Youth Programs

Current Programs

Middle Schools
High Schools
3D Maker Lab
Design Lab
Digital Lab
Fun Fridays
Beginner Electronics
(Session 2: April 10th - June 7th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

Students who are interested in electronics and robotics should take this class! Projects will focus on fundamentals of electricity, building circuits, programming LED matrixes, and more.

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    Model and Print
    (Session 1: January 9th - March 10th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

    Come learn to use Blender to create your own 3D models and prepare them to be 3D printed. This course will cover sketching designs, 3D modeling them, and how to use 3D printers and their filament!

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      Digital Sculpting
      (September 26th -December 16th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

      Students in this course will create custom characters and creatures using Zbrush. This industry standard 3D software is used in everything from games to VFX in movies.

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        3D Sponge Art
        (Session 2: April 10th - June 7th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

        Students will develop skills of repurposing sponges to create 2D mixed media art in this course. Using their imagination, students will design objects out of sponges and use color theory to make prints on paper. They will use the prints as a starting point to create mixed media artworks by adding pencil drawing. Once finished, the artworks will be displayed in an art exhibition with their peers at Gallery 1701.

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          Pop-Up Paper Sculptures
          (Session 1: January 9th - March 10th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

          Students will develop their story-telling skills in a set of drawings that they use to project into 3D paper sculptures. Using repurposed books, students will design individual creatures or landscapes that will bring their story to life. The Pop-up sculpture will be displayed in an art exhibition with their peers at the end of the session.

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            Storybook Pop-Up: Paper Sculptures
            (September 26th -December 16th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

            Students will develop their story-telling skills in a set of drawings that they use to project into 3D paper sculptures. Using repurposed books, students will design individual creatures or landscapes that will bring their story to life. The Pop-up sculpture will be displayed in an art exhibition with their peers at the end of the session.

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              Exploring Digital Photography
              (Session 2: April 10th - June 7th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

              This course will explore Landscape and Portrait Photography. Students will capture imagery in both the studio and the local neighborhood environment. The course will utilize digital cameras, photo editing software and specialty lenses and hardware.

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                Studio Photography
                (Session 1: January 9th - March 10th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

                This course will explore studio Macro/Close-up Photography. Students will utilize digital cameras, photo editing software and specialty lenses and hardware.

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                  Intro into Graphic Design
                  (September 26th -December 16th) Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm -6:30pm

                  Interested in creating awesome posters for Movies, Comic Books, or for Video Games and wished you had the design skills to make something similar? Students in this course will learn how to create eye-catching posters through Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva without previous experience in graphic design.

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                    Field Friday is an excellent way to build a bridge between classroom learning and life outside of school, providing an opportunity for real-world application. CHICAT connects Middle students, through arts and technology, to community-based organizations that will teach them about local resources and events, the power of civic engagement, job prospects, and much more.
                    Exploring Technology through STEAM!
                    (Field Friday is only available on Fridays, from 3:30pm -6:30pm, and will run for both Session 1 and Session 2)

                    Field Friday is an excellent way to build a bridge between classroom learning and life outside of school, providing an opportunity for real-world application. CHICAT connects Middle students, through arts and technology, to community-based organizations that will teach them about local resources and events, the power of civic engagement, job prospects, and much more.

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                      Fun Fridays: Exploring STEAM through Play
                      (September 26th -December 16th) Available only on Fridays from 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

                      Fun Fridays are a great way for youth to end their week as a reward for working hard! The kiddos deserve some time to socialize and explore various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) based projects!

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                        3D Maker Lab
                        Design Lab
                        Digital Lab
                        Winter Preview
                        Creative Coding
                        (February 28th -May 12th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:00pm -6:30pm

                        Take your first steps into using Python by creating music with code. Participate in this program and create your own songs with variables, functions, loops and more! This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM starting in February!

                        Location: Chicago Center for Arts & Technology, 1701 W 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                         Applications are open December 19th! 

                        To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                        Search the program and submit the application.

                        Need help completing your application?
                        Call or email us!

                        (312)-768-5200

                        applications@afterschoolmatters.org

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                          Creative Coding
                          (September 26th -December 16th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm

                          Mix your tech and creative skills together to design and build electronic projects. Students will use lights, servo motors, Arduinos and more to bring their ideas into reality.

                          This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm beginning September 26th!

                          Location: Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1701 W. 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                          To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                          Search the program and submit the application.

                          Need help completing your application?

                          Call or email us!

                          (312) 768-5200

                          applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                          Enroll

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                            Unveil Yourself: Creative 3D Sculptures
                            (February 28th -May 12th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:00pm -6:30pm

                            As an extension of the Fall course, students will design a 2D wire sculpture to use as an inner skeleton of their simple clay figure or molded object from the previous term. The encompassing design will express their ideas of unveiling their own identity. Students will exhibit their work in a final display amongst their peers in Gallery 1701. This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM starting in February!

                            Location: Chicago Center for Arts & Technology, 1701 W 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                            Applications are open December 19th! 

                            To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                            Search the program and submit the application.

                            Need help completing your application?
                            Call or email us!

                            (312)-768-5200

                            applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                            Enroll

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                              Unveil Yourself: Creative 3D Candles
                              (September 26th -December 16th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm

                              Using technical drawings, students will design a simple clay figure or object that will be molded into an environment for wax pours. They will learn about color theory and problem-solving complex ideas. The design will express their ideas of freedom through identity. Students will exhibit their work in a final display amongst their peers in Gallery 1701. 

                              This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm beginning September 26th!

                              Location: Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1701 W. 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                              To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                              Search the program and submit the application.

                              Need help completing your application?

                              Call or email us!

                              (312) 768-5200

                              applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                              Enroll

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                                Advanced Photographic Techniques
                                (February 28th -May 12th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:00pm -6:30pm

                                This course in photography will explore Landscape, Macro/ Close-up, and Portrait. Students will capture imagery in both the studio and the local neighborhood environment. The course will utilize digital cameras, photo editing software and specialty lenses and hardware. This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM starting in February!

                                Location: Chicago Center for Arts & Technology, 1701 W 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                                Applications are open December 19th! 

                                To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                                Search the program and submit the application.

                                Need help completing your application?
                                Call or email us!

                                (312)-768-5200

                                applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                                Enroll

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                                  Cut-Out Animation: Introduction to Animation
                                  (September 26th -December 16th) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm

                                  This class is focused on teaching student’s digital cutout style animation techniques, with scanned images and vector graphics. South Park is a notable example of the cutout-style.

                                  This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 4:30pm -6:30pm beginning September 26th!

                                  Location: Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1701 W. 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                                  To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                                  Search the program and submit the application.

                                  Need help completing your application?

                                  Call or email us!

                                  (312) 768-5200

                                  applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                                  Enroll

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                                    Fundamentals of DLSR Filmmaking 
                                    (January 30th -February 9th) Monday – Thursday from 4:30pm -6:30pm 

                                    Through hands-on demos, including how to create a compelling cooking demonstration, learn the core techniques and how to apply the compositional skills of the still photography to DSLR filmmaking. In this program you will learn how to navigate the video-capturing features of a DLSR, choose the right gear for their filmmaking needs, and incorporate audio into shoots!

                                    This course is anticipated to be in person. It will take place Monday – Thursday, from 4:30pm -6:30pm beginning September 26th!

                                    Location: Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1701 W. 13th St. Chicago, IL 60608

                                    To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/

                                    Search the program and submit the application.

                                    Need help completing your application?

                                    Call or email us!

                                    (312) 768-5200

                                    applications@afterschoolmatters.org

                                    Enroll

                                    Enroll X

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