By Discovery
By Discovery: Our Mission
We offer elementary school children opportunities for exploration and growth through creative project-based learning in art.
By Discovery: Our Philosophy
Through student-centered and process-based projects and activities, students learn by doing and make discoveries along the way. Multiple points of view are valued and we emphasize that there are numerous ways to solve a given problem or to approach a task.
After School Art Enrichment
By Discovery Philosophy, in Detail:
We believe in student-centered and process based activities that give children the opportunity to explore and problem solve at their own pace.
We believe children should have the opportunity to work collaboratively and across grade levels to be successful in a world in which multiple points of view exist and negotiation skills are key.
We believe exposure to nature and modeling respect for nature will encourage children to embrace and protect the natural world.
We believe that children should be given the opportunity to share and make discoveries outside of the school and within the community of which they are a part through exhibitions and workshops.
Finally, we believe in educating the whole child to support, challenge and engage learners in a safe and healthy environment.
By Discovery: Our Inspiration
We are inspired by children’s inquisitive and imaginative nature and nurture these attributes in all that we do!
By Discovery Curriculum
Our curriculum is developed with a strong focus on the arts and is organized by weekly themes. The very nature of art can propel, foster and engage us in topics that are far reaching, including service, nature, the environment, and historically and culturally important figures, in addition to artists of the past and present.
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encourage curiosity and creativity
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provide insights into the natural world
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foster resourcefulness
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help our children become independent thinkers
Our Curriculum is Designed to:
Our program is structured with an understanding that children, following a lengthy day at school, need to decompress, recharge with a snack and engage in self-directed play (outdoors weather permitting) or activities meaningful to the child before they jump into our project for the day.
Program Structure:
Schedule
By Discovery has you covered! We follow the Oak Park District 97 school calendar and we are open every full day school is in session, from dismissal through 6pm.
Parents register their child to attend on specific days of the week throughout the school year. We are not a drop by program and space is limited to 20 students.
By Discovery also offers additional program options at our Lake St. Art Studio for Teacher Institutes, select holidays, and days off from school. These require a separate sign-up & fee, in addition to your school year registration:
October 3: Day off School
October 14: Indigenous Peoples Day
October 25: Parent Teacher Conferences
November 5: Election Day
January 20: Martin Luther King Jr Day
February 14: Parent Teacher Conferences
February 17: Presidents Day
March 3: Teacher Institute Day
April 1: Teacher Institute Day
April 18: Day off School
ENROLLMENT:
Enrollment is first-come first-served, unless there is a need to round out enrollments, due to an imbalance that prevents the possibility for full-time participation. Enrollments are open throughout the year, based upon availability (most days reach their maximum enrollment).
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS INCLUDE:
Full Time: M/T/W/TH/F
Part Time: 2 or more days per week*
*1 day registrations are reserved for Fridays ONLY. Additional 1 day per week options may be offered in mid-late September, 2024. Please email jocelyne@bydiscovery.org to inquire about availability.
PROGRAM COST:
The cost for the program is $32 per day.
REGISTRATION FEE
(NON-REFUNDABLE):
The fee to register is $20 for each day of the week registered (M/T/W/TH/F). For example: M/T = $40 ; M/T/W = $60, etc. This registration fee is applied towards your school year fee, not in addition to.
MONTHLY FEES:
Monthly fees are calculated based on the days of the week your child attends and the total of those days per school calendar year, divided by 10 months (Aug 15 through May 15). Fees are pro-rated for those who enroll during the school year, based on actual participation days.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
A 30 day cancellation notice is required. Families are responsible for payment of their monthly fee for any cancellation made less than 30 days from their child's last participation day.
Cancellations made prior to the start of the school year (Aug 22, 2024) should be communicated as soon as possible and preferably prior to JUNE 1st, to open space for those on our waitlist. Thank you in advance!
PLEASE NOTE: Programming is conditional within a D97 school, based on guidance from the CDC and State Health Departments.
NEED BASED SCHOLARSHIPS:
Two full-time partial scholarships (or part time equivalents) are available each school year for each location (Beye, Lincoln & Studio). The scholarship reduces program fees by 50%.
A child qualifies for the scholarship if she/he receives free or reduced lunch. Scholarships are awarded in the order in which they are received (first-come, first-served). Additional scholarships may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, should space allow following the start of the school year.
SIBLING DISCOUNTS:
A 5% discount is awarded to families who have more than one child enrolled in the program. This discount applies to all siblings. For 2024/25 registrations use coupon: SchoolYearSib
For school year registrations, please use the buttons below. For 2024/25 School Year registrations, please use the "LOCATION" filter to chose Beye, Art Studio, or Lincoln
OUR SUMMER ADVENTURES CAMP is inspired by artists both past and present; the natural world; and our own experiences, interests and dreams.
Through painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, and fiber/textile art, children will develop their skills and imagination, to produce innovative works of art.
By Discovery offers all new projects from summer to summer and week to week. Also, students can attend full day for both the am and pm weekly sessions - no project repeats!
Weather permitting, we will enjoy outdoor play midway through each morning and afternoon session.
LOCATION:
44 W Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, across from Stevenson Park
2024 SESSION DATES & FEES:
Weekly Sessions begin June 10th through August 16th
Morning Session only, 9am - 12pm ($175 per week)
Afternoon Session only, 1pm - 4pm ($175 per week)
Morning + Afternoon Sessions, 9am - 4pm ($400 per week)
Early Bird Drop Off: 8am - 9am (Add $50 per week)
Extended Day: 4 - 6pm (Add $100 per week)
SCHOLARSHIPS:
A limited number of partial scholarships for both half-day (morning or afternoon sessions) and full-day enrollments are available. A child qualifies for the scholarship if she/he receives free or reduced lunches during the school year. Scholarship recipients are awarded a 50% reduction in program fees.
SIBLING DISCOUNT:
A 10% discount is awarded to families with 2 or more children enrolled at the same time in the summer program. Please use coupon code: SummerSib
PLEASE NOTE: A NUT FREE bagged lunch and snack from home are required for students who attend both the morning and afternoon sessions. Also, a snack and water bottle should be packed for those who attend only morning or afternoon sessions.
Summer Adventures Camp is facilitated by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director & Lead Educator, and our talented Teaching Artists. Please visit "our team" page to learn more about us!
REGISTRATION, FOR RISING K - 5th GRADERS:
Registration opens Thursday, Feb 1st, 2024 at 8pm via the button above or via our registration page. Enrollment is limited to 20 students per camp session. Camps fill up quickly, so please register early. This year, By Discovery is excited to introduce our new scheduling platform through Sawyer! Families will now have the option to create user profiles for swift registrations: Simply click the red "log in" button on the registration page and complete the required information.
PAYMENT:
Sawyer partners with Stripe for payment processing. While credit cards will be an option this year, By Discovery appreciates ACH payments due to lower processing fees applied to merchants (2% less than credit cards and significant savings for a small business). This allows us to keep our program fees lower and to offer higher quality art supplies for your children to explore and create with!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
1. A nonrefundable registration fee is applied towards (not in addition to) the cost of each weekly scheduled session
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$35 for each morning or afternoon session
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$70 for each full day session (am + pm)
2. Payments may be made in full or in 3 monthly installments
3. The first installment is your registration fee and the following two installments divide the balance in half
CANCELLATION POLICY: A cancellation must be made 31 or more days prior to your child's first participation day to receive a refund, less the registration fee. No refunds are given should a cancellation occur within 30 days or less of your child's first participation day and for each cancelled session.
Questions? Please reach out to Jocelyne Adkins at:
We look forward to creating with your child this summer!