Youth Programs   

• The Basics: Proper grip, ready stance, and foundational forehand/backhand strokes.
• Serving & Returns: Mastering legal underhand serves and deep returns to start rallies.
• Dinking: Developing soft-touch control at the net to play within the "Kitchen".
• Court Positioning: Understanding where to stand for teamwork and safe movement.
• Scoring & Rules: Learning how to track points, handle serving rotations, and follow the two-bounce rule.

Ideal for anyone wanting basic CPR and First Aid knowledge with a focus on childcare scenarios. A mix of instruction and practice, this course will equip you with the knowledge to keep the kids in your care safe. We will cover CPR basics, including how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and choking for child and infant. Learn how to recognize and treat sudden illness, wound care, treatment of anaphylactic shock (use of epi-pens), and how to respond to mechanical and head injuries. We will also cover situational awareness as it pertains to safety and protection. Successful completion of this course will earn the student a nationally recognized CPR and First Aid Certificate.  Age range: 12+

By the end of this class, you will learn how to... 

• assess situations to understand how to provide care
• perform CPR on Child or Infant, with or without an AED
• recognize and treat sudden injury or illness
• care for a choking child or infant
• recognize and avoid unsafe situations

Age range: 12+

Perfect for brand-new players or those who know the basic rules! Our small group lessons will fast-track their improvement by teaching key openings, must-know middlegame tactics, and essential endgame strategies. They’ll practice their skills in competitive games, with trophies at the end of the session for top finishers and most improved. By the end of the session (or sooner), they’ll be ready to compete in US Chess-rated tournaments as well as vie for the title of household champion!. 

Age range: 6-14

Perfect for brand-new players or those who know the basic rules! Our small group lessons will fast-track their improvement by teaching key openings, must-know middlegame tactics, and essential endgame strategies. They’ll practice their skills in competitive games, with trophies at the end of the session for top finishers and most improved. By the end of the session (or sooner), they’ll be ready to compete in US Chess-rated tournaments as well as vie for the title of household champion!. 

Age range: 6-14

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the world's most effective martial arts! Ages 5-7 can come learn in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. BJJ Sprouts focus on developing fundamental grappling skills with games, exercises, and drills. Students will learn confidence, composure, respect, and self-defense skills!

Ages: 5-7

Materials: White or Gray Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Uniform

This class is held offsite at: Ground Rules Academy Jiu Jitsu - 7034 Commerce Cir. Ste. F, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the world's most effective martial arts! Ages 5-7 can come learn in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. BJJ Sprouts focus on developing fundamental grappling skills with games, exercises, and drills. Students will learn confidence, composure, respect, and self-defense skills!

Ages: 5-7

Materials: White or Gray Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Uniform

This class is held offsite at: Ground Rules Academy Jiu Jitsu - 7034 Commerce Cir. Ste. F, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the world's most effective martial arts! Ages 8-13 can come learn in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. BJJ Sprouts focus on developing fundamental grappling skills with games, exercises, and drills. Students will learn confidence, composure, respect, and self-defense skills!

Ages: 8-13

Materials: White or Gray Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Uniform

This class is held offsite at: Ground Rules Academy Jiu Jitsu - 7034 Commerce Cir. Ste. F, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the world's most effective martial arts! Ages 8-13 can come learn in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. BJJ Sprouts focus on developing fundamental grappling skills with games, exercises, and drills. Students will learn confidence, composure, respect, and self-defense skills!

Ages: 8-13

Materials: White or Gray Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Uniform

This class is held offsite at: Ground Rules Academy Jiu Jitsu - 7034 Commerce Cir. Ste. F, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Intensive physical training program for epee fencers who are currently competing. There will be specific time set aside for strength training, point control and footwork drills. Bouting in pools and DE's will be organized on a weekly basis. Bring personal fencing equipment and gear. 

Age range: 12-20

Intensive physical training program for epee fencers who are currently competing. There will be specific time set aside for strength training, point control and footwork drills. Bouting in pools and DE's will be organized on a weekly basis. Bring personal fencing equipment and gear. 

Age range: 12-20

Our foil classes are intended for those fencers who have had at least one full year of instruction, or with permission of coach.  Emphasis is on correct form, skill techniques, and tactical knowledge.  All fencers must provide their own equipment, including electrical gear for future upcoming tournaments.

Age range: 9-13

Our foil classes are intended for those fencers who have had at least one full year of instruction, or with permission of coach.  Emphasis is on correct form, skill techniques, and tactical knowledge.  All fencers must provide their own equipment, including electrical gear for future upcoming tournaments.

