Looking for boys dance classes near Greenville, SC? It can be hard to be the only boy in a dance class, and as a result, many boys don’t want to try a dance class. Kidding Around found a few studios in Spartanburg and Greenville that offer dance classes just for boys. Below you’ll find a list of places where boys will find dance classes just for them.
Are you interested in volunteering at the Ronald McDonald? Greenville, SC is home to the Ronald McDonald House of the Carolinas, and they are always looking for wonderful volunteers! Learn what types of volunteer opportunities are available to help support this important organization which helps families with children receiving care at local hospitals.
There are many ways that you can help support the Ronald McDonald House through acts of kindness and volunteering. If you’re looking for a place your whole family can volunteer, consider helping out at our local Ronald McDonald House. RMHC has several opportunities for volunteers of any age!
RMHC provides a low-cost place for families to stay who have a critically ill or injured child in a nearby hospital. The houses offer private bedrooms, playrooms and home-cooked meals–all of which allow families to stay close to their hospitalized loved ones. There are over 350 Ronald McDonald Houses, in 63 countries and they serve more than 12,000 families each night.
Locally, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas is across the street from Greenville Memorial Hospital on Grove Road. It features 12 private rooms, laundry services, a double kitchen, a playroom and an outdoor playground.
Volunteers are vital to the Ronald McDonald House in Greenville. Volunteers can help with simple chores, baking cookies, cooking meals, helping clean, and spending time with the families and siblings of children who are ill. These children are often saddled with an unbearable amount of stress. Spending time in a colorful playroom away from the hospital is the perfect place for them to set aside their grief and act their age.
RMHCC is always looking for volunteers, and there are several volunteer programs families can do together. There are lots of simple ways you and your children can become a small part of this amazing organization.
One of the most popular volunteering programs at RMHCC is Cookies from the Heart. This program bakes fresh cookies for the families in residence. Fresh-baked cookies help make staying at RMHCC feel more like home. Plus, it’s a fast treat they can grab on their way to the hospital.
Groups of up to 6 people can sign up for weekday morning hours to volunteer cooking and baking. You must bring all ingredients, while RMHCC will provide cookie sheets, bowls, spatulas, cooling racks, and individual baggies for packaging up the cookies. They have three ovens available for use. You can make any type of cookies, brownies, or blondies. They only ask that no nuts be used.
Children 8 and older can participate, and the rule is 2 children to one parent.
RMHCC provides the families staying there with home-cooked meals every evening through the Guest Chef Program. Volunteers for this program are asked to make enough food for at least 20 people.
Food can be catered or prepared onsite using the kitchens and equipment at the House, which includes a gas grill, three ovens, and two stoves. Time slots for this program are every day from 4 to 6 p.m., with the mealtime around 6 p.m. Groups of 6 or less can help prepare the meals onsite.
Similar to the Guest Chef Program, families who’d like to help out on the weekends can sign up to make prepared meals for residents of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas.
Volunteers can prepare casseroles, soups, pasta bakes, and other meals that hold up well for the residents to cook and eat later in the week.
Families can volunteer from 11 am to 12:30 pm, both Saturday and Sunday. Meals should be cooked at RMHCC or be catered. Children 10 and older can help their parents during meal prep.
House Monitor volunteers can help out both during the week and on weekends to maintain the home and keep the Ronald McDonald House clean. Volunteers help families with laundry, removing trash and recycling from the home, sanitizing the common areas, and more.
They can also help with office tasks, yard work, housekeeping, and various household tasks. Volunteers must be 16 or older to participate as a House Monitor. Shifts are 2 hours long and are available from 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday volunteer hours are from 10 am to 8 pm.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas
706 Grove Road, Greenville, SC
864.235.0506
Would volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House be the perfect way to give back for your family?
Volunteering as a Food Rescuer at Loaves & Fishes in Greenville, SC is the perfect avenue for the whole family to give of their time to help those with food insecurity in our community.
One of the most oft-repeated questions we get here at Kidding Around is “Where can I volunteer with kids?”. Many places need kids to be around middle school age to volunteer but there are several opportunities to help others with younger kids in tow. One of those is to volunteer with Loaves & Fishes. We did it and will tell you all about how to get involved with this organization.
The mission of Loaves & Fishes is “[t]o eliminate food insecurity in Greenville County by ensuring no good food goes to waste.” This is done by partnering with grocery stores and restaurants to rescue their leftover food and deliver it to community centers, schools, shelters, low-income housing, food pantries, and other people who need it in our community.
