The state of California, or as our cool imaginary character, Snappy the Squirrel, likes to call it, "The Super-duper Snazz-tastic Snapshot Haven," is a veritable paradise for young photography enthusiasts. From the towering, ancient Redwoods up north to the sun-soaked beaches in the south, from the glitzy Hollywood boulevards to the rugged desert beauty of Death Valley, California is nothing less than a visual smorgasbord. Snappy the Squirrel is a charming, zany character with a bushy tail, a snazzy camera, and an unquenchable passion for photography. He darts around the state, capturing the beauty of California within his tiny, acorn-shaped camera. He’s a bit forgetful, always misplacing his camera and running around in circles trying to find it, almost tripping over his own bushy tail! The kids who partake in the photography activity in California are just as vibrant and eclectic as the state itself. They're a motley crew of shutterbugs, each with a unique vision and a shared love for capturing the world in freeze-frame. As Snappy likes to say, "They’re not just kids, they’re kiddo-kameramen and kamera-kiddettes!" These children tend to see everything as a potential masterpiece, whether it’s the glorious sunset at Santa Monica Pier, the street graffiti in Los Angeles, the stunning vistas of Yosemite, or even Snappy’s comic antics! Just like Snappy, these young photographers are always losing stuff too—the lens caps, the memory cards, even their own sneakers. But they never lose their excitement for creating beautiful images. As long as there's a picture to be captured, these kids (and Snappy!) will be there, cameras at the ready, turning moments into memories, one click at a time.
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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.


To ignite, expand, and transform the lives of Los Angeles’ low-income youth through photography and film education, and use our participatory storytelling practices to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities around the world.