The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find Albuquerque's Best Artsy Class for Little Kids, Best Day Camp for Big Kids, Best Indoor Party/Place Space for Little Kids, and Best Museum for Little Kids, Explora boasts hands-on art, technology, and science exhibits that encourage curiosity and learning. Kids are sure to have a great time as they play with giant bubbles, test gravity, experiment with waves and magnets, and watch as electricity makes their hair stand on end.

Summer camps, birthday parties, and other programs are offered.

Family membership starts at $75/year.

Founded in 1991 as a community outreach program for Escuela del Sol Montessori, Harwood has become an invaluable asset for the Albuquerque community. The goal of the Center is to provide a space for all community members to learn, grow, and share through art.

Harwood programs offer a wide variety of opportunities for kids and adults to access the visual arts, written arts, performing arts, music, and dance.

Classes include painting, sculpture, and figure drawing. Visit the website for information on summer art camp, exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, and other special events.

Family membership starts at $40/year.

An independent Pre-K-fifth grade elementary school founded in 1938. Manzano Day School is committed to integrating traditional academic disciplines with the arts, technology, and environmental awareness. The F.A.S.T Reading Program and Mel Levine's Schools attuned program is implemented by experienced teachers in small class settings.

Manzano has been nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.

Summer Programs include Children's Workshop (age 31/2-5), Learning Wheel (age 6-7), and Voyagers (age 8-9). These programs are geared to meet the needs of each age group.

Extended day childcare is available during the academic year and for summer programs.

The Growing Stage children's theater offers main stage productions, summer intensive workshops, and a variety of performing arts classes for kids ages four to 17.

Located downtown, Working Classroom is a multi-ethnic organization of professional and novice adult and student artists, actors and writers. Programs that nurture the creative, academic and leadership potential of talented young artists and actors from historically ignored communities are offered. Programs include visual arts, theater, and public art.

Members are encouraged to use their talents to build a better world -- collaborating to promote peace, tolerance and human rights at home and abroad. Visit Working Classroom for an application and member information.

Working Classroom hosts special events, theater performances, and more. Check our Calendar for details.