Food insecurity in the Upstate is very real. More than 45,000 residents in Greenville don’t know where their next meal is coming from and 76% percent of households who receive food assistance have kids under the age of 18 living at home. And more than half of kids who attend Greenville County Schools are eligible for free or reduced meals.
Here’s the kicker though: globally, more than 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year. Why can’t that food go to the people who need it? That’s the question that eventually led to the founding of Loaves & Fishes.
Loaves & Fishes was founded in 1991 and has been acting as a bridge between those places with surplus food and those places that need that food. They have four refrigerated trucks, work with 110 partner agencies, and have an army of 300+ volunteers to ensure no good food goes to waste.
Loaves & Fishes is not a food bank (this is a list of food resources in our area). They don’t store any food in their small office but can take food donations, which will go to those in need. But they make a huge difference in the community struggling with food insecurity. Last year, they rescued more than 2.7 million pounds of food.
It’s an easy job and anyone with a car can do it! You will choose a route from the weekly email from Loaves & Fishes, which will tell you where to pick up food and where to drop it off.
Most of the places you’ll be picking up from are grocery stores like Publix, Lowes, and Food Lion. When we did our first route, we picked up from Publix. It was super easy – we just headed to the back of the store and told them we were from Loaves & Fishes.
Publix has a log that you sign when you pick up the food so we signed that and they had our boxes ready to go. We packed them in the car and headed off to drop them off.
Our destination was the Greer Community Ministries. The ladies were so kind there and had carts ready to help us unload all the goodies. It took only a few minutes to unload. Super easy. My kids helped with both loading and unloading so it didn’t take long.
Keep track of what you pick up since you’ll need to enter it into a database that Loaves & Fishes has to keep an account of how many pounds of food they rescue and deliver each year.
Our route took about an hour total starting from our house to Publix to Greer Community Ministries and back. Loaves & Fishes tries to match the places donating to drop off locations nearby if they can.
If you want to volunteer with Loaves & Fishes, fill out the volunteer form on their website. After that, you’ll be given dates to choose from to attend the 45-minute long Volunteer Orientation. This is super important as you’ll get all the helpful information you need to be a successful food rescuer.
You can sign up for a route to do every week or just do them as you are able.
Families are welcome to volunteer together. There is no age limit
If you want to become a partner agency with Loaves & Fishes or run a non profit and want to learn more about working with them, information is on their FAQ page on the website.
Loaves & Fishes
25 Woods Lake Road, Suite 810 Greenville
864.232.3595
Looking for more ways to volunteer?
We have a guide for that.
Are you in need of services in Greenville, SC to help your family and you live your best lives? Maybe you are looking for resources to help you navigate a particular issue. We have compiled a multitude of lists and guides that will help you navigate your daily life a little more easily. Peruse our growing resources and services page as we work to help make life a little easier.
The KABOOM Awards are our annual best-of contest. The results give our readers a list of Greenville’s best resources and services.
Looking for roofing companies, tree services, landscapers, and contractors?
Check out this list of Home & Property Services near Greenville, SC
We have asked our readers and researched some of the best places for various services near Greenville, SC. Many of these services are things you would need during your daily life, and hey, we are all just trying to make life easier! Check out these reader-recommended reviews of services throughout the Upstate.
Reader-recommended places for kid’s haircuts.
Reader-Recommended Nail Salons in Greenville, SC & Spartanburg, SC
Grocery Delivery Services in Greenville, SC
Get mommy and me manicures and pedicures at these upstate nail salons.
You can get free school supplies near Greenville, SC at one of these back-to-school events.
These local retailers are the Where to Buy School Uniforms That Fit Your Child.
These piercing studios in Greenville, SC are a safe place to get your kids ear’s pierced.
Growing your family can be expensive, but our information about parenting on a budget can help save you some money!
If you have a newborn, money can be tight! These 11 tips on Budgeting for Your Baby may be useful.
Have a little water lover? These recommended places are the Best Swim Lessons in Greenville, SC.
Have it all! Connect with your kids with ideas in our Working Parents Guide to Greenville, SC.
Need some extra support in your relationship? These Marriage Counselors in Greenville, SC can help.
These women’s consignment stores will keep you on budget while staying in style!
Buy or sell gently used clothing at these reader-recommended Kids Consignment Stores Near Greenville, SC.
Here is where to shop to save while you budget shop at these local retailers.
If you are new to the Greenville area or are in need of information about the Upstate, these guides and resources can help you navigate the Upstate a little better. Listings in these guides offer contact information, the services the company or facility offers, and links to their business page. These guides and resources are organized to make it easier for you to navigate, saving you a little time during your research!
