This intensive four-day course is designed to help students reduce test anxiety and improve their test scores. Students will leave with an understanding of the types of test questions and a personalized plan to raise their SAT scores. The instructor will cover both the SAT Verbal (reading and writing) and the Math sessions. All students should bring a Chromebook, laptop, or tablet to SAT class so they can see real questions and the provided calculator in the Bluebook app. To successfully complete SAT math questions, students need at least a scientific calculator, though a graphing calculator is built into the app. The instructor will give a paper-and-pencil practice test on the first day and will allow students to use any calculator they want, including the one on their cell phone. Please bring a laptop, Chromebook, or tablet.

STEM Explorers is a hands-on class where kids become engineers, inventors, and problem-solvers. Each session introduces an exciting STEM challenge inspired by real-world engineering and science. The activities will include designing and testing bridges, building towers that can withstand “earthquakes,” creating simple machines, experimenting with water filtration systems, and exploring the titration analytical technique. This program focuses on creativity, teamwork, and learning through trial and error. Students will be encouraged to think critically, test their ideas, and improve their designs just like real engineers do. Activities are designed to be engaging, beginner-friendly, and open-ended so every child can succeed at their own level. Along the way, students will build confidence in science and math skills without even realizing they are learning. No prior STEM experience is needed, just curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to try something new. Please bring a nut-free snack and full water bottle. **All proceeds benefit the Prescott Community Center.** Click here to explore the full Kids Summer Fun lineup, including weekly schedules, program details, and age groups on our Summer Programs page.

This workshop helps college-bound students develop confidence, awareness, and practical self-defense skills for campus and everyday life. The program combines common-sense safety strategies with hands-on training in situational awareness, boundary setting, defensive striking, escape techniques, and defense against common grabs and holds. Students will learn how to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations, respond effectively under stress, and build the confidence to protect themselves while prioritizing safety and escape.

Want to free your inner dancer? Not a dancer but you love to dance? Shake Your Soul® will allow you to move, groove and get creative in a fun, open and supportive environment with different types of music to inspire you. Get a workout at your own pace and rediscover how fun it can be to move your body to great music! Here is what they are saying about Deb Busser's class: "The instructor...Deb Busser...make the class great fun. Wonderful attitude." "Deb Busser is a treasure." "What did I like most about the class? Everything!" "Everything about Deb's class is wonderful. She is an intuitive teacher. I want it to continue forever!" "Deb Busser is a wonderful teacher! She runs the class with joy & optimism. She's kind, friendly, and understands how to run a great class. She has cultivated a good group of students."

Writing personal statements is a daunting challenge: part memoir, part self-marketing. But it is also a meaningful opportunity for self-discovery. In this workshop, we will demystify the myth of the “perfect essay” and excavate some of the powerful stories you already possess. The workshop will explore these topics: The Admissions Lens: the purpose of the personal statement and how admissions officers read essays. The Landscape of Prompts: a guided tour through Common App prompts and a range of supplemental questions. The AI Frontier: navigating the ethical and practical use of AI in the college essay process. Avoiding Pitfalls: steering clear of topics and tones that fall flat. Identity and Inquiry: writing and visual art exercises designed to uncover core values, generate unexpected ideas, and explore what matters most. “Show and Tell” and the Hook: strategies for balancing vivid detail with meaningful reflection while drawing readers into your story. The Feedback Loop: learning how to filter outside opinions while keeping your own voice at the center of the essay. This is a no-tech workshop. Please bring a pencil/pen and notebook.

Come and enjoy some creative fun art projects with drawing, painting, and collage! Each day, students will create a piece of art in a different medium. Monday: Bubble Painting Ocean Collage Students will make bubble prints on paper in various colors using a straw. They will have a chance to look at images and books about marine life and sketch out their own under the ocean design. The class will discuss warm, cool, analogous, and complementary colors and examine color wheels. Once the prints are dry, we'll use them to make an ocean collage with colorful fish, coral, plants, and animals, drawing details in marker. Tuesday: Draw a Dream Pet Students will learn to use oil pastels to create a colorful drawing of a real or dream pet. We will first look at pictures of real animals and discuss how to draw them. Students will practice drawing animals loosely with charcoal and a drawing pencil. Students may bring a picture of their real or dream pet from home to help create their final piece, which will be bold and unique. Wednesday: Make a Mixed Media Drawing Journal Students will use paint, markers, and tissue paper to create an abstract design. The class will discuss what abstract art is and examine examples of painted and mixed-media artwork that may be considered abstract or semi-abstract. Using a color wheel and paint, students will learn about color theory, including warm and cool colors, how to mix colors from the primary colors, and how to create shades and tints. Students will personalize their work with favorite colors and elements. Using their completed artwork, they will assemble a personal drawing journal to use at home. Thursday: Impressionist Beach Painting Students will learn to use tempera paint to create a colorful beach scene. We will study landscape paintings, drawings, and photos to better understand and practice representing a landscape or beach scene using perspective and a drawing pencil. Students will learn about the 19th-century Impressionist art movement and what famous artists achieved with paint. Color mixing techniques will be reviewed. The process of creating this colorful piece of art will be both fun and educational, and students will have something to proudly display at home. **Enjoy a discounted rate if you sign up for the 4-day session, or choose individual half-day options to fit your schedule.** **All art materials will be provided. Please bring a nut-free, healthy snack, a full water bottle, and clothes that can get dirty!**

