Let's give some old crayons a second chance to be creative! We'll have fun building our own solar ovens for melting crayons down into interesting new shapes, plus we'll learn how to transform the crayons' old wrappers into unique, one-of-a-kind stationery in our crayon and paper factory. Bring any old and broken crayons you have laying around the house and join the fun!

Spend a few hours outdoors learning the basics of safe and sustainable foraging. Get to know the culinary and everyday uses of the plants growing in or near your backyard. Learn to ID these plants accurately and safely through hands on activities and a short hike.

TWO DAY COURSE: This class takes place over the course of two days.

This course takes explorers on a journey of discovery! Explorers will learn about, build, and investigate a cave! We will also take time to learn about the many creatures inhabiting Rock Bridge State Park by playing games, getting dirty, and even simulating some of them! In addition, we will paint and draw creatures, landscapes, and more! Please note this course requires about 2 miles of hiking over the course of each 3-hour course. Headlamps, flashlights, exploring tools, waterproof shoes, towel, and a backpack are highly encouraged.

TWO DAY COURSE: This class takes place over the course of two days.

Do you love exploration, building, and the outdoors? If so, this is the perfect class for you. We will spend two, 3-hour sessions at Rock Bridge State Park! During this class, students will learn about the biology of the park (including exploration of the cave, stream, and pond), test their bridge-building abilities, participate in games/scavenger hunts, and even do some dissecting! Please note this course requires about 2 miles of hiking over the course of each 3-hour course. Headlamps, flashlights, exploring tools, waterproof shoes, towel, and a backpack are highly encouraged.

TWO DAY COURSE: This class takes place over the course of two days.

This course takes explorers on a journey of discovery! Explorers will learn about, build, and investigate a cave! We will also take time to learn about the many creatures inhabiting Rock Bridge State Park by playing games, getting dirty, and even simulating some of them! In addition, we will paint and draw creatures, landscapes, and more! Please note this course requires about 2 miles of hiking over the course of each 3-hour course. Headlamps, flashlights, exploring tools, waterproof shoes, towel, and a backpack are highly encouraged.

TWO DAY COURSE: This class takes place over the course of two days.

Do you love exploration, building, and the outdoors? If so, this is the perfect class for you. We will spend two, 3-hour sessions at Rock Bridge State Park! During this class, students will learn about the biology of the park (including exploration of the cave, stream, and pond), test their bridge-building abilities, participate in games/scavenger hunts, and even do some dissecting! Please note this course requires about 2 miles of hiking over the course of each 3-hour course. Headlamps, flashlights, exploring tools, waterproof shoes, towel, and a backpack are highly encouraged.

Spend three hours learning about the intricacies of beekeeping, honey, pollination, and how you can make a difference! During this course you will have the chance to work with a working hive full of honeybees (from the safety of a beekeeping suit, of course!), learn about why honeybees are so important, and taste some local honey. You will see first-hand how honeybees navigate their environment, how they help humans, and how (and why!) humans should help honeybees in return!

**This is a Place Based Course and will take place in Millersburg (about 20 minutes outside of Columbia)

Interested in outdoor skills but haven’t had a chance to learn? This is a three-hour introductory class to creating a survival kit using everyday items and learning skills to maximize our ability to thrive in the outdoors. Participants will be able to take home the survival kit they create.

**This is a Place Based Course and will take place in Millersburg (about 20 minutes outside of Columbia)

Ready for a fun day on the farm? Join in the fun of taking care of, learning about, and playing with a variety of fun (kid-friendly) farm animals. We will spend our time learning about each animal on this small farm, tending to their needs, and getting our boots dirty! We will learn about variety of chickens, ducks, and pigs. It’s sure to be a hoot!

Students will have the opportunity to study color theory by creating their very own Newton’s Disc through art and science! This physics based class will also teach our K-2 students who Newton was as a scientist, how different media such as light waves versus paint apply to color theory, and what happens when colors intertwine. Come explore the physics of color through multiple hands-on activities!

Arguably the best bridge builders in the world, the Ancient Romans had a variety of types of bridges to choose from. Dive into the writings of Julius Caesar and Vitruvius to discover for yourself the art of ancient techniques, then build them yourself on a miniature scale!

Unleash your creativity and step into the future of design with our exciting Laser Design Studio course! This unique class is specially tailored for young innovators aged 12 to 15 who are eager to explore the cutting-edge world of laser technology. In this two-day course, you’ll dive into hands-on activities, designing and producing your own creations. Whether it’s custom jewelry, unique decorations, or personalized gadgets, your imagination is the limit!

