Serving the Bay Area and San Diego since 2005, Dragonfly Designs offers STEAM-aligned, growth-minded art classes that nurture social-emotional development, motor skills, and imaginative exploration. We believe every class should be joyful, meaningful, and rooted in connection.
That belief comes to life through the guidance of Sherry Kaufman, our Staff Mentor and Curriculum Specialist. With decades of experience from Google Children’s Centers to graduate programs at Erikson and Loyola, Sherry brings both heart and high standards to everything we do.
She works closely with each instructor to ensure they feel confident, supported, and deeply prepared. Through her leadership in social-emotional learning, inclusive practices, and creative pedagogy, we create spaces where every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated.
Our approach is inspired by a blend of respected educational frameworks, including Reggio Emilia, Constructivist Learning Theory, and the latest research in creative neuroscience, such as Your Brain on Art. These perspectives all point to the same truth: art is essential to how children think, feel, and grow.
Our enrichment programs are carefully designed to:
As a trusted afterschool enrichment provider, we also bring:
We’re proud to offer enrichment that helps children grow—and helps your team breathe a little easier.
At Dragonfly Designs, we believe that every class should be joyful, meaningful, and rooted in connection. That’s why our team is guided by Sherry Kaufman, an early childhood expert who brings decades of experience mentoring educators and shaping nurturing learning environments.
Sherry serves as our Staff Mentor and Curriculum Specialist, working closely with every instructor to ensure they feel confident, supported, and deeply prepared. She leads our training in Social-Emotional Learning, inclusive practices, and creative pedagogy—so every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated.
Before joining Dragonfly Designs, Sherry was part of the leadership team at Google’s Children’s Centers, where she developed policies and mentoring systems focused on relationship-based care. She also taught graduate-level courses at Erikson Institute and Loyola University, and directed several Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools. Her background includes:
Sherry’s approach blends academic expertise with heart. Under her guidance, our instructors don’t just teach—they connect, inspire, and nurture growth through every project and interaction.
We’re proud to have her as part of the Dragonfly Designs family—and you’ll see her impact in every joyful, thoughtfully crafted class we offer.
Where creativity and curiosity collide! Each week, students engage in guided experiments that blend art and science—like salt & watercolor reactions, magnetic painting, and sun prints. Alongside beautiful take-home projects, kids explore cause and effect, color theory, and basic chemistry in a playful, age-appropriate way. It’s STEAM learning in its most colorful form!
A high-energy art-and-science class or camp filled with experimentation and discovery. Students explore UV-reactive paints, natural dyeing, magnetic and pendulum painting, marbling, and nature-inspired texture rubbings. Each day highlights cause and effect, creative problem-solving, and the joy of dynamic hands-on making.
Designed for inventive, curious creators, this class explores chromatography, marbled slime, acid-base reactions, natural dyes, UV printing, and beginner printmaking. Students learn how chemistry and art fuel one another, leaving with a portfolio full of expressive, process-driven work.
Sparkle & Shine: Jewelry Making for Beginners (Grades K–2)Spark your child’s confidence through creativity! In this joyful beginner’s jewelry class, young makers will explore vibrant colors, textures, and patterns as they learn foundational beading techniques. Each project supports early childhood development—from fine motor skills to pattern recognition—all while encouraging imaginative expression. Children leave not just with beautiful, wearable art, but with the self-assurance that comes from making something all their own.
Where creativity meets code! In this hands-on STEAM class, kids explore binary code by crafting bead work that spells secret messages. They’ll build patterning and sequencing skills, early tech literacy, and creative confidence—all through play. This class supports brain development and self-expression while showing kids that art and technology go hand-in-hand.
A joyful jewelry-making experience where students explore beading, wire wrapping, and creative styling using high-quality materials. They design everyday accessories and keepsake pieces while building confidence, fine motor skills, and personal creative identity.
A creativity-meets-business experience where children design, craft, and brand their own jewelry collection. Participants learn beginner jewelry techniques along with pricing, packaging, presentation, and basic business concepts. A fun and empowering way to nurture young designers and future makers.
A global crafting journey that introduces children to art techniques, patterns, and materials inspired by cultures around the world. Participants create meaningful projects that celebrate creativity, curiosity, and global connection.
Let their imaginations take center stage! In this playful class, children bring stories to life through colorful, handmade costumes. From capes to crowns, each project builds hand-eye coordination and creativity while strengthening their ability to focus and express big feelings. Designed with early childhood development in mind, this class supports social-emotional growth through imaginative play and collaboration.
Step into a magical, miniature world where grass is as big as trees and flowers make perfect umbrellas! Young artists will craft a tiny house with miniature furniture, using colorful buttons, pipe cleaners, and sparkly gems to create adorable bugs, flowers, and animals to bring their tiny garden to life!
A miniature-building class or camp where children dream up small-scale rooms, habitats, fantasy landscapes, and storybook scenes using clay, wood, paper, and mixed media. Ideal for detail-loving children who enjoy world building and tiny designs.
Young designers step into their creativity in this beginner-friendly costume class! Using upcycled materials and safe stitching techniques, kids learn the power of transformation—turning old clothes into bold, wearable statements. Along the way, they develop fine motor skills, self-expression, and an understanding of sustainability. This is hands-on art with a purpose: creativity, confidence, and connection.