Join us this Summer as we travel through the ocean of creativity using a variety of materials and subjects. Dip a stick into black walnut ink and draw what you see across the table. Paint on your charcoal drawing with oil paint, and draw on your watercolor painting with pastels. We’ll use graphite, charcoal, watercolor, pastels, oil paint, a combination of these, and more. Composition, perspective, color harmony, brush stroke, and inspiration are the stars that will guide us. This class is about experimentation! This program is for anyone who wants to learn and explore different media. It's the program for all levels, from beginner to advanced. The instructor will provide the class materials. Here is what they are saying about Heather's Art Classes: "The instructor is talented and lovely." "Heather is a great and experienced teacher. Through her gentle manner, she guides students with step-by-step instructions, shows them how the lights, architecture, and colors are integrated into the painting, and encourages them to explore and expand new ideas. As a beginner at pastel and oil painting, I feel free to learn and explore in every class. She is the reason that my painting has improved so much. She inspires me!" "Loved Heathers class, she has a great demeanor not intimidating, have her do more night ones for those of us working during the day."

In this creative art program, students will explore the beauty of nature through daily drawing and painting projects inspired by natural objects and outdoor scenes. Each day, students will observe and create artwork featuring subjects such as flowers, insects, landscapes, and mushrooms. Through a variety of art techniques and materials, students will strengthen their observation skills, creativity, and artistic confidence. The program encourages imagination, self-expression, and an appreciation for the natural world while providing a fun and relaxing artistic experience. Monday: Drawing in Oil Pastels - Close-Up Insect or Flower On Monday, junior artists will craft vibrant, colorful artworks with oil pastels. They will select a subject they find appealing, such as an insect or a flower, and practice cropping and drawing close-up perspectives. The group will explore composition techniques and discuss color schemes like warm, cool, analogous, complementary, and monochrome using a color wheel. Students will also learn how to utilize oil pastels to produce optimal effects before completing their final piece. Tuesday: Drawing Nature Silhouettes and Watercolor PaintingToday, students will explore the shapes of natural elements to create their own unique nature scene. The group will discuss composition, contrast, and emphasis before the artists start designing. Drawing skills will be demonstrated, and students will practice drawing their subjects. They will also explore effective watercolor techniques. The final artwork will showcase silhouettes in marker over a watercolor background.Wednesday: Whimsical Mushroom Canvas PaintingToday, students will learn to create their own whimsical mushroom canvas painting with acrylics. Drawing skills are essential for painting, so the group will examine vivid images of real mushrooms in nature and practice sketching them. They will also discuss what makes an image whimsical, deciding together. Key art elements like background, foreground, composition, value, and texture will be covered. Students will explore how to use acrylic paints, experiment with color mixing techniques, and review basic color theory. Junior artists are sure to be proud of their final artwork! Thursday: Leaf Design Block PrintmakingOn Thursday, students will explore printmaking with the linocut technique. They will examine real leaves and leaf images while designing their own leaf prints. The session will cover different types of printmaking and safe carving practices for creating their unique designs on rubber blocks. Students will also have the opportunity to print their designs in various colors onto paper, resulting in vibrant, colorful prints. Friday: Botanical Illustration, Drawing, and Watercolor PaintingDid you know that the art of botanical illustration dates back to around 60 CE? Today, students will have the chance to examine and discuss the history of botanical illustrations. The group will be able to select a live subject from a variety of real flowers and herbs to create their own version. Drawing and watercolor painting skills will be demonstrated, and topics such as value and contrast will be covered. Details in ink can be added as a finishing touch. The final product can be bound into a nature art journal if the student wants.All materials are provided.

Lilah Tully and Tessa Famighette, varsity volleyball players at Groton-Dunstable High School, are leading a youth volleyball clinic at the Prescott Community Center. Participants will learn volleyball fundamentals and enjoy playing games with their peers. Please bring a full water bottle, a nut-free snack, wear cool, lightweight athletic clothing and sneakers. Click here to explore the full Kids Summer Fun lineup, including weekly schedules, program details, and age groups on our Summer Programs page.

Calling all Swifties! Get ready for a fun, hands-on workshop filled with music, creativity, and sparkle! Sing along to your favorite Taylor Swift hits while crafting sparkly, themed masterpieces. We’ll paint cardboard guitars, design bedazzled glasses, and create custom friendship bracelets to keep or trade. Bring a friend or meet a new one here! Please bring a nut-free snack and full water bottle. Click here to explore the full Kids Summer Fun lineup, including weekly schedules, program details, and age groups on our Summer Programs page.

