Amherst, MA ♦ Ukulele, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Rock Band, and Voice in person and online for all ages. Group and private instruction in Beginning I & II, Intermediate and advanced Ukulele, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Bass, Drums, Rock Band and Voice.  Adult Guitar, Ukulele, and Rock Band Groups are offered as well as private voice training. Teachers include: Miss Leticia (guitar, ukulele, rock band, voice); Rusty Daniels (guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, rock band); Rhys Davies (adult rock band), and Gruff Davies (Rock Band. After school and evenings. For more information: missleticia@missleticia.com; 413-246-7338; missleticia.com.

Amherst, MA ♦ The Skating Club of Amherst offers a full schedule of figure skating instruction each year from September – early June. Ice sessions are offered 4 days a week to all level skaters, beginner to advanced, recreational or competitive. Their popular Learn-to-Skate program offers group lessons for ages 4-adult on Sundays. Additional private instruction is offered in freestyle, ice dancing, & testing for those looking to advance their skills. Participation in a spring ice show is available to all members. All sessions are held at the UMass Mullins Center Practice Rink. The club is a United States Figure Skating member & is a private, non-profit organization managed by volunteers. Registration forms, when available, can be printed from the website. For more information: www.scamherst.org; SCofAmherst@gmail.com

Brattleboro, VT ♦ Come to the New England Center for Circus Arts to add creative physical activity to your child’s learning experience. Join their classes or bring your own group for private lessons. Classes provide inspiring and fun movement activities for circus enthusiasts and novice students wanting to add balance and dexterity to their lives in a fun and unique way. Circus is a broad and active art form offering aerials, acrobatics, juggling, clowning, trampoline, and more for developing team-building, diligence, and invention. Classes can be simply circus or connect with NECCA to consider an educational residency model where circus is the medium for framing experiential learning discussions. For more information: 
info@necenterforcircusarts.org; 
802-254-9780; www.necenterforcircusarts.org

Easthampton, MA ♦ Whether you are new to stained glass, coming back after a break, or quite skilled at the art, Dragonfly Stained Glass Studio is the perfect place for you. Their 1500-square-foot Eastworks studio is fully equipped with tools, glass, and supplies. Beginning classes offer clear, in-depth presentations of stained glass skills & techniques. Intermediate classes & open studio times provide excellent direction and advice to complete a more advanced project students have started or begin a new one. Dragonfly Stained Glass Studio also creates custom stained glass art, offers repairs, sells gift certificates, and buys used stained glass. Discount class tuition for groups of 6 or more students is available. Ages 16 & older; ages 8-15 with a guardian.
For more information: info@DragonflyStainedGlassStudio.com; 413-559-1010; www.DragonflyStainedGlassStudio.com

Easthampton, MA ♦ Pioneer Valley Ballet provides classes, performances, and outreach programs to cater to all levels of expertise. They prioritize technique, inclusivity, and artistry to create well-rounded performers and appreciative audiences. The institution also offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into ballet productions to showcase the collaborative efforts that bring artistic visions to life on stage. Pioneer Valley Ballet offers year-round pre-professional ballet training, community classes for children, teens, and adults, as well as performance opportunities for dancers of all ages and levels of ability. To register for classes, visit their website.  For more information: 413-527-6363; www.pioneervalleyballet.org.

Greenfield, MA ♦ Stoneleigh-Burnham School offers an afterschool Community Dance Program for local students ages 5-18. Their program provides a variety of dance classes, including modern, ballet, and jazz. Participants will be able to learn alongside SBS students and participate in three annual performances. Middle and high school Community Dance students learn alongside Stoneleigh-Burnham School students and have the opportunity to take part in three performances over the course of the year. Modern, ballet, and jazz classes meet on weekdays, excluding Wednesdays, which are reserved for young dancers ages 5-11. A complete schedule for their Community Dance Program can be found at sbschool.org/hilltown-dance. For more information: hdescavich@sbschool.org; 413-475-1671.

Greenfield, MA ♦ Franklin County’s YMCA School-Age Child Care program provides youth with a safe place to go before and after the bell! More importantly, this program helps youth realize who they are and what they can achieve by reinforcing positive values in a caring atmosphere, with activities designed to help kids make friends and grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. For students ages 5 – 14 enrolled in the Greenfield Public Schools or the Gill-Montague Regional School District. Don’t be caught off-guard – plan all your child’s school closings: Vacation Weeks, Snow Days, Holidays & In-Service School Closures. For more information: pfelogloy@your-y.org; 413-773-3646; www.your-y.org.

