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The Afterschool Collective

Long Island City · Art & crafts

Get directions ↗www.hisawyer.com/the-afterschool-collective/schedules ↗

Ages 5–12

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Wednesday, October 14

Spike Prime Robotics Lab | Ages 8+From $1,064

Spike Prime Robotics Lab | Ages 8+

S.T.E.A.M Lab · Van Nest

Ages 8+ | 13 Weeks. From Dino Bots to a World of Their Own Design! Ever wonder what it takes to engineer a T-Rex that walks and roars on command? In this 13-week LEGO® Spike Prime Robotics class, your older engineer takes on advanced robotics challenges — starting deep in the age of dinosaurs! We kick off with 3 weeks of Prehistoric Robotics, where students design, build, and program articulated dino bots — mastering the Spike Prime hub, smart motors, sensors, and Scratch-based coding along the way. By Week 3, your engineer is fluent in the fundamentals. From Week 4 onward, the students take the lead, voting each week on the robotics theme they want to build next! KIDS PICK THE ADVENTURE! Starting Week 4, students vote at the end of every class on the next robotics theme. Every student has a voice, every week is a fresh surprise, and no two semesters look the same. Theme options may include: Space Missions, Mech Warriors, Self-Driving Vehicles, Sports Bots, Underwater Exploration, Robot Olympics, Engineering Challenges, Stealth Bots, Music-Making Bots, Ninja Robotics, and many more! WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN Programming Skills (Scratch + Beyond) Students program their bots using Spike Prime’s Scratch-based platform — debugging code, modifying variables, adding loops, and making their robots respond to color, distance, and force sensors. Mechanical Components Students master the key parts behind every Spike Prime build: smart motors, hubs, color & force sensors, gears, and structural design — and how each one shapes what a robot can do. Creative Problem Solving When a robot doesn’t behave the way they expect, students troubleshoot, iterate, and improve. They learn that ‘failing forward’ is exactly how real engineers and inventors work. Teamwork & Communication Small groups and peer partners are at the heart of every class. Students plan together, share materials, present their robots, and develop collaboration skills that serve them in school and beyond. CLASS SCHEDULE · 2:30–3:30 pm: Local Park Visit, Snack, Homework Help, Guided Free Choice · 3:30–4:00 pm: Warm-Up Robotic Activity · 4:00–5:30 pm: Feature Activity (this week’s robotics build!) · 5:30–5:45 pm: Free Choice & Parent Pickup ADDITIONAL DETAILS CLICK HERE for our FAQ and General Policies Guide · Complimentary Bus Stop Pickup Available · Ages 8+ | Classes are held on all Wednesdays except for those days when school is closed. · All Afterschool Students receive 10% off on No-School Camp Days at The Afterschool Collective. · Full Semester pricing is discounted to $90 per session rather than the $105 per session drop-in investment. · LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this program.