Welcome to our exciting Anthropology STEM class, where young explorers will dive into the rich and diverse world of Native American cultures. Equipped with curiosity and observation skills, students will immerse themselves in the study of anthropology through engaging activities. In the first activity, students will create Dream Catchers, a traditional craft of many Native American tribes. They will learn about the cultural significance of Dream Catchers and their role in Native American spirituality. Students will also explore and recreate traditional Native American architectural styles through a building challenge. Lastly, they will learn about the efforts of Native American communities to preserve their cultural heritage and the importance of respecting and appreciating diverse cultures. Join us as we embark on an anthropological adventure, exploring the vibrant traditions of Native American cultures!

Day ONE of a THREE day course: This class takes place over the course of three days.

The kids loved this class so much we brought it back for 2024 and ADDED ANOTHER DAY!

Students will learn about the causes, battles, important events, and ending of the Revolutionary War! Students will participate in a simulation, design a device to launch tea boxes into the Boston harbor, send a message in invisible ink, and design and create a haversack to take home! You won't want to miss this historically, hands-on STEM course.

Unleash your creativity and step into the future of design with our exciting Laser Design Studio course! This unique class is specially tailored for young innovators aged 12 to 15 who are eager to explore the cutting-edge world of laser technology. In this two-day course, you’ll dive into hands-on activities, designing and producing your own creations. Whether it’s custom jewelry, unique decorations, or personalized gadgets, your imagination is the limit!

Day TWO of a THREE day course: This class takes place over the course of three days.

The kids loved this class so much we brought it back for 2024 and ADDED ANOTHER DAY!

Students will learn about the causes, battles, important events, and ending of the Revolutionary War! Students will participate in a simulation, design a device to launch tea boxes into the Boston harbor, send a message in invisible ink, and design and create a haversack to take home! You won't want to miss this historically, hands-on STEM course.

We will explore 6 important pillars of resiliency (communication, connection, healthy habits, gratitude, hope for the future & giving back) and begin putting those into practice by creating a mixed media art panel to remind ourselves and others how to build a resilient community of support.

Day THREE of a THREE day course: This class takes place over the course of three days.

The kids loved this class so much we brought it back for 2024 and ADDED ANOTHER DAY!

Students will learn about the causes, battles, important events, and ending of the Revolutionary War! Students will participate in a simulation, design a device to launch tea boxes into the Boston harbor, send a message in invisible ink, and design and create a haversack to take home! You won't want to miss this historically, hands-on STEM course.

In this three-hour session, participants will enjoy interacting with our friendly farm animal birds (chickens and ducks) as well as understand what makes different birds unique. We will also extend our learning to native birds we might see in our own neighborhood and make our own suet block to feed them!

**This is a Place Based Course and will take place in Millersburg (about 20 minutes outside of Columbia)

Participants in this class will explore the world of amphibians with an emphasis on our most beloved amphibian, the frog. Participants will explore frog habitats, life cycles, and create their very own toad home. Be prepared to get wet as we search for our long-legged friends!

**This is a Place Based Course and will take place in Millersburg (about 20 minutes outside of Columbia)

This course will give students a creative outlet to express and care for emotions through art journals. We will provide basic knowledge of ways we can identify, describe and communicate with others about our feelings. We will share and practice tools that help us take care of our emotions in safe and healthy ways. We will process all of this information through student-created art journals that will foster ownership, creative expression & positive communication.

We will use the children's books The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald and Me & My Amazing Body by Joan Sweeney to talk about the amazing things our bodies can do. We will create self portraits and writings to showcase and celebrate our favorite things about ourselves, our bodies and everything we can do.

Learn basic sewing and fabric cutting skills while promoting sustainability and creating a memorable project. In this class students will take 2 of their favorite t shirts and give them new life as a reversible reusable tote. Students will work with MACC Lab professionals to create these reusable totes to take home. Due to limited machines, class sizes are limited. Please register soon to reserve your spot!

*Please note close toed shoes are a requirement for this course

This class takes place at:

The MACC Lab

601 Business Loop 70 West Suite 216

Columbia, MO 65203

Check out this amazing class on the forensics of the mythical world. Using a combination of hands-on labs and your imagination, you will be investigating the adaptations of mythical creatures through chemistry and material sciences. A fabulous opportunity to bring reality and lore together in the coolest way!

Being prepared means having what you need, when you need it. With outdoor equipment technology taking a space aged approach, survival gear has become smaller and more portable. In this three-hour course, we will be putting the latest survival technologies to the test with various engineering challenges and determine their true effectiveness. Participants will be provided with a survival kit of their own.

**This is a Place Based Course and will take place in Millersburg (about 20 minutes outside of Columbia)

Are you watching closely? Come observe and interact with a set of magic tricks that you can perform at home! You can choose to explain the science behind each trick, or you can leave your audience guessing! Either way, you’ll be the star of the show!

