After-school programs can be so much more than just a supervised study hall in Beaufort County. Schools and various organizations offer myriad classes and clubs, from knitting and robotics to beginner golf and puppet sculpting. As the new school year gets underway, here's a listing of the options available, so you can decide what kind of little artist, basketball star or concert violinist you're going to raise this year:

Boys and Girls Club

If your child is looking for a little more excitement after school, the Boys and Girls Club is brimming with unique options. After-school programs begin Aug. 30 and run a broad gamut of activities: classes are offered in tennis, soccer, clay tech, robotics, knitting, piano, science, basketball,  cheerleading and more.

The programs are open for ages 6-18, and groups are organized by age or school grade. Buses provide transport from schools and the programs run until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The program costs $115 for the entire school year, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fall.

For more information, visit their Web site or contact the clubs:

• Hilton Head: 151 Gumtree Rd. (843) 689-5565
• Bluffton: 108E H E McCracken Circle (843) 706-2300
• Beaufort: 1100 Boundary St. (843) 986-5437‎

Public schools

Most schools in Beaufort County have various after-school options. Here's a sampling of programs offered from schools across the county. Every school has different programs, so check with your individual administration office to get a complete list of offerings.

Hilton Head Island High School

After-school tutoring is available from 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday on campus. The school also has numerous clubs and sports teams.

Whale Branch Middle School

After-school programs are funded by the 21st Century grant program, which provides after-school help in core academic subjects such as reading and math, and offers other enrichment activities, as well as literacy and other educational services to families.

Red Cedar Elementary (grades three-five)

The school offers several clubs both before and after school. The Drum and Dance team meets two mornings a week to rehearse for events such as the Bluffton Christmas parade, the Bluffton Martin Luther King. Jr. Day march and other in-school events.

After school clubs include: Running Club, Art Club, Honors Choir, Dance Ensemble, Soccer Club, Multicultural Dance and Strings. The school lets students stay after school every Friday during open lab to work on science fair projects.

Okatie Elementary

Various options are available:

• The strings program is held each Monday and Thursday (begins Sept. 13)
• A before-school band program will be held for grades four and five every Tuesday (begins Sept. 14)
• Students can partake in Cheer Squad and an after-school majorettes program called Flight Squad every Wednesday (begins Sept. 15)
• Students can take part in before-school running club on Tuesdays and Fridays and after-school running club on Thursdays (begins Sept. 21)

Island Recreation Center

The island's recreation has a bevy of options for after school and recreation programs that cover children through all grades. For a complete listing, click here.

For childcare (kindergarten-fifth grade, sixth grade-eighth grade), the center offers an after-school recreation club that combines sports, arts, crafts, community service projects and academic support. The program includes a snack and is open all regular Hilton Head Island public school days. The program is held for students in kindergarten through fifth grade on Monday through Friday from 3:30-6 p.m.. The cost is $42 a week or $12 a day. The program for sixth through eighth graders is held 2:30-6 p.m. on weekdays, at a cost of $45 per week or $12 per day.

Even when schools are out, the center still holds programs. The Vacation Club offers games, crafts, swimming, sports and more for students in kindergarten through eight grade. The club will be held during school vacations Nov. 1-5, 11, 24 and Dec. 20-23, 27-31, from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The program cost $35 or $30 with pre-registration.

After-school sports programs include:

Fall Basketball Clinic (ages 6-10)

Covers skills instruction, drills and scrimmage play. Includes pick up from public elementary schools on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Session 1 runs from Aug. 24-September 23; Session 2 runs from Sept. 28-Oct. 28. The program costs $50 per session and enrollment is limited to 13 students.

Youth Group Tennis Lessons (ages 5-7, ages 8-11)

Two sessions are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. for ages 5-7 and from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. for ages 8-11.

Session 1 runs from Aug. 17-Sept. 2; session 2 runs from Sept. 14-30; session 3 runs from Oct. 5-21; and session 4 from Nov. 30-Dec. 16.
Cost : $65 per session.

Junior Tennis League (ages 12-17, ages 14-16)

Includes learning match scoring rules and an introduction to US Tennis Association league play.
The program is held on Fridays and runs from Sept. 10-Dec. 10.
Cost: $65.

Junior Golf Program (first-second grade, third grade and up)

Held at Old South Golf Links, the program is an introduction to the rules and etiquette of golf. The instruction includes a clubs, balls, snack, drink and US Golf Association rules book.  The program runs Mondays from Oct. 4-Nov. 3 from 4 p.m. -5:30 p.m. Mondays for younger students or Wednesdays for older ones.
Cost: $25 per week or $100 for a five-lesson series

Arts Center of coastal Carolina

The big performing venue on the island offers big options for after-school arts programs. Pre-registration is required for all classes, so call 843-686-3945, ext. 233 to make a reservation. Plus, the center hosts other one-off programs throughout the year, so check with the education office for more details. 

