Deep in the mossy, rainy heart of the great state of Oregon, where the towering Douglas Fir trees kiss the cotton candy clouds, and where rainbows take a quick nap after a drizzle, there exists a magical land known as the "Emerald State". Oregon, a place bursting with secret gardens and fantastical creatures who, quite frankly, have not had their morning coffee yet! Now, imagine a crew of lively, daring and not-so-typical kids, known as the "Oregon Green Thumbs". They are not just any kids, but amazing gardeners who possess the greenest thumbs you could ever imagine. They could grow a carrot as tall as a baby giraffe or a pumpkin as round as a very fat panda! Oh, and let's not forget their fearless leader, Fergus the Fantastically Furry Forest Frog. Fergus is no ordinary frog. With his neon green skin brighter than a glow-stick, and his belly filled with sunshine, he guides these children on many incredible garden adventures. He has a bizarre sense of humor that involves ribbeting puns; you would think he gets them from a 'ribbetting' site! Every day, the "Oregon Green Thumbs" and Fergus would don their garden gloves, pull out their spades, and trek into the mystical wilderness of Oregon. They would trail down the Cascade Mountains, race alongside the rapid Rogue River, and weave through the bustling city of Portland, all to find the perfect spots for their magical gardens. Between Fergus' terrible ribbeting jokes and the kids' laughter that could make an owl hoot in surprise, it's hard to tell who gets the most dirt under their fingernails or who tells the silliest story. But one thing is for sure - gardening in Oregon is far from ordinary. It is an adventure that promises laughter, learning, and a love of nature that will grow faster than a sunflower on a sunny day.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Most youth organizations talk about preparing kids for the future or future leadership positions. This is great, but we believe kids and teens are leaders now. They don't need to wait for the future to shape the world. We help youth be the best 7-year-old they can be or the best 17-year-old. We guide kids and teens of all ages to boost their confidence and unlock their potential so they can thrive—where they are now. Thrive{ology} is our research-based approach to teaching every kid or teen how to be a better friend, student, son, daughter, member of society, sister, brother...today. Every Camp Fire program across the country uses Thrive{ology} to teach youth to identify sparks, develop a growth mindset, learn goal management, and take time to reflect.