Hands On Art & Play
Hands On Art & Play at St. David of Wales church community building, 2800 SE Harrison St, Portland, OR 97214
About
Hands On Art & Play offers art and craft activities, outdoor play, a dramatic theater class, dancing, singing, and playing music. Children take part in daily art projects, as well as ongoing art projects that continue over several weeks. The program includes a music and movement component with local children’s musicians and artists connected with World Fusion Events.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Regular school hours 9 AM to 3:30 PM, with separate morning and afternoon preschool programs; children enroll in one program or the other and do not attend all day.
Hands On Art & Play includes morning and afternoon preschool programs, summer camps, and enrichment classes, with children able to attend 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days a week. The preschool features outdoor play almost every day, rain or shine, and a playground with a climbing wall, giant sandbox, playhouses, slides, and natural areas. The program typically has up to 60 enrolled families, 10 classroom teachers, four enrichment teachers, and many visiting artists, musicians, and guests, and maintains a small class size.
Hands On Art & Play was established in 2000 by Teacher Jennifer, who first founded the program in her home, and it has been at its current space for more than 20 years. Jennifer has a BA in Art and Counseling from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Every teacher currently listed has been at the school for more than 10 years. The stated mission is to offer young children a place to explore arts, crafts, and music in an environment that is exciting, safe, and fun.
Hands On Art & Play partners with local children’s programs including Northwest Children’s Theater, Portland Early Learning–Adventures in Spanish, The Everybody Dance Project, Soccer Shots, and The Independent Dance Project. The preschool hosts a weekly dramatic theater class taught by Northwest Children’s Theater and invites educational guests such as firefighters, EMTs, botanists, musicians, artists, soccer coaches, dance instructors, and yoga teachers. It also works with local children’s musicians and artists, including those connected with World Fusion Events, which brings musicians and artists from around the world into the classroom.
Hands On Art & Play is recognized by the Oregon Environmental Council as an Eco-Healthy Child Care provider. One parent, Rebecca Gus, describes the environment as positive and accepting and notes that her daughter especially loves the music component and sings constantly outside of school. Another parent, Sarah Van Winkle, reports that the arts-based curriculum, small mixed-age group, and hands-on play were appealing and that her daughter has a firm foundation for kindergarten and enthusiasm for learning. A third parent, Lindsay Spina, states that the teachers have taken care of her children with love, care, and unconditional support, and recalls that her older son used to ask for “teacher Kathy” in his sleep.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Regular school hours 9 AM to 3:30 PM, with separate morning and afternoon preschool programs; children enroll in one program or the other and do not attend all day.
Hands On Art & Play includes morning and afternoon preschool programs, summer camps, and enrichment classes, with children able to attend 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days a week. The preschool features outdoor play almost every day, rain or shine, and a playground with a climbing wall, giant sandbox, playhouses, slides, and natural areas. The program typically has up to 60 enrolled families, 10 classroom teachers, four enrichment teachers, and many visiting artists, musicians, and guests, and maintains a small class size.
Hands On Art & Play was established in 2000 by Teacher Jennifer, who first founded the program in her home, and it has been at its current space for more than 20 years. Jennifer has a BA in Art and Counseling from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Every teacher currently listed has been at the school for more than 10 years. The stated mission is to offer young children a place to explore arts, crafts, and music in an environment that is exciting, safe, and fun.
Hands On Art & Play partners with local children’s programs including Northwest Children’s Theater, Portland Early Learning–Adventures in Spanish, The Everybody Dance Project, Soccer Shots, and The Independent Dance Project. The preschool hosts a weekly dramatic theater class taught by Northwest Children’s Theater and invites educational guests such as firefighters, EMTs, botanists, musicians, artists, soccer coaches, dance instructors, and yoga teachers. It also works with local children’s musicians and artists, including those connected with World Fusion Events, which brings musicians and artists from around the world into the classroom.
Hands On Art & Play is recognized by the Oregon Environmental Council as an Eco-Healthy Child Care provider. One parent, Rebecca Gus, describes the environment as positive and accepting and notes that her daughter especially loves the music component and sings constantly outside of school. Another parent, Sarah Van Winkle, reports that the arts-based curriculum, small mixed-age group, and hands-on play were appealing and that her daughter has a firm foundation for kindergarten and enthusiasm for learning. A third parent, Lindsay Spina, states that the teachers have taken care of her children with love, care, and unconditional support, and recalls that her older son used to ask for “teacher Kathy” in his sleep.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
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