Orange Community Education & Recreation

Make it an early dinner and join in on the fun as we have a pizza party with Officer Todd Bennett! We are teaming up with him and some of his officer friends from the area for a wonderful after-school program where we will play games and eat some tasty pizza together! We cannot wait to see you there.

Join us on an engaging family trip to the Cleveland Natural History Museum. There is no other place in Cleveland where you can see amazing natural wonders! Offering a variety of engaging exhibits, the museum offers its audience an experience like no other. Enjoy exploring all of the cool exhibits and taking part in interactive opportunities throughout the museum. Bus transportation to and from the museum will be provided. Bus will board at 10 am in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center.

Who is ready for an afternoon of gaming and fun?! We’ll be taking a bus from our facility down to Ohio City for fun and games at PINS Mechanical Arcade (located at 1880 W. 25th Street Cleveland, OH 44113) for classic arcade games, giant Jenga, pinball, bocce ball, and skeeball! From Pac-Man to Galaga, PINS offers a variety of unique activities that are accessible and fun! This is a great opportunity for participants to explore a new location, try new games, and enjoy time with friends! Bring quarters if you want to play pinball.. Transportation to and from Pepper Pike Learning Center will be provided. Please meet in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center at 12 pm. Bring a brown bag lunch.

Did you know that plants don’t only need water, soil, and sunlight to survive? They also need someone to take care of them. Join us for our very first planting program where participants will get the opportunity to learn about how to take care of plants and the impact plants have on our lives every day. Participants who sign up will get the opportunity to take part in potting their plants and will learn how to take care of their plants throughout their lives. This program not only teaches participants about the relaxation that planting can offer us but it teaches responsibility and patience within the process. Pots, seeds, plants, and soil will be provided to all participants. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow.

Did you know that art is everywhere we look? No matter what we look at, there is some sort of unique story and creation process that went along with it! We all have the opportunity to create in a way that is unique to us! We are so excited to introduce a collaboration we are taking part in with the Orange Art Center to offer an introductory Art Sampler. Art Sampler is the perfect opportunity to introduce any participant to a variety of different art forms. This 3 - week fine arts program will introduce participants to canvas painting, drawing, and clay modeling through a completely hands-on exploration experience. All classes will take place at the Orange Art Center.

Who is ready to see something incredible? Like seeing the skeleton of a Dinosaur or seeing fossils of past creatures that were before our time. If this sounds interesting to you, then you are certainly in luck! We are going to be taking our very first trip to the Cleveland Natural History Museum to experience the incredible phenomenon of history that has formed the world we live in today. Offering a variety of engaging exhibits, the Cleveland Natural History Museum offers its museumgoers an experience like no other. The opportunity to see our world from a completely new perspective and the opportunity to learn about a wide range of cool information. So, don’t miss this opportunity to see history in a whole new way! Transportation to and from Pepper Pike Learning Center will be provided. Please meet in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center at 10 am. Bring a brown bag lunch.

Did you know that there are over 10 million different colors in the world? Each one is different and unique in its way! Everybody interprets colors differently and the beautiful thing about art is not what is common but what is unique to the eye. Join us as we celebrate all sorts of colors with this brand-new program! Everybody should wear their favorite color to the event and be ready to participate in a variety of activities including tie dying, paint balloon community canvas art, flower arranging, and a ton of other unique and fun colorful activities. Just a fun way for everyone to celebrate how unique and beautiful of a world we live in!

Life is full of rhythm and we as human beings have the opportunity to create and enjoy life's beat every day. Drums and rhythm are used all around the world to spread joy and the power of music to many. Join us as we take a deep dive into the power of rhythm and music in the form of a drum circle. We will enjoy a beautiful night and create music together using percussion-based instruments including bongos, congas, shakers, rhythm sticks, and more. Each participant will get the chance to try a variety of fun and impactful musical instruments. Don’t miss out on this night of percussion, relaxation, and musical creation.

Let the games begin! Join us for some fun in the sun on our very first field day! Participants will be split into color teams and will work together to play games and complete tasks. We will have a variety of fun and unique challenges for teams to complete and will end our day with some popsicles. This is a great program for participants to work on their teamwork skills and participate in physical activities! T-shirts will be provided. Are you up for the challenge?

Handcycling is a wonderful way to enjoy being outdoors, it enhances cardiovascular health, and provides opportunities to socialize with family and friends. Much like a bike, handcycling spares weight-bearing joints by being low-impact. Join our friends from the Cleveland Metroparks learn how to handcycle and enjoy a picnic for dinner. Bring your energy and appetite for a great time!

