For All Ages and Stages
Explore what we offer
Our daytime homeschool, unschool and afterschool enrichment programs strive to engage kids in life’s connections. We offer an integrated philosophy focused on encouraging students to explore their creativity through movement, multi-media expression and finding inspiration in the natural environment.
Children have the opportunity to spend time caring for, learning about and cuddling chickens, reading to a rabbit, maintaining the worm bin, hands on gardening, art experiences that incorporate theatricality, active play and tactile art as well as activities such as puzzles and games.
Art is for Everyone! We offer workshops for all ages and stages:
T.I.M.E. (Tactile Interactive Meaningful Engagement) for Infants, Wobblers and Toddlers and their parent or caregiver, encouraging understanding and connection (previously named Baby Moves)
Preschooler Explorations and Parents' Tea
Hands on workshops for Homeschool, Unschool & Afterschool Groups
Teen Teaching Co-op (Teens teaching Teens their skills)
Creative Endeavors for Adults
Have supplies will travel. Growing arts has been bringing its movement events to schools, libraries and community spaces since 2001.
Our unique, developmentally appropriate movement programs such as T.I.M.E., Stretch, Dance, Play!, Yoga Go!, and I Dance are available to book in childcare centers, schools, libraries and for private events in Oregon and Vancouver, WA.
Multi-media art workshops are geared towards teens and adults and are available to be booked by libraries, for private parties and as team building experiences in Oregon and Vancouver, WA.
Virtual events are in the works, so stay tuned!
At the end of a curving pathway, under the shade of a towering pin oak, sits Growing Arts education studio. Previously a garage, we are making upgrades as we are able to. Our multigenerational curricula focuses on playful and meaningful interactions through movement, multifaceted art projects and garden experiences.
Opportunities also include:
Tours, Talks and Workshops in the cottage garden and food forest
Garden Spa Days
Birthday Parties
Visiting Artists and Educators
We are fundraising for upgrades such as replacing the garage door with glass doors to let natural light in
Since 2001, Iris Nason, the founder and principal educator of Growing Arts, has been bringing creative movement and process oriented art to schools, community spaces and libraries as she moved from place to place in Massachusetts, Colorado and Oregon.
In 2019 Iris Nason and Isaac Fellows, a Youth Services Librarian at Happy Valley Library, bought their first home and the possibilities of setting down roots became an actuality. Having her community work be uprooted by the pandemic, Iris spent her sudden free time completely transforming her lawn and driveway into a lush and calming oasis.
How we came to be
In 2024, she brought on Robin Ruiz, a one woman back office, to help bring her full vision of a community arts education studio in their SE Portland Neighborhood to life.
Together they have planned, decluttered, organized, road tripped for good deals on used furniture and hosted an art and plant sale. They are just beginning to let the community know what they have to offer and would love to hear from you.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!