Ages 8–12Course
LEGO® WeDo 2.0 Robotics Lab | Ages 5+From $1,064

LEGO® WeDo 2.0 Robotics Lab | Ages 5+

S.T.E.A.M Lab · Van Nest

Ages 5+ | 13 Weeks of Roaring, Soaring, Slithering Robots — and Kids Pick What’s Next! What if your kid could engineer a robot that walks like a crocodile, flutters like a hummingbird, or roars like a lion — and then code it to do it on cue? In this 13-week LEGO® WeDo 2.0 Robotics class, your young engineer steps into the wild world of robotics one motor at a time. We kick off with 3 weeks of Animal Robotics — the perfect runway for learning block-based coding, motors, sensors, and the magic of making a robot move with purpose. By the end of Week 3, your coder is comfortable with the WeDo 2.0 platform and ready for bigger missions. From Week 4 onward, the students take the wheel — voting each week on the robotics theme they want to tackle next! KIDS PICK THE ADVENTURE! Starting Week 4, students vote at the end of every class on the next robotics theme. Every student has a voice, every week is a fresh surprise, and no two semesters look the same. Theme options may include: Robot Pets, Outer Space Bots, Robot Olympics, Underwater Robots, Music & Dance Bots, Construction Crew Bots, Ninja Robotics, Superhero Tech, Pokémon Engineering, Sports Bots, and many more! WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN Programming Skills (Block-Based Coding) Using the WeDo 2.0 drag-and-drop coding app, students learn loops, sequences, sensor input, and how to debug a program that isn’t doing what they want. Mechanical Components From motors to motion sensors to tilt sensors, students identify and use the key parts in every build — and learn how each piece shapes what their robot can do. Creative Problem Solving When a build doesn’t work the first time, students iterate, troubleshoot, and improve — discovering that ‘failing forward’ is exactly how real engineers work. Teamwork & Communication Small groups and peer partners are at the heart of every Snapology class. Kids plan together, share materials, and grow into respectful, productive collaborators. CLASS SCHEDULE · 2:30–3:30 pm: Local Park Visit, Snack, Homework Help, Guided Free Choice · 3:30–4:00 pm: Warm-Up Robotic Activity · 4:00–5:30 pm: Feature Activity (this week’s robotics build!) · 5:30–5:45 pm: Free Choice & Parent Pickup ADDITIONAL DETAILS CLICK HERE for our FAQ and General Policies Guide · Complimentary Bus Stop Pickup Available · Ages 5+ | Classes are held on all Wednesdays except for those days when school is closed. · All Afterschool Students receive 10% off on No-School Camp Days at The Afterschool Collective. · Full Semester pricing is discounted to $90 per session rather than the $105 per session drop-in investment. · LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this program.

Ages 5–10Course

Thursday, October 15

Exploration in Film - Film makingFrom $936

Exploration in Film - Film making

S.T.E.A.M Lab · Van Nest

Episodic classes that dive into different projects each week! Students will learn Camera, Lighting, and Acting techniques that will help expand their understanding of what filmmaking can be. During this fresh semester, we'll be adding acting specialist Katie Lavelle and will have a special 'End of Term' premiere for famiies! Classes led by film making school Slate Film Center. Visit their website HERE to learn more about curriculum and program details! Ages 5+ CLASS SCHEDULE 2:30-3:30pm: Local Park Visit, Snack, Homework Help, and Guided Free Choice 3:30-5:00pm: Feature Activity 5:00-5:30pm: Student Led Extension Activity 5:30-5:45 pm: Free Choice & Parent Pickup ADDITIONAL DETAILS CLICK HERE for our FAQ and General Policies Guide Complimentary Bus Stop Pickup Available Classes are held on all Thursdays except for those days when school is closed. All Afterschool Students receive 10% off on No-School Camp Days at The Afterschool Collective. Full Semester price is discounted to $90 per session rather than the $105 per session drop in investment

Ages 5–12Course
3D Design Lab Jr.From $936

3D Design Lab Jr.

S.T.E.A.M Lab · Van Nest

Does your little learner love making things with their hands — and have you been eyeing our 3D Printing class but realized they're not quite old enough yet? We have the perfect next step. 3D Design Lab Jr. introduces first and second graders to the real world of 3D creation using the award-winning 3Doodler Start+ Pen — a completely safe, no-hot-parts 3D pen designed for children ages 6 and up. Instead of watching a machine print, your young designer holds the pen and draws directly in three dimensions, guiding eco-friendly filament that hardens in seconds into something real they can hold, display, and take home. Over 12 weeks, students will complete one original build per session — butterflies, dinosaurs, castles, dreamcatchers, superhero masks, and more — all drawn from the 3Doodler's own activity guide and stencil library. The semester wraps with a Mini Museum Showcase where students display all 12 of their works and share their favorites with family. WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN Fine Motor Skills & Hand Strength Guiding a 3D pen builds the same hand muscles and precision that support handwriting, cutting, and other early childhood milestones. Students will develop control and confidence with every session as their technique grows week over week. Spatial Reasoning & 3D Thinking Students move from flat stencils to freestanding three-dimensional structures, discovering firsthand how 2D shapes become 3D forms. This foundational understanding of shape, structure, and dimension connects directly to early math and geometry concepts. Design Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Every session begins with a plan and ends with a real creation. Students practice sketching their ideas, following step-by-step stencils, making design choices, and improving their builds when something doesn't go as expected — the same process real designers and engineers use every day. STEAM Connections Builds are intentionally connected to science (butterfly life cycles, animal habitats, weather and seasons), math (shapes, patterns, symmetry), and language arts (storytelling, character design, and presenting their work at the final showcase). This is hands-on learning that goes far beyond craft time. Teamwork & Communication Students work alongside peers in a small-group setting, sharing materials, celebrating each other's builds, and practicing the respectful collaboration skills that Snapology programs are built around. CLASS SCHEDULE 2:30-3:30pm: Local Park Visit, Snack, Homework Help, Guided Free Choice 3:30-4:00pm: Warm Up Robotic Activity 4:00-5:30pm: Feature Activity 5:30-5:45 pm: Free Choice & Parent Pickup ADDITIONAL DETAILS CLICK HERE for our FAQ and General Policies Guide Complimentary Bus Stop Pickup Available Classes are held on all Tuesdays except for those days when school is closed. All Afterschool Students receive 10% off on No-School Camp Days at The Afterschool Collective. Full Semester price is discounted to $90 per session rather than the $105 per session drop in investment

