BUILD
Register today for After School STEM classes
Monthly Membership Program
STEM Classes from the most awarded STEM program provider in Massachusetts
BUILD is a monthly membership program that includes 2 one-hour STEM classes per week for kids 7-15. Available classes with descriptions, locations, and schedules are available here: Digital Art & Design, Minecraft, Coding, Robotics, and Video Game Design. BUILD Monthly Membership fees start at only $224 a month. We currently offer BUILD classes in Lexington, Newton and LIVE Virtual.
So many things to BUILD!
- BUILD fun STEM projects! Your skills! Lasting friendships! Mentor relationships! YOUR future!
- Discover what STEM topics most excite you!
- Focus to accelerate into more advanced levels
- Earn badges for completing fun projects!
- Progress at your own pace (or the pace your parents set!). Change domains or levels every 2-3 months.
- Engage in a dynamic environment: collaboration, coaching, instruction, interaction, and our own learning platform, TalentBox
Why Parents & Kids Prefer Empow!
- Lifetime learning requires learning AND fun. We offer BOTH!
- Mentor relationships with instructors keep kids engaged
- Coding is great. STEM options ignite passion and build stronger foundations!
- Find the right classes with free consultation and individualize learning path!
- Collaborative projects build friendships and enthusiasm!
Keys to an amazing experience
- Small classes and individualized learning paths
- Cool STEM projects for kids to build as they learn
- Dynamic blend of teaching and learning methods
- Amazing instructors that become mentors
- Join any time! Progress at your pace
- Parents get progress reports, access to completed projects, and prompts to help start conversations!
ALL THE COOL THINGS YOU CAN LEARN AT EMPOW!
Digital Art & Design
Minecraft
Coding
Robotics
Video Game Design
… and COUNTLESS AWARDS FOR ALL WE DO
#1 Winner, 6 Years Running!
Best STEM Summer Camp
#1 in 2020, #1 in 2019
Best Academic Summer Camp
Top 10 in 2020, #1 in 2019, #1 in 2018, Top 5 in 2016, Top 5 in 2015
Best School Vacation Camp
#1 in 2020, #1 in 2019, #1 in 2018, #1 in 2017
Best Science Technology & Digital Arts Summer Camps
#1 in 2018, #1 in 2017
Best Kids Party
Top 10 in 2020, #1 in 2019, #1 in 2018
Top Five, 7 Years in a Row!
Best Winter Camp
Top 5 in 2020, #1 in 2019, Top 5 in 2017
Best Among All Types of Enrichment & After-School Programs
Top 10 in 2020, Top 5 in 2019, #1 in 2018, #1 in 2017
Best Science & Technology Programs
Top 10 in 2020, Top 5 in 2019, Top 5 in 2018, Top 5 in 2017, Top 5 in 2016, Top 5 in 2015
Best Among All Types of Teen Focused Summer Camps
Top 5 in 2019
Best Educational Support & Tutoring
Top 5 in 2014
Convenient locations
Our flagship locations in Newton and Lexington offer the widest range of program options. Also available as LIVE Virtual
Frequently Asked Questions
- +How long are classes?
Each BUILD class is an hour long. Most students attend class two hours per week. Some students attend two classes in one day, while others find coming twice a week a better fit. Some students enroll for three or four hours per week.
- +Is busing available?
We wish we knew! The state and busing companies are still trying to figure out safety rules which will likely lead to fewer operators offering busing and much higher prices. Stay tuned!
- +Are you offering BUILD both in-person and LIVE virtually?
Yes! We had enormous success complying with strenuous COVID safety procedures this summer and will continue to offer programs in-person. We are launching September programs as LIVE Virtual only and will add in-person classes over the next few weeks. Our LIVE Virtual classes and camps have gotten incredible reviews from parents and students. You can select just in-person classes, LIVE Virtual classes, or some of each.
- +Can I combine in-person and LIVE Virtual classes?
Yes! You can select just in-person classes, LIVE Virtual classes, or some of each. We are happy to accommodate the best schedule for your child and family.
- +Can my child stay for the whole time after school?
Yes! Some students come straight from school and stay until we close at 7pm. To extend the day, we offer optional high quality STEM-enrichment care, so before, after or in between their BUILD classes students can get snacks, get help with homework, work on their Empow projects, or play educational games with their classmates.
- +How is this different from programs Empow ran last year like ASC (After School Club) and Classes?
BUILD offers all that our three former programs offered and more!ASC (After School Care): BUILD classes bundled with optional enrichment care offers the same great mix of fun STEM classes and childcare activities from the time school ends until ours centers close.
Clubs: BUILD’s individual learning paths can be tailored to provide the student-centered focus on choices, discovery, exploration, and flexible pacing that made our Clubs so popular.
Classes: We can consult with you to create a BUILD individual learning path for your child with the same focused learning, clear expectations, and rigorous timelines that made our Classes a great fit for many families.
Plus, BUILD offers parents:
- free consultations to help you and your child select the learning path best suited to you and your child
- a clear understanding of what your child will learn
- regular updates on what your child is learning, access to their completed STEM projects, and suggested questions to help you and your child share what they have accomplished
- more advanced options to challenge middle schoolers and precocious elementary-school students
- +When do classes begin and end?
Classes run on an ongoing basis. Children can join anytime and progress through the projects and learning content at their own pace or the pace defined by their individual learning path. Most students will take 2-3 months to cover the content in one class before progressing to the next level or switching to a different learning domain.
- +Can I just sign up my child just to take one class -- like Python?
Yes! We can construct an individualized learning path focused on just one topic and make sure that your child is placed in the most appropriate level of class.
- +All this talk of “classes” -- is Empow still fun?
Yes! We believe that life-long STEM learning begins with discovering all that STEM includes and finding your areas of greatest passion and excitement. Our STEM-projects are both fun and challenging, and provide students with the total experience required for success in both the short and long term.