Elective Courses inspire kids to explore new activities, learn new skills and develop new interests.

Courses include:

ART
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Did you know that research has shown that young people who participate in the arts for a continued amount of time and throughout their young years are far more likely to succeed in academics at school and participate in math and science fairs? The facts are that arts education can make a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the ‘learning field’ across socioeconomic boundaries. The YMCA Art Club exposes youth to mediums, techniques, and a variety of time periods in our history that have significant ties to cultural events and traditions. We hope to achieve an appreciation for art through the club.

COOKING
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Children, especially young children, rely on their senses to explore the world. Cooking offers students opportunities to use the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Working with food lets a child focus on their senses individually as well as collectively. Cooking teaches a child how to use their eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue to observe things, in addition to improving their fine motor skills when helping out in the kitchen. This beginner’s course focuses on more than just cooking, but dives deeper into the culinary arts and the professional positions in any kitchen.

ENGINEERING: Makerspace: Engineering for Beginners
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
The Engineering course teaches students the fundamentals and importance of engineering in a real-world context. Children learn about the history of engineering and its application in landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum, and the Empire State Building. From there, they apply their knowledge through activities and projects where they learn about tension, weight-bearing structures, windmills, bridges, and more. Engineering Club opens students’ minds to the idea that engineering is all around us, is applied to many things we see and use on a daily basis, and is FUN! This course is beginner-level and allows all to practice critical thinking skills, challenge their imaginations, and come up with solutions to real-world problems. Makerspace time will be built into each class for free design with upcycled materials. 

ESPORTS/EXTREME SPORTS: TEENS
Ages: 8-14
The YMCA Esports program serves today’s youth (8-14 years old) by providing opportunities for ALL students to use Esports as a platform to acquire critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. “A kid-run esports organization” Does your child like video games? Are you looking for a way to give purpose to their gaming time? The YMCA Esports Program is for you! This program offers curriculum-based learning while also being engaging and fun for kids who are passionate about video games. Monthly Focuses: Tournament Organizing, Online Broadcasting, Game Design, Coding, and more! Dedicated roles for recurring members Spots are limited!

KEEPING FIT [PE]
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Children are our future—and understanding and supporting their natural yearning for physical activity will help lead them to a lifetime of happy and healthy living. Warm-ups, activities, group games, and group sports are delineated for each day and focus on 8 areas of sports skills. Basketball, Football, Handball, Kickball, Soccer, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, and Volleyball, help prepare students for a life of physical fitness, fitness testing, improved social/emotional awareness, and self-esteem.  Activities and sports can be adjusted depending on the age and skill level of students.

SCIENCE
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
There are three simple reasons why science is important for our children: they love science because it engages their curiosity, provides practical tools for understanding everyday life, and advances their critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Whether a child gains an interest in becoming a doctor, lawyer, or teacher, developing a scientific mindset is critical to enhancing a child’s cognitive growth, logic, and reasoning.

SIGN LANGUAGE
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Aside from the fact that children will be learning a second language, the learning of American Sign Language develops awareness and sensitivity to cultural and linguistic diversity. This beginners course provides cultural enrichment and is the best means of fostering understanding between children who are hard of hearing and those who are not. Furthermore, learning sign language can help a child recognize words if they are connected to a sign.

CREATIVE WRITING
Ages: 11-17
Attention Middle School and High Schoolers! Do you love books and movies? Have you ever had a story in your heart but didn’t know how to share it with others? People love a great story. Good stories make us feel emotions that can change the way we see the world and the people around us. In the 8 Days workbook, author Jane Garrett walks students through planning, writing, and self-publishing their very own short stories. Through the woven tapestry of story elements, she helps students organize their ideas into a comprehensive outline. Step by step, she leads this journey from idea to finished story. With thoughtful guidance, attention to detail, and a war chest full of writing aids, the 8 Days to Save the World creative writing workbook turns students into self-published authors! FULL 8 Week Registration is required if you want to be published in our short story collective.  The book will be sent to the publisher after the completion of the course, and the Program Director will reach out to communicate how to get your FREE copy of the book, once it is complete. Next Session: January 5th- February 23rd (two months of registration is required for a total cost of Members $350; Non-Members $400).