Ages 5–7Course

Explore nearby classes

Tummy Timegymnastics

Tummy Time

Industry Gymnastics · Long Island City

Tummy Time at Industry Gymnastics is a recurring drop-in session for ages 3mo-6mo.

Ages 3–6 moWeekly
Tutu Toddlers Bballet

Tutu Toddlers B

Tutu School Long Island City · Long Island City

Tutu Toddlers B at Tutu School Long Island City: a weekly 45-minute ballet class for ages 2-3 yrs. Rolling monthly membership (registration ongoing) with unlimited make-up classes. · Tuition: $170 (monthly)

Ages 2–3Course
Homeschool Play Day

Homeschool Play Day

Chuck E. Cheese · Long Island City

Every Tuesday morning, homeschool families get exclusive access to games, pizza, and structured play — a popular supplement to at-home STEAM curricula.

Up to age 8Weekly
HandpotteryFrom $615

Hand

BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center · Long Island City

A weekly hand-building ceramics session at BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center, held every Tuesday at 10:00 AM. This drop-in class focuses on sculpting techniques using clay, suitable for all skill levels.

Weekly
Little Explorers (18 mo-3 yrs)From $40

Little Explorers (18 mo-3 yrs)

Art Strong · Long Island City

Little Explorers is a sensory and art based experience for children to explore their senses, art materials, and the world around them! Activities include but are not limited to exploring with painting, play dough, water play, collage & glue, sorting activities and more. Caretakers will observe and support your child while allowing them to follow their own pace through the experiences set up in class. Children can learn about their senses, practice fine motor skills, explore new art materials, plus have a chance to socialize with peers and exercise language skills. Starting in Fall 2026, we're excited to introduce a brand new toddler class: Book Art Play , held every Monday! This class features all-new activities and projects that are completely different from our Little Explorers programming. That means your child can attend both classes each week for twice the fun! Join us for both Book Art Play & Little Explorers and save 10% off your total purchase, use code DOUBLEFUN at checkout!

Ages 18 mo–3 yrCourse
Exploring Ballet A/Bballet

Exploring Ballet A/B

Tutu School Long Island City · Long Island City

Exploring Ballet A/B at Tutu School Long Island City: a weekly 45-minute ballet class for ages 3-4 yrs. Rolling monthly membership (registration ongoing) with unlimited make-up classes. · Tuition: $170 (monthly)

Ages 3–4Course
Homeschool Play Day at Chuck E. CheesemovementFrom $12

Homeschool Play Day at Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese · Long Island City

90 minutes of unlimited arcade gameplay (62 games), a reusable Play Pass card, unlimited soft drinks, and all E-Tickets earned — $11.99 per child. Runs every second Tuesday of the month from store opening until 4 PM. No booking required; mention Homeschool Play Day to a cast member.

KidsWeekly
After SchoolFrom $1,050

After School

Art Strong · Long Island City

Reminder we are now located at 10-34 49th Ave. Our After School Program is the most creative option in Long Island City! Over the course of the semester children will become experts in various art materials and techniques. They will make art that is unique and meaningful to them! Sculpture, printmaking, collage, painting, drawing, and more will be explored over the course of the session. Each child will receive a sketchbook to work in throughout the semester. At the end of the semester children will leave with a portfolio of artwork they are proud of! Children are celebrated with a Art Show for friends and family in December. Joining 2 or more days per week? Use code AFTERSCHOOL10 for 10% off!

Course