CLASSES, TUTORIALS, ACTIVITIES

BLC classes and one-on-one tutorials are offered on a variety of topics: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday between 9 and 3:15. On Fridays we schedule trips and workshops. BLC is closed on Wednesday. The schedule is a reflection of the interests of current teen members and the interests and expertise of our staff and volunteers. In addition, we support teen members to lead classes for their peers. Rather than attempt to fulfill any particular curriculum, we ask our teachers to share the topics that excite them.

Everything we do at BLC, including our classes and one-on-one tutorials are optional and open to every member; most are scheduled for one hour per week, with the option to meet more often if needed or desired.

At BLC we believe that getting out into the world should be part a young person’s education. With that in mind, we schedule trips to various locations on Fridays, such as museums, tours of restaurants, businesses, and farms, local artisans, and hikes in local natural areas. BLC members interested to lead a trip work with their mentor to plan and communicate about the outing.

We also use Fridays for Workshops. We invite local community members to join us for an hour, a morning, or all day to engage us all in learning something new.

At BLC we work with each teen member as an individual, building on strengths to create a meaningful and positive experience while also preparing for each person’s next steps. Teen members work closely with their mentors to determine their own ideal schedule, creating a combination of group classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions.

The format of individual classes can vary significantly, depending on the vision of the leader as well as the input of the participants. Some classes will ask for and expect a considerable amount of work to happen outside of class time while others will be more limited. This is made clear in the class description and by the teacher and should be taken into consideration by the student deciding to join the group.

We encourage all BLC members to learn about and try as many classes as they can. Once a member decides to be a regular participant of a class, we expect commitment. There are no grades or punishments, but we expect class participants to communicate with the teacher regarding attendance and other issues and to fulfill any requirements such as readings, research, or other assignments.

Members may choose to participate in an early college program with their local community college or take on an internship, volunteer work, or paid work as part of their learning experience.