After School Programs at the June Bug Center

The June Bug Center’s After School Programs officially start in September and are offered in 12-week sessions. 

The fall semester lasts through December while the spring semester starts in January and ends in May. 

Tuition is based on a sliding scale, and discounts are available for siblings and registering for multiple programs. 

Programs being offered this fall include the following: 

Collaborative Storytelling (Ages 12-16)

Held every Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will utilize the popular tabletop role playing game Dungeons and Dragons to guide a group of students through the process of storytelling in a collaborative game of improvised adventure. We will use techniques from literature and the visual and performing arts to weave together an imaginary world in which to tell new stories. We will collaborate on a map of the world and each student will flesh out a corner that they call home.

Students will learn how maps are made with an understanding of geography and cartographic elements. From this world, each student will bring forth a character based on the environments and cultural customs they choose. Students will spend time writing backstories, personal motivations and defining the visual look and style of their characters. Once the game begins, students will embody their characters, utilizing improvisation and acting, while venturing forth to confront challenges, have fun and achieve greatness.

Improv for Kids (Ages 8-12)

Held every Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will learn the basic rules of improv while expressing their creativity and humor. Improv games will be played while learning important techniques to improve their improvisational skills. Filled with lots of laughs, students will walk away with memories to last.

Computer Club (Ages 9-12)

Held every Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will work on their own Piper computer for hands-on STEAM education. Each student will use their computer to go on Minecraft missions that will teach them how to build circuits that control LEDs, buzzers and a variety of sensors. Students will also spend time learning to code using Pipercode.

Floyd JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) (Ages 8-18)

Held every Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Floyd JAM allows students to choose from a list of instruments to learn on: fiddle, guitar, or banjo. All instruments are provided to enrolled students, which is included in the program tuition. Floyd JAM follows the “JAM program model,” which is to provide children with opportunities not only in learning traditional music, but to also perform in small and large groups. At the end of the 12 weeks, parents and families will be invited to come see students perform in one big jam.

Musical Theatre for Teens (Ages 13-18)

Whether you're aiming for the spotlight or looking to sharpen your stage presence, this class is all about leveling up. Students will explore the building blocks of musical theatre — acting, movement and vocal performance — with an emphasis on stage professionalism and ensemble collaboration.

You’ll get hands-on experience, personalized coaching, and the chance to push your craft further in a supportive, fun environment. The semester wraps with a December Showcase where you’ll perform standout scenes and musical numbers that show how far you’ve come.

Perfect for performers who are ready to grow, challenge themselves and shine.

Beginner Ballet (Ages 8-14)

Held every Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., this upbeat and welcoming class introduces students ages 8–14 to the foundational techniques of ballet while adding the fun and flair of jazz choreography. Whether your dancer is brand new or has a little experience, this class is perfect for building confidence, coordination, and creativity.

Students will learn proper ballet vocabulary, posture, and technique alongside the energetic rhythms and expressive movements of jazz. Our supportive environment encourages self-esteem, teamwork, and a strong work ethic — all while making new friends and having fun.

Jitterbugs (Ages 8-14)

Get ready to move, groove and shake things up. Jitterbugs is the ultimate high-energy dance class for young movers who want to explore a wide variety of styles — all in one exciting weekly session. Designed for beginners and budding dancers alike, this class is a whirlwind introduction to dance forms from around the globe and the stage.

From the upbeat flair of K-pop and the smooth rhythms of samba, to the expressive flow of lyrical, the bold moves of hip hop, and the high-energy spirit of cheerleading, students will build coordination, confidence and creativity every step of the way.

No experience needed — just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to try new things.

Blue Ridge Strings (Ages 8-18)

Held every Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will learn the study of classical music on stringed instruments through hands-on instruction and creative enrichment. This program supports growth and development by instilling a deep appreciation for music and specific skill in performance.

Drama Society (Ages 13-18)

This all-in-one theatre class is perfect for students curious about all aspects of the stage — on and off. Held every Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., this semester-long course introduces students to the fundamentals of theatre while exploring a variety of theatrical genres.

Whether you're dreaming of the spotlight or more interested in what happens behind the scenes, there's a place for you here. Students will rotate through lessons in acting, stagehand skills, costume design, stage makeup, set building, and more. This course is designed to be a catch-all for aspiring theatre artists of all interests and experience levels.

Junior Engineers (Ages 11-18)

Held every Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will learn how microcontrollers are used to control devices such as LEDs, temperature and humidity sensors, infrared motion detectors, ultrasonic distance sensors, active and passive buzzers, water level detectors, and a variety of other sensors. Such sensors make up the Internet of Things (IoT) that is extending the traditional Internet. Students will build circuits containing these devices and write code that will make the devices work. They will program in PictoBlox, a visual programming tool and Python, one of the most popular and widely used programming languages.

Lego Club (Ages 7-11)

Held every Tuesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., students will get LEGO building challenges each week that will focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) designs. They will have creative freedom to try new designs and build their own creations!

Robotics Club (Ages 11-16)

Held every Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30, students will use Mindstorm's EV3 curriculum to design, build, program, and test robots to do a variety of tasks. The Robotics program will engage students to become independent learners and develop skills in collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Creative Writing (Ages 13-18)

Students will be guided through exercises and activities to help generate ideas and find their own flow state in writing. They will learn about the craft and techniques of creative writing and use them to outline, draft and publish a personal project. The group will contribute these projects to a collaborative zine/magazine that will be completed, as a final project, by the end of the semester.

To learn more about programs and tuition, and complete an application, visit www.junebugcenter.com.