Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC

STEAM LEARNING FOR ALL

IDEA Space offers after school STEAM classes, field trips, partnerships and programs for students in preschool through grade 12 throughout the Kansas City metro area.
As a community resource, we welcome your children, your students and your groups to our space, with a focus on creating consistent and ongoing STEAM experiences for every learner.

After School Classes

Looking for after-school activities that are enriching, active and fun for your child? IDEA Space students acquire future-proof skills and get comfortable with the technologies and tools that are shaping our future. Classes are offered at convenient times, Tuesday-Thursday.

James Battmer, parent

"The technology and classes available at IDEA Space really knocked our socks off!"


Winter/Spring 2026 Classes

Tuesday

List of 8 items.

  • Club SciKids: Pokémon Professors

    Prepare for your next Pokémon adventure. Not only is your goal to “catch ’em all,” but you’ll also apply scientific theories and conduct hands-on experiments along the way. 

    Preschool-Kindergarten
    Tuesdays, Jan. 20-March 3, 2026
    3:45-4:15 p.m.
    $120

  • Club SciKidz: Junior Vet Medicine

    Calling all future veterinarians! Students will dive into the exciting world of animal care and learn what it really takes to be a vet. They’ll explore the basics of cat and dog care and advanced procedures like stitches and treating broken bones. Students will use models of circulatory, respiratory and skeletal systems as they learn how each one works. Every aspiring vet will leave with a Future Veterinarian Kit and first aid supply — ready to continue caring for animals at home.

    Grades: Preschool-Kindergarten
    Tuesdays, March 31-May 5, 2026
    3:45-4:15 p.m.
    $120

  • Comic Book Creators

    Comics are far more than comedy! They can be historical, informative, or a creative lens for understanding the world. By blending visuals with storytelling, comic strips have the power to shape how we interpret people, events and ideas. In this class, students of all artistic levels are invited to craft their own comics and cartoons while exploring the fundamentals of drawing, character and story development, and how to connect with a target audience. 

    Kindergarten-Grade 2
    Tuesdays, March 31-May 5, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $180

  • Digital Design Studio: Intro to Tinker CAD

    Welcome to the world of 3D design, where big ideas come to life, one click at a time! In this hands-on course, young creators will explore TinkerCAD, a kid-friendly digital tool that lets learners build amazing things like race cars, magnets and more, all in 3D! Students will learn the basics of design and engineering while earning skill-building badges and developing confidence, creativity and problem-solving skills.

    Kindergarten-Grade 3
    Tuesdays, Jan. 20-March 3, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $210

  • Outside the Box

    Think cardboard is just for boxes? Think again! In this Makerspace adventure, students cut, shape, build and invent using one of the most versatile materials around! From wild sculptures to wearable inventions and life-size games, kids will dream big and engineer even bigger. Along the way, they’ll explore design thinking, problem-solving and creative collaboration as they turn everyday materials into extraordinary creations.

    Grades 3-5
    Tuesdays, March 31-May 5
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $180

  • Sew & Tell

    Unleash your inner designer! In this hands-on, creative camp, students will learn to use sewing machines and Cricuts to craft projects that are fun and functional. Explore color coordination and precision crafting as you bring your ideas to life with fabric and vinyl. By the end of the course, you will take home a personalized collection of creations from stylish tote bags and pillowcases to custom tablet and book covers.
    Grades 4-8
    Tuesdays, Jan. 20-March 3, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m. 
    $250

  • The Knight School Chess Class

    The Knight School teaches students of all skill levels and ages to play chess. Beginners welcome! This course features fast clocks, colorful wristbands, zany movies, tournaments, tactics and a fun spirit that kids love. This semester-long class includes a chess set with first enrollment. Already taken this class? Repeat it to build your skills.

    Grades 1-6
    Session I: Tuesdays, Jan. 20-March 3, 2026
    Session II: Tuesdays, March 31-May 5, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $595

  • Video Game Design

    Step into the world of digital creation! In this beginner-friendly class, students design, build and refine their own video-game obstacle course. From daring jumps and clever traps to sculpting each challenge on the PC, young creators bring their ideas to life through hands-on experimentation and creative problem-solving. Along the way, they’ll develop real-world programming skills that transfer to many disciplines.

    Grades 4-8
    Tuesdays, March 31-May 5, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $180

Thursday

List of 4 items.

  • Digital Design Studio: Minecraft Adventures

    Minecraft. Coding. Endless creativity. Dive into the blocky world of Minecraft while learning core computer science skills, principles of game design, computer animation and more. Students will code their own games, explore interactive worlds and share their creations with fellow campers, all while developing problem-solving, creativity and coding confidence along the way.

