20 Best Summer Programs In Knoxville, TN (2022 Updated)

I started at the Webb School of Knoxville in 7th grade. The transition was very tough coming from a public school. It's basically like skipping a whole grade without being prepared. After arriving at Webb, my confidence went down and I began not to care about my academics at all. During my Freshman year of school I got cursed out by a teacher at the school in front of the whole class ("Are you a f*c*I*g idiot?") for not knowing an answer to a question during class. I went home crying and my mother went to the school and told them about this issue. They did not discipline the teacher because they said that he (Luke Day) would be leaving the school very soon. So the school completely ignored what happened to me. How would you feel if this happened to your child? What would you want the school to do then? To top it all off, no one even came forward as a witness until after it was all over and too late. This issue should've went national. If it would've happened this day in time I would've been compensated some how or hushed one. Did this school prepare me for college? Yes. Did I hate every minute of this school? Yes. Did I build life long friendships at this school and do I speak to anyone I went to school with during my 7 years of attendance? No. Are there cliques? Yes. Would it be worth it to try it out? Yes. Coming from a public school, this school is like going to Hogwarts almost. It is totally different. There are less rules and restrictions for students and a ton of homework. Since graduation, I have not really returned to the campus. I try to avoid it–nightmare on elm street. Good Luck and pray over your child before you send them to school, you never know where the Devil is lurking. I have others stories to tell but I do not want to totally give away my identity.C

It was Phenomenal, and I'm not saying that just because I went there. There was a real sense of community, and my teachers truly were great (5 out of the 6 teachers I had senior year had PhD, not that was why they were great, its simply a tangible metric of general quality). All my teachers really knew their stuff and truly inspired great interest in their respective subjects, and I really mean that with the greatest sincerity. It was rigorous and combined with the sports I did there at times I was extremely busy, but it was wonderful. I'm now at a top liberal arts college, and I can honestly say it taught me how to learn, and how to handle myself in and out of the classroom. There is an Honor Code, which means people can't lie, cheat, or steal and regardless of how idealistic it may sound, it does make for a community with great trust. This makes for an atmosphere lacking in cynicism, and is very important to the general vibe of the campus (one which is beautiful by the way). Whether in sports, clubs, performing arts, etc… webb offered me a vast array of opportunities which every child can take advantage of. I loved running cross country and playing soccer, as well as playing in the school band. Some individuals seem to enjoy bashing it, but odds are it was because of a reason unrelated to the education or school experience, or perhaps out of spite for how wonderful it is. Simply put, the sense of community at Webb is beyond anything I have seen at the others schools I attended. That includes teachers, who were truly inspiring and very fun people to be around. This review is getting rather long, so I must close, by saying this school truly is special, I grew immensely as a person, in a variety of areas.Henry Swaffield

We have two children (one in the lower school and one in the middle school) that both started there in Kindergarten. They've had an incredibly immersive, supportive and creative environment to grow up in at each grade level. The faculty and staff are fantastic, each taking their job seriously yet making learning fun. I think the facilities are fantastic and some of the nicest in Knoxville, if not the nicest and the new Football Field and Gymnasium are certainly beyond anything I ever experienced growing up! I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a top notch educational experience for their child.JT Thome

Knoxville Museum of Art is free and an absolutely wonderful experience. We took our 5 month old and 3 year old. They were very accommodating with our stroller. They have an elevator for this purpose. They have a fantastic collection of many diffrent styles of art. The staff is knowledge and friendly. The girls loved the interactive art room on the first floor. They have a massive light bright like you had when you was a kid. They have sketch pads and diffrent mediums for children to use. The gift shop is really nice and the lady gave the girls stickers. It's a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. If it's not to hot they have outdoor features as well. Things are expensive so this much culture for free is amazing. We're lucky to have this museum and I highly recommend a visit. You can make reservations in advance on the website. You wont be disappointed. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
FreeJohn Green

Let me preface this by saying that I have not an art lover. However, this experience may have changed me. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Knoxville Museum of Art. They had a nice display of glass art. The best experience was in the Asian collection. There were some fascinating pieces of artwork woven from pieces of paper with hidden images. The best part was the guide in this area was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about the artwork and was able to stimulate my interest and the art. She was able to provide enlightening answers to my stupid questions such as what is the meaning of the two giant heads in the center of the room. Admission was free but you do have to sign in with a scan app or they sign you up when you get there. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
Freejames

