AAH Friday Co-op

An inclusive, secular, once-a-week cooperative for homeschoolers age 5 and up; there are three class periods, with a selection of classes offered each period for most age ranges (5 years and up), plus an hour for lunch (North Central Austin)

Asian American Resource Center

Empowering Austin's diverse communities through cultural understanding and life-enhancing opportunities; offering a variety of educational programs for pre-K–12th grade students (Northeast Austin)

Austin Bat Cave

A nonprofit center that provides children and teens with free opportunities to develop creative and expository writing skills by connecting them with a vibrant community of adult volunteers; also offers writing groups and classes for adults (East Austin and beyond)

Austin Creative Art Center

Classes and workshops for all ages, offering imaginative concepts, quality art tools, and techniques to expand the mind, enhance critical thinking, and provide a greater understanding of life’s possibilities (Central Austin)

Austin Tinkering School

A place where kids use real tools and real materials to build, create, and learn, with adults serving as collaborators rather than teachers for maximum engagement, interest, enthusiasm, and enjoyment (most activities take place in Central East Austin)

Bake Austin

Creating memories, community, and experience through baking with chef and educator Pascal Simon; offering after-school, homeschool, and adult baking classes as well as summer camps and parties (East Central Austin and online)

College Living Experience (CLE)

Providing post-secondary supports to students with ASD, ADHD, learning differences, and other exceptionalities. Students receive supports in the areas of academics, career development, independent living, and social skills development. CLE supports are tailored to meet the needs of each young adult served. CLE celebrates the uniqueness of students to make a lasting impact in their lives and in their communities at each of its six locations nationwide. (North Austin; other locations in California, Colorado, Florida, and Washington, DC)

Cool Panda Chinese Learning for Kids

Mandarin Chinese classes (in school and in homes) for ages 2 through 6, using the fun and effective Total Physical Response method (Central Austin)

Cosmic Heart Counseling

Laura Sanders, MA, LPCA, is a licensed counselor, EMDR trauma therapist, author, and mindfulness teacher specializing in working with highly sensitive children and adults. Sessions are open for gifted and talented children, children with ADHD, and those with sensory issues. Individual weekly sessions are collaborative and playful to minimize overwhelm and manage big emotions. Sessions consist of talk therapy and expressive arts therapy (South Austin and online)

Courtney Harris Coaching

Courtney Harris is a child-centered coach who collaborates with teens, young adults, and parents to grow social and emotional skills and utilize restorative practices to create more ease in their lives. Courtney’s individualized programming provides tools for overcoming challenges related to anxiety, self-advocacy, and executive functioning. (online + Austin-area workshops and events)

Creative Action

Empowering and educating youth through the transformative power of creative expression, social and emotional learning, and social justice education; offering school-based, community-based, and after-school programs and camps for children as well as teens (East Austin and beyond)

Critikid.com

Critikid.com offers interactive critical thinking courses to help kids and teens make rational decisions, communicate clearly, and navigate an increasingly confusing online world. The site offers a range of interactive courses: Emotional Intelligence (ages 5–8), Fallacy Detectors (ages 8–12), A Statistical Odyssey (ages 12+), and Symbolic Logic for Teens (ages 13+). You can also find worksheets and lesson plans for grades 2–12, a critical thinking blog, and free logic puzzles. (Online)

Earth Native Wilderness School

Environmental education and self-sufficiency programs that help children, teens, and adults build strong relationships with the natural world (Austin and Bastrop)

Eastside Music School

A music school that offers individual lessons as well as the new Rock Shop group program to students of all ages—beginner through advanced, young and young at heart—with a balanced approach that puts theory and skills in the context of music you enjoy playing (East Austin)

Esquina Tango Cultural Society of Austin

Austin’s own Tango Corner, a nonprofit organization spreading culture through performances and classes in dance, health, and Spanish and Portuguese language for youth and adults (East Austin)

ESTEAM Learning Labs

Students discover the hero within along the way to becoming leaders, prepared to challenge, inspire, and change the world. Kids learn and explore at their own pace. Enrichment programs cultivate excellence by creating an environment that is fun and nurtures confidence through teamwork, collaboration, and leadership practices. Camps, classes, workshops, training, after-school, weekend, private lessons, and events in robotics, coding, drones, filmmaking, vocal, music, theater arts, comic book & cosplay creation, board games, and sooooo much more. (Round Rock)