ArtStart  (ages 2-5)

Art classes help children develop motor skills and encourage creativity. Students learn color and shape recognition and how to use art tools while expressing themselves.

Session 1:  Thursdays, Sept. 16-Oct. 14
Session 2: Thursdays Oct. 21-Nov. 18
Programs run from: 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $65 per session (adult supervision is required).

After School Art Club (ages 6-10)

Young artists explore a variety of materials and experiment with various media in this hands-on club. The program culminates with an exhibit at the arts center.

Mondays Oct. 18-Nov. 22
Programs run from 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Cost: $65

Puppet Sculpting (ages 9-14)

Students learn to craft detailed sketches and learn advanced puppet-making techniques. Heads are sculpted from clay with special attention paid to anatomy, structure techniques and color theory. Students will also sew soft-sculpture bodies to complete the puppets.

Thursdays Nov. 11-Dec. 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $65

Juggle Stuff (ages 8-12)

JuggleStuff offers the chance to learn basic juggling patterns, foundations to four- and five-ball juggling and other advanced techniques.

Wednesdays Oct. 6-27, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $66 (includes juggling balls and Crystal Stix) 

Fall Home School Art  (ages 5-12)

Students are taught art concepts through visual standards, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and more.

• Session A: Mondays Sept. 13-Oct. 11, 10:30 -11:45 a.m.
• Session B: Tuesdays Sept. 14-Oct. 12, 10:30 -11:45 a.m.
• Session C: Mondays Oct. 18-Nov. 22 10:30 -11:45 a.m.
• Session D: Tuesdays Oct. 19-Nov. 23 10:30 -11:45 a.m.

Cost: $60 (includes art supplies)

Fall Home School Art (ages 13-17)

Tuesdays Sept. 21-Oct. 19, 2:30-4 p.m.
Cost: $70 (includes all materials)

Suzuki Violin Classes (ages 3-5)

Students develop poise as performers starting with a violin replica. They advance to a real violin when they learn to play the basic rhythms, and have the opportunity to perform at recitals.

Tuesdays Sept. 14-Oct. 26, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Cost: $120 (includes Suzuki book and one CD)

Beginner Acrylics (ages 11-15)

Students are introduced to tools, color mixing, and basic techniques, then learn to prepare a canvas and develop subject matter.

Thursdays Oct. 7-28, 4:30-6 p.m.

ARTworks Afterschool


When/Where: Aug. 31-Oct. 14

Info: Classes include:

• Performing Arts: Jenn Shand will lead this class for ages 9-12, a low key and a noncompetitive introduction to acting. Students will gain self confidence in their ability to express themselves as they learn the basic acting skills through drama activities such as role playing, story dramatization, pantomime, improvisation, and scene work.
• Visual Arts: Art that Moves with Kelly Davidson for ages 12-16. Students will learn about design, geometrics, color, focus and motion, as we hand build Kaleidoscopes and wind chimes. Using metals, reflective glass, colored glass and other objects, students will be fascinated by the moveable works of art they are able to create.
• Performing Arts: String Orchestra with Ami Rabinowitz for ages 9-14. Prepare two orchestra pieces in four parts for a performance while learning music theory and instrument skills. Students will learn a few new scales, warm-up exercises, and even some history about their instrument. This class is intended for the orchestra student with at least a year of strings class or private lessons.
• Visual Arts: Arts Sampler with Jada Gray, for ages 6-9. Students will learn about color, line and media to create Jasper Johns inspired artwork.  Jasper Johns is a famous South Carolina American contemporary artist who works primarily in painting and printmaking. Thursdays beginning September 2nd thru October 14th
• Performing Arts : Circus Skills with JW Rone, for ages 10-15. Explore the exciting physical arts of juggling, balancing and clowning and their relationship to performance.
• Visual Arts: Fun Creations with Polymer Clay with Kelly Davidson, ages 6-9. This class provides students with a fun learning opportunity in polymer clay art while working on the projects they'll be proud to use or give as a gift. This class will help develop new interests and skills in the fun working environment. Students will learn how to mix colors, create textures, shape and cut and using clay techniques; and apply these to make pens, a mirror and a 3-D aquarium, all using colorful polymer clay.

Cost: $45 per child

Contact: 843-379-2787 or www.beaufortcountyarts.com

Come Get Buddha-ful

When/Where: 4:14-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays at Dancing Dogs, 1211 Newcastle St., Unit C in Beaufort
Info: Dancing Dogs Yoga welcomes 14- to 17-year-olds to special yoga classes designed especially for teenagers. Classes begin Sept. 1. Teen OM classes are designed for teens who wish to increase focus and concentration abilities while learning techniques to reduce stress. Classes also are designed to increase flexibility, strengthen and lengthen muscles, improve posture and increase self-confidence.
Cost: First class is free with purchase of a class pass. Save 20 percent on passes with student ID. 10-class pass costs $80 and a 5-class pass is $48.
Contact: 843-263-5864 or www.dancingdogsyoga.com