Student Enrichment

Course: Together, we will explore the medium of clay to make beautiful, functional, and playful creations. Students will learn a breadth of techniques (pinch pots, coiling, sculpting) to make a variety of delightful projects including cups, rattles, and animals from start to finish.

Schedule: Tuesdays | 3:15-5:00 pm

• January 13, 20, 27
• February 3, 10, 17

Tuition: 165

Instructor: Meaghan Kachadoorian (she/her) is a Summer Programs instructor and who is passionate about fostering CFS campers’ connection with the natural world. She is coming back for a second year to teach Clay Creations as an after school enrichment. She currently works as a Learning Specialist supporting neurodivergent teens and young adults. Meaghan has facilitated summer and school-year exchange programs with high schoolers from over 20 countries. She loves exploring the natural world of the Piedmont and sitting with her local mindfulness group.

Course: Build a Bot is a fun inquiry-based hands-on STEAM experience that engages students in design and robotics. In this program, students practice their engineering skills to create a series of robot models, each operating with a different mechanism and fulfilling a unique purpose. Students challenge their hands and minds to build fascinating bots, like the Fiber Optic Lamp, Powered Boat, Bubble Blower, and more! This program is fully aligned with NGSS standards and students even get to keep their creations.

Schedule: Wednesdays | 3:30-4:30 pm

• January 14, 21, 28
• February 4, 11, 18

Tuition: 194 (includes $38 supply fee)

Nexplore is a national, in-person, specialty enrichment service provider with a mission to foster the joy of learning through enrichment opportunities so that all children may discover and explore a passion that drives them to excellence. 

Currently, Nexplore offers 80+ STEAM, Life Skills, and Fitness programs, serving over 1100 sites across the US, and has attained a Five Star rating on Google’s Business Review. Nexplore believes that all students deserve access to high-quality STEAM curriculum and aims to empower students, particularly in marginalized communities, with skills and tools to thrive across academic and social-emotional contexts. We believe that by giving students from every background an early experience with hands-on, STEAM projects, Nexplore can help improve graduation rates and increase access and equity in education. 

Course: As spring returns to the CFS campus, we will become eco-detectives to explore the plant, insect and animal communities who share the land with us. Through exploration, play, story, creativity and nature lore we will learn more about who lives around us, from beneath our feet to high above our heads. Through close observation, investigation, measurement and analysis, we will discover how the land provides habitat and food, and how we share the web of life with our wild neighbors. We will plant seeds of stewardship as we create a pollinator garden together.

Schedule: Wednesdays | 3:20-5:00 pm

• April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• May 6

Tuition: 155

Instructor: Susanna McIlwaine grew up creating tiny urban gardens as a child and crewing on the Hudson River educational sloop Clearwater. These experiences as a teenager planted seeds of love and caring for nature which led to helping start and serve on river basin, conservation and urban agriculture organizations, an urban community and foodbank garden, and a native plant conservation garden. A long-time educator from pre-K to college and adult, she has a graduate degree in environmental conflict and decision-making and worked with communities and NGOs in the US and Europe. Susanna has worked with practical applications of natural systems in sewage treatment. A Virginia Master Naturalist, she is working on her NC environmental education professional certification and joining her local Master Naturalist program. She is deeply appreciating the opportunity to serve as a substitute and Extended Day/Learning teacher at CFS. Teaching children is a deep calling at this time of her life. 

Course: Explore how art can help protect the planet! In this enrichment class, we will transform discarded materials (bottle caps, paper tubes, plastic cups, etc.) into unique sculptures, collages, and mixed media artworks while learning about the importance of reducing waste. Together, we’ll find creative ways to turn “trash” into “treasure” and make art which conveys a message about protecting the environment.

Schedule: Thursdays | 3:20 pm - 5 pm

• April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• May 7

Tuition: 155

Instructor: Dana Palmer is an art teacher and visual artist from Durham, NC. She holds a BFA in Art Education (K-12) and an MA in Special Education, both from Appalachian State University. Dana is passionate about nurturing growth mindsets in her classroom and helping students discover their unique strengths through artmaking. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature and being with her friends and family.

Course: During this enrichment course, athletes will focus on skill building through drills, improving general basketball “IQ”, and the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. We will break down the basics such as passing, shooting, ball-handling and defense, working on one skill each session and always ending with a friendly scrimmage or games of knockout. By the end of the six weeks, the goal is that the students will be able to identify various defensive and offensive strategies, perform skills with increased precision and confidence, and have a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of a team. Most importantly, we will have lots of fun sharing and engaging in something we all enjoy!

Appropriate for all experience levels, but students should have a genuine interest in the sport.

Schedule: Fridays | 3:30 pm - 5 pm

• April 3, 10, 17, 24
• May 1, 8

Tuition: 145

Instructor: Miranda is a CFS alum and Triangle native who is thrilled to bring her love of sports to our enrichment programs. She works as a real estate agent for Weaver Street Realty, but in the past year, has found herself drawn to the school in a very meaningful way, acting as a regular substitute teacher, coach and member of the Extended Learning staff. She loves the many different facets she gets to experience in her current roles. 

Miranda has many passions and likes to try new things. She recently discovered her love of role playing games, and has long been an avid board gamer. Reading and writing are some of her favorite pastimes, particularly fantasy and mythology. She is a die hard Harry Potter fan (among many other fandoms), a former athlete and current CFS coach (both volleyball and basketball), and a general seeker of fun and adventure.