Deep in the wild heart of Alaska, nestled in between frosted glaciers and lush evergreen forests, there seems to be a hidden secret. A bunch of wild and wacky kids, known as the "Alaskan Adventurers," are on a never-ending quest filled with nature activities. Now, Alaska is no ordinary place, and these are no ordinary kids. They are as fearless as the grizzlies they share their state with, as agile as the jumping salmon that navigate the clear Alaskan rivers, and as wise as the majestic bald eagles soaring overhead. Their leader is a jolly old moose named Moosey McMooseface, who wears a rainbow-colored hat and walks on two legs. Don’t ask me how he manages it, he just does! And when he speaks, it's like the rustling of autumn leaves. He guides the Alaskan Adventurers on hikes through the mystical forests, teaches them to fish in the crystal-clear rivers, and even shows them how to build the coziest igloos you could ever imagine. These Alaska kids know how to have fun! From the moment the sun rises, which during the summer can be as early as 3:00 AM (I know, right? Talk about an early wake-up call!), they're out exploring and learning. They have races across the vast, snowy landscape, create epic snow-angel armies, and share stories around crackling campfires, where marshmallows persistently get a little too toasty. The Alaskan Adventurers, along with Moosey McMooseface, make the frosty, far-off state of Alaska seem like the most magical playground in the world. So, if you ever find yourself in the land of the midnight sun, don't be surprised if you stumble upon a bunch of kids sledding down a hill, led by a talking moose with a rainbow hat. That's just how they roll in Alaska!
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Our 5 acre private property provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration, from hiking trails to playgrounds. No matter the season or weather, the Joy Greisen JEC provides an outdoor learning experience to all of our students. The Joy Greisen JEC is a non-profit early education center that offers a unique blend of secular and Judaic learning. Our 5 acre private property is complete with trees, hiking trails, and playgrounds, making it a perfect location for outdoor learning experiences. Through our curriculum, we focus on teaching Jewish values and social emotional learning alongside academics. We invite families of all faiths to explore our center and appreciate the values we put into practice. No matter the season or weather, the Joy Greisen JEC provides an outdoor learning experience to all of our students.
At PNA, we believe in the value of social-emotional learning, which is why we use Responsive Classroom as our curriculum. An especially important part of this program is having students discuss their hopes and dreams, and then collaborate in creating the classroom rules. This encourages students to take ownership of their environment and understand the expectations of their behavior. It creates a strong classroom community, and we have seen this process work in classrooms from Kindergarten to 8th grade. The process of creating classroom rules starts with a discussion of why rules are important. Then students have the opportunity to brainstorm their individual ideas about what makes for an ideal classroom environment. After sharing these ideas, the class works together to compose a list of rules. By being directly involved in this process, students gain a sense of pride and belonging, and they are better prepared to follow the rules that they have created.