Age range: 9-13

Is your neurodivergent teen or young adult ready to learn to drive - and how can you best support them along the way, particularly as they prepare for the transition to college or greater independence? Learning to drive is an important milestone, but for neurodivergent learners the process often requires additional insight, structure and support. Led by a Licensed Driving Instructor and Driver Rehabilitation Professional, this workshop provides parents and families with the tools to understand driver readiness and safety and support their teen or young adult behind the wheel. You will explore effective ways to practice driving skills at home and strategies for reducing anxiety before and during driving lessons.  This workshop is ideal for families seeking guidance, reassurance, and clarity toward helping their neurodivergent teen or young adult reach the goal of becoming a confident, capable and safe driver. Participants will receive helpful take-home resources. 

Age range: 15+ 

Is your neurodivergent teen or young adult ready to learn to drive - and how can you best support them along the way, particularly as they prepare for the transition to college or greater independence? Learning to drive is an important milestone, but for neurodivergent learners the process often requires additional insight, structure and support. Led by a Licensed Driving Instructor and Driver Rehabilitation Professional, this workshop provides parents and families with the tools to understand driver readiness and safety and support their teen or young adult behind the wheel. You will explore effective ways to practice driving skills at home and strategies for reducing anxiety before and during driving lessons.  This workshop is ideal for families seeking guidance, reassurance, and clarity toward helping their neurodivergent teen or young adult reach the goal of becoming a confident, capable and safe driver. Participants will receive helpful take-home resources. 

Age range: 15+ 

Your GPA and test scores say a lot about you, but your college application essay is where you get to show up as yourself. In this four-week workshop, an LPC English professor helps you decode the UC PIQs and Common App essay. You’ll learn how to write strong, voice-driven essays that sound like you—not ChatGPT. You’ll walk away with a polished essay that’s ready to submit. We’ll also cover application tracking spreadsheets, brag sheets, supplemental essays, scholarship statements, and more. This class is open to both high school students and community college students looking to transfer soon.Laptops provided but students may bring their own.

Age range: 16+

Tailored for experienced youth players (US Chess Federation tournament rating 400-800), online (Chess.com or ChessKid rating 500-1000), or the equivalent. Our small group lessons will strengthen core tactics, while improving long-range strategic thinking and psychological skills such as focus and resilience. Students will practice their skills in USCF-rated games, with trophies at the end of the session for top finishers and most improved. By the end of the session, players will be ready to win weekend tournaments while also having sharpened critical thinking skills. 

Age range: 6-16

Tailored for experienced youth players (US Chess Federation tournament rating 400-800), online (Chess.com or ChessKid rating 500-1000), or the equivalent. Our small group lessons will strengthen core tactics, while improving long-range strategic thinking and psychological skills such as focus and resilience. Students will practice their skills in USCF-rated games, with trophies at the end of the session for top finishers and most improved. By the end of the session, players will be ready to win weekend tournaments while also having sharpened critical thinking skills. 

Age range: 6-16

Young people today face challenges that no classroom prepares them for: sitting across from a college recruiter, internship coordinator, first job HR interviewer, or AI screening bot. With zero prior practice, 98% of teens mumble, rush, freeze, speak unclearly, convey nerves, use filler words, and more… all causing doors to close before they even get a chance. This hands-on workshop teaches teens how to control their message, command the moment, and turn every interview into long-term value. Led by premier voice coach David Goldberg, students will learn how to choose strategic words, introduce themselves, answer tough questions, eliminate nervous speaking quirks, pace their responses, and enhance their image using proven body language that conveys confidence, attention to details, and credibility – all key to giving them a massive advantage in competitive interviews.

Age range:15-21

This carefully designed introductory course provides students with the foundational skills to speak, read, and type Mandarin Chinese at a basic level. The course emphasizes the use of the Pinyin Romanization system to support accurate pronunciation and effective language learning. Students will also begin working with simplified Chinese characters, learning how to recognize and type them using Pinyin-based input methods.

Designed for individuals with little or no prior knowledge of the Chinese language, this course offers a supportive environment for developing essential communication skills. In addition to language instruction, students will explore key elements of Chinese culture, enriching their understanding of the language in context.

Materials: All course materials are provided free of charge and shared via Google Classroom.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Use the Pinyin Romanization system as a pronunciation guide for Mandarin Chinese

• Recognize and type simplified Chinese characters using Pinyin input methods

• Develop basic skills in speaking, reading, and typing Mandarin Chinese

• Gain an introductory understanding of Chinese culture and traditions

Age range: 16+

Are you interested in taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), living or studying in Japan, or working in the animation and gaming industry? This class is for the academically inclined individual not afraid to take a deep dive into the complicated world of Japanese grammar, reading, and writing. We will cover both hiragana, katakana, and an introduction to Kanji. Let’s study Japanese!    

Instructor Belardino: The instructor is half Japanese, lived in Japan for almost twenty years, is credentialed, and is a certificated language teacher. She is also a member of the American Association of Teachers Japanese and the California Association of Japanese Language Teachers.    

