Funhouse Commons

04/09/2026

Interested in joining the Science Fair, potentially win an amazing prize, and definitely eat ice cream and pizza? Register here: https://www.funhousecommons.org/science-fair

The Science Fair is open to ALL Orcas youth grades K-12 with prizes and fun for all participants. Come by Thursdays 3:30-4:30 if your student would like support with their project.

04/07/2026

Join us at the Funhouse for music this Spring! Group Violin, Group Ukulele, and Kids’ Chorus are all open for enrollment now and begin the week after Spring Break. For more info and to explore other music activities at the Funhouse, visit www.funhouse commons.com/music. Scholarships are available and instruments are provided! Questions ? Email mary@thefunhouse.org or feel free to DM Feral Mary aka Mary Wachter, our Music Program Director.

04/01/2026

We're gearing up for summer here at the Funhouse and registration for Summer Camp, Camp Create, and Academy of Sound are OFFICIALLY OPEN!

SUMMER CAMP: Camp runs for 8 weeks throughout the summer, Monday–Thursday, from 9:00am-5:00pm, and Friday, from 9:00am-3:30pm. Each day campers participate in a balance of structured and choice-based activities, including arts and crafts, outdoor play, active group games, sensory projects, and walking field trips around town. Our schedule is designed to support creativity, movement, and social connection while also giving children time to relax and follow their interests. Questions? Contact Sarah McKay at sarah@thefunhouse.org

CAMP CREATE: A new addition to the Funhouse, this camp is for kids going into grades 4-7, and focuses on creative exploration of all sorts; including arts and crafts, music, story-telling and theater, gardening and nature study, and more! There will be six sessions offered. Questions? Contact Mary Wachter at mary@thefunhouse.org

ACADEMY OF SOUND: Attention musical Orcas teens! The Funhouse is pleased to announce the advent of a brand new music program: Academy of Sound. In this two week summer camp, teens will form bands, develop talent, build and perform a live set, and have fun! There will be workshops on everything from music history to making merch, featuring all sorts of musical guests from the community and beyond. The camp will culminate in a big showcase for the public. Inspired by School of Rock. Questions? Contact Pedro LopezDeVictoria at pldv10@gmail.com

Please visit our website to learn more and to register: https://www.funhousecommons.org/

03/24/2026

We’re excited to share that Funhouse Commons is hiring a Development Director—a key leadership role focused on fundraising, donor engagement, and strengthening community support for programs serving young people from birth through age 18 on Orcas Island.

If you or someone you know is passionate about building relationships and helping sustain a place of belonging and discovery for our island’s young people, we invite you to take a look.

Please see visit our website for more details:

Join our team! Development DirectorChildren’s Discovery Foundation (Funhouse Commons) is seeking a dynamic and relationship-driven Development Director to lead fundraising and donor engagement efforts that sustain and grow programs serving young people from birth through age 18 on Orcas Island.Mis...

03/24/2026

03/20/2026

Gear up for another 8 weeks of science and tech! In this course we'll be exploring the physics of omnidirectional displays, creating a functional Andotrope with the use of a few handy-dandy smartphones. Where the zoetrope bridged the gap from still life images to bring us motion pictures, the Andotrope builds the bridge to approachable holographic immersion.

Learn more and register here: https://www.hisawyer.com/the-funhouse-commons/schedules/activity-set/1841859?source=semesters

03/06/2026

SongLab starts this weekend!

Acquire the secrets of songwriting from a published musician with 20+ years of experience, and get access to instruments and a modern recording studio! There will be two classes per week geared towards students ages 11-19. Led by local music educator and performer, Pedro LopezDeVictoria, SongLab will take students through the process of song-craft, from abstract ideas to a finished and publishable recording!

Questions? Email pedro@orcaspeachpit.org
Register here >> https://www.hisawyer.com/the-funhouse-commons/schedules/activity-set/1813052

03/03/2026

Acquire the secrets of songwriting from a published musician with 20+ years of experience, and get access to instruments and a modern recording studio! There will be two classes per week geared towards students ages 11-19. Led by local music educator and performer, LopezDeVictoria, SongLab will take students through the process of song-craft, from abstract ideas to a finished and publishable recording!

Questions? Email pedro@orcaspeachpit.org
Register here >> https://www.hisawyer.com/the-funhouse-commons/schedules/activity-set/1813052

02/23/2026

Kids' Chorus continues at the Funhouse, meeting every Friday from 3:30-4:30pm. It is never too late to join! Some fun performances we have done in the past months: Tree Lighting on the Village Green, Opening for Orcas Choral Society Winter Concert at the Orcas Center, and singing "Shake It Off" with 13 til' Midnight, the Taylor Swift tribute band on the Orcas Center Main Stage! Upcoming performance: The benefit concert on Sunday March 29 at 4pm in the School! All kids ages 6-13 are always welcome, and scholarships are provided. Reach out to Mary Wachter with questions: mary@thefunhouse.org. Visit www.funhousecommons.org/music to enroll!

02/22/2026

Is your child new to guitar and ready to learn more? Or perhaps they haven't ever played before and want to get started? Danny is a great first teacher! Guitar 1 will be running from March 5th - April 9th at the Funhouse, on Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm. Danny Herasymchuck is a local musical celebrity in multiple bands including The Swellz, Rare Bird Committee, and Run for the Roses. He is also a super cool dude and a lot of fun! For youth ages 9-14. Instruments and scholarships provided. For more info and to register: www.funhousecommons.org/music.

02/21/2026

Join us for a music class beginning the first week of March! We are excited to welcome local musical hero, Danny Herasymchuck, to teach our Guitar 1 class on Thursdays at 3:45 (Ages 9-13). Kids’ Chorus continues on Fridays at 3:30! Lots of fun to be had with music at the Funhouse, and more to come! Questions? Email Mary@thefunhouse.org. Register for classes at www.funhousecommons.org/music

02/05/2026

The Funhouse is gearing up for our fourth year of facilitating the Strengthening Families Program 10-14! It is a free workshop for families with youth who are 10-14 years old, with FREE catered dinners that will be provided for your family for seven Wednesdays through the winter. Childcare for younger siblings is provided and this course is offered in both English and Spanish.

Register here >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFIf-4Y_v89vsp18pf3SpDDQ8DQRZajzxD52cSPSCN1gTH8g/viewform?usp=dialog&urp=gmail_link