Elementary Classes
Our elementary classes are designed for students ages 5 through 5th grade and offer engaging, hands-on opportunities to explore, learn, and create. Please read each individual class description carefully for specific details, age guidance, and any important class information.
Science Tuesdays
This class meets every Tuesday during the dates listed for this segment. Families may choose either the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) class time when registering. When you register for Science Tuesday, you’re signing up for a 5-week class segment. Each 5 week segment focuses on a different theme. If you’d like to participate in all three segments, you must register for each one individually.
Fee: $200 for all 5 classes ($40 per class)
Schedule:
AM Class: 9:30 AM–11:30 PM
PM Class: 12:15 PM–2:15 PM
Location:
Prunedale Youth Center
17890 Moro Rd, Salinas, CA 93907
Segment 1: Bugs, Slugs & Critters
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Embark on a thrilling five-week journey through the vast field of astronomy, where young minds will uncover the marvels of the universe! This segment introduces the science of celestial bodies, their movements, and humanity’s quest to understand them, fostering a sense of wonder about the cosmos. Each week offers a new perspective on the skies above, blending hands-on discovery with fascinating facts.
Week 1: Examine the structure and dynamics of our solar system, a captivating collection of planets, moons, and more orbiting the Sun.
Week 2: Investigate the Moon’s surface features and its timeless influence on Earth’s tides and imaginations.
Week 3: Discover the life cycles of stars and the ancient constellations that map the night sky.
Week 4: Explore the Sun’s vital role and the countless stars that illuminate the galaxy and beyond.
Week 5: Trace the history and future of space exploration, from early missions to dreams of distant worlds.
Segment 2: Marine Science
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Dive into the fascinating world of chemistry over five captivating weeks, where young scientists will explore the building blocks of everything around us! This segment unveils the principles governing matter, its transformations, and the reactions that shape our daily lives, inspiring curiosity through interactive experiments and discovery. Each week reveals a new layer of this dynamic science, connecting the invisible world of atoms to the wonders we can see and touch.
Week 1: Investigate matter and its states—solids, liquids, and gases—and how they define the world we experience.
Week 2: Observe the magic of chemical reactions as substances combine, break apart, or transform into something entirely new.
Week 3: Explore acid-base reactions and their surprising effects, from fizzing solutions to colorful changes.
Week 4: Examine the properties of chemical reactions, uncovering what drives their speed, energy, and outcomes.
Week 5: Discover how chemical reactions power the world, from natural processes to innovations in technology and beyond.
Segment 3: Earths wild side (volcanos, earthquakes, storms)
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Here’s a five-week segment description for your Science Tuesday class, focusing broadly on herpetology while addressing each week’s specific topic in one sentence. It’s written at a 12th-grade level, formal yet engaging for young learners.
Segment 3: Adventures in Herpetology
Step into the captivating realm of herpetology for five exciting weeks, where young explorers will uncover the lives of reptiles and amphibians! This segment introduces the scientific study of these remarkable creatures, examining their biology, behaviors, and the environments they inhabit, while sparking a passion for their preservation. Each week offers a fresh perspective on these cold-blooded wonders, blending hands-on learning with the thrill of discovery.
Week 1: Define herpetology and begin the journey into the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians.
Week 2: Investigate reptiles, from slithering snakes to armored turtles, and their unique adaptations.
Week 3: Explore amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, and their extraordinary life cycles tied to land and water.
Week 4: Examine the diverse habitats that support reptiles and amphibians, from swamps to deserts.
Week 5: Delve into conservation efforts aimed at protecting these incredible animals and their fragile ecosystems.
Junior Scientists
This class meets every Monday during the dates listed for this segment. Families may choose either the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) class time when registering. When you register for Science Tuesday, you’re signing up for a 5-week class segment. Each 5 week segment focuses on a different theme. If you’d like to participate in all three segments, you must register for each one individually.
Fee: $200 for all 5 classes ($40 per class)
Schedule:
AM Class: 9:30 AM–11:30 PM
PM Class: 12:15 PM–2:15 PM
Location:
Prunedale Youth Center
17890 Moro Rd, Salinas, CA 93907
Segment 1: Art Science
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Embark on a thrilling five-week journey through the vast field of astronomy, where young minds will uncover the marvels of the universe! This segment introduces the science of celestial bodies, their movements, and humanity’s quest to understand them, fostering a sense of wonder about the cosmos. Each week offers a new perspective on the skies above, blending hands-on discovery with fascinating facts.
Week 1: Examine the structure and dynamics of our solar system, a captivating collection of planets, moons, and more orbiting the Sun.
Week 2: Investigate the Moon’s surface features and its timeless influence on Earth’s tides and imaginations.
Week 3: Discover the life cycles of stars and the ancient constellations that map the night sky.
Week 4: Explore the Sun’s vital role and the countless stars that illuminate the galaxy and beyond.