Wonderful art museum with the sweetest staff. I proposed to my wife here years ago (May 2019), and didn’t mention a word about it to the staff or anything. When we turned around afterwards, the staff were cheering and clapping for us. One of the best memories that I’ll cherish forever. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
FreeLauren Randalls

Went to CAK for 10 years, this spring i was told they didn’t have the resources needed to support me and my mental health and told us that i wasn’t welcome to come back the next school year. I was fresh out of inpatient at the time and in my freshman year. This wasn’t even the worst thing that happened there, I was bullied throughout middle school and none of the teachers did anything about it because it never was physically violent. The school knew about it and never did anything to try and stop it. The policy’s and dress code standards are ridiculous and the school was/is terrible at supporting students that aren’t neurotypical or are struggling with their mental health. I’ve also receiving the same level of education in public school as i did in CAK. The only benefits you get at CAK are the bible classes/chapels which are not worth the money you pay. Just join a bible study/Young Life and go to church to get the same information for cheaper.Emmalee

CAK has been a great experience and the right choice for our family. CAK has provided challenging academic course study, a variety of extracurricular options (sports, theatre, etc), advanced technology, top notch teachers, staff, and administration. My kids have also been blessed to receive such a wonderful education and experience in a faith based school that stands firmly in a Christian education. My kids are not only being prepared for college but for their future beyond. They are being taught to be leaders and life changers in their communities. CAK not only offers a great education, but life skills, friendships, and the love for Jesus that will carry them forward and allow them to make a difference in the world.J S

The admissions process is laughable at best. The facade that they are most concerned with the student's spiritual life and education is quite frustrating. We have had our children in Christian Schools their whole academic careers and CAK didn't think our family was a good fit. We have decided to try Public School. I have to say, our experience with the public school in our area has been 100% more godly than the self righteousness of CAK. God's hand was in their decision. I'm thankful that they heard His voice to make this most fantastic decision for our son!Rikki Brandenburg

I love this school. I am pleasantly surprised at the communication from administration. I feel that we are part of a big family and that they care about my child and his future. I appreciate the support from everyone so far, parents, older students and faculty. This school is so much more than public school!Karen Cooper

best school ever…nicest students and teachers and most caring President! Whoever below said it is a racist school where teachers molest you must have been kicked out for drugs…because the standards are high! Students are very motivated here academically and extracurriculars!Wendy Carroll

Pretty sad when the patrons from this school come to another campus and leave a mess that looks worse than actual dump site. Makes me truly sad that my fellow Christians and Catholic brothers and sisters show very little respect to someone else's property.Charles richards

I am shocked how terribly I was treated by Lauren who is TNVAs office administrator. Long story short I transferred my daughter to their school this past summer. I was alarmed when her old school contacted me saying she had 6 days of unexcused absences, and after 12 we could be up for truancy court. So we are taking about a potential legal issue. Lauren was very cold, unkind, and treated me like it was MY fault they hadn't processed the transfer yet! I explained to Lauren how I had been trying to reach TNVA for days and every time I got a busy signal. She asked the number and told me that I called another one of their phone lines, but apparently it was not THE ONE I should have. So she completely blew off my following explanation, which I was hoping she would listen to so this could prevent other parents from having the same issue in the future. TNVA did not tell us what number was the “proper one” for such an issue upon enrollment. So I just called their general number as was provided to me, which most people would naturally do. As mentioned she did not want to hear that and continued to interrupt me asking (referring to the attendance/transfer) “well do you want to know the issue?!” very rudely. I actually only got ahold of Lauren/TNVA today after waiting for 1 hour and 40 minutes on one phone, and over 1 hour on a second phone with their parent company K12 and being transferred from there. She explained how it works on their side from the enrollment/attendance standpoint, which FYI they do not process your child's transfer for days after the school year starts. Given that and given the gravity of truancy from school becoming a legal issue after 12 days, I do not see why this was not disclosed upon enrollment. As opposed to having parents chase TNVA administration down only to get treated terribly for what is a very serious concern in order to get the answer. It would have been even better if they would have had a pending transfer from my child's prior school until they send out the notifications multiple days after school starts, so we were all informed. Following her explanation regarding the enrollment/attendance issue she very quickly proceeded to ask me, multiple times over and over, if I needed anything else within the span of a few seconds. I said yes and asked her name and position. While clearly she did tell me, she hesitated and actually paused on that one. That tells me she knew full well she was completely in the wrong with how she treated me as a concerned parent with what was a serious issue.Aubrey

