Creative Arts

There's room for you in our creative community #inspiringcreativity 

The arts are an important part of developing imagination, critical thinking, communication, and social skills. Here at Countryside YMCA, we offer classes in cooking, dance, music, pottery, crafting/art, and children’s theater. We offer regular Safe Sitter workshops as well as workshops in pottery and cooking. There’s more to the YMCA than just sports! We believe everyone should have a safe place to develop artistic talents. We strive to provide a welcoming environment where members can feel comfortable expressing themselves. When you participate in the arts, you develop confidence, problem-solving, perseverance, focus, nonverbal communication, and collaboration skills. And learning new creative skills with other imaginative people means you are sure to make new friends.

Find Your Voice, Discover Your Talents, & Reach Your Potential 

2024-2025 School Year program registration opens August 12th, 7:00am for members and August 14th, 8:30am for program members. 

After August 14 anyone can register at any time throughout the 2024-2025 School Year Session (September-May) & when there is an opening in the class, you will start right away. No more waiting for the next session to start. If the program/class is full, we suggest you join the waitlist. This will allow our program directors to add more of the high demand classes or put you in line for when a spot opens up for that program/class.

Monthly Recurring Classes

	ARTS & CRAFTS Using a variety of fun, tactile materials, this class offers developmentally appropriate, expressive art projects for children ages 4-12. As your child learns new artistic techniques, they access their own creativity while crafting different ways of seeing the world around them. This class encourages self-confidence and individuality so that children will take pride in their work and find inspiration from the work of others.
	COOKING The Y has an instructional kitchen with stoves, ovens, microwaves, cooking utensils, and a dishwasher. This specialized room means the Y can offer a variety of hands-on cooking classes for ages 3-15. Our cooking programs introduce even the youngest chefs into the kitchen, learning kitchen safety, measuring math, and new recipes! Cooking classes can help your children try new foods and start them on the right path to preparing their own meals, especially in this age of quick service and fast food. When children help prepare meals and are invested, they are more likely to try new foods.
	DANCE Ballet, tap, and hip-hop dance for ages 3-15 and clogging for ages 6 and up. Whether your dancer is here for one session or ends up staying for years, we are here to guide, instruct, and help your dancer thrive in a non-competitive dance environment. Our recreational dance programming allows for a lower-stress environment, so your dancer can learn at their pace. Our dance classes are progressive, which means your child will learn routines and have a chance to participate in a spring and/or winter dance recital on the big stage in our Event Center! Children gain physical strength, flexibility, and coordination throughout dance classes. For adults, it's an opportunity to get moving, learn a new skill, or rediscover something from childhood. Dance is impressive for memory, balance, strength, and toning.
	LEGO® CLUB Get your little builder BUILDING BEYOND instructional LEGO kits and building friendships. LEGO Club is for kids ages 6-10 and stimulates & develops spatial intelligence. Weekly themes will guide instructions as we work to create masterpieces with our own imaginations.
	MUSIC The Y has two private lessons rooms on our lower level, one with our cherished antique upright piano. We currently offer piano lessons for ages 5 and up and guitar lessons for ages 8 and up for 30 minutes once a week. Work one-on-one with our experienced teachers to develop new skills! Whether you're a beginner looking to learn to play an instrument or an experienced player who wants to refine their skills, you'll work together with your teacher to set and accomplish your goals.
	POTTERY The Y has a full pottery studio with two kilns, four throwing wheels, tools, glazes, and experienced instructors. We offer classes for both children ages 6-17 and adults 18 & up. Pottery is an engaging and calming process that offers many benefits to children and adults. Children in pottery tend to be more focused and quiet while they are creating, and they enjoy the tactile feel of the clay. You or your child have the opportunity to tap into a creative train of thought that you can't get elsewhere and improve fine motor skills. You get to decide what to make, whether it's a bowl, vase, turtle, or fairy house and also choose which glaze will look the best. Your child will gain maturity as they learn to work through mistakes (some fixable, others not–like air left in the clay, which can ruin a project).