AROUND THE WORLD
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Travel to different places and learn about the country, cultures, music, and food through art, cooking, crafting, and more!  Experience the world around you through this comprehensive class that makes learning fun and hands-on! One day we may be dancing to the French artist Edith Piaf and another “flying” to India to try Tikka Masala Corn Chips with tandoori seasoning. Get your ‘passports’ ready, it’s time to travel around the world!

CHESS
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Do you know how to play chess or do you want to learn? This is the class to join, we take beginner-level or advanced chess players and teach competitive play through chess. This elective is a social club that will teach children strategy through a variety of activities and recreational play.

FILM
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Understand and appreciate the evolution of film technology. Students will learn to use appropriately the basic terminology of technology and the basic elements of field production. This will include but is not limited to music, sound, editing, composition, and camera movement and angles. Students will think critically about one’s own and other individual responses to the film.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Children grow up in a visual world and everything that they see helps develop their personality and character. Having kids learn photography at an early age can stimulate their creativity and provide a meaningful outlet for self-expression. Photography can put kids in touch with the world around them and help them to see things from multiple vantage points, expanding their opportunities for learning and development through interaction with the world around them.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT (formally Study Hall) 
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Academic Support offers a variety of options for study and research to support individual study and group collaboration. We seek to provide an environment reflecting the needs of students and others in their learning and research activities.
Use this time to supplement your home program and provide your child with a consistent time for social connections and support from certified instructors.

LUNCH AND SOCIAL HOUR
Ages: 5-8 and 9-12
Lunch and Social Hour is designed to support the Social Emotional Development of our homeschooled youth. We provide time for the children to eat and freely socialize with other children. Our trained staff will encourage interactions and spark conversations. After lunch, we facilitate games to promote communication through teamwork and competitive play.

BALLET
Frequency: 6-8 weeks/1 x per week (based on location)
Fee: $200 
Locations: Fullerton YMCA, Huntington Beach YMCA, Mission Viejo YMCA, and Newport-Mesa YMCA.
Ages: 5-7 and 8-12
Our dance classes are designed to be age-appropriate and to teach youth dance techniques and routines by skilled dance instructors. Children in ballet class must wear ballet slippers. End of session performance TBA.

YOUTH MARTIAL ARTS
Frequency: Varies by location
Fee: Varies by location
Locations: Fullerton Family YMCA, Huntington Beach Family YMCA, Mission Viejo Family YMCA, and Newport-Mesa Family YMCA.
Ages: 5-7 and 8-11
Our martial arts program gives students a chance to learn some of the basic elements that Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, and wrestling have to offer. This program will help kids not only become more engaged in physical activity but also helps teach them self-defense techniques while getting into shape.

YOUTH GYMNASTICS
Frequency: Tuesday/8 Weeks
Fee: $200 
Location: Newport Mesa YMCA
Ages: 5-7 and 8-11
Beginning students will gain strength and flexibility as they learn the basics of gymnastics. They will develop the skills of tumbling including rolls, handstands, back bridges, and cartwheels. Advanced students will continue to develop strength and flexibility as they build on the fundamentals of gymnastics. They will continue to work on the basic skills of tumbling and will be introduced to round-offs, headstands, and front/back walkovers.

YOUTH BASKETBALL CLASS
Frequency: Tuesday or Wednesdays/4 weeks (Monthly)
Fee: $100 
Location: Tues: Laguna Niguel and Wed: Mission Viejo
Ages: 5-7, 8-12 and 13-18
Youth Basketball Class is intended for all youth ability levels. The beginner class will focus on the development of fundamental basketball skills. Participants will learn basic building blocks such as footwork, dribbling, shooting, and passing. Intermediate is for kids who want to take their game to the next level by enhancing skills by introducing them to high-level basketball drills. Advanced will engage in competition in a fun and supportive environment that emphasizes character development and participate in 30 min of practice/drills and 30 min of casual scrimmage.

YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Frequency: 1-weekday practice and 1 weekly game on Saturday/8week
Fee: $265
Location: Fullerton and Laguna Niguel
Ages: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-14
Youth Basketball leagues are offered for children and youth. Through the league, they will learn the fundamentals of the sport (I.e., ball handling, shooting, passing, defense) and engage in competition with local teams in a fun and supportive environment that emphasizes character development, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Assessment is required. The in-season clinic is offered. Jersey cost is included in the fee.

YOUTH SOCCER CLASS
Frequency: Thursdays or Saturday/4 weeks (Monthly)
Fee: $100 
Location: Mission Viejo
Ages: 5-7 and 8-10
Classes will focus on the development of fundamental skills and the growth of your child in our 4 core values; caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Participants will learn the basic building blocks for success in a fun environment.

YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE
Frequency: 1-weekday practice and 1 weekly game on Saturday/8week
Fee: $240
Location: Newport Mesa
Ages: 5-7 and 8-10
Youth Basketball leagues are offered for children and youth. Through the league, they will learn the fundamentals of the sport (I.e., kicking, dribbling, passing, defense) and engage in competition with local teams in a fun and supportive environment that emphasizes character development, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Assessment is required. The in-season clinic is offered. Jersey cost is included in the fee.

YOUTH VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE
Frequency: 1-weekday practice and 1 weekly game on Sunday/8week
Fee: $265
Location: Fullerton
Ages: 8-11 and 12-14
Youth Volleyball Leagues are offered for Youth. Youth will learn the fundamentals of the sport (serving, passing, defense) and engage in competition with local teams in a fun and supportive environment that emphasizes character development, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Assessment is required. The in-season clinic is offered. Jersey cost is included in the fee.

YOUTH SWIM LESSONS

Frequency: Varies by location and schedule
Fee: Varies by location and schedule
Locations: Fullerton Family YMCA, Mission Viejo Family YMCA, and Newport-Mesa Family YMCA
Ages: 5-16 (Levels are set by ability level)
Group swim lessons are offered year-round. Lessons are broken down into (8) levels based on ability level. Each level is taught with a specific instructor/student ratio. 

YMCA locations offer full-day camps during periods when school is in recess. Learn more about our camps here! 

The YMCA has five locations throughout Orange County for rental. With a variety of rooms, sizes, and availability, we are sure the Y can support your program.

Sliding Scale:

Room rental rates for teachers who we will be outsourcing are tentatively planned as follows (rates based on 1x per week):

Class size:

1-5 $35 per hour (8-week session) total cost $280

6-10 $70 per hour (8-week session) total cost $560

11-20 $140 per hour (8-week session) total cost $1,120

21+ $280 per hour (8-week session) total cost $2,240

Each course has eleven areas:

1. Course name/title

2. Course theme

3. Core Competency; competencies are tied to our Character Development and Core Value objectives

4. Goal/Developmental Opportunity; educational outcomes

5. Getting Started; list of materials needed for each activity

6. Activity Introduction; guide to assist you in launching the activity

7. Activity Preparation; materials you will need to get started with the activity

8. Activity Directions; step by step guide to introducing the activity related to the theme

9. Taking it to the Next Level; long term project associated with the activity and theme

10. Family and Home Connection; extended activities for children to do at home with their families that support the developmental objectives for the course

11. References and Resources; supporting documentation for you or the children to refer to while conducting a Course and or area to obtain additional information to expand a Course

Cabrillo Point Academy

Citrus Springs Charter School 

Empire Springs Charter School 

Epic Charter School

Excel Academy

Harbor Springs Charter School 

iLead Hybrid Learning Studios 

Mission Vista Acadamy

Pacific Coast Academy

Ocean Grove Charter School

River Springs Charter School

Sage Oak Charter School 

Sky Mountain Charter School

South Sutter Charter School 

Suncoast Preparatory Academy