Figment Creative Labs

A kid-friendly art studio, STEAM-centric maker space, and creative preschool. Just off Brodie Lane in Austin, Texas, Figment also offers one-of-a-kind art birthday parties, homeschool groups, after-school programming, toddler art play groups, day camps, summer camps, adult art nights and adult classes on Sundays. (South Austin)

4Points/IQuest Global Enrichment Center

A community-based educational resource center dedicated to providing creative learning experiences for students PreK–Grade 12, focused on helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through small-group interactive after-school classes, academic tutoring, and summer camps (Steiner Ranch)

German-Texan Heritage Society

Since 1987, this local nonprofit has been preserving the history and heritage of German-Texans. The German Free School, a beautiful historic building at 10th and Red River, offers German language courses for all ages and levels during spring, summer, and fall terms. Traditional German-Texan festivals like Karnaval, Maifest, Oktoberfest, and Christmas Market are held throughout the year. Members benefit from discounts on programs and activities. (Downtown Austin, West Austin, Round Rock, Killeen, San Antonio)

Girlstart

After-school enrichment, camps, conferences, and community programs for K–12 girls and their families, fostering STEM skills development, understanding of the importance of STEM as a way to solve the world’s major problems, and interest in STEM college studies and careers (North Central Austin and in partner schools throughout Central Texas)

Green Gate Farms Farm-based Education

Educating, assisting, and inspiring a new generation of sustainable farmers through farm camps, classes, workshops, events, and an Incubator Farm (East Austin and Utley)

Howdy Bots

A FIRST Robotics Competition team founded in 2017, Howdy Bots strives to teach and inspire kids and teens about engineering through robotics and participation in the worldwide robotics league FIRST. The team consists of home-schooled and privately schooled students and maintains a friendly, cooperative learning environment for all members. (North Austin, Round Rock, and Cedar Park)

Hurley Piano

Introducing the world of the keyboard to children and young adults on the autism spectrum and with other special needs, using an innovative, thoroughly researched, and proven methodology (private lessons in the Austin metro area)

Integração Jiu Jitsu (IJJ)

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes and team competition for adults and children at all levels, led by a world champion, in a modern, comfortable environment that includes a cafe with free wifi where parents can wait while kids are in classes (South Austin)

 

Jason Phelps Creates

A unique tutoring service that provides specialized attention in reading, writing, math, and performing arts for ages 8 to 18 with an emphasis on integrating the arts into academics, guided by Jason Phelps, a highly experienced alternative educator and award-winning performing artist (Austin)

Life Ki-do Martial Arts

Where martial arts meets inner well-being! Classes for ages 3–adult, including parent-child classes and homeschool classes. Tangible learning experiences in mindfulness, conscious breathing, and social-emotional intelligence with an emphasis on intrinsic motivation. Focus on connection rather than competition in an environment that encourages empathy, kindness, and teamwork. (Westlake & Lakeway)

Live Online Piano Lessons with James Heuser 

Mr. Heuser offers enjoyable, educational, live online piano lessons using Zoom. He is a mature, experienced piano and theory teacher. The main goal is to help students find their personal connection with piano music. Individual curriculum designed for each student based on interest and abilities. Interested students may also participate in recitals, festivals, theory exams, and/or piano exams. Ages: about 8–9 and up. Beginning to Advanced.

Math for Keeps

A 1:1 math experience designed to keep you in your “sweet spot” of learning. The focus is on learning how to learn, and what it looks and feels like to practice math (or anything!) in a way that’s efficient and rewarding for the brain, and that lasts. Program can be supplemental or stand-alone. (Online—short sessions!)

Mighty Writing

Experienced educator Laurie Filipelli provides college application essay guidance and other forms of writing coaching. With in-person consultations, precise written feedback, and a friendly step-by-step blog, she helps students discover their deepest beliefs and hone writing and self-presentation skills to ensure success in college and beyond. (Austin)

The Music House

Creative, child-centered individual music instruction by Anna Larson, with a focus on developing listening skills, rhythm and counting, and understanding music notation, as well as improvisation, composition, and songwriting; offering daytime lessons for students with nontraditional school schedules (South Austin)

MusicAlly

MusicAlly brings online music lessons to kids using a buy-one-give-one format: for each family that pays market rate for a lesson (sliding scale, based on city) another student who wouldn’t otherwise have access gets a lesson of equal length and value. MusicAlly has PenPal and Mentor & Mentee programs designed to connect kids worldwide to motivate each other in their practice. Students who already have private teachers can connect with a practice coach for extra support. (Online everywhere)