Kidding Around’s Ultimate Homeschool Guide.
Our Special Needs Guide for resources and services near Greenville, SC.
Help your parents retire comfortably with Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Retirement Communities.
Use our KA Ultimate Birthday Guide to plan every aspect of your child’s birthday party
Need a reputable photographer? Our Ultimate Guide to 30+ Photographers near Greenville, SC will help you choose the perfect photographer for any occasion.
The KA Ultimate Guide for New Parents includes information on baby, maternity, and postpartum care near Greenville, SC!
Our Guide to Private Schools near Greenville, SC has over 30 schools that will give your child a premium education for your child that aligns with your values.
Looking for Charter Schools? Our Guide to Charter Schools near Greenville, SC has information about all of the charter schools in the Upstate.
Are you thinking about moving to Greenville, SC? Then our Guide to Moving to Greenville, SC has tons of information to help you find a great place to live, including things to do once you get here!
You will also find the best suburbs to live near Greenville, SC and why in our list of the Best Suburbs Near Greenville, SC.
Here is where you can buy local, farm fresh eggs near Greenville, South Carolina!
Have a kid who turns 6 this year? You HAVE to check out the Pepsi Party Pack your child will get for free from Pepsi of Greenville.
The Church Street Choral Academy is an entirely free choral and music education program for kids, coming to Greenville, SC this fall! The program at Christ Church Episcopal happens after school and is accepting kids in 3rd through 5th grade. We have all the details on this amazing new opportunity and the people behind it. Plus, we’ll tell you how to register and set up an audition for your kids.
Few things in life are free, and extra educational opportunities rarely are one of them. But, that’s not the case at the Church Street Choral Academy.
“The Church Street Choral Academy (CSCA) was formed with a mission to inspire and positively influence
the lives of young people through arts enrichment and academic support.”
No student or family will pay any tuition or fees to participate in the Choral Street Academy. In fact, students will actually be able to earn money through attendance in rehearsals and performances.
Why? Donald Duncan, Director of Liturgy & Music at Christ Church and CSCA Choirmaster, explains:
“Often the students who would benefit the most from extra support or arts enrichment are the students whose families can’t afford the costly price tag associated with those activities. We don’t want money to get in the way for anybody. We’ve worked hard to eliminate this barrier to participation so that any interested student could join us, not just those who could afford it.”
The Church Street Choral Academy is housed at Christ Church Episcopal on Church Street, and is funded through community support.
What will rehearsal days look like at the Church Street Choral Academy?
Mondays:
Wednesdays:
Performances are the first Sunday of each month at a service of Evensong at Christ Church Episcopal, plus additional performances as announced.
Sundays:
Spaces in the first year’s program are limited to 30 choristers in 3rd through 5th grades. If your family is interested in participating, you should visit Choral Academy Website as soon as possible to schedule an audition. No musical training is necessary to audition. According to the Church Street Choral Academy, the only requirements are that students “should possess a love of music and a commitment to attendance.”
“We will teach children to sing, no doubt, but that may be the least important thing this organization does,” said Duncan. “This program is unlike anything in Greenville and will have a tremendous impact on kids and families in this city.”
The program is currently auditioning 3rd through 5th grade students. The first rehearsal date is on Monday, October 16th, 2023.
For more information or to schedule an audition, visit the Choral Academy Website.
Can’t make it out of the house and in need of a service for grocery delivery? Greenville, SC has several options that offer delivery or curbside pickup, making it easier to get your groceries quickly. Many of these grocery retailers offer home delivery or curbside delivery in Greenville and Spartanburg.
That helps to get a home-cooked meal on the table when you don’t have the time. All you need is internet access and you’ll have what you need in no time! So, if you need a service for grocery delivery, Greenville, SC retailers have you covered!
Since each retailer and service operates a little differently, we’re going to explain how each works so you can make a decision that is best for your family’s needs. We’ve updated the info to include curbside delivery options.
(more…)Where can you find an excellent youth organization in Greenville, SC? Finding an organization that aligns with your values, while supporting your child, is made easier thanks to our Kidding Around readers recommendations.
Our annual KABOOM Awards Family Favorites winners offer some of the top-rated youth organizations in Greenville, SC.
1st Place: YMCA of Greenville (Youth in Government)
Finalists:
1ST PLACE SPONSOR 864.412.0288 | info@ymcagreenville.org | Multiple branches, Upstate , SC
Best Overnight Camp -First Place
Best Sports Program -Finalist
Best Youth Organization- First Place
Best Family Membership- First Place
Best Place to Splash or Swim- Finalist
Best After School Program- Finalist
Best Summer Camp- Finalist
For more than a century, the YMCA of Greenville has strengthened the foundations of the community we serve. We’re proud of our diverse population and are passionate about keeping our promise to be a force for good.