Required Book: GENKI 1 Textbook and Workbook 3rd Edition 

The textbook introduces the Japanese language in a manner that is extremely easy to understand. If you have any sort of disability, please let the instructor know, and she will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.

Age range: 13+

Please note: This is a live remote class. You will meet on zoom during the scheduled days and times. The instructor will email the zoom link and important information before the first class meeting. Any sort of recording, either via Zoom or third party software, is strictly prohibited for this course. Thank you for your understanding. Her goal is to transform the “remote” environment into a safe, engaging, space where students can freely ask questions, and have an enjoyable learning experience. She does request that all students who sign up for her classes turn their cameras on to optimize the virtual learning experience.

In this workshop designed specifically for teens, instructor and professional voice coach, John Morris, the voice of Andy in the Toy Story movies, will share a comprehensive introduction to Voice-Over (VO) and Podcasting followed by hands-on experience using your speaking voice for commercials, films, videos, and more. In this introductory class, you will learn about a unique, outside the box way to break into this creative, fulfilling, and potentially lucrative industry.

Age range: 12-18

This course is live-remote. The instructor will send you a meeting link. 

Python for Kids is specifically designed to make kids understand the basics of python programming, data analysis, understanding conditions, loops and applying these concepts to build GUI based interactive project using Tkinter. It is an exercise-based program where kids write their own code in real-time programming environment.

Kids will learn setting up online coding environment, variables, conditions, functions, string, looping, Tkinter widgets like frame, button, level and canvas and Game. They will work on several mini-projects and one final project using all the concept they did learn through the session. 

Age range: 10-16

In this engaging and educational course, students explore the world of Roblox game creation using Roblox Studio and Lua programming. Kids learn to design immersive 3D environments, animate characters, and code game mechanics while developing creativity, logic, and collaboration skills. Perfect for young creators ready to move from playing games to building their own!

Age range: 11-15

Join us for a educational walk through Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area where you will observe the return of  the winter bird species.You will learn to identify these birds by their field marks, with special attention to east-west migratory species, such as the Loggerhead Shrike, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Say’s Phoebe, Pine Siskins, and Townsend's Warbler. Additionally, the group will identify various shorebirds and even raptors. Beginning birders welcome! This educational walk involves walking through the park grounds, possibly up to a mile, so please wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. 

Location: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area, Pleasanton CA. Please park in the "Shadow Cliffs North Beach parking lot." Entry fee for Shadow Cliffs is $6.00. Students are responsible for this fee.

Please note: Please note that students are responsible for their own transportation. Sorry, no pets allowed.

Age range: family friendly 11+ ( parents must accompany their children)       

Attention Coaches, Instructors, and Athletes! Be prepared with sports-related CPR and First Aid skills!  This course can provide you with the vital knowledge you will need to respond with confidence when something goes awry on the field or in the gym. We will cover CPR basics, including how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adult, child, and infant, care for a choking individual and use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In addition, students will learn how to recognize and treat sudden illness, wound care, treatment of anaphylactic shock (use of epi-pens), and how to respond to mechanical and head injuries. Students will be given the opportunity to work through specific scenarios and by the end of the course, should have a good understanding of basic level of care.  While similar to a standard CPR and First Aid course, this class focuses on situations and scenarios for sports and physical activities. Successful completion of this course will earn the student a nationally recognized BLS CPR Certificate and a First Aid Certificate. Whether you have no experience or just need a refresher, this class will work for you! This course is ideal for coaches, instructors, and anyone who participates in sports leagues or trains in martial arts.

By the end of this class, you will learn how to... 

• Assess situations to understand how to provide care
• Perform CPR with or without an AED
• Recognize and treat sudden injury or illness
• Care for Head Injuries and Mechanical Injuries

Age range: 12+

Lights, camera, create! What if your drawings could move… and your sculptures could star in their own movie? Step into a three-day creative adventure where your imagination comes to life frame by frame! In this hands-on stop-motion animation camp, you’ll transform your artistic talents into an animated short film. Design and build your own miniature sets, sculpt expressive plasticine characters, sketch dynamic charcoal scenes, and craft an original storyline from start to finish. Then bring it all together with music, titles, and credits. 

Materials: You will need a device with a camera, such as a fully-charged cell phone, and a software app to create the movie (guidance provided). 

Age range: 11-18

During our Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve birding walk, you will observe winter species returning to the area. We will spend time learning to identify these birds by their field marks, focusing on east-west migratory species, such as Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatch, Say’s Phoebe, Pine Siskins, and wintering warblers. Beginning birders welcome! This educational walk involves walking through the park grounds, possibly up to a mile, so please wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. 

Location: Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve. We will meet by the Sunol Visitor Center. Entry fee for Sunol is $5.00. Students are responsible for this fee.

Please note: Please note that students are responsible for their own transportation. Sorry, no pets allowed.

Age range: family friendly 11+ ( parents must accompany their children)