Let's start out by saying this is the worst school ever!!! I enrolled my son in 2019 for Kindergarten and when they did mandatory testing the first month it did not affect their school year. My issue with K12 is that they over work the children. I tried to give them another chance for my son during 1st grade. They put him in RTI and I was okay with it because I know my son needed the extra help but they also had 4-5 hours of live classes, 3-4 hours OLS standard curriculum and 2 hours of seesaw homework. Because he was in RTI he had more work. I never returned my son too this school again. 2 years later my daughter is attending school for the first time in kindergarten. We fell in love with her witty sweet teacher. Then the second week in school they tested the children and said don't worry this is to see where your at just do your best. Well, they did not mean what they said…. by the beginning of the third week her teacher emailed me saying they want to move my daughter to a new classroom with only 6 kids to get one on one help which is RTI. This school sickens me because they never even gave my child a chance to advance.. It only took 2 weeks for them to put her in a category instead of teaching her. My child was nervous during her test and is smart she can say words that I can't say. PLEASE I BEG YOU DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL. I'm sure they have more black kids in RTI then any other race. This is sick!!!CHRISTINE'S WORLD

This was my twins' 3rd year with TNVA and they absolutely do not want to ever go to a brick and mortar school. They love schooling here so much that they are disappointed when weekends and holidays come around. I have been very happy with the positive changes that have occurred this school year and look forward to many more awesome years ahead. It really comes down to what you are willing to put into it. Do what you know needs to be done and it's an amazing place to experience your child(ren)'s learning growth. Expect it will all be done for you and refuse all the assistance, and of course it won't be what you hoped for. This year, the communication has been so much better than most other schools and the staff has really worked to make it an awesome place for all kids to learn.Jamie Hopkins

I have a little over a year of experience with the P3 team. I have experience at daycares, Montessori Schools, kid’s gyms, and at-home care. P3 is by far THE BEST experience my family has had. The others really lacked communication. P3 has never once slipped on a weekly update, sent pictures of my child doing fun activities constantly (not just once or twice and never again). They had listened and promptly responded when I had concerns or questions; they are ALL always smiling, which makes me feel they all enjoy what they are doing. There are so many big things (their cleaning regime!) and small things (the smiles) that make this facility and group part of our family and will continue to be for quite some time. Don’t hesitate to trust P3. Believe me you won’t regret it!Merissa McGraw

We have been members of P3 for years. Our children have learned strength of mind, character and body. This is a family atmosphere you can belong to where the staff truly cares about you. Our kids have been taking martial arts as well as attending the after school programs, summer camps and special holiday parties and parents night out events for so long we can't imagine P3 not being a part of our lives! If you want to teach your kids discipline, respect, and get their bodies moving this is the place to go! Master Scott Bailey and his team have put together a program that cannot be matched. And now with the new facility, there is no where in town that can beat them! P3 is simply the best and we love them all!Jennifer McDougal

Love their summer camp program. When our summer care plans fell through we were kind of panicked and happened to stumble upon this program and decided to give it a go. I am so very thankful we did, their staff are amazing and the programs and field trips they have for the kids are top notch. Our 5 year old loves coming here, this is the first daycare/summer camp he’s ever taken part in and it took him a little time to adjust but I feel like he is flourishing there. Would recommend to any parents looking for good childcare for the summer.Reva

As other reviews have noted, Chef John is rude. Funny sometimes, but rude often. When we filled out the required form before class I specified that I have a food allergy- (It was a question on the form.) But during class John continued to ridicule people with my food allergy. Apparently didn't bother to read the forms to learn if any of his students had allergies. Apparently doesn't believe some allergies are real. I was humiliated and embarrassed. He's simply unprofessional. We haven't been back. In John's reply to this review, he says I "demanded" in class that he remove the allergens from the recipes. Not true! He loudly ridiculed people, in class, with this particular allergy, so I didn't admit that I have this allergy. How could I? I was humiliated! So, he's lying and he knows it. Not surprising- he's unprofessional. I filled out his forms prior to class and mentioned my allergy- in response to the question on his forms. He is so unprofessional he probably didn't even read his own attendees' forms- I don't believe he was aware that anyone in class had this allergy. He was just being disrespectful and making fun of it.D