We serve people from all walks of life in the Greenville County area through YMCA memberships and programs.
We’re committed to nurturing the potential of children through Youth Development, improving the nation’s health and well-being by promoting Healthy Living, and fostering a sense of Social Responsibility by providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors.
The YMCA of Greenville, following the example of Christ, builds healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
The YMCA of Greenville includes the following branches: Caine Halter Family YMCA, Eastside Family YMCA, George I. Theisen Family YMCA, Prisma Health Family YMCA, Verdae YMCA, Life Center YMCA, YMCA Judson Community Center and YMCA Camp Greenville.
SPONSORED 864.770.1400 | kkelly@gssc-mm.org | , SC
Best Youth Organization: Finalist
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world.
Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends.
Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gssc-mm.org.
Check out more great classes and activities for your kids!
Don’t miss our Kidding Around Guide to Classes and Activities in Greenville.
1st Place: Girl Scouts of South Carolina—Mountains to Midlands
Finalists:
Where can you find the best tutoring programs in Greenville, SC? Tutoring programs can be beneficial for all students, and Kidding Around readers voted for who they believed are the best in the area.
Our annual KABOOM Awards winners offer some of the best tutoring programs in Greenville, SC.
1st Place: STRIDES Systematic Tutoring
Finalist: Sylvan Learning of Greenville
1ST PLACE SPONSOR 864.246.9898 | info@stridestutor.org | Multiple locations, Upstate , SC
Best Tutoring Program: First Place
We solve learning problems at STRIDES Tutoring. While other programs focus on homework, our tutors are improving basic reading and math skills. Each child has a program tailored to the needs of that child, taught by a tutor committed to the goals of that child.
These tutors are scattered across Upstate libraries, ready to encourage each child to achieve success. We welcome students ages 6-20 of all financial levels. Our Scholarship Fund is designated for those of low income.
Many of our students are bilingual or have special needs, but all need help to compete academically with their peers. Our tutors meet with students in person or online, at least twice weekly.
For over twenty years in Upstate SC, we have established a reputation for helping struggling students rise to grade level quickly. Our students become successful doctors, attorneys, teachers, barbers, mechanics, and carpenters. A future that once looked bleak becomes a stable and rewarding life. We love solving learning problems for the citizens of the future!
SPONSORED 888.338.2283 | Multiple locations, Upstate , SC
Best Tutoring Program: Finalist
Sylvan Learning provides personal learning for success that sticks!
Our personalized tutoring provides exactly what your child needs in a way that is best for his/her learning styles and preferences based on an in-depth and adaptive assessment. We create a personal learning plan that “adapts” to your child’s own skill level and pace, so your child feels engaged and motivated – never frustrated, rushed or bored. Results matter and Sylvan delivers.
Parents notice the difference:
“The patience, consistency, and efficiency each tutor has is something that truly has to be experienced.” Brittany M.
“Their approach is not only professional but also compassionate, meeting each student where they are and pushing them toward their full potential.” Miguel R.
We are conveniently located near you in Anderson, Easley, North Main Greenville, Greenville, and Spartanburg. Our directors keep you informed, address any concerns, and provide regular progress assessments. Flexible scheduling and payment options make Sylvan a good fit for your family’s schedule and budget.
Whether your child needs to master foundational skills or learn advanced concepts, we provide the supplemental support that leads to greater learning. You’ll see this impact not only in school, but in all areas of life.
Check out more great classes and activities for your kids!
Don’t miss our Kidding Around Guide to Classes and Activities in Greenville.
1st Place: Sylvan Learning of the Upstate
Finalists:
Are you looking for a cheer gym in Greenville, SC? When you’re ready for your child to start taking cheer classes and participating in team and all those cheer activities, you’ll need a great cheer gym. Greenville, SC offers quite a few options. As part of our annual KABOOM Awards, we asked our readers to vote for their favorite cheer gym. Here’s what they told us.
1st Place: Southern Cheer Elite
Finalist: Designer Athletics
Best Cheer Gym – First Place
Best Gymnastics School – Finalist
Southern Dance Connection and Southern Cheer Elite are proud to offer a wide range of classes for children and teens in Greer, SC, where they can learn valuable life skills through movement and performance. With classes for ages 2 through adult, our programs provide the perfect opportunity for students to build confidence, improve fitness, and develop discipline while having fun!
