Arlington Community Education

Play and design your own board games. Try out different types of games, from strategy to chance-based classics, and uncover what makes them fun (or frustrating!). If you want, put on your designer’s hat to create a game of your own. Choose the look and illustrations, and decide how players will move, earn rewards, or face tricky obstacles. We’ll take breaks for trivia, riddles, and logic challenges, and, of course, playtest our creations.

Considered one of the greatest games ever invented, chess teaches many important life concepts such as how to win graciously, how to accept defeat with dignity, concentration, and sportsmanship. Learn chess rules, positional tactics, and basics to more advanced moves with the guidance of an experienced chess master. We will divide into groups according to experience and end the program with a mini chess tournament. All levels welcome.

Clever moves, creative thinking, and friendly competition collide with this curated lineup of modern board games that sharpen real-world skills like strategy, resource management, and negotiation. Build empires in 7 Wonders, trade resources in Puerto Rico, duel in Targi, and peacefully build worlds in Harmonies and King Domino. Whether you’re a seasoned player or ready to graduate from Monopoly, bring your curiosity and game face to connect, learn, and have fun with some of the best tabletop games around.

This Live Action Role Play (LARP) games class is an introduction to LARPing and is perfect for beginners and casual players. Each week you will be led through tournaments and mock combat challenges using padded foam props. These games encourage critical thinking skills in addition to being a fun way to exercise. Prior experience is not required, nor are costumes or characters, so it’s easy to jump right in and give LARPing a try. LARP Adventure Program’s Heroes Academy® is a combination of theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design. We combine these arts with critical thinking, creative problem solving, and community leadership skills. For more information about our curriculum please visit our website: https://www.larpadventureprogram.com/curriculum

Become an adventurer in a fantasy world filled with magical beasts! Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is an interactive storytelling game where you create a character and test its might in an original tale. Practice a variety of skills including improvisation, critical thinking, math, and public speaking. We will use physical tools like books, battle maps, and figures as well as digital ones such as an online library of D&D books and a character creation app to keep the story flowing smoothly. We discourage students from creating characters before the first day of class. Instructors and students will collaborate to determine what kind of story that they will create. In the past, students who arrived with a character in hand have been disappointed if their character doesn't fit the group decision.

Live Action Role Play (LARP) allows you to participate in an interactive narrative, similar to the “choose your own adventure” books. In this class, which is more than just games, you will learn about each aspect of LARPing: game rules, mock combat techniques, and character development. As you gamefully combine theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design, you will practice critical thinking, problem solving, and community leadership skills. LARP Adventure Program’s Heroes Academy® is a combination of theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design. We combine these arts with critical thinking, creative problem solving, and community leadership skills. For more information about our curriculum please visit our website: https://www.larpadventureprogram.com/curriculum

Go on an adventure set in the land of Ithreach, a fantasy setting where the seasons change and the story grows. If you’ve previously played D&D with Roll Models, you may continue to play using your character at their current level or create a new 3rd level character. Mind, Body, and Soul: In the town of Faundale, the mood is celebratory as a brand new river bridge nears completion, promising great prosperity to the town. However, strange activities at night reveal the town is in danger from creatures lurking in a nearby ruin. As heroes, you are hired to investigate and ensure the town is safe. Mind, Body, and Soul is intended only for brand-new characters at Level 1. It has been written to teach the fundamentals of the D&D rules, but players with previous D&D experience are also welcome to join. Players will select from an assortment of pre-generated characters so we can jump right in and play! Caravan of Secrets: Come to the rescue of seven people taken prisoner by a tribe of marauding goblins. Each of the kidnapping victims has a story to tell and a valuable object they must recover from the goblin tribe. Every hostage rescued can become either an ally or a rival for the heroes and act as a springboard for future adventures. New and experienced players are welcome. Players may continue to use their character from Mind, Body and Soul at 2nd level, or begin a new character at 1st level (using choices from the Basic Rules and The Player’s Handbook).

It’s game time! Pokémon trainers face off in exciting battles, each aiming to be the very best, like no one ever was. Rely on your Pokémon’s unique moves and abilities to outwit your opponents. As you play, your Pokémon will level up, evolve, and learn new strategies. Join us for casual play, supervised trading, and the chance to try out demo decks—whether you’re a beginner looking to catch ’em all or a seasoned trainer aiming to perfect your team.