Marking a historic milestone for the organization, the Paso Robles Youth Arts Center will debut its very first daytime homeschool class in its state-of-the-art JUSTIN Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen! The new daytime Culinary Arts course will focus on hands-on instruction in cooking, basic kitchen safety, and foundational life skills. This program introduces a brand-new daytime avenue for homeschooling families to fulfill elective criteria, complementing the center’s core artistic disciplines: Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre.
The Paso Robles Youth Arts Center (PRYA) has been a staple for accessible after school youth arts education in the North County for 28 years, serving 700 youth annually. As a new educational service vendor for Heartland Charter School, a state-approved partnership opens the door for local homeschooling families enrolled with Heartland to seamlessly utilize their instructional planning funds for daytime enrichment classes at the center.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome families into our creative community during daytime hours,” said Barby Wunsch, Executive Director of the Paso Robles Youth Arts Center. “Our culinary arts program was built to inspire the next generation of creators, teach practical independence, and make cooking approachable. Partnerships like this allow us to better serve North County’s diverse educational landscape by giving homeschoolers a safe, top-tier environment to explore their passions.”
Natalia Esquivel and Shelby Steiner of the Paso Robles Youth Arts Center will be on hand to answer questions at the North SLO County Back to School Park Day hosted by Heartland Charter School. This event is scheduled for August 21, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Atascadero Lake Park, located at 9305 Pismo Ave in Atascadero, California.
To learn more or to register for classes, contact Paso Robles Youth Arts Center at 805-238-5825.