Whether your child is looking to fine-tune a skill or seeking something entirely new, there are plenty of ways for them to learn and grow both inside and outside the classroom.
Published: September 2, 2021
After Care
Boys and Girls Clubs
305-446-9910
Centers:
• Gwen Cherry, 7090 NW 22 Ave., Miami, 305-694-4889
• Hank Kline, 2805 SW 32 Ave., Miami, 305-446-2654
• Kendall, 9475 N. Kendall Dr., Miami, 305-279-3013
• Northwest, 10915 NW 14 Ave., Miami, 305-758-5753
• South Beach, 1200 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach, 305-535-0070
YMCA of South Florida
Association Office
305-357-4000
http://www.ymcasouthflorida.org
Y Membership Family Centers:
• Downtown Miami YMCA, 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-779-9622
• South Dade YMCA Family Center, 9355 SW 134 St., Miami, 305-254-0310
• Village of Allapattah YMCA Family Center, 2370 NW 17 Ave., Miami, 305-635-9622
An After-School Care program, with a focus on safety, health, social growth and academic enrichment, is available at a number of locations throughout the county.
Art Classes
Bass Museum of Art
2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
305-673-7530
Kids can learn all about art through hands-on programs that include Bass Babies, Art for Kids, and Teen Art Class.
Institute of Contemporary Art Miami
61 NE 41 St., Miami
305-901-5272
The Young Artists Initiative (YAI) connects high school artists to the museum’s collection and the local arts community through an immersive two-year program. Tours, field trips and a free monthly Family Day are available for kids of all ages to tap into their artistic side.
PAMM Studio Programs
1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
305-375-3000
Pérez Art Museum Miami offers a range of studio programs that explore contemporary art and the creative process to children, teens and adults.
Dance & Performing Arts
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
305-444-9293
http://www.actorsplayhouse.org
Acting classes for kids of all ages include Let’s Make Believe, Song and Dance, Musical Theatre, Just Act and more.
Area Stage Company
5701 Sunset Dr., Miami
305-666-2078
Offers group classes, private lessons, seasonal programs and more to aspiring artists. Artistic instruction includes acting, singing and dancing and is provided by experienced instructors.
Fantasy Theatre Factory at the Sandrell Rivers Theater
6103 NW Seventh Ave., Miami
305-284-8800
Creative classes and workshops in theater, circus, movement, reading and cultural arts for ages 3 and up.
Miami Children’s Theater
http://www.miamichildrenstheater.com
Young thespians learn all aspects of theater including acting, production
and choreography.
Miami City Ballet School
2200 Liberty Ave., Miami Beach
305-929-7000
http://www.miamicityballet.org
Year-round programs provide rigorous, comprehensive training to young dancers all the way from their first steps to the elite pre-professional track.
Enrichment
Miami Children’s Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami
305-373-5437
http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org
Interactive after-school activities include cooking, science, virtual explorers and leadership classes for ages 3-5 and 5-10.
Fitness & Sports
Kite Boarding
http://www.miamidade.gov/parks
Skim the sandy white beaches at Matheson Hammock Park in Miami and Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. Kite Boarding rentals and lessons are available at both locations.
Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation
305-755-7800
http://www.miamidade.gov/parks
The third-largest county park system in the United States, Miami-Dade County touts 270 parks and more than 13,000 acres of land. There is something for everyone with activities that include nature walks, swimming, skating, roller hockey, kayaking, tennis, and more.
Mountain Biking
Oleta River State Park
3400 NE 163 St., North Miami Beach
305-919-1844
http://www.floridastateparks.org
Novice to expert riders can experience 15 miles of cycling trails that vary in difficulty level.
Wake Boarding
Amelia Earhart Park 401 E. 65 St., Hialeah
305-685-8389
http://www.miamidade.gov/parks
Wake boarding, waterskiing, knee boarding and barefoot lessons are taught by champion coaches.