Class members will explore speaking in front of others with the help of storytelling, singing, miming, short monologues, and will work on a presentation to share on the last day. Students of other ages may be able to participate at instructor’s discretion - email classes@riseartscollab.org. **Parent/Guardian is NOT required to stay for this class. Parent/Guardian may wait outside of the classroom in the building.**

Class members will explore speaking in front of others with the help of puppets, nursery rhymes, rhythm, singing, and will work on a presentation to share on the last day. Students of other ages may be able to participate at instructor’s discretion - email classes@riseartscollab.org. **Parent/Guardian is NOT required to stay for this class. Parent/Guardian may wait outside of the classroom in the building.** Here is what they are saying about Rise Arts Collaborative's Take the Stage JR program: "The teacher and her assistant were both awesome. I love that they leaned into what the kids were craving...particularly, KPOP Demon Hunter dance parties to get their juices flowing! My daughter had her first on-stage experience thanks to this class and I'm so grateful to Jessica for having this class open to children her age. It means a lot, and she let a friend's younger sister (3) join who also got a lot out of it!" "My child is becoming more confident about speaking and performing with each session."

A century ago, Farmers Row was one of New England’s most prestigious streets. See the grand estates that define this distinguished road and hear about their colorful occupants on this walking tour. The distance is a little over half a mile, so the total walk is a bit over a mile. We travel at a moderate pace. We will meet at the Groton Fire Department parking lot. While children are welcome to attend, these are history tours that involve walking, standing, and listening for 8-10 minute intervals at each stop. Please plan accordingly. **Registration is required to attend. No drop-ins.** Here is what they are saying about Joshua Vollmar's Walk: "Josh is so knowledgeable about Groton history, architecture and important families. He is very prepared and also includes participants incite and questions" "The walking tour was informative and it was great to be able to stop and see these beautiful homes and hear of their history. Josh was an excellent guide, well spoken and he knows his history." "Joshua was outstanding. So knowledgeable and engaging." "Joshua's historical insights are valuable, and as a history enthusiast, I enjoyed learning about Farmers Row and its past residents. I will be exploring the Destination Groton website." "The instructor was great. You can tell when someone loves what they do and he does. He provided local history, a little gilded age gossip, and enthusiastically answered any and all questions. It was a fun and educational walking tour and made me wish I could time travel back to see what Farmers Row was like in the early days." "The instructor Joshua Vollmar is certainly knowledgeable about local history. He is very engaging and explained things thoroughly. Joshua also took time to answer questions from the fellow attendees."

This workshop is for students who have taken my Beginner Watercolor class or have basic Watercolor skills. We’ll focus on composition, vale’s, color mixing and watercolor techniques using guided demonstrations. The goal is to develop your skills in a fun and supportive environment. Students are required to bring materials. A materials list is provided in the confirmation email.Here is what they are saying about Beth's Watercolor Workshop:"We studied values and I liked getting more practice at how to approach starting a painting." "Beth provided clear instructions and examples that we were able to use during our workshop. Beth was available to assist and critique as needed."

This course will help students execute paintings of their own subject matter. Guidance and critique from the teacher will focus on composition, color mixing, value and technique. Students will use photos to develop their own painting style. This course will allow students to grow their skills in a fun, supportive environment. Some watercolor experience is necessary. Here's what they are saying about Beth's Watercolor Painting Studio: "Beth encourages risk taking and gives constructive feedback. Love the class!" "Beth, our teacher was warm and very supportive. the class had great chemistry and I look forward to many more in the future." "Beth is a very helpful, talented teacher whose expertise and patience really helps each student." "Nice group of people with many supportive suggestions. Beth is great - she has a keen eye and gives great critiques to whole group in addition to specific advice when she walks around and meets with us individually." "I've been taking this class many times now, and each class, I still learn something new, thanks to Beth. She patiently consults with each of us several times during class, and provides valuable feedback and advice based on our individual styles which she distinctly recognizes. The excellent progress each of us has made in the group is clear evidence of this. Finally, the structure of the class promotes a supportive and warm group environment."

This workshop will help students execute paintings of their own subject matter. The teacher will provide guidance and critique on composition, color mixing, value, and technique. This course will allow students to grow their watercolor painting skills in a fun, supportive environment. Some watercolor experience is necessary. Students are required to bring materials. A materials list is provided in the confirmation email.

This course is for students that have taken my beginner watercolor class or have basic watercolor skills. The course will build on the basics of color mixing, composition, value and watercolor techniques. Through guided instruction and a step by step demonstration process, together we’ll paint various subjects. This will allow you to grow your skills in a fun, supportive environment. A material list will be supplied prior to the start of class. Materials are not included in the course registration fee. Here is what they are saying about Beth's Watercolor Painting: the Next Step: "Learned so much! Great opportunity to ask questions, try new skills and techniques." "What I liked best about the class was learning new skills, seeing the finished product, and it's an enjoyable time with the other ladies in the class." "It is one of my favorite days of the week! I look forward to learning something new from Beth, seeing my classmates, and watching our paintings develop throughout the weeks. Beth has a nice, calm, patient demeanor and she is wonderful to learn from." "Beth is simply excellent! She does a wonderful job explaining and demonstrating watercolor painting techniques and provides many examples and resources for independent practice to improve our painting skills. Beth has a structured approach along with a great sense of humor, allowing us all to be at ease as a beginner again!"