After-school and youth programs · Maywood, IL
AI Curriculum for After-School Programs
Digital Alchemy runs an AI curriculum for after-school programs where students build real things with AI, games, stories, websites, and simple apps, and present them at a final showcase families can attend. It runs once a week in your existing program slot, for grades 6 to 12, with all instruction led by Digital Alchemy.
Taught by Desi Baker (Desmond Baker Jr), a Google Gemini Certified Educator who has taught AI through the Chicago Housing Authority and spoken at AI Tinkerers.
Book a free planning callWho this is for
- After-school directors at schools who need a high-interest enrichment block
- Nonprofit youth program leaders in Chicagoland
- Park district and library program coordinators
What students walk away with
- A finished product per student: a game, a story, a site, or an app
- Responsible AI habits taught from day one: verification, credit, and privacy
- A family showcase that shows your community what the program produced
- Attendance and completion records for your funders and reports
How a cycle runs
- 8 to 9 weekly sessions, 60 to 90 minutes each, in your normal program time
- Students pick a build track in week one and work toward the showcase
- All tools are browser-based and approved with your team in advance
- Digital Alchemy leads every session. Your staff supervise, they do not have to teach AI
Why after-school is a strong first step
After-school has no grading pressure and no curriculum committee. Programs use it to test demand, build student excitement, and show a school what a full pilot could look like, with photos, products, and family feedback as the evidence.
Price
Prices as of November 2026.
From $7,500
After-school cycles run on the pilot rate: from $7,500 for one cohort of up to 30 students. Smaller cohorts are quoted on the planning call.
Founding pricing: the first 3 pilots booked for the 2026-27 school year are $5,000 flat. When those three are booked, founding pricing closes.
Every quote is given in writing after a free planning call. No quote is final until scope is final.
Book a free planning callQuestions schools ask
What ages fit best?
Grades 6 to 12. Middle school groups build games, stories, and art with AI. High school groups build sites, apps, and media products.
Do you provide the instructor?
Yes. Digital Alchemy leads instruction. Your program staff handle supervision and family communication, as they normally do.
Can this run in summer?
Yes. The same cycle compresses into a summer format with more sessions per week. Ask on the planning call.
More for schools
AI Curriculum for Schools
A project-based AI curriculum pilot for schools. Students build real digital products with AI, responsibly. Teacher training and a showcase included.
Read moreAI Workshop for Teachers in Chicago
Hands-on AI workshops for Chicago-area teachers. Half-day and full-day PD where teachers practice with real classroom activities, not slides.
Read moreAI Literacy Curriculum for High School
An AI literacy curriculum for high school where students learn to use, question, and build with AI, and finish with a portfolio product.
Read moreAI Course for CTE Programs
A 9-week AI course pilot that plugs into an existing CTE program. Career-connected, project-based, no new department needed.
Read moreAI Pilot Program for Schools in Illinois
A 9-week AI pilot program for Illinois schools. Local instructor, teacher training, student showcase, and a go or no-go summary at the end.
Read moreAI Professional Development for Teachers
AI professional development for teachers that is practice, not theory. Full-staff PD days, subject practice, and classroom rules your staff writes.
Read moreAI Literacy Curriculum for Middle School
An AI literacy curriculum for middle school: how AI works, how to question it, and a first real build, taught as a guided 9-week pilot.
Read moreAI Classes for High School Students in Chicago
AI classes for high school students in Chicago during the school year: build real products with AI, in school or after school, portfolio included.
Read moreProject-Based AI Curriculum for Schools
A project-based AI curriculum where students design, prototype, test, and present real products. The method behind every Digital Alchemy pilot.
Read moreLooking for team training instead? See AI training for teams and organizations.