner, building their own projects advancing their technical and creative skills with instruction and guidance from the teacher.

A fun, active, instructional session for both beginner-level and advanced players who are interested in developing their volleyball skills.Students will learn the basic skills of bumping and serving, and the rules of the game.

Teams of students will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS software to solve a set of missions on an obstacle course, getting familiar with the technology used at citywide competitions. The FIRST LEGO League challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. To learn more about the LEGO robotics program, please visit www.usfirst.org.

Young students with little or no chess experience learn the fundamentals of chess, beginning with game board setup, and an introduction to how the pieces move. Students will learn to play full games from opening moves to checkmates within the first semester.

At the beginning of each semester, children are evaluated individually by our full-time aquatic director and certified teaching staff. Groups are assigned by age and ability. Classes are limited to 3-6 students per instructor, depending on the age and ability level of the swimmers. Parents receive progress reports at the end of each semester that outline the skills their children have acquired, as well as areas of potential improvement.

Splashball is designed to introduce the sport of water polo to swimmers in K through 5th grades. This class will teach basic skills and understanding of the water polo in a fun, non-competitive format. Although water polo is known for its toughness and endurance, Splashball harnesses all the fun, dynamic aspects of the game in a safe, easy to learn aquatic experience that will motivate kids to swim and stay fit. Splashball also provides the team element that supports social development and interactive fun! 
Children may need to complete an evaluation session to register and must be able to swim multiple lengths of the pool and tread water for 3 minutes or more. Flotation support as needed such as noodles and swim belts may also be used in this class.
Sample a new sport! Meet new friends in a safe, fun environment! Build endurance and strength! Learn water polo basics designed by the US Water Polo Association. Splashball is a great add-on to group swim lessons! 
 

Students learn about modern animals and their prehistoric ancestors, from jellyfish to dinosaurs!

Broadway performers help students develop singing, dancing and acting skills. Students work as a cast throughout the semester on scenes and musical production numbers. At the end of each semester, the class will perform on stage for family and friends!

From Cookies, to Cakes to Cupcakes and Crapes; Student work with a professional pastry chef to learn the art of baking.

Students will create small scale original works of ornamental art that look like professionally made jewelry.

This energetic class builds strength, flexibility and fitness. Students develop acrobatic skills while having fun!!

Join the Story Pirates on an exciting adventure into your imagination! This class is the ultimate melding of science and fiction. Students learn about stars, planets and galaxies, and imagine what kind of intelligent life might be out there in the universe. From there, they create an entire culture for their alien worlds, including stories, music, & mythology.

Student work with a professional pastry chef to learn the art of cake decorating. Students will partake in measuring and mixing the wonderful ingredients that make delicious cakes, cookies and other pastries rise. And also learn how to make them look appetizing and artful.

In this class, students learn the basics of level design, computational thinking, and storytelling by creating different worlds in Minecraft. Students start to use Minecraft as a design tool, and build spaces with intent, while learning to consider both the aesthetics and function of the worlds they create! This introductory class is designed to teach your child the basics of coding, 3D modeling and computer environments using concepts such as sketching prototyping, level design, mathematics and environmental storytelling.

From the Hits of Hamilton, the Classics of Carousel to the Songs of School of Rock, become the 'Greatest ShowKid,' as you explore the music and choreography from your favorite Broadway shows! Working with an industry professional, this class explores acting, singing and dancing (triple threat!) with an emphasis on original character development, fun theatre games, & musical theater performance skills.

Emphasizing the central role of evolution in generating diversity, your child will explore the many kingdoms, behaviors and ecology of animal species! Your child will also become Zookeepers learning the basics of animal care from feeding to cleaning the habitats in our Science Lab.

Kids will learn the basic rules, skills, and sportsmanship to help improve their soccer game. All levels welcome!

In this hands-on class, young filmmakers will conceptualize stories and bring them to life. Students will learn how to handle and use camera equipment, basic short composition, direction, collaboration and basic editing skills in order to turn their story ideas into short films.

We offer a formal Homework Club, as a class choice for students who need extra help focusing on their assignments. 

We offer an introduction to the piano keyboard in a group lesson setting. All levels are welcome. These classes are an excellent introduction to rhythm, melody and music theory.

In this class, students learn the basics of level design, computational thinking, and storytelling by creating different worlds in Minecraft. Students start to use Minecraft as a design tool, and build spaces with intent, while learning to consider both the aesthetics and function of the worlds they create! This introductory class is designed to teach your child the basics of coding, 3D modeling and computer environments using concepts such as sketching prototyping, level design, mathematics and environmental storytelling.

Learn advanced filmmaking skills such as computer-generated imagery, digital compositing, chroma key editing, and in-camera tricks while making your own MY-mini blockbuster!

Throughout the year, students will develop a diverse body of work, including drawings, painting, print making, collage and sculpture, adhering to the 5th grade benchmark laid out in the NYC DOE Blueprint for the Visual Arts. With guidance from their instructor, students will create and assemble an impressive portfolio of artwork with which they can apply to schools specializing in art throughout the city.