Hatfield, MA ♦ Is your kid horse crazy or animal crazy? Red Mare Farm provides year-round dressage-based riding lessons for adults and kids ages 8 and older. Red Mare Farm strives to teach riders to be the best partners with the horse that they can be. Safety, respect, and fun are the essential ingredients. Lesson subscription plans are available, including regular unmounted horsemanship classes for learning beyond the saddle. What are the benefits of kids learning with horses? Develop confidence, compassion, emotional awareness, humility and patience, discipline, and responsibility. Learn to accept disappointment and find resilience. And the list goes on. Join Red Mare Farm, and see for yourself what being involved with horses can do for you and your family. For more information: RedmarefarmLLC@gmail.com; 978-739-4707; redmarefarm.com.

Holyoke, MA ♦ Classes at the Massachusetts Academy of Ballet (MAB) emphasize classical ballet technique, musicality, artistry, and creativity. Students receive individual attention and discover that the joy of studying classical ballet is learning to accept a challenge, take a risk, achieve a personal goal, and improve daily. Children begin to study at age 3.5 in creative movement classes. Regular ballet classes start at age 8 and are also offered for teens and adults. Advanced ballet students take daily lessons and dance in community performances as part of MABETA, the Academy’s not-for-profit initiative. The MAB studios are modern, spacious, and equipped with sprung floors. For more info: rflachs@massacademyofballet.com; 413-536-6200; www.massacademyofballet.com

Northampton, MA ♦ CJL’s weekly After School Program for students in second through sixth grade, builds connections, community, and friendships. With up to eight students per group, we collectively identify common interests and activities to pursue: community service projects, topical discussions, movies, art, cooking, singing, movement, and Hebrew writing. Each week from September to May, these 75-minute gatherings meet in one participant’s home in the Northampton/ Florence area. Parents continue to share their appreciation for this program: “My daughter came back on Tuesday evening over the moon. She loved the class!” For more information: cjl.alisonmorse@gmail.com; 413-559-9208; www.circlesforjewishliving.com.

Northampton, MA ♦ Create Space is a dynamic and versatile venue catering to a broad spectrum of educational and social needs. It serves as a hub for homeschoolers, unschoolers, afterschoolers, and more, providing a space for activities like meet-ups, book clubs, and tinkering sessions. Emphasizing a philosophy of learning through free play and open exploration, Create Space is now offering Little Makers: a morning of art and movement for pre-schoolers. It offers rental options for various events, including parties and workshops, and is located at 89 Market Street, Northampton, MA.
For more information: createspacenorthampton@gmail.com; 413-231-4454; wildgardenofchildhood.com.

Northampton, MA ♦ Downtown Sounds Music School provides music education for a wide variety of instruments. They offer in-person and online lessons seven days a week for guitar, piano, voice, bass, drums, percussion, ukulele, brass and woodwind instruments, mandolin, and more. Whether students are just starting, looking to expand their abilities, or learning to play a favorite song, their teachers are passionate about working with students of all ages to meet their musical goals! For more information: lessons@downtownsounds.com; 413-586-0998; downtownsounds.com.

Northampton, MA ♦ The Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley offers classes for all ages in art, dance, music, theatre, writing, and more! New classes are added throughout the year, so sign up for their weekly email newsletter or visit their website regularly. The Center also offers affordable rental space for artists, educators, and local organizations, while developing programming dedicated to arts education, multidisciplinary collaborations, and community connections. They look forward to supporting your artistic endeavors! For more information: programs@nohoarts.org; 413-584-7327; www.nohoarts.org.

Northampton, MA ♦ Whole Children and Milestones’ goal is to create an inclusive environment where every child, teen, and adult is successful and valued for who they are, no matter their abilities or disabilities. They offer a diverse roster of after-school and Saturday classes, including yoga, art, cooking, theater, video games, and much more. Classes emphasize social skills, self-advocacy, and just plain fun. Visit their new location at 11 Village Hill Rd. in Northampton or choose from online classes. Whole Children and Milestones are filling a vital need by creating classes where the hard work of skill-building is made social and fun for people of all abilities and by creating a supportive and caring community for parents. For more info: info@wholechildren.org; 413-585-8010; www.wholechildren.org

Orange, MA ♦  The Creative Sector Pathway Program (CSPP) at LaunchSpace is a free 20-week out-of-school badge & certificate program for teenagers interested in learning about creative skills training, entrepreneurship, & apprenticeships. CSPP offers hands-on experiential education in tools training & entrepreneurship for teenagers aged 13-17 interested in pursuing the intersection of art, technology, & entrepreneurship. Participants meet in LaunchSpace’s 13,000 sq. ft. facility, which includes 2D to 3D design, pottery, woodshop, leather, textiles, jewelry, stained glass, electronics, & digital fabrication. An info session will take place at their makerspace Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 6pm, & applications are due by 5pm on Friday, September 1, 2023. For more information: sid@launchspace-orange.com; 978-633-5131; www.launchspace-orange.com