Students will learn basic hand sewing techniques to make their very own stuffed animal from felt! They will get a chance to design, cut felt fabric out from patterns, hand sew and stuff an animal of their choosing to take home. Great for those who are interested in sewing or miniatures.  

Spend a few hours outdoors learning the basics of safe and sustainable foraging. Get to know the culinary and everyday uses of the plants growing in or near your backyard. Learn to ID these plants accurately and safely through hands on activities and a short hike.

Immerse yourself among the Roman legionnaires and grow in the ranks of a "faber" or carpenter of siege engines. Build your very own ballista and thwart the advancing armies! Includes readings from Vitruvius and Julius Caesar.

In this course we will look at some iconic scenes in film history, analyze how each scene "works," and then write some scenes of our own. Potentially we can film some scenes, depending on tech availability, but regardless of this, we will bring our own thoughts and reactions to major film moments to life, as we seek to understand what makes them function in our brains, as media. For writers, media lovers, the curious, and those who would view the world more alertly, this class is for you.

Are you sure that you can knock out a wonderful lyric with a soulful spin? In this workshop, we will study some great lyrics and great poetry, looking for what makes a great line tick. Whether you can write your own or appreciate someone else's beautiful expression, we will create a poster museum of great poetry and lyrics. Whether it's the best line Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, or Robert Frost ever wrote, or your own attempt at capturing the world around you, in this workshop you will read and listen to some wonderful expression and give it a bigger audience through preparing the words for a larger presentation. Bring your inner artist.

Embark on an engaging Ornithology STEM class, where bird enthusiasts will spread their wings and explore the world of avian wonders. Armed with binoculars and field guides, budding ornithologists will embark on a Feathered Friends Place-Based Field Trip. They'll observe various bird species in their natural habitats, learning to identify birds by their unique colors, markings, and calls. This hands-on experience will spark curiosity about bird behavior and migration patterns. Our creative avian architects will then roll up their sleeves to Build a Bird Nest. Using natural and found materials, they'll construct miniature bird nests, exploring the diverse designs of nests built by different species. This activity fosters an understanding of nesting habits and the important role nests play in the life of birds. Join us as we soar to new heights in the study of ornithology!

In this course we will look at some iconic scenes in film history, analyze how each scene "works," and then write some scenes of our own. Potentially we can film some scenes, depending on tech availability, but regardless of this, we will bring our own thoughts and reactions to major film moments to life, as we seek to understand what makes them function in our brains, as media. For writers, media lovers, the curious, and those who would view the world more alertly, this class is for you.

Get ready to be creative outdoors! This class lets you explore nature's beauty while making awesome art. We'll learn different art styles and turn leaves, twigs, and stones into one-of-a-kind projects. From sculpting cool creatures to painting landscapes, your imagination will run wild using all sorts of natural materials. By the end, you'll have a deeper love for nature and a portfolio of outdoor masterpieces to share with everyone!

Learn how chefs use the science of phase changes to create an array of delectable treats. Yes, we will get to eat them!

Bring your Pokémon cards to this class in order to understand the real biology that inspired these creatures. We will be making life size illustrations that depict the anatomy and environment in which your Pokémon resides. This is an excellent class for the Pokémon fan in your life!

In this class, we will take a look at some of the classic fairy tales and fables that we love, then perform short pieces, bringing these stories to life through simple puppet. Bring one favorite fancy sock and one basic sock (we will also have some to choose from) to custom make your glorious puppet characters and be prepared to have a lot of fun!

Dive into the microscopic world of local aquatic ecosystems! Explore water samples from nearby lakes and rivers to discover the diverse creatures living in them, from tiny animals and plants to protists. Learn about their vital role in the local ecosystem and how they contribute to the food chain. Get ready to explore and uncover the secrets of your own backyard water worlds!

Learn basic sewing and fabric cutting skills while promoting sustainability and creating a memorable project. In this class students will take 2 of their favorite t shirts and give them new life as a reversible reusable tote. Students will work with MACC Lab professionals to create these reusable totes to take home. Due to limited machines, class sizes are limited. Please register soon to reserve your spot!

*Please note close toed shoes are a requirement for this course

This class takes place at:

The MACC Lab

601 Business Loop 70 West Suite 216

Columbia, MO 65203

Learn to weave and create a wall-hanging or a bookmark that represents your favorite book, story, poem, subject or hero.

