We had my daughter's 6th birthday party here and it was such a great experience. The package…read moreincluded two hours with the horses, where the kids got to pet and ride them, plus time in the petting zoo. They even provided a cake, which made things so much easier. The venue itself was really nice, and everything felt well organized. The staff was kind, helpful, and made the whole process smooth from start to finish. Overall, it was a fun and memorable day for the kids. We'll definitely be back!

We decided to go horseback riding to celebrate my birthday. My children (10 & 12) have never been…read morehorseback riding before and, though nervous, were excited to experience it. I rode quite a bit many years ago. I had a service expectation in my mind for how things would go and unfortunately the team at this ranch did not deliver. On arrival, parking was not clearly marked (broken signs and no arrows to direct you). Once out of the car, there was no one to greet us or give next steps. We were told by visitors already waiting to step inside the barn to sign a waiver. Once inside, the staff member who wondered out of the dark handed the waiver to me and explained it. Yet she never said hello or introduced herself. It all felt very transactional or as if we weren't welcomed. I can only assume how many trail rides are provided in a day or week but the experience is still special to visitors. I would like to think they still remember this. My children were assigned horses (Cherokee and Widow) and given basic riding instructions from other staff members (they stated afterward the women providing them were not very warm). I was given a horse named Stitch that I did not enjoy or recommend to anyone who has never ridden before. He was headstrong and unfriendly. I can say: The 60 minute ride through the wooded trails was beautiful and very quiet. Our group totaled six so I guess I assumed there would be conversation from the trail lead but there was none. No water was provided or information about the land we were on. I was grateful for the instructor stopping before bigger hills to describe what was ahead and how to best handle it, it helped my kiddos, but I can't say as I would come to this place again. The horses looked thin and tired. Not to mention the barn bathroom was exactly what you'd expect: dusty dirty and rusty. Perhaps our expectations were too high? One big plus: the friendliness of my children's horses and the barn cats.

I work here (full time now), so I can't give a true review. BUT I've been really impressed with how…read moremuch the owner cares about the kids learning about science and loving science. I've talked to other "mad scientists" from other franchises in Canada and the US, and they've even been impressed with the amount of programs that are offered and the quality of the take-home science projects the kids get. Every time I go into a school to teach kids, something happens to "make my day." If you have any questions, let me know. We do summer camps, in-school workshops for pre-schoolers through 8th graders, birthday parties, after school programs, library programs, stuff for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and really BIG science shows for audiences at schools, community centers, etc. It's so much fun!! Science shows are far superior to magic shows.

We have been attending classes at Palette for 2 years now. We love the new location. Both kids…read more(ages 4 and 10) have enjoyed all of the various classes they have signed up for. She has adapted her business practices to meet COVID19 guidelines and we continue to attend. The most important thing is the kids continue to have a social and artistic outlet during this time. Rebecca does a great job with all ages of children.

Palette is such an amazing place for kids!! Rebecca goes out of her way to make every experience…read morespecial. My kids (ages 3-13) have done classes/camps and parties at her studio, and every time, everything is perfect! Perfectly age appropriate, tuned to their interests, and engaging! Rebecca is simply magic! If you need something to engage your budding artist, or you want to help a child develop a love of art, this is the place to go! Her parties are seamless and stress-free and totally unique! I cannot say enough good things about Rebecca and Palette! 20/10 DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!

Our kiddo loved it here, year number two. First year was two weeks. This year almost 4 weeks…read more Highly recommend staying at the Ironworks hotel nearby!

The Zionsville Nature Center just opened last week at their new location in the Hussey Mayfield…read moreLibrary. I took my granddaughter over to visit for Earth Day, today. The new center is on the first floor of the library near the children's section. Rachel was on duty and is super knowledgable about nature and eager to visit with the kids (and adults). She told us that the new location is temporary until they move into a new dedicated facility in a few years. The center has displays of animals that are native to Indiana. There about a dozen live reptiles in the center including turtles and snakes. There are several hands on exhibits for the kids to explore. I enjoyed seeing the native birds up close. My granddaughter asked many questions that Rachel was happy to answer. The center offers monthly programs for all ages to help get kids interested in nature. You can find out and sign up for the programs through their website. We frequently sign up for the nature kits that are available over Spring Break and the holidays for a small fee. The kits come with video instructions narrated by Rachel. We just finished a kit to make a hummingbird feeder. Zionsville is fortunate to have the Nature Center.

This place is amazing. It's a hidden gem in Zionsville. If your kids like nature, and animals, and…read morehandling animal skulls and skins, then you will love the Zion Nature Center. This is a small, cottage-like nature center, but there are lots of little exhibits set up throughout. One room is all about pollinators, so you can see a honeybee hive through glass, and touch wasp nests and peer at (dead) monarch butterflies up close. Another room has a pair of microscopes set up to view pollen and spores. That same room has animal skins (shed snake skin, coyote hide, etc.) that you can pick up and touch. There's a basket full of animal feet (so hardcore) there too, like deer feet and a giant poultry claw. It's kind of gross and cool at the same time. The best room, according to my kids, is what they dubbed the "play room," because it has a bunch of toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals, puppets and kids books. If you have young kids, you can probably stay in that room for at least an hour or more. There are wooden blocks to play with, and also a giant chalkboard wall that you can draw on. Zion Nature Center also offers educational classes and summer camp, too. Check their website -- they have an updated list of what they offer on their site. Adjacent to the nature center is a small playground with slides, a climbing wall and other fun stuff. There is also a hiking / walking trail (Zion Nature Sanctuary) several steps away, where you can go creek stomping and traversing through nature. One thing to note is that Zion Nature Center sits on the grounds of an elementary school, and the hours of operation reflect that. The nature center is only open on weekend and select holidays when school is out. Call or visit their webs try to make sure they are open before you visit.