Pick it, sing it, perform it! That’s right, it is time for some karaoke. Join us for a beautiful evening outdoors where we will be doing some karaoke and enjoying time with friends. Participants will be able to pick their favorite songs to sing and we will have a full karaoke set up for them to use including speakers, microphones, and a great set up! Participants can bring their snacks to enjoy and we will provide water, soda, and the scenery. For those who want to join but do not want to sing, we will be providing musical instruments for participants to try and use to play along! Don't miss this opportunity to share your voice and sing your heart out!

Magnificent Musicians focuses on combining music exploration with adaptive learning. Participating in this program offers individuals the opportunity to explore a wide range of sounds and musical instruments. It also offers the opportunity for learners to meet new friends who have an interest in music. Every participant will receive the opportunity to try a new musical instrument.

It is often said that a good life is built up of a collection of unforgettable memories that last forever. But where do we keep these memories so that we never lose them? How about a memory box? Memory boxes can be used to store special belongings that remind us of important moments in our lives. Whether it is a photograph, a toy, a piece of clothing, or a piece of art, anything can be stored in this creative box to keep the memories safe and secure so that you can look back at them at any time! Participants will meet at the Orange Art Center located at Orange Art Center in Pepper Pike. No matter what age you are, these boxes can be an impactful and heartwarming experience.

It is time to put the pieces together and create something marvelous! Join us for our very first Mosaic art program. Mosaic creations focus on utilizing patterns, objects, colors, and unique materials to create an overall visual experience. Think of a puzzle but it is completely pieced together by your imagination! Each participant will create their own mosaic creation using a wide variety of different materials and objects provided by us! The goal is to have everyone create their own visual story that is personal to themselves! This program will be held at the incredible Orange Art Center located at 31500 Chagrin Blvd in Pepper Pike! We are so excited to offer this fun and engaging way for participants to express themselves through art. Register today to share your Mosaic masterpiece!

This program is for teenagers and young adults with special needs who can swim multiple laps of the pool on their back and front. Swimmers will work to develop strokes, turns, and starts. This program will focus on fitness and exercise and will provide opportunities for individual instruction and making friends.

Join us for an evening of relaxation and creation as we create canvas art using clay and the great outdoors as inspiration. This is a unique opportunity for everyone to use the creative sides of their minds as they enjoy a beautiful summer night!

Sweet, flavorful, and cold enough to help you beat the heat? How about a popsicle from the brand new POP Culture Cle in Solon? This incredible local shop creates gourmet desserts and popsicles like you have never seen before! All participants will receive the opportunity to pick any popsicle of their choosing off the menu to enjoy as they take part in the experience with friends! Offering tons of fun flavors of popsicles and a colorful and optimistic environment, you do not want to miss this sweet and delicious experience!

Parade the Circle is a huge festival that has been going on in Cleveland since 1990. This huge performance has floats, dancers, life-size puppets, costumes, and tons of tradition that is spread to an audience of thousands. This year our Adaptive & Integrated division has the opportunity to not only go to this phenomenal event but to also to be a part of the tradition. During this series of special workshops, we will be creating costumes and a mini float to showcase in the parade on June 8. This opportunity is open for any participant of any kind and will be handicapped accessible as well. We are so excited to create and wow the audience and hope you join us on the journey! Visit the Parade the Circle website to learn more: https://www.clevelandart.org/events/parade-circle.

Parade the Circle is a huge festival that has been going on since 1990 here in Cleveland Ohio. This huge performance has floats, dancers, huge puppets, costumes, and tons of tradition that is spread to an audience of thousands. This year our Adaptive & Integrated division has the opportunity to not only go to this phenomenal event but to also perform with us in the parade. Transportation to and from Pepper Pike Learning Center will be provided. Please meet in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center.

Join us for a relaxing morning of strawberry picking at Cleveland's own Patterson's Fruit Farm located at 8765 Mulberry Rd in Chesterland. They say that June is the best time to pick the perfect strawberries! While we are at Patterson's, participants will be able to pick their berries and explore the incredible scenery of the location by following the trails! You don’t want to miss this sweet adventure! Transportation to and from Pepper Pike Learning Center will be provided. Please meet in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center at 10:30 am. Bring a brown bag lunch as well.

Meet us at the Orange High School outdoor pool for the ultimate splash at a private pool party! The pool features zero-depth entry and a waterslide. Throughout the night, we’ll have pizza, beverages, and fun games planned as well. Participants will get the chance to meet new friends from the area and enjoy a swimming party like never before! See you there!

Breathe in the fresh air and explore the beautiful sights of the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation’s Squires Castle located at 2890 River Rd, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094. We will be taking a hike through the delightful trails exploring the many ways that hiking can open up our minds and make us feel calm! Participants will have the opportunity to take a tour of the majestic castle and take in the beautiful landscape! Participants will all bring a packed lunch and enjoy a picnic in the field. Caregivers/parents are welcome to join in on the adventure. Transportation to and from Pepper Pike Learning Center will be provided. Please meet in the parking lot of the Pepper Pike Learning Center at 11 am.