Whether you like theatre games or stealing the limelight with your awesome humor and antics, you can have fun with this course. I am a theatre teacher who does not have the ability to be hilarious in improv, but I love a great theatre game. You do not have to already know how to do improv to take this course and you do not have to be seriously funny to be good at improv, We will play lots of games to make improv accessible and whether you choose to step forward and take the story or act as support in games that boost your confidence and that of others, we can succeed together in building a great sketch. This is a low stakes way to learn some fun games and bounce ideas in a workshop built around game changing Viola Spolin's Improv games.

Have you ever wondered why really successful people often have notes and notebooks, process descriptions, and pictures to publish from their life's work? Geniuses and people who would succeed in particular areas, from Science and Math, to the Arts, keep notebooks for their ideas, observations, and discoveries. From Leonardo da Vinci to Lewis & Clark and Taylor Swift, a special place to develop one's thinking leads to success. In this class, we will look at a variety of notebooks, take some long walks to observe and think, gather clips and images, and look at organization methods that make personal notes useful in the future. Whether you are a person who journals or not, learn how to make a simple piece of paper, a pen or pencil, and your own curiosity build a repository for your own genius to thrive.

In this class, we will take a look at some of the classic fairy tales and fables that we love, then perform short pieces, bringing these stories to life through simple puppet. Bring one favorite fancy sock and one basic sock (we will also have some to choose from) to custom make your glorious puppet characters and be prepared to have a lot of fun!

We will use the book How to Speak Flower: A Kid's Guide to Buds, Blooms & Blossoms by Molly Williams to guide us on our journey to understand the history behind the use of flowers to communicate and connect with others. We will research flowers and their meanings, go on a nature walk to search for buds, blooms and blossoms and create our own self-representation bouquet, using wildflowers and greenery.

Spend a day exploring nature and participating in exciting outdoor-themed STEM challenges. Students will kayak, hike, explore the hidden parts of nature, participate in outdoor cooking, and build solar-powered robots. This camp will include a camp cookout lunch. Students should dress for having fun and getting dirty! This camp will run 8:00 am-2:00 pm.

Spend a day exploring nature and participating in exciting outdoor-themed STEM challenges. Students will kayak, hike, explore the hidden parts of nature, participate in outdoor cooking, and build solar-powered robots. This camp will include a camp cookout lunch. Students should dress for having fun and getting dirty! This camp will run 8:00 am-2:00 pm.

Have you ever wondered why really successful people often have notes and notebooks, process descriptions, and pictures to publish from their life's work? Geniuses and people who would succeed in particular areas, from Science and Math, to the Arts, keep notebooks for their ideas, observations, and discoveries. From Leonardo da Vinci to Lewis & Clark and Taylor Swift, a special place to develop one's thinking leads to success. In this class, we will look at a variety of notebooks, take some long walks to observe and think, gather clips and images, and look at organization methods that make personal notes useful in the future. Whether you are a person who journals or not, learn how to make a simple piece of paper, a pen or pencil, and your own curiosity build a repository for your own genius to thrive.

Want to work with animals when you grow up? Try it out by being a Jefferson Middle School Zookeeper for a Day. JMS has a working Zoo with over 100 animals that need daily care. You will work with JMS Zookeeper leaders on all the tasks that go on in a school zoo. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for animal play time too!

Want to work with animals when you grow up? Try it out by being a Jefferson Middle School Zookeeper for a Day. JMS has a working Zoo with over 100 animals that need daily care. You will work with JMS Zookeeper leaders on all the tasks that go on in a school zoo. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for animal play time too!

This is a private event. Interested in working with us to customize an event for your organization? Reach out!

Want to work with animals when you grow up? Try it out by being a Jefferson Middle School Zookeeper for a Day. JMS has a working Zoo with over 100 animals that need daily care. You will work with JMS Zookeeper leaders on all the tasks that go on in a school zoo. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for animal play time too!

Want to work with animals when you grow up? Try it out by being a Jefferson Middle School Zookeeper for a Day. JMS has a working Zoo with over 100 animals that need daily care. You will work with JMS Zookeeper leaders on all the tasks that go on in a school zoo. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for animal play time too!

Want to work with animals when you grow up? Try it out by being a Jefferson Middle School Zookeeper for a Day. JMS has a working Zoo with over 100 animals that need daily care. You will work with JMS Zookeeper leaders on all the tasks that go on in a school zoo. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for animal play time too!

Participants will use basic chemistry to create Harry Potter themed “potions” such as hippogriff toothpaste, bottled pensieves, and color changing liquids. We’ll end the course with chocolate pretzel wands and butter beer.

Participants will use basic chemistry to create Harry Potter themed “potions” such as hippogriff toothpaste, bottled pensieves, and color changing liquids. We’ll end the course with chocolate pretzel wands and butter beer.