The state of Arizona, known to the dwellers of our whimsical world as the Land of the Sun-Baked Cacti, is a vista of golden desert sands, towering mountains, and whispering canyons. It's a place where the sun always seems to be playing hide and seek with the clouds, the sky is a grand canvas of shifting colors, and the stars tell endless tales each night. It’s not just the home to roadrunners, coyotes, and a lizard named Larry, but also to a group of brilliant kids, the Scribble Squad. Now, the Scribble Squad aren't your typical Arizona children. These aren’t kids who can be found with their noses buried in video games or eyes glued to television screens. No, sir! These are kids with ink-stained fingers and wild imaginations, who ride through the deserts of Arizona on winged pencils, conquering blank pages and unleashing waves of words. When the sun dips behind the mountain peaks and the moon takes its place as the grand observer of the night, these kids huddle together under the starry blanket of the Arizona sky. With the whispering wind as their symphony, and the glow of fireflies as their lanterns, they delve into their own worlds, spinning tales that make the cacti dance and the coyotes howl with laughter. Their leader, Pencil Pete, a charming boy with a cowboy hat and a mischievous smile, is the funniest of the lot. And let’s not forget his sidekick, Eraser Eddie, a prankster with an endless supply of puns that could even get a stone to giggle. Together, they make every writing adventure in Arizona unforgettable, painting the desert with laughter and tales, proving that Arizona is not just the land of sun-baked cacti, but also the land of the Scribble Squad.
Read morebest writing programs in Marana, AZ

The Happy Hive is an inclusive play space designed to spark joy and connection for every child. With a special focus on comfort and accessibility for neurodivergent kids, our environment welcomes children of all abilities to explore, move, and create at their own pace. From climbing walls, swings, and zip lines to dedicated zones for pretend play and art, The Happy Hive offers both high-energy fun and creative outlets. While we cater to children ages 1-13 for neurotypical kids, we have no age limit when it comes to kids with special needs—because play should have no boundaries. At The Happy Hive, we believe every child deserves a space where they can feel safe, included, and free to be themselves.
Parents know that their children's time away from home and school matters. The Learning, Enrichment, and Play (LEAP) program offered by the Marana Unified School District provides supervised, secure learning and play experiences for children enrolled in pre-K through sixth grade. The LEAP sites are licensed facilities, located at each elementary school in the district, and provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for children to learn, play, and grow. For middle schoolers, the Teen Extended Day (TED) program offers academic enrichment tailored to their needs. With LEAP and TED, parents can feel confident that their children are in a secure environment, receiving the educational and enrichment opportunities they need.