Nature’s Way Preschool

A nature-based part-time enrichment program at the Austin Nature & Science Center, immersing young children ages 3 through 5 in the wonders of the natural world (South Central Austin)

Natureversity Outdoor School

Natureversity is a nature-based learning school that offers courses in naturalist studies, survival skills, archery, and scouting for kids ages 5-16! Their outdoor classroom inspires imaginative play, creations from nature, and life-long relationships with the earth, community, family, and self. They offer summer camp programs, weekly homeschool programs, monthly weekend programs, after-school programs, winter break nature camps, spring break nature camps, and more! (Locations in North and South Austin!)

Olas Spanish Immersion School

Offering small-group, full-immersion, highly interactive Spanish classes six days a week in several locations for toddler through elementary levels

Outside Voice / ARTtv

Providing a recommended daily allowance of creative nourishment and inspiring an all-ages community through workshops, camps, live events, and original content (gatherings around Austin and ARTtv episodes on YouTube)

Primeau Guitar Studio

Offering a fun, progressive guitar curriculum in a comfortable environment at beginner through advanced levels, tailored to the student’s individual learning style (North Central Austin)

Speech-Language-Play

An in-home playgroup program operated by a Speech-Language Pathologist. The daily schedule is filled with fun structured activities and unstructured facilitated play time. The goal is to provide children with developmental delays an excellent opportunity to build rewarding peer relationships. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am–1pm, September–July. (North Austin)

Splitter Splat Pre-K Co-op

Austin's newest parent-run community preschool co-operative for kids ages 18 months to 6 years old. Its primary goal is to create a safe, stimulating environment that enables children to better explore, contemplate, and understand the world around them. This community of parents strives to foster their children's innate curiosity, wonder, and excitement. (options available to either start or join a Tribe in the Greater Austin area)

Teen Coaching & Mentorship with Josh Gershon

Longtime coach and Montessori school leader Josh Gershon provides individual coaching and mentorship for high school teens. Offering a unique combination of life coaching and professional mentorship, Josh supports students in their social and emotional development along with academic and professional advancement. Beyond individual and group sessions, Josh is dedicated to helping students find meaningful leadership opportunities through an established mentor network. (Virtual sessions from anywhere)

Tinkergarten

Educational and fun classes for parents to attend with kids ages 18 months to 8 years in the healthiest classroom of all—the outdoors. For kids, it’s a chance to get messy, solve mysteries, move their bodies, make friends, and have fun. For parents, it’s a chance to get together with like-minded parents and learn creative and effective ways to play and learn with their kids (held in parks and other outdoor spaces in and around Austin)

Toybrary Austin

An innovative toy-lending library and play space that offers parenting workshops, children’s classses, and many special events (North-Central Austin)

Treehouse Learning Community

A warm, consistent, and engaging community for homeschoolers aged 4–9 to learn, form friendships, and enjoy some of the parts of education that are especially meaningful in a group setting; half-day classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays (Georgetown)

Urban Roots

A youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture to transform the lives of young people and increase access to healthy food through paid internships, life and job skills, and service opportunities (East Austin)

We Love Music

Free-range music lessons for kids, teens, and adults, with an emphasis on making music personal and fun; offering guitar, bass, drums, and ukelele lessons; helping students explore their creative sides and gain confidence along the way (North Austin)

Wicked Workshop: Youth Architecture Program

A maker-based program that introduces kids to decision making strategies, complex problem solving, and critical thinking opportunities that are recognized as vital 21st-century skills necessary to succeed in work, life, and citizenship. Wicked Workshop does this through a straightforward hands-on curriculum that incrementally introduces a myriad of materials and methods of construction, environmental and climate considerations, and a host of worldwide cultures. (Southwest Austin)

WIT—Whatever It Takes

WIT launches teen entrepreneurs. In the only 6-unit college-credit social entrepreneur and leadership program for high school students in the country, teens meet in 2-hour sessions once per week throughout the school year, creating enterprises, building business networks, and gaining valuable life and work skills. WIT also hosts Smart City teen hackathons. (South Central Austin)

Young Adult Success Coach

 1:1 coaching for young adults ages 13–21 to improve their Executive Functioning skills, set goals for themselves, take control of their lives, and find success. Learning and success look different for everyone, and this program emphasizes getting to know each child as an individual and developing systems and strategies to support their unique needs. (Austin and online)