Inspired by their favorite comic book artists and armed with their imagination, student create characters and story lines, first in single panels, then in comic strips, and finally creating complete comic books at the end of each semester.

Because coed sports programs often attract mostly boys, we have carved out a day in our gym schedule that is open exclusively to girls. We have enlisted the help of the Women's Sports Foundation to create a girl-friendly sports environment, where girls will play basketball, volleyball, soccer and more. All other sports and fitness classes will continue to be open to both boys and girls.

Students learn the basics of flag football, good sportsmanship and a sense of team spirit. Players are divided into groups based on experience and skill level. Each class session includes a lesson, drills and a game or scrimmage. Students will even have a chance to compete with children from different after-school sites.

At the beginning of each semester, children are evaluated individually by our full-time aquatic director and certified teaching staff. Groups are assigned by age and ability. Classes are limited to 3-6 students per instructor, depending on the age and ability level of the swimmers. Parents receive progress reports at the end of each semester that outline the skills their children have acquired, as well as areas of potential improvement.

No nuts! No dairy! No gluten! This allergy-free baking class allows your children to create delicious cookies and cakes galore by getting hands-on with ingredients safe for them to touch and eat. All recipes will be available to families on our cooking blog, as well as in the new allergy-free section of our end of semester cookbook!

Our multidisciplinary art classes offer students a chance to explore different media from drawing and painting to collage and sculpture. Projects are selected to provide inspiration for free expression and to develop specific skills.Exploring drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking and other methods through age-appropriate structured projects and free exploration, students have fun while learning the basic fundamentals of art.

Students learn self-defense, focus, concentration and discipline in a non-contact weekly martial arts workout. Classes are grouped by K-3 age and belt level. All levels work on forms, and bag work: kicks, punches, blocks and footwork. Sparring begins at yellow belt. At the end of each semester, we have an exhibition and test, where students have an opportunity for belt advancement (by teacher recommendation).

Every kid knows that you don't really learn anything unless you make a mess and get your hands dirty. This class focuses on everything oozy, grimy, slippery and slimy that exists in nature or can be made (safely!) in a test tube. Fun for all!

We offer an introduction to the piano keyboard in a group lesson setting. All levels are welcome. These classes are an excellent introduction to rhythm, melody and music theory.

A high-energy class for dancers of all experience levels. The dance studio will be hopping as students learn individual and teamwork skills that evolve into polished dance numbers. All students participate in a Manhattan Youth dance performance at the end of each semester

This hands on-club offers girls the opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in a unique single-gender environment. While engaged in project-based learning, Girls Only STEM aims to improve both girls' confidence and interest in math and science.

We offer an introduction to the piano keyboard in a group lesson setting. All levels are welcome. These classes are an excellent introduction to rhythm, melody and music theory.

Students will sketch fashion figures, design fabrics, and create full lines of clothing, producing their own style books.

Knives down, plates up! Inspired by the popular TV show, this engaging cooking class will teach your child the best culinary techniques to cook efficiently with flavor and a little competition. Each week, students will be given a challenging concept and ingredient mix to prepare into a delicious dish. The winners will be chosen by the kids in our Friday Night program. Let the games begin!

Students learn self-defense, focus, concentration and discipline in a non-contact weekly martial arts workout. Classes are grouped by 2-5 age and belt level. All levels work on forms, and bag work: kicks, punches, blocks and footwork. Sparring begins at yellow belt. At the end of each semester, we have an exhibition and test, where students have an opportunity for belt advancement (by teacher recommendation).

Introducing We Code! a class focused on bringing underrepresented groups into the world of technology. In expanding our Girls Only Coding concept, this class teaches a wide breadth of coding concepts and languages in an environment geared towards our female population and across spectrums of gender, race, and ability. In addition to building an inclusive environment, we will highlight work by female developers, technologists of color, transgender tech creatives, and others who are at the forefront of the creative technology world.

In this hands-on workshop, students learn to examine and explore individual blocks of wood to find patterns, shapes and designs hidden in the grain. Using hand tools, they carve their pieces into beautifully finished sculptures.

In Jewelry making we use many materials and techniques to make earrings, bracelets, necklaces, beads, and rings, including wire, paper, clay, an assortment of beads/charms, and string. We make our own beads out of paper and clay, and learn different knot techniques to make bracelets. In DIY "Do It Yourself" we learn how to make all sorts of crafts out of many materials to make cards, magnets, picture frames, accessories, flower pots, decorations, and more!

Students learn baseball skills, good sportsmanship, and sense of team spirit. Players are divided into groups based on experience and skill level. Each class session includes a lesson filled with drills and a game or scrimmage. 

Learn the secrets of magic, sleight of hand and tricks of all kinds!

Students learn basketball skills, good sportsmanship, and sense of team spirit. Players are divided into groups based on experience and skill level. Each class session includes a lesson filled with drills and a game or scrimmage.