In the frosty nose-tickling state of Alaska, also known as AK, there exists a jolly band of giggly, adventurous children who delight in the greatest outdoor activity known to mankind— hiking! Imagine a world where towering snow-capped mountains wink at you under the baby blue sky, where glistening, icy rivers giggle as they leap over stones and where enchanted forests whisper secrets through the swaying spruce trees. That's Alaska for you! Leading this merry troupe of little hikers is none other than Captain Fluffy Snowbeard, a friendly yeti with icicle-encrusted beard and twinkling blue eyes. Despite his fearsome name, he is as soft as marshmallows and as warm as hot cocoa. Captain Snowbeard knows every nook and cranny of Alaska, from the tip of its highest peak, Mount Denali, to the deepest cavern in the frost-kissed glaciers. Every morning, Captain Snowbeard and his gang of giggly children begin their hiking adventure. They march, skip, hop, and even tumble down the trails, their laughter echoing through the valleys. They race with playful snow hares, play hide-and-seek with cheeky Arctic foxes, and have snowball fights with penguins who aren't great at throwing but are terrific at sliding. Although the Alaskan terrain is tough and wild, these little hikers, wrapped in their rainbow-colored parkas and woolly mittens, fear no cold. They are as brave as the mighty grizzly bears and as agile as the swift salmon. Their spirits light up the Alaskan wilderness, showing everyone that no mountain is too high, and no trail is too icy when you have fun-loving friends, a heart full of adventure, and a yeti guide with a fluffy snow beard!
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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.


Located in Wasilla, Alaska, LaVerne Griffin Camp is blessed to be situated on 58 acres next to the 125 acre Kalmbach Lake. The lake is fully stocked with rainbow trout and silver salmon, and the camp’s rolling terrain and large birch trees make it a peaceful and picturesque retreat. On top of this, visitors are treated to breathtaking sunsets across the lake. We offer a variety of camps and retreats for children, youth, and adults, as well as mission trip opportunities all year round. LaVerne Griffin Camp is overseen by the Chugach Baptist Association and is supported by the Alaska Baptist Convention, which shares similar beliefs and doctrine with the camp. The camp is grateful for the financial support of the Cooperative Program, which is funded by Baptist churches. We are thankful for the churches’ commitment to our ministry and are excited for what the future holds.