Ad Astra

Agile Learning Center

  • Illustrated group of diverse people with arms around each other; two inset photos showing children engaged in science and cooking activities, captioned with 'Homeschool Enrichment Center'. Text reads 'Empowering young people to live a joyful life full of wonder'.
  • Colorful advertisement for "Ad Astra ALC" homeschool enrichment center for ages 10-18, highlighting creativity, exploration, learning, and connection.

Our Projects

Students lead the way! From Math Circle and 3D printing to science experiments, coding, circuits, and cooking, our projects are driven by curiosity and creativity. Scroll through to explore some of the amazing work our learners have chosen to dive into!

  • Person holding a colorful geometric structure made from interlocking plastic shapes.

    HANDS-ON GEOMETRY

  • A table with a laptop displaying images, various stones, pinecones, a crochet object, and educational papers. Crayola colored pencils and a jar with rocks are also present, suggesting a learning or crafts session.

    ROCK SOLID SCIENCE

  • Two people sitting in front of a table with a 3D printer and a laptop displaying a design or programming interface.

    3D PRINTING

  • Oranssi project: studio shed

    GROUP PAINTINGS

  • Oranssi project: passive house

    CIRCUIT ORNAMENTS

  • Person sitting at a table using a laptop with a pixel art game on the screen, near a window with a view of trees outside.

    GAME CODING

  • Person wearing a large multicolored geometric shape on their head, standing indoors, wearing a green graphic T-shirt with pixelated designs, in a room with chairs and tables.

    MIND CRAFTING

  • Oranssi project: slat roof

    CIRCUIT BOARDS

  • Young woman assembling a model building at a table, with a boy sitting in the background.

    MINDFUL MAKING

  • Oranssi project: roof expansion

    CULINARY CRITTERS

  • Child using a laptop connected to celery with wires, playing a virtual piano on a table.

    CELERY PIANO

  • Person holding a lit red LED egg carton

    CIRCUIT CREATIONS

  • A group of six young people sitting around a round table playing a game involving dice and paper at a classroom or activity center.

    MATH CIRCLE

  • Child holding a clay sculpture of a dog in their hands.

    AIR-DRY CLAY

  • Abstract painting with splashes of red, green, yellow, blue, and black on a textured background leaning against a wooden wall.

    DRIP PAINTING

  • Perler bead artwork of a skeleton character on a clear pegboard, featuring black, white, and blue beads.

    PERLER BEADS

  • Carved white pumpkin with face design on a table in a workshop setting.

    JACK-O-LANTERN

  • Oranssi project: wraparound deck

    EARTHQUAKES & TSUNAMIS

  • Person wearing homemade goggles with red LED lights in a room.

    CIRCUIT VISION

  • Child using woodburning tool on wooden plank

    WOOD BURNING

  • Person cutting printed play money labeled "Somewhere in Florida" with scissors

    JOE BUCKS

  • Two people outdoors by a table, preparing instant noodles, with a garden and trees in the background.

    PLANTING SEEDS

  • Child looking through geometric bubble frame with soap film, giving thumbs up.

    MATH BUBBLES

  • Hand holding a fruit tart with fresh strawberries, kiwi, peach slices, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and cherries on top of pastry cream in a pastry crust.

    COOKING CLUB

  • A person holding a model house made from popsicle sticks.

    BIRDHOUSE

  • Duct tape wallets with various patterns including tie-dye, camouflage, and colorful designs, holding dollar bills and cards.

    DUCT TAPE WALLETS

  • Avocado toast with cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze on plate

    COOKING CLUB

  • Two children in a room with wood panels, one playing a ukulele and the other holding a pink microphone and pointing.

    KARAOKE

  • A group of six students sitting around a round table using laptops and tablets for a study session. They are focused on their screens, with one student writing and others viewing documents or online content. A snack and a blue lunch box are also on the table.

    POWER HOUR

  • Hands soldering a small, black circuit board with a soldering iron on a table.

    SOLDERING

  • Lego model depicting a map of Orlando's roadways with labeled routes and a note reading "Orlando Roadways by Jax."

    LEGO MAPS

  • Bowl of noodle soup with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, carrots, and green onions.

    COOKING CLUB - HEALTHY RAMEN

  • A pan of homemade meat sauce with a wooden spoon.