Week 5: Trace the history and future of space exploration, from early missions to dreams of distant worlds.
Segment 2: Reptiles
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Dive into the fascinating world of chemistry over five captivating weeks, where young scientists will explore the building blocks of everything around us! This segment unveils the principles governing matter, its transformations, and the reactions that shape our daily lives, inspiring curiosity through interactive experiments and discovery. Each week reveals a new layer of this dynamic science, connecting the invisible world of atoms to the wonders we can see and touch.
Week 1: Investigate matter and its states—solids, liquids, and gases—and how they define the world we experience.
Week 2: Observe the magic of chemical reactions as substances combine, break apart, or transform into something entirely new.
Week 3: Explore acid-base reactions and their surprising effects, from fizzing solutions to colorful changes.
Week 4: Examine the properties of chemical reactions, uncovering what drives their speed, energy, and outcomes.
Week 5: Discover how chemical reactions power the world, from natural processes to innovations in technology and beyond.
Segment 3: Forest ecosystems & survival skills
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Here’s a five-week segment description for your Science Tuesday class, focusing broadly on herpetology while addressing each week’s specific topic in one sentence. It’s written at a 12th-grade level, formal yet engaging for young learners.
Segment 3: Adventures in Herpetology
Step into the captivating realm of herpetology for five exciting weeks, where young explorers will uncover the lives of reptiles and amphibians! This segment introduces the scientific study of these remarkable creatures, examining their biology, behaviors, and the environments they inhabit, while sparking a passion for their preservation. Each week offers a fresh perspective on these cold-blooded wonders, blending hands-on learning with the thrill of discovery.
Week 1: Define herpetology and begin the journey into the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians.
Week 2: Investigate reptiles, from slithering snakes to armored turtles, and their unique adaptations.
Week 3: Explore amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, and their extraordinary life cycles tied to land and water.
Week 4: Examine the diverse habitats that support reptiles and amphibians, from swamps to deserts.
Week 5: Delve into conservation efforts aimed at protecting these incredible animals and their fragile ecosystems.
Workshops
Our elementary workshops are one-time, two-hour classes designed for grades K–5 that combine hands-on activities, creative projects, and engaging exploration of science and the natural world. Each workshop is thoughtfully designed to be both fun and educational, with activities aligned to California Science Standards that help spark curiosity and a love of learning. Each workshop focuses on a different theme, and you must register for each one individually.
Fee: $50 per workshop
Schedule:
Fridays 9-11am
Location:
Prunedale Youth Center
17890 Moro Rd, Salinas, CA 93907
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💡 Upcoming Workshops
August 29th: Astronomy
September 19th: Paleontology
October 24th: Matter
Nov 21st: Magnetism and Electricity
December 19th: Chemistry
Dissections
Our elementary workshops are one-time, two-hour classes designed for grades K–5 that combine hands-on activities, creative projects, and engaging exploration of science and the natural world. Each workshop is thoughtfully designed to be both fun and educational, with activities aligned to California Science Standards that help spark curiosity and a love of learning. Each workshop focuses on a different theme, and you must register for each one individually.
Fee: $45 per small dissection, $95 per large dissection
Schedule:
12:30pm-2:30pm on Fridays
Location:
Prunedale Youth Center
17890 Moro Rd, Salinas, CA 93907
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Small Dissections:
September 12th: Owl Pellet
September 26th: Frog
October 10th: Crayfish/Grasshopper
October 24th: Starfish/squid
December 12th: Spider/Scorpion
Large Dissections:
August 29th: Pig
November 7th: Horseshoe Crab
December 1st: Mammal Organs
December 14th: Rat Dissection
Ecology Hikes
Join us for guided nature hikes designed for students ages 5 and up. Each hike offers hands-on opportunities to explore local ecosystems, observe plants and wildlife, and grow curiosity through outdoor learning and discovery. Hike routes, length, and difficulty are tailored to the group and kept family-friendly, making these adventures accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of ages and experience levels.
Fee: $25/student. Parents & Siblings under 5 may accompany for no additional charge. All proceeds go towards student involved conservation projects.
Schedule:
12:30pm-2:30pm on Fridays
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August 22nd: Toro Park
September 19th: Garland Ranch Regional Park
October 3th: Fort Ord- Beach Side
October 31st: Huckleberry Hill Loop Trail
November 14th: Salinas River Refuge
December 5th: Fort Ord-Gigling Road
February 6th: Asilomar State Beach Trail
February 20th: Jacks Peak
March 6th: Fort Ord- Creekside Monument
March 20th: Toro Park
April 17th: Quarry Park Pacific Grove
May 1st: Salinas River Refuge
May 15th: Fort Ord-Gigling Road
Community Events
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From time to time, we participate in low cost and/or free events in the community that we encourage your participation in. See Pricing and Schedule for more details.
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As new community events are scheduled, we will add them here! Check back later to see what events you can participate in.