The Crucible photo by Leah Norling
Maybe they've outgrown those gymnastics classes they once loved. They're tired of soccer. They're too old for the Rec. Department's fun camps, but they want to sign up for something. They want to get involved.
It's time to get creative. Think outside the box.
Fortunately, thinking outside the box is easy in the East Bay. With resources like The Crucible in Oakland, tweens and teens can sign up for classes like welding, blacksmithing, or jewelry making.
If your child isn't quite ready to pick up a blow-torch, but has an interest in comics, check out the Teen Comic Club at the Oakland Public Library's Martin Luther King Branch. The group meets on Tuesdays, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. and Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Cost: Free.
Maybe your tween is looking to find a way to get in shape that integrates the body, mind, and spirit. Many yoga studios now offer classes for children and teens. Cosmic Dog Yoga and Danville Yoga Center both offer weekly classes for tweens. Danville Yoga Center also offers a teen class.
What about the musically-inclined tween? Whether your homeschooler is interested in percussion or strings, rock bands or symphonies, the Bay Area has you covered, once again. Try Korean drumming classes at the Korean Youth Cultural Center, or learn Latin American guitar at La Peña Cultural Center. Attend a free rehearsal of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The Symphony website also offers links to area resources for locating music teachers, classes, and choral groups.
Whether your middle-school or high-school age homeschoolers have tired of the activities of their younger years or are looking to expand their horizons, the East Bay is filled with opportunities as diverse as its population. You're certain to find something for every lifelong learner.
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