    HOMEMADE PASTA SAUCE

  • A person chopping green peppers on a wooden cutting board in a classroom setting, wearing a navy blue "ad astra" t-shirt, with a bowl of green peppers next to them.

    COOKING CLUB

  • DIY solar oven made from a cardboard box with foil interior, containing a melting s'more.

    SOLAR OVEN

  • Hands assembling a circuit on a breadboard with a glowing blue LED, red and green jumper wires, and a resistor.

    CIRCUIT BOARDS

  • Person assembling a flag jigsaw puzzle at a table

    WORLD FLAGS PUZZLE

  • A colorful puzzle map featuring the countries of North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Each country and state/province is labeled and color-coded, showing geographical borders and major regions. The oceans surrounding the continent are labeled as the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The map is titled "GeoPuzzle."

    EDUCATIONAL PUZZLE

  • Person engaged in craft activity with cardboard, bottle caps, and recycled materials on a table.

    MAKER'S SPACE

  • Two people building with Lego Technic pieces, surrounded by organized trays and containers of various colored and sized Lego parts on a table.

    TECHNICS

  • Sliced sushi roll on a cutting board with a knife

    COOKING CLUB - SUSHI

  • Illustrated periodic table puzzle with colorful element representations and symbols.

    EDUCATIONAL PUZZLE

  • Various plastic containers filled with colorful Lego pieces and a child sitting nearby assembling them. An open instruction manual is visible on the floor.

    LEGOS!

Three people walking on a forest trail, one on stilts, surrounded by trees and foliage.

Outdoor Explorations

Nestled on several acres of beautiful, natural land, our space gives kids the freedom to explore, hike, play, and connect with nature every day. Whether they’re building forts, observing wildlife, or just enjoying the sunshine, the outdoors becomes a vibrant part of their learning journey.

Social Enrichment

A group of people playing the board game Sequence on a white table, with blue, red, and green chips and playing cards visible.

What Kids Gain at Ad Astra ALC

Confidence to Be Themselves
Our learners get better at sharing ideas, speaking up, and trusting their voice.

Creative Space to Make Things
Kids paint, draw, build, invent games, start projects, or try something totally new. Creativity is encouraged here!

Social Skills
Kids learn how to collaborate and communicate with peers.

Freedom & Independence
Kids are trusted to make choices, manage their time, build social skills and confidence that matter far beyond the teen years.

Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like School
Games, conversations, hands-on projects, and curiosity. No grades or tests.

Belonging & Connection
Our learners are part of a supportive group, build friendships, and share experiences through daily meetings, group games, and field trips.

A Place Where Kid’s Ideas Matter
Kid’s ideas, interests, and personalities help shape the space! 

Group of kids playing Twister on a multicolored mat with circles.

Meet Our Team

  • Oranssi project manager Jaya Dixon

    JOYCE MADDEAUX

    Director

    Facilitator

  • MARCIA BALLENTINE

    Founder

    Facilitator

  • TELKA VECCHITTO

    Facilitator

  • Oranssi construction engineer Jamie Kokot

    NICOLE CHEVALIER

    Presenter

What Our Clients Say

  • "When your child counts down the days until she'll be at Ad Astra again you know you've found something special. No joke! Ad Astra is a community where the learners feel seen and heard, grow together and shine through being themselves. The facilitators support engaging the learners, helping them lean into their interests and also discover new ones. We love our Ad Astra community!"🥰

    Kara

  • "Having homeschooled for more than a decade, I've seen (and tried) more than a few approaches. The self-directed aspect of Ad Astra was really important to me, because that's how my kids learn best. I love how they have bloomed in the past year, getting to know this awesome new-to-them community. I can't recommend Ad Astra highly enough."

    Nicole

  • "Ad Astra is an incredible learning community led by amazing facilitators who truly care about the children. I’ve seen firsthand how the kids thrive in this environment- gaining confidence, independence, and a genuine love for learning. I highly recommend Ad Astra!"

    Carol

  • "Ad Astra has been life changing for my nephew, who is on the autism spectrum. The supportive environment, and encouragement from the facilitators has helped him grow in confidence. He is happier and more engaged than before. Thank you, AdAstra!"

    Jon