Prepare for adventure and mayhem as you meet mythological “monsters” like vampires, dragons, witches, werewolves, and more. Discover their origins, the cultures that shaped them, and what makes them truly monstrous. Research through classic stories, movies, and historical accounts; create models and crafts; and document your findings in your own monster magazine. By the end, you’ll be equipped to outsmart, outwit, and maybe even slay (or tame!) the most fearsome creatures of myth and legend.

Bring science and engineering to life through hands-on experiments and challenges. Younger students will investigate chemical reactions with magic milk and elephant toothpaste, explore balance and design with robots, and test buoyancy by crafting aluminum boats. Older children will uncover the unique properties of oobleck, tackle physics concepts in the egg drop and paper airplane challenges, and engage in other STEM activities. Each experiment inspires problem-solving, fosters critical thinking, and nurtures a lifelong love for discovery.

Bring your favorite songs to life on screen as you make your own music video. Work in small groups to plan your concept, choreograph moves, make props, and learn basic filming and editing techniques using iMovie. At the end of the week, we’ll celebrate by premiering everyone’s music video masterpiece in a fun class showcase.

Bring your favorite musicals to life through a mix of dance styles. Learn choreography inspired by Broadway shows and movie musicals from different genres and eras, such as Matilda, Anastasia, and High School Musical. Strengthen your skills with warm-ups focused on foundational ballet and jazz techniques, then explore creative movement and storytelling through improv and choreography games.

Ignite your creativity through singing, acting, and dancing. Explore your favorite musicals by writing reviews, reimagining scenes, and asking “what if?” Warm up your voice, practice projection, and work on choreography. Play fun theater games, create group skits, and step into the spotlight. Every day brings a new way to grow as a performer.

Explore nature’s colors, forms, and textures with painting, oil pastels, and mixed media. Find inspiration in landscapes, plants, and organic patterns as you experiment with layering, blending, and bold mark-making. Each project lets you observe, interpret, and bring your own vision of nature to life.

Catch a wave of creativity with this beach-themed adventure full of crafts, stories, and ocean-inspired fun. We’ll create sand art, make an ocean in a bottle, explore the beauty of seashells, craft an ocean sensory bin, and more. It’s the perfect way to visit the beach without getting sand in your shoes!

Get one-on-one help with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer. Focus on a specific software application (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, email, Facebook, etc.) or receive more general assistance, such as how to organize and find your files, delete unneeded items, and more. Please call, 781-316-3568, or email the ACE office, communityed@arlington.k12.ma.us, to learn more and register for a two-hour in-person or online

Create mind-bending optical illusions using just pencil and paper. Learn how to trick the eye into seeing movement by overlapping lines and silhouettes, combining clashing vibrant colors, and varying pencil line gradation. Experiment with patterns, explore visual rhythm, and sharpen your drawing skills as you create images that leap off the page.

Explore traditional and contemporary painting techniques as well as color theory and composition. We will work on developing conceptual skills from observation to imagination. Improve your technical skills by analyzing historical and contemporary works, and collaborate through group critiques and discussions. This class is open to all skill levels.

Love having your friends over and want tips for throwing a successful soirée? Level up your party planning and become the ultimate host with the most. Together, we’ll choose a theme and craft festive decorations like pom-pom and paper star garlands, centerpieces, and more. Design invitations, make yummy snacks, and build the perfect playlist. Each day focuses on a different project, and the week ends with everyone setting up and enjoying a fabulous party!

Far out! Make retro-style accessories and décor, design your own funky mood boards, and experiment with psychedelic patterns and textures straight out of the disco era. Tie-dye wearables, craft a lava lamp, make a mirror ball, try macramé, create a colorful flower power garland, and more—totally groovy, man!

Explore bold colors, smooth shading, and cool techniques using colored pencils. Start by playing with color theory, then learn how to create shadows and highlights, blend colors like a pro, and practice strokes like cross-hatching to add texture and energy. Bring everything together to create fun images ranging from ice cream cones to comic-book heroes, and more.

Spend the week making awesome Perler bead designs and crafts. You can make classic flat designs or get creative with 3D shapes. Carefully arrange your beads on a pegboard, and then we’ll melt them together to make permanent pieces of art. Make keychains, magnets, fun characters, cool designs to hang up, or whatever you can dream up—let your imagination fuse into creative masterpieces!

Become the best dog and/or cat lover you can be. Learn how to take care of a puppy or kitten, make your own pet treats, craft accessories like treat jars and collar tags, and design fun pet toys. Arlington police dogs Roger and Eiko may even make a special appearance. Enjoy a week of activities focused on our furry friends.

Get ready to explore the playful possibilities of printmaking. You’ll create awesome, one-of-a-kind works of art using all sorts of cool printmaking techniques. Stamp with potatoes, make prints with leaves, and even use squishy stuffed animals (don’t worry—the instructor will provide the plushies). You’ll also create multicolored, layered images with styrofoam and design your own mandala prints using foam and cardboard.