Pittsfield, MA ♦ The Barrington Stage Company Education Department offers fun and creative outlets for young people. The unique KidsAct! & TeensAct! programs are back for spring break and summer for ages 7–14. These programs focus on building acting and performance skills through ensemble work to create original musical plays. The renowned, award-winning Playwright Mentoring Project meets weekly from October to April in Pittsfield or North Adams. Experienced mentors guide participants to develop and perform an original play based on stories and experiences from their lives. PMP creates a brave and welcoming space where young people can share important ideas and generate exciting, relevant theatre that will be performed for their peers. For more information: education@barringtonstageco.org; 413-997-6117; www.bsceducation.org

Pittsfield, MA ♦ Get creative with Berkshire Art Center by joining classes, workshops, and events year-round for people of all ages and skill levels! Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before or have been drawing for years, Berkshire Art Center’s classes provide opportunities for you to feel what it’s like to create the art seen in local museums, connect with local artists, and be empowered to make something with your own hands. In addition to our creative community in Stockbridge, Berkshire Art Center has expanded to Pittsfield to bring art to even more people through Classes, Art Nights Out, Free Drop-In Art Making, and Free Parent & Me Art Meetups. Shop, Learn, and Create with Berkshire Art Center!. For more information: info@berkshireartcenter.org; 413-298-5252; berkshireartcenter.org 

Pittsfield, MA ♦ Experience the joy of music at the Berkshire Music School! Take a private lesson for all levels and ages offered in any band or orchestral instrument as well as voice and theory, online or in-person at our historic Pittsfield campus. Lessons may be arranged for 30, 45, or 60 minutes each week to meet the needs of the student. BMS’s fun Community Group Classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis throughout the year. Visit the Berkshire Music School website for class offerings. Check out why the excellence of BMS’s programs have been recognized with The Berkshire Eagle’s Best of the Berkshires Awards and Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards. For more information: 
cpearson@berkshiremusicschool.org; 413-442-1411; www.berkshiremusicschool.org 

Rowe, MA ♦ The Rowe Center is a special place where individuals transform into communities. The online courses and weekend programs, led by emerging thought leaders, don’t just end on Sundays. Participants carry the lessons and connections they forge back into their communities, kindling change. By inspiring each visitor, The Rowe Center hopes to create ripples of positive transformation throughout the world. This retreat center offers comfortable, relaxed lodgings and plenty of quiet spaces to explore. Nourish your body and soul with meals created by an award-winning chef. Amenities include a sauna, meditation hut, labyrinth & miles of serene hiking trails with scenic views of the Pioneer Valley. Find a program that speaks to your spirit today! For more information: info@rowecenter.org; 413-339-4954; rowecenter.org

Springfield, MA ♦ CMSS is now enrolling for in-person and virtual music lessons, classes, and ensembles for students of all ages and levels. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned musician, CMSS takes the time to match you with a teacher who will connect with you while helping you accomplish your personal musical goals. Offering instruction in over 30 instruments and voice, their registration team can help you decide whether to rent or purchase your instrument. Getting started is easy – your music lesson or class is just a click or phone call away!
For more information: info@communitymusicschool.com; 413-732-8428; communitymusicschool.com.

Springfield, MA ♦ The Drama Studio is a special place where young people can develop their artistic skills, leadership abilities, and personal growth. They offer a variety of in-person acting classes with a unique conservatory-style program for students aged 6-18. Their Intro to Acting program lays a strong foundation, teaching fundamental acting techniques while helping students gain confidence in front of an audience. They also offer intermediate classes such as Scene Study, Musical Theatre, Playwriting, and ensemble classes. For more information: info@dramastudio.org; 413-739-1983; www.dramastudio.org

Sunderland, MA ♦ Lion King Jr. classes begin January 6, 2024. Grades 1-3 will rehearse at 9am and grades 4-6 at 10am. All classes are on Saturdays at Maple Ridge Community Center. The performance will be on March 23, 2024 at Amherst Middle School. Tuition for this class is $245. Come to the meet & greet Saturday December 2, 2023, 9-9:45am at Maple Ridge. Fiddler on the Roof classes begin January 6, 2024. All classes Saturday mornings at Maple Ridge Community Center. Grades 7-12 will rehearse at 11:15am. Performances run May 3 & 4, 2024, at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. Tuition for this class is $285. Financial aid options are available. Auditions will be held December 2, 2023, 10-12pm at Maple Ridge. Sign-up for an audition slot on their website. For more information: starlights.yt@gmail.com; 413-345-5195; www.starlights-youth-theatre.com