Youth Classes

Register for classes at the Park Office (250 Pine Lake Ave.) or by phone at 219-326-9600. Visa/MasterCard are accepted.

 
Ceramics


If you are looking for a fun, creative outlet, try one of our ceramic classes. It provides a great way to get away and meet friends, all while making some unique projects for yourself or gifts for others.  We offer pre-registered specialty classes as well as open classes, held in the Ceramics Room at the Civic Auditorium. The fee of the specialty classes varies per project and includes everything necessary to complete the project. The cost is $6 per class during the open classes.  Also offering group classes for birthday parties, youth groups, or other organizations. Contact Recreation Director Pam Carroll at pcarroll@cityoflaportein.gov to schedule your group class.  Check back in 2021 for a new list of classes.

 

The Comic Book Project ™


The Comic Book Project™ is a world-renowned literacy initiative that has engaged more than 200,000 learners in a creative process leading to academic achievement, social awareness, and community development. By engaging youths in brainstorming, sketching, plotting, designing and publishing original comic books, Comic Book Project™ encourages students to become active learners and content creators, rather than mere information receivers. The cost for Comic Book Project™ I is $80 for 8 classes.  The cost for Comic Book Project™ II is $90 for 9 classes.  Each session meets twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m. at Cummings Lodge. Pre-registration is required with class size requirements.   Check back later for a new schedule of classes.

Kooking with Kids

This five-week cooking class is a fun, interactive cooking class that provides a hands-on experience for children in cooking/preparing healthy dishes and snacks with the five food groups. Kids cooking programs are a fantastic way to get kids interested and even excited about healthy foods. Participants have the opportunity to create healthy meals that teach kids important math and reading skills as they follow recipes and measure ingredients. Children will learn about food safety and meal planning in a fun, interactive way.  Class returns in the spring of 2021!
 

Fundamental Drawing - RETURNING FALL OF 2021

Learning how to draw what you see is a wonderful, rewarding activity.  It can be done basically anywhere with a few simple tools.  In this series, you will learn how to see and how to record what you see using different drawing techniques. The emphasis is on FUN and exploration in a no-stress atmosphere. In each class, you will be introduced to new art material and opportunities to use it to draw.  You will build on your skills in a logical step-by-step method.  You will start with black and white drawings and move into color drawings. This is a small group setting so you will have a lot of one on one instruction.  Masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.  Pre-registration is required by calling 219-326-9600 with your credit card.

Art instructor, Laura Krentz, is an experienced teacher of all ages.  She taught Drawing, Painting, Calligraphy, and Visual Communication at La Porte High School for 18 years.  She is an active member of the Duneland Plein Air Painters, the Land of Lakes Art Alliance, and the Lubeznik Center for Art.  She has exhibited her work at the Chesterton Art Center, the Box Factory of Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan, the Southern Shore Gallery in Michigan City, the Art Barn in Valparaiso, and the Thaddeus C. Gallery in La Porte.

Painting - Parties on the Gogh


We are thrilled to collaborate with Parties on the Gogh's owner Kristi Chadderdon for a variety of new inspiring classes! Let your artistic abilities shine by attending one of these new classes.  Classes will change monthly, so keep an eye on this page!  Classes have included painting, string art, Cricut® instruction, wood wall hangings.  All adult instruction and supplies are provided in the registration fee of $40.  Youth specialty classes are offered throughout the year with varying fees based on the project.  Minimum and maximum class size requirements.  The class will be held in the lower level of the Civic Auditorium in the Ceramic's Room (please use the Ceramic's outside steps at the intersection of Plain and Woodward streets to enter the building).  Masks and social distancing are required.  Pre-registration is required by calling 219-326-9600 with your credit card.

 
 
Pottery - Wheel Throwing


The art of wheel throwing is both a therapeutic and expressive way to create pottery. This class focuses solely on techniques in throwing clay forms on a pottery wheel. During the seven-week class, students will learn to apply aesthetics, proper thickness, and craftsmanship needed to make functional pottery. You'll be guided by local artist Alayna Bublitz who has a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics. Learn the process of making, decorating, and glazing your work. A class for all skill levels. The fee for the program is $81. We offer adult classes (ages 16 and up) on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. and on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. All classes are held in the Ceramics Room in the lower level of the Civic Auditorium (use the ramp at the Plain Street entrance). Pre-registration is required with class size requirements.

 

YogaKids®

The YogaKids® 14-elements are the building blocks for creating fun, educational and healthy kid's yoga classes. Our program brings life and excitement to each of the original YogaKids® poses. Children can imitate, feel and experiment with different poses in an interactive, fun, and imaginative way.

Pre-registration is required with class size requirements. Children 6-10 years of age are eligible for this class. The fee for the four-week session is $40. Participants may register by calling the City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays at 219-326-9600.

Instructor Christie Trksak is a La Porte resident and Certified YogaKids® instructor. Christie has been a yoga instructor since 2015 with experience teaching yoga to all ages and abilities, from Baby & Me yoga, preschool and school-age children, as well as adults. Christie holds 200 hours as a Registered Yoga Teacher and 125 hours as a Registered Children's Yoga Teach with Yoga Alliance. Christie was a program director for FlipStar Gymnastics Academy in New Lenox, Illinois, before moving to La Porte.