This creative hands-on class has students working on a new and very cool craft project every week with their favorite after-school staff members!

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.

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.

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.

Our mini chefs learn essential kitchen skills, from slicing and mixing to chopping and plating. We develop and encourage nutritious food choices while working together to prepare snacks and meals. Every class ends with a delicious treat!

Students will learn the basics of tennis in a fun, active and supportive team environment!

With an eye on presentation, this class will explore science topics from electricity to ecosystems, from the biology of insects to the wonders of the solar system and beyond. Each semester will culminate in an exciting presentation for parents and peers.

A veteran puppeteer, actor, circus performer and maskmaker, introduces students to many styles and techniques of creating, building and manipulating puppets.

This class offers a multi-faceted approach to stimulating children's intellect and emotions. Through participation, children can develop their social and emotional skills, gain confidence, and learn to collaborate with others while expressing their own individual ideas.

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.

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!

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.

This class will feature easy, yummy recipes that your child can learn to make at home. It will feature both savory and sweet dishes, with students concentrating on their own single-serving fare. Besides different sauces and dips, we will make veggie pinwheels, cheddar corn dogs and breakfast muffins, parfaits, and more!

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

Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Let's go!) 

Our approach, in several ways, but a good starting point is to focus on Pinyin, tones, basic vocabulary, and sentence structure.  The club focuses on refining fluency and accuracy in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with emphasis on complex grammar and vocabulary. 

From Salsa and Samba to Hip-Hop to Tango, immerse your child in a multicultural dance class which builds knowledge and understanding of dance styles from all over the globe.

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work 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.

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

This energetic class builds strength, flexibility and fitness. Students develop acrobatic skills such as tumbling, balance, endurance and coordination.

Students will learn to knit and crochet while creating their own original designs.

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

In this course, curated and facilitated by the renowned Renascent Institute, students will learn the basics of the Spanish language through a variety of activities such as brief conversations, directed dialogues, worksheets, and short writing exercises. Additionally, audio and visual aids, as well as short reading passages, will be utilized to enhance the learning experience.  Learning a new language is a bridge, an essential tool in today’s global world, to learn across new different disciplines such as Science, Arts, History, Economy, and Business to achieve personal and professional goals.

Children study their cherished bedtime stories, from Hans Christian Andersen to the Brothers Grimm, learning the foundations of storytelling and magical imagery, to invent their own enchanting tales.

Tap Dance is a fun, upbeat dance style that is guaranteed to make your child feel high-spirited and confident. Each semester culminates in a spectacular production featuring all 25 Manhattan Youth dance classes.

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

Diamond art is a craft that teaches how to create picture painting through the use of sparkling colored resin diamonds placed on a grid. Explore and create works of art that you will be proud of. 

Discover the power of ART in a safe, encouraging and fun environment. Through their brush strokes, your child will healthily express their emotions and communicate their thoughts. Each session will allow your child to build their self awareness while simultaneously nurturing their creativity. Unlike a traditional art class, brush strokes allows your child to use what they're feeling as the starting point for their masterpieces. Let your child experience art in a new and exciting way!   

Our blend of intramural sports and non-competitive sports skills and drills is sure to meet your young athlete's needs! Students will engage in a variety of seasonal sports responding to the physical fitness and socioemotional need for students eager to have a fun environment, where they can reconnect with their peers, and their favorite after-school coaches and group leaders.  

Students in cheer squad will learn and practice a variety of cheers that build strength, coordination, and teamwork.

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.

Students develop skills, 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.

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

Get ready for a tasty adventure around the world! In this hands-on cooking class, kids will explore global cuisines as they learn to prepare fun, simple dishes from countries like Italy, Mexico, Japan, India, France, and more.

Each week features a new country and its flavors, along with a little cultural fun—learning about traditional ingredients, kitchen customs, and food-related stories. Young chefs will build confidence in the kitchen while practicing basic cooking skills like mixing, measuring, chopping (with kid-safe tools), and following recipes.

Every kid knows that you don't really learn anything unless you make a mess and get your hands dirty. This class lets the creativity thrive by allowing  everything oozy, grimy, slippery and slimy to work with while making beautiful art projects. 

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

As digital technology continues to make its way into all aspects of our lives, the need for effective graphic design has never been greater. This course is ideal for students who seek an introduction to graphic design or have a general interest in learning how to create and communicate through visual media. Through a comprehensive look at topics such as layout, typography, color, space, balance, and hierarchy, students will be exposed to the most effective uses of graphic design in today's visual world. Students will create projects such as posters, stickers and t-shirts.

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

In this club, participants will play and tinker with numerous table top role playing games including Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), Pathfinder, Knave, and more. Your child will learn about the mechanics of table top role playing games and use their knowledge to run their own games using the principles of game design.

Ever wonder how plants can grow without dirt? In this exciting, hands-on class, kids will explore the world of hydroponics—a fun and futuristic way to grow plants using just water, light, and nutrients!

Students will build their own simple hydroponic systems, plant seeds, and watch their plants grow week by week. Along the way, they’ll learn about plant life cycles, root systems, and the science behind how plants get food without soil.

Get ready for a tasty adventure around the world! In this hands-on cooking class, kids will explore global cuisines as they learn to prepare fun, simple dishes from countries like Italy, Mexico, Japan, India, France, and more.

Each week features a new country and its flavors, along with a little cultural fun—learning about traditional ingredients, kitchen customs, and food-related stories. Young chefs will build confidence in the kitchen while practicing basic cooking skills like mixing, measuring, chopping (with kid-safe tools), and following recipes.

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

As digital technology continues to make its way into all aspects of our lives, the need for effective graphic design has never been greater. This course is ideal for students who seek an introduction to graphic design or have a general interest in learning how to create and communicate through visual media. Through a comprehensive look at topics such as layout, typography, color, space, balance, and hierarchy, students will be exposed to the most effective uses of graphic design in today's visual world. Students will create projects such as posters, stickers and t-shirts.

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

In this course, curated and facilitated by the renowned Renascent Institute, students will learn the basics of the Spanish language through a variety of activities such as brief conversations, directed dialogues, worksheets, and short writing exercises. Additionally, audio and visual aids, as well as short reading passages, will be utilized to enhance the learning experience.  Learning a new language is a bridge, an essential tool in today’s global world, to learn across new different disciplines such as Science, Arts, History, Economy, and Business to achieve personal and professional goals.

Our mini chefs learn essential kitchen skills, from slicing and mixing to chopping and plating. We develop and encourage nutritious food choices while working together to prepare snacks and meals. Every class ends with a delicious treat!

Students will learn to knit and crochet while creating their own original designs.

From Salsa and Samba to Hip-Hop to Tango, immerse your child in a multicultural dance class which builds knowledge and understanding of dance styles from all over the globe.