In Tiny Treasures & Secret Stories, students explore the magical world of miniature art by creating tiny boxes filled with stories, secrets, and imagination. Each week, students design a new keepsake box inspired by prompts such as dream worlds, secret gardens, comfort objects, and magical discoveries. Using collage, drawing, texture, and small found materials, students learn how artists use symbolism and storytelling in their work. This playful class builds confidence, creativity, and fine-motor skills while encouraging students to think big—by working small.
A playful, sensory-rich class where little makers explore paint, printmaking, collage, clay, and color. Projects support fine motor development, imagination, and early creative confidence.
A gentle introduction to jewelry making for young children. Using safe, sparkly materials, students create charming bracelets, necklaces, and treasures while learning basic patterning and color play.
A nature-inspired art class where young children explore leaves, stones, flowers, and natural textures to create whimsical crafts and sculptures. Perfect for curious children who love outdoor discovery and creative play.
Balance, breathe, and stretch into calm! This joyful yoga class introduces young children to mindfulness and movement. With playful poses and storytelling, kids build coordination, body awareness, and emotional regulation—skills that support lifelong well-being, both in and out of the classroom.
A magical world-building camp where children create miniature fairy cottages, mushrooms, bridges, creatures, and enchanted details using clay, natural elements, and mixed-media materials. Each child designs a one-of-a-kind fairy garden scene that encourages storytelling, focus, and imagination.
A colorful throwback to 1970s creativity. Campers explore tie-dye, spin art, SLAM books, pom-poms, magnets, kindness rocks, macramé, and more. A joyful mix of hands-on crafting, retro style, and expressive fun.
A vibrant, retro-inspired camp where children dive into tie-dye, ice dyeing, fabric stamping, spin art, and bold 70s-style graphics. Campers create wearable art and expressive projects that celebrate color, movement, and personal style.
Get ready to paint, print, and react! In this high-energy art + science camp, campers become creative scientists as they experiment with materials and explore how art and chemistry collide. Through hands-on exploration, they’ll discover how heat, light, gravity, and reactions can transform surfaces into vibrant works of art.
For kids who love to invent, experiment, and express themselves—this is the ultimate STEAM camp! In STEAM Explorers, young artists will dive into hands-on experiments that bring together the best of art, chemistry, and design. Campers will explore the science behind color, texture, and reactions, using real materials and techniques to create bold, beautiful works of art. They’ll explore ink-based chromatography on paper and textiles—investigating how pigments separate and transform—and use that knowledge in both 2D and 3D creative projects, like marbled slime or mixed-media prints.
In this creative camp, children will start by learning bead stringing, crimping, and creative pattern-making techniques. With access to a vibrant selection of beads, campers will craft quality jewelry pieces to wear and share. Our supportive instructors foster a welcoming environment where new friendships bloom over shared creativity and teamwork.
Explore the colorful world of fiber arts! Campers will learn sewing, embroidery, weaving, tie-dye, fabric painting, and more to create one-of-a-kind wearable and decorative projects. A perfect camp for creative kids who love hands-on making. All materials included—no experience needed!
Discover the vibrant world of printmaking and color in our Print & Dye Camp! Designed for ages 10-15, this camp invites young artists to dive into hands-on projects, including stamp carving, block printing, and tie-dye. Campers will learn to carve their own stamps and design unique block prints, transforming plain surfaces into colorful, custom pieces. From T-shirts and tote bags to fabric and paper art, each project encourages creativity and self-expression. With the guidance of skilled instructors, campers will develop new artistic skills while creating eye-catching designs they’ll be excited to show off all summer!
Unleash your creativity in this one-of-a-kind camp that blends art, jewelry making, and yoga! Each day begins with fun friendship-building games, setting the stage for a day full of artistic exploration. Campers will dive into a wide array of art and jewelry techniques, coming away with a stunning collection of creations and the skills to make them again! From clay sculpting, and beading to stamping, mosaics, candle and soap making, painting, tie dye, and copper etching, there’s something to inspire every camper.
Welcome to The Color Lab—a joyful STEAM camp where little artists become big experimenters! Designed especially for our youngest makers, this camp blends science and creativity in playful, hands-on ways. Each day, campers will explore a new art-meets-science experiment, discovering how colors swirl, mix, react, and shine. From watching salt create magical textures in watercolor to using sunlight to make real photographic prints, kids will be amazed by how science transforms art.
In this hands-on camp, creative tweens and teens will design their own jewelry collection and learn how to turn their creations into a mini business! Campers will explore jewelry-making techniques, then dive into branding, pricing, display design, and marketing. The week culminates in a Pop-Up Sale where family and friends are invited to shop and support these young makers. Proceeds from the sale will go to a cause chosen by the campers—so they’ll be creating for a good cause, too! A perfect blend of art, entrepreneurship, and heart.
In this delightful camp, budding artists explore the magic of jewelry-making! From beading basics to finger knitting, each activity is designed to spark creativity and develop fine motor skills in a fun, hands-on environment. Campers will craft their own wearable treasures, building confidence, coordination, and math skills through pattern-making!
Our thoughtfully designed and time-tested curriculum offers an engaging, tactile, and rewarding experience, crucial for fostering healthy cognitive and emotional development. At Dragonfly Designs, we believe that art education plays a vital role in nurturing creativity and self-expression in young learners. We would love to discuss how we can bring our proven enrichment programs to your community!
Certified, Compliant, and Fully Insured
At Dragonfly Designs, we meet all California State requirements for working on school campuses and are fully insured.
Instructor Qualifications:
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