Jewish Community Centers
Alper JCC Miami
11155 SW 112 Ave., Miami
305-271-9000
Miami Beach Jewish Community Center
4221 Pine Tree Dr., Miami Beach
305-534-3206
Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center
18900 NE 25 Ave., North Miami Beach
305-932-4200
Music
Greater Miami Youth Symphony
5275 Sunset Dr., Miami
305-667-4069
Created in 1958, GMYS has grown into an independent multi-tiered music training program dedicated to young musicians ages 5-18.
Miami Children’s Chorus
1533 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables
305-662-7494
http://www.miamichildrenschorus.org
Children ages 8-18 can explore the joy of singing and performance with choral music as the medium. Children participate, by audition, in one of three levels of ensemble.
Miami Conservatory of Music
2911 Grand Ave., Miami
305-422-2283
http://www.miamiconservatoryofmusic.com
Community music school provides musical instruction and fosters the talents of those ages 5 and up.
South Florida Youth Symphony
12645 SW 114 Ave., Miami
305-238-2729
Rehearsing on the Miami Dade College Campus, SFYS strives to foster the musical development of those ages 3-21.
Parks & Recreation
Aventura
305-466-8900
Bal Harbour
305-993-7356
http://www.balharbourflorida.com
Bay Harbor Islands
305-866-6241
http://www.bayharborislands-fl.gov
Biscayne Park
305-893-3711
Coral Gables
305-460-5600
http://www.coralgables.com
Cutler Bay
305-234-4262
Doral
305-593-6600
El Portal
305-795-7880
http://www.elportalvillage.com
Florida City
305-248-6467
Golden Beach
305-932-0744
Hialeah
305-687-2650
Hialeah Gardens
305-558-2331
http://www.cityofhialeahgardens.com
Homestead
305-224-4570
http://www.cityofhomestead.com
Key Biscayne
305-365-8900
Medley
305-887-9541
http://www.townofmedley.com
Miami
305-416-1300
Miami Beach
305-673-7730
Miami Gardens
305-622-8000
http://www.miamigardens-fl.gov
Miami Lakes
305-364-6100
Miami Shores
305-795-2207
http://www.miamishoresvillage.com
Miami Springs
305-805-5075
http://www.miamisprings-fl.gov
North Bay Village
305-756-7171
North Miami
305-895-9840
http://www.northmiamifl.gov
North Miami Beach
305-947-7581
Opa-locka
305-953-2871
Palmetto Bay
305-953-2871
Pinecrest
305-234-2121
South Miami
305-668-3876
Sunny Isles Beach
305-792-1706
Surfside
305-866-3635
http://www.townofsurfsidefl.gov
Sweetwater
305-551-4774
http://www.cityofsweetwater.fl.gov
Virginia Gardens
305-871-6104
http://www.virginiagardens-fl.gov
West Miami
305-266-1122
http://www.cityofwestmiamifl.com
Preschool Activities
Families First
305-243-8425
Families First, funded by The Children’s Trust, offers a free Baby & Me group for parents and their babies birth to six months. The program also features Parent Groups.
Scouting
Boy Scouts
305-364-0020
Boy Scouts has different age groups, starting with Cub Scouts for kindergarten-fifth grade. Students may participate through high school and earn the coveted Eagle Award. Participants learn practical skills and get outdoor experiences as they are guided to make ethical choices.
Girl Scouts
305-253-4841
Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida serves girls ages 5-18 in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. The organization’s goal is to build strong, smart and self-reliant young women who are confident in their place in the world.
Special Needs
Best Buddies
305-374-2233
Pairs people with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with middle and high school students.
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
601 SW Eighth Ave., Miami
305-856-2288
http://www.miamilighthouse.org
Programs for the visually impaired.
Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation
Special Populations Section
http://www.miamidade.gov/parks
Special Olympics
http://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/miami-dade
Oversees training and competition for developmentally disabled children 8 years and up.
Whispering Manes
6105 SW 125 Ave., Miami
305-596-4204
http://www.whisperingmanes.org
Therapeutic riding center for people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
Volunteering
HandsOn Miami
Volunteer opportunities for families, teens, and adults.