At Southern Dance Connection, we offer ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and acro dance, taught by experienced instructors who nurture creativity and personal growth. Whether it’s for recreation or the competitive stage, we meet every student where they are, helping them achieve their potential. Our dance students also have the opportunity to be part of exciting performance teams.
Southern Cheer Elite offers tumbling and cheerleading classes for all skill levels, focusing on stunts, jumps, tumbling, and team spirit. Our teams compete at local and national events, creating lasting memories and friendships along the way. Both Southern Dance Connection and Southern Cheer Elite emphasize teamwork, leadership, and perseverance, providing children with the tools they need to succeed both in and outside of the studio and gym. Join us today and see why our students shine!
Best Cheer Gym – Finalist
At Designer Athletics, we want to introduce you to a whole new era of cheerleading and tumbling training! We started this program with the belief that athletes of all ages and skill levels should have a place where they could learn and grow not just athletically, but in their personal life as well. Designer Athletics aims to design each athlete from the inside out by training them to be successful at the highest level both personally and athletically!
Our goal is to train every athlete to achieve excellence and greatness while creating a safe, fun and family-oriented environment where
everyone can thrive!
We do this by implementing our core values of DESIGN:
D– Discipline
E– Excellence
S– Strength
I-Integrity
G– Growth
N– Nobility
Designer Athletics offers tumbling classes as well as classes geared towards cheerleading training like jumps, flex, stunting and dance! We train many of the high school teams in the area and we are the only D1 competitive cheer gym in the Upstate! Find us on your app store to view our class schedule, just search “Designer Athletics” and book your first class free today! We can’t wait to see you in the gym!
Check out more great classes and activities for your kids!
Don’t miss our Kidding Around Guide to Classes and Activities in Greenville.
Are you looking for the best gymnastics classes in Greenville, SC? We asked our readers for their favorites and they voted as part of our annual KABOOM Awards contest. These are the top gymnastics programs in Greenville, voted by our readers.
1st Place: Acrosmith Gymnastics
Finalists:
1ST PLACE SPONSOR 864.593.4066 | office@acrosmith.com | 3130 N Industrial Dr, Simpsonville , SC
Best Gymnastics School- First Place
Best Field Trip- First Place
Best Sports Program- First Place
Best Baby/Toddler Program- Finalist
Best Birthday Party- Finalist
Best Indoor Fun- Finalist
Best Summer Camp- Finalist
Come see what makes Acrosmith Gymnastics stand out as the best gymnastics gym! From our award winning competitive gymnastics teams, to our recreational gymnastics classes, we have something for everyone!
Best Cheer Gym: First Place
Best Gymnastics School: Finalist
Southern Dance Connection and Southern Cheer Elite are proud to offer a wide range of classes for children and teens in Greer, SC, where they can learn valuable life skills through movement and performance. With classes for ages 2 through adult, our programs provide the perfect opportunity for students to build confidence, improve fitness, and develop discipline while having fun!
At Southern Dance Connection, we offer ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and acro dance, taught by experienced instructors who nurture creativity and personal growth. Whether it’s for recreation or the competitive stage, we meet every student where they are, helping them achieve their potential. Our dance students also have the opportunity to be part of exciting performance teams.
Southern Cheer Elite offers tumbling and cheerleading classes for all skill levels, focusing on stunts, jumps, tumbling, and team spirit. Our teams compete at local and national events, creating lasting memories and friendships along the way. Both Southern Dance Connection and Southern Cheer Elite emphasize teamwork, leadership, and perseverance, providing children with the tools they need to succeed both in and outside of the studio and gym. Join us today and see why our students shine!
SPONSORED 864.772.3887 | tlggreenvillesc@thelittlegym.com | 1607 Laurens Rd, Greenville , SC
Best Baby/Toddler Program – Finalist
Best Birthday Party – Finalist
Best Dance Studio – Finalist
Best Gymnastics School- Finalist
We are proud to be a Kaboom finalist for Best Baby/Toddler classes, Best Birthdays, Best Gymnastics, and Best Dance Program!
Discover how The Little Gym of Greenville, SC helps kids of all ages get moving. Our progressive gymnastics program begins at 4 months with Parent/Child classes and grows with your child through Pre-K and Grade School.
Join at any time. Try a class for FREE, today!
Check out more great classes and activities for your kids!
Don’t miss our Kidding Around Guide to Classes and Activities in Greenville.
1st Place: Palmetto Gymnastics Academy
Finalists:
