The Lyceum
Summer Program
at Qualia
Summer 2026 Session
Starts June 15th!
Open To Students From All Schools
Lyceum is Qualia’s after-school and summer enrichment program, serving students ages 10-16. Designed to satisfy the insatiable curiosity of highly motivated learners, Lyceum offers advanced, challenging courses with hands-on learning and higher-level thinking.
Lyceum’s polymathic teachers encourage deep inquiry, crafting learning experiences that stimulate critical thinking and promote intellectual agility. Classes are informed by Qualia’s commitment to providing gifted and highly curious kids with the limitless intellectual opportunities they crave but are not afforded elsewhere.
Lyceum offers courses across a wide range of topics, including STEM, philosophy, engineering, the humanities, the arts, and gaming. The learning environment is small and personalized, built around Qualia’s Oxford-Style Seminar model with fewer than ten students per class. By immersing students in a close-knit community of like-minded peers, Lyceum fosters self-awareness, imagination, and adaptability while maximizing critical engagement and intellectual depth.
We know that self-motivated learners long to have control over the direction of their learning and to contribute to the design of the learning process. Based on Qualia’s principle of democratic design, Lyceum students collaborate with the teacher to shape the curriculum and assignments, co-creating exciting challenges tailored to each group’s abilities and needs.
Custom build your summer!
Apply Now
Mondays+Wednesdays
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9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:
Escape Room Construction
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11:00 AM to 1:00 PM:
The Chef’s Table
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1:30 PM to 3:30 PM:
Merchandise Design and Branding
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3:30 PM to 5:30 PM:
Zen And The Art of Improv
Tuesdays+Thursdays
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9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:
Noise Explorers
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11:00 AM to 1:00 PM:
The Artist’s Studio
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1:30 PM to 3:30 PM:
Word Lab: Read, Write, Create
Fridays
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9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:
Living Systems: Gardening, Permaculture & Natural Building
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9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:
Strategy Games
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11:00 AM to 1:00 PM:
Experimental Robotics
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11:00 AM to 1:00 PM:
Aquarium Building: Ecology in Glass
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1:30 PM to 3:30 PM:
SNAKES!
Summer 2026 Class Descriptions
All classes meet June 15th to July 24th, with an optional August extension based on demand.
Escape Room Construction
Led by Qualia’s co-founder, Jim Hahn, as well as Qualia’s Idea Lab instructor, Daniel Rolnik
In our Escape Room workshop, students don’t just play games; they engineer them. Working with tools like Arduino and Micro:bit, students design and build a fully functional, immersive escape room from scratch, combining storytelling, programming, electronics, and mechanical design. Along the way, they develop real-world skills in coding, circuitry, prototyping, and collaborative problem-solving into more advanced, integrated systems. By the end of the course, students will have created a complete, interactive experience that others can enjoy.
Mondays+Wednesdays, 9 am – 11 am ($995)
The Chef’s Table
Led by LA Times–Celebrated Chef and Qualia Cooking Instructor Sam Schiffer
In our summer Chef’s Table workshop, students step into the world of fine dining, learning not just how to cook, but how to think like a chef. Guided by professional chef Sam Schiffer, students develop advanced culinary techniques, explore flavor design, and create thoughtfully composed dishes while learning about menu development, presentation, and the economics behind a professional kitchen. This is a rigorous, hands-on experience that blends creativity with discipline, giving students both practical life skills and a deeper appreciation for food as craft and art.
Mondays+Wednesdays, 11 am – 1 pm ($995)
Merch Design and Branding
Led by the creative director of the successful Mister Parmesan apparel line, Sam Schiffer
In Brand + Product Studio, students take ideas all the way from concept to real-world product, guided by Sam Schiffer, a professional chef who built and sold his own apparel company. Students learn to identify problems worth solving, sketch and prototype by hand, design digitally, and ultimately bring their creations into physical production. Along the way, they develop skills in design thinking, engineering, branding, and entrepreneurship, gaining insight into how products actually get made and brought to market.
Mondays+Wednesdays, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm ($995)
Zen And The Art of Improv
Led by Qualia Humanities and Great Ideas Instructor Eve Hirschman
Students will laugh and learn as they explore the fascinating intersection of mindfulness, philosophy, and improv. They will be challenged to step out of their comfort zone while enjoying a wide variety of improv games and activities, enhanced by philosophical discussion and mindfulness practices geared toward personal and intellectual growth. All improv skill levels are welcome!
Mondays+Wednesdays, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm ($995)
Noise Explorers
Led by Qualia’s Music Faculty
Noise Explorers is a high-energy, experimental sound lab where students push beyond traditional music into invention, improvisation, and sonic exploration. Students will compose, collaborate, and experiment with unconventional techniques, including building and modifying instruments, circuit-bending electronics, and designing their own effects pedals.