This place is amazing! Sensei Bilek is a patient, kind and fun instructor that claims respect from…read moreall his students. Highly recommended.

From the owner: At Phoenix Rising Karate, you'll find experienced instructors and an undeniable family-atmosphere…read morethat is welcoming to everyone. We offer a range of programs from after-school and birthday parties, to karate classes for all age ranges, there's something for everyone here. With our smaller classes, you can get the individualized attention you deserve. We believe we can make a positive difference in everyone's life. So come gain leadership and other self control skills that will last a lifetime at Phoenix Rising Karate.

I agree with other reviews here. Before I sent my child, I thought they were over critical, but it…read morehonestly was the exact experience we had. We told the director that our child hadn't really been socialized before or in a structured school setting and was speech delayed and were assured that this would be fine and nothing to worry about. Even their website says: "Individual attention is paid to each student. Our teachers believe in giving each child personalized attention in a nurturing environment." We even asked at the start the likelihood of being kicked out to do our child's progress/developmental issues and were told that the only way he would get kicked out is if we as parents did something super unruly to warrant removal of our child. Fast forward about 6 months when they "invited him not to return" the next month with only 3 days heads up because he required "too much individual attention". Considering both parents have full time jobs, this was definitely a big frustration and very inconsiderate (not to mention super unfortunate considering the pocketed about half our deposit). I also found the teachers/admins weren't super communicative regarding the true status of our child. Had we known they were thinking of not allowing us to continue to take our child here, we could have made other arrangements or at least been not caught off guard. The teachers weren't super nice (I literally never smiles when we dropped him off). But that may have just been because my child was "too difficult." I also found the overall vibe somewhat unprofessional. The director/principal often solicited money for fundraisers for her child from parents of children at the school, which seems somewhat improper with the expectation that the person that holds power to keep your child in care is "asking" for help with her child's fundraiser. Overall, I really liked the concept of exercise, structured education, etc. I just think for someplace that made all these promises, they could have done a bit more to either follow through or set expectations to start. This is definitely a place that is all about the money.

I'd like to not give them a star at all. I signed my 5 year old for swim lessons and we lasted a…read moremonth. This place does not have friendly swim instructors. They seem to be burnt out or just zero patience for a child who clearly can't swim. Our last experience the instructor yanked my child off the wall to forcibly make them dunk their head. When my child came out, the instructor quickly was blaming her for not wanting to participate towards the end of the class. Obviously, she just made her feel unsafe. I quickly told her she was in the wrong and should have moved on to another child. I did not witness them making it a fun experience at all. We switched schools immediately. To top it off, they don't care about your business the front desk was rude from the beginning.

We love Brightly! Their preschool classes are great and this summer our oldest did summer camp and…read moreshe loved it. Came home with such great creative projects! We also bought some art and crafty supplies for home!

Brightly Art Studio is my daughter & I's favorite place in town! We enjoy going to the preschool…read moreplaygroups, which change every week (photo examples), their make & take classes, holiday activities & kids and adult classes! We've had a birthday party here & so many fun memories. They also have art camps, clubs & and a cute shop to get things for your artist. We're so lucky to have such a special place like this in the community.

Absolutely amazing experience !…read more My 10 year attended a baking class at the sprouts cooking school. This was her first time ever doing such a thing. She loved it. The class allowed the students to be independent "chefs" and work mostly independently under supervision. My daughter felt a since of accomplishment and developed more confidence in the kitchen after class. The best part (for me) was the food. Oh my gosh~ the food was AMAZING. They made a chocolate chip cookie cake with icing and a mini fruit pizza. Chocolate chip is not my favorite, however I had several bites. The cookie could not had been any more perfect. It was moist, soft and just delicious. At the end, the kids took the recipes home. The class started and ended on time. It was a great experience.

We were invited to try a kids cooking class at Sprouts Cooking Class today. Baking with Barbie was…read moretoday's class and we can't remember a time we've had more fun in the kitchen! This class was for ages 3-13 and the kids learned to bake three recipes. The best part was that parents could drop off their children and head out for 2 hours of errands or a nice brunch! I was impressed right away by how bright and clean yet playful the space is. There is a wall along the back with 4 microwaves and 4 ovens which is perfect for some of the larger camp classes or the older kid's cooking classes. There is plenty of counter space with their large islands that hold a sink at one end and a convection stove top at the other. This class had little tables and chairs set up for the preschoolers while the older girls sat on stools around the island. Perhaps my favorite part of the kids cooking class was watching the teachers interact with the kids. They did a great job keeping the kids listening, learning, being safe and having fun all while baking! I know that can be a feat with just a couple kids at home! The way they interacted with the girls gave them confidence in continuing to bake at home.