    Kindergarten-Grade 3
    Thursdays, Jan. 22-March 5, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $210

  • Minecraft Maniacs

    Grab your pickaxe and power up your creativity — it's time to build a world of your own! Students work together and independently to design and construct an original world from scratch. Whether you're crafting castles, coding Redstone contraptions or building secret hideouts, there’s room for every kind of creator. Along the way, students sharpen teamwork, planning, design and digital problem-solving skills, while having a blast in the blocky universe they help shape.

    Grades 4-8
    Thursdays, Jan. 22-March 5, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $210

  • Rocket League RC

    Rocket League is a classic eSports favorite, but this course adds a new twist by bringing the game into the real world. Team up with others to play Rocket League, the video game and in real life. Customize your RC car design, then print it on our 3D printers. Players will level up their Rocket League game on our powerful Technology Lab PCs as they square off against their classmates.

    Grades 4-8
    Thursdays, April 2-May 7, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $200

  • Snap Circuit Silliness

    Connect the dots (and wires) between imagination and innovation! Students will explore the bright and buzzing world of electricity through building challenges and teamwork adventures. Using snap circuits, young inventors will create everything from light-up games to mini alarms, and learn how circuits, switches and power flow work along the way. Flip the switch on electrical science with  solo builds, team challenges and  “aha!” moments. 

    Kindergarten-Grade 3
    Thursdays, April 2-May 7, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $180

Wednesday

List of 6 items.

  • Claymation Movie Makers

    Learn how 3D animation was created the old-fashioned way, with clay and cameras! Develop a story and build your set, props and characters with modeling clay. Shoot each frame of your motion picture to render together with a voiceover and soundtrack. By the end of the course, you’ll have a finished movie to share!

    Grades 4-8
    Wednesdays, Jan. 21-March 4, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $210

  • Digital Design Studio: Scratch Jr.

    Get ready to jump into the exciting world of coding with Scratch Jr. This class is an engaging adventure where students will use Scratch Jr. to design interactive programs and animations, then take those coding skills off-screen to create fun games with their classmates. Packed with creativity, problem-solving and nonstop exploration, this class is all about bringing ideas to life learning new skills and having a blast while doing it!

    Kindergarten-Grade 2
    Wednesdays, Jan.21-March 4, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $210

  • Mad Science: Undercover Detective Agency

    Discover your inner spy! Students explore the science behind surveillance, forensics and crime-solving through hands-on experiments and detective challenges. From collecting evidence as a crime scene technician and analyzing clues in the crime lab  to testing their powers of observation, students will learn how forensic science helps investigators crack the case.

    Kindergarten-Grade 2
    Wednesdays, April 1-May 6, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $180

  • Musical Coding

    This class puts students at the exciting intersection of sound and technology, where beats meet code. Aspiring sound engineers will dive into the fundamentals of computer science, music and digital production in a creative environment. Using Python and JavaScript, students will manipulate loops, compose original beats and add effects in a digital audio workstation, learning to code in a way that’s as fun as it is powerful. 

    Grades 3-5
    Wednesdays, April 1-May 6, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $180

  • Stitch Wizards

    The artistry and craft of cross stitching is back in a big way! Learn the basics of needlework and color blending, as you turn simple threads into enchanting works of art. This is a hobby that can turn into a lifelong passion! No experience needed; just bring your creativity.

    Grades 4-8
    Wednesdays, April 1-May 6, 2026
    4:30-5:45 p.m.
    $200

  • Totally TinkerCAD

    Turn imagination into 3D reality! In this design adventure, students explore how simple 2D shapes can transform into awesome 3D creations using TinkerCAD. From building quirky companion characters to crafting robots, vehicles and more, young makers will build on the fundamentals of digital design to bring their ideas to life one shape at a time. 

    Grades 3-5
    Wednesdays, Jan. 21-March 4, 2026
    4:30-5:30 p.m.
    $210
  • Register here
    New class descriptions are live! Winter/Spring 2026 registration opens on Friday, Nov. 21.

Inspirit AI Scholars

Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of our times. Will you be ready for it? Next summer, students can prepare themselves with hands-on AI experience at an intensive program taught by instructors from Stanford and MIT. AI Scholars is a pre-college enrichment program that exposes curious students to artificial intelligence tools and technology through in-person classes. In Kansas City, it's offered exclusively at IDEA Space and open to every area student in grades 8-12.

Registration will open January 2026.

Educational Partnerships

List of 2 news stories.

List of 4 items.

  • Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC

    12200 State Line Road
    Leawood, KS 66209
    913-766-IDEA (4332)

     

  • Art Hall

    President and Head of School
    816-277-0304
    Email

  • Cassie Banka '05

  • Siobhan McLaughlin Lesley

    Vice President Advancement
    (816) 277-0433
    Email