Tuesdays+Thursdays, 9 am – 11 am ($995)
The Artist’s Studio
Led by Emmy Award–Winning Artist and Qualia Art Instructor Andrea Shear
In The Artist’s Studio, students enter a true working studio environment, exploring ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, and mixed media under the guidance of Qualia art instructors Andrea Shear, an Emmy-winning designer and Veronika Gamaley, an accomplished artist and ceramicist. Students learn foundational and advanced techniques: hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, and kiln firing, while also experimenting across mediums to create original, self-directed work. The course balances technical skill development with creative freedom, helping students build craftsmanship, confidence, and artistic voice.
Tuesdays+Thursdays 11 am – 1 pm ($995)
Word Lab: Read, Write, Create
Led by Qualia’s Humanities and Great Ideas Instructor, Eve Hirschman
Word Lab is a freeform space for students to engage with the written word in ways that spark their creativity and interest. Students will have virtually unlimited opportunities to choose from, including: diving into a new (or favorite) book genre and enjoying thought-provoking guided discussion; writing passion projects such as stories, poems, or plays while receiving 1:1 feedback and coaching; exploring the relationship between their favorite visual media and its written components; or learning about character development and creation. Students will be supported in harnessing the full power of their imagination in an inspiring environment dedicated to exploring the art and love of language.
Tuesdays+Thursdays 11 am – 1 pm ($995)
Living Systems: Gardening, Permaculture & Natural Building
Led by Qualia farming instructor and founder of Home Grown Gardens LA, Matthew Van Diepen
Matthew will teach students how to grow their own food, design ecosystems, and build sustainably. Through hands-on work in the garden, students explore soil health, planting, water systems, and permaculture design, while also experimenting with natural building techniques like cob construction. This class connects environmental responsibility with real-world skills, helping students understand food systems, climate impact, and sustainable living in a tangible, empowering way.
Fridays, 9:00 am – 11:00 am ($580)
Strategy Games
Led by a cohort of Qualia faculty and alumni
In Strategy Games, students enter a dynamic arena of competition, creativity, and critical thinking, exploring Chess, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and more. This class develops the ability to think several moves ahead, adapt to changing conditions, and make decisions under pressure. Students will learn core strategic principles: probability, resource management, game theory, and psychological insight. Whether calculating the perfect chess tactic, building a winning deck, or navigating complex narrative challenges, students strengthen focus, resilience, and flexible thinking in a highly engaging, social environment.
Fridays, 9 am to 11 am ($580)
Experimental Robotics
Led by FIRST Robotics Championship Coach Emir Altug
Emir Altug guides students in exploring how machines interact with the physical world. Participants will design, build, and program robots while learning about mechanical systems, electronics, and coding. The course emphasizes experimentation, testing, and iterative problem-solving. Students will develop both technical skills and creative thinking through hands-on experiments with making Battlebots, LEGO Robotics, and more.
Fridays, 11 am – 1 pm ($580)
Aquarium Building: Ecology in Glass
Led by Zoology and Aquaculture Specialist Jack Gardner
Jack will teach students how to build thriving freshwater and saltwater aquariums from the ground up, combining biology, chemistry, engineering, and design to create balanced living ecosystems. Students will explore topics like the nitrogen cycle, water chemistry, aquascaping, species compatibility, and ecosystem balance while learning how small environmental decisions shape the health and behavior of aquatic life. Equal parts science and art, this hands-on class develops observation, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills as students design and maintain miniature underwater worlds of their own.
Fridays, 11 am – 1 pm ($580)
Snakes!
Led by Qualia Zoology Instructor and Southwestern Herpetology Society President and Grayson Kent
Grayson guides students in this hands-on course that explores the biology, behavior, and ecological role of snakes, A variety of live snakes will be brought into the classroom for close observation and guided interaction. Students will learn how snakes hunt, sense, and survive, while also developing a clear understanding of safety, risk, and real-world encounters. Equal parts thrilling and educational, this class replaces fear with knowledge and respect, offering a rare opportunity to experience the natural world up close in a way students won’t forget.
Fridays, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm ($580)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Lyceum class?
Lyceum classes meet once a week after school (from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM).
The Spring 2026 term begins April 20 and ends June 5.
(Monday classes will not meet on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026)
Where do classes meet?
All classes meet on Qualia’s campus in Calabasas:
4345 Las Virgenes Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
(At Oak View and Las Virgenes Road)
Who can participate?
Students ages 10-16 may apply for Lyceum. Participants are accepted based on demonstrated curiosity, academic performance, and enthusiasm for learning.
How can I get more information?
Please call or email Daniel Rolnik at Qualia:
Email: Daniel@QualiaSchool.org
Call: 310-478-9900
How do we apply?
Please submit a separate application for each student here.