We had the pleasure of celebrating our daughter’s 11th birthday at Cutting Edge. She personally requested Chef John to lead her pasta making class. She and her friends had an incredible time! The kids learned how to make two different pastas and 2 sauces which they turned into their delicious lunch. Chef John does an amazing job of incorporating learning and fun. He kept the kids entertained and interested while they learned the ins and outs of pasta-making. It was a seamless experience that even included cupcake decorating! We really appreciated that we were able to be accommodated for our vegetarian family, as well as for children with allergies. Thanks, Chef John & Cutting Edge Classroom!Dimpal Patel

Loved our experience with Chef John's sushi class. It was a very laid back and fun atmosphere! We immediately looked to book another class on the way home. The portions were huge and honestly worth the price of admission alone, but my wife and I learned so much. I also want to add, we had to cancel due to weather back in January, but we thought they went above and beyond to give us all the money they could back. I even lost my voucher in the email and it expired, but they renewed it and let me use it. Top notch folks, we will be back!Jon North

I had visited a few other day care centers before visiting Bluegrass KinderCare and had left in unhappy tears. From the moment I stepped into this center, I felt at home. Terry, the director, welcomed me with open arms and was so accommodating. Having just moved here in June, we were unsure about the best places to bring our first child and I can say without a doubt that she is receiving the best care we could've found. She is engaged throughout the day with her peers and this shows in her behavior at home. We see that she grows leaps and bounds when she attends. As a teacher myself, I know the importance of language development and the connections to reading; our daughter is spoken to in two different languages, which is such a bonus for her. She is gaining great vocabulary skills through the activities they complete. Visuals in the rooms are at the appropriate eye levels for the children, as well. While we may miss our little girl while we are at work, we are so grateful that she is more than just taken care of, but that she is loved and taught from people who have the biggest hearts. When you visit KinderCare, you will undoubtedly not leave with unhappy tears, but with tears of certainty and joy knowing you have made the right choice for your family.Melissa Cooper

I was super hesitant to enroll my son in daycare but once he was 13 months, it was nearly impossible to get any work done with him around. After searching and searching, I finally found comfort in the staff here at KinderCare. I am at peace knowing he's being well taken care of and that they're being intentional with his education even at such a young age (16months). I am also extremely picky with my son's food choices and they have been helpful in that aspect as well, being as accommodating as they can be. I would highly recommend KinderCare Bluegrass to children of any age.Cassie Smith

My daughter has been attending this center for nine years and my son has been attending for four years. The directors and teachers are simply the best. I have no doubt that my children are receiving compassionate care and excellent instruction when they are at Kindercare. My daughter and son have both taken phonics from Ms. Carolyn and I feel that it was a huge help to my daughter when she started school. The teachers treat my children like family. I would highly recommend this center to anyone looking for childcare.Dawn Burdette

The Rev has been such a positive and fun experience since we started our 3 year old there in January. Everyone is friendly, professional, and kind. My daughter loved going to class each week and couldn’t wait to go back. The staff did an exceptional job during the pandemic to keep classes going for their dancers. Their hard work to establish an online and virtual dance studio for the kids in such a short amount of time was amazing. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create a memorable recital experience for their dancers during Covid-19. We appreciate everyone at Revolution Dance. Their time, energy, and investment into their students does not go unnoticed or under appreciated. We would highly recommend this dance studio!Jenna Stec

We’ve been with The Rev studio 4 years and highly recommend!! I watched a shy little 4 year old blossom and she’s now a confident 8 year old ♥️ The staff are so kind and caring with each child. They are patient and encouraging. They have diligently adhered to CDC guidelines during the pandemic and kept us notified if there were any concerns of exposure. The dance instructions and choreography are tailored to age and skill level and recitals are a joy to watch. Looking forward to many more years of dance😊 Thank you Rev staff!! Much appreciation for all you do!!!!Jan B

We had our son's 1st birthday party here and it was beyond perfect! They were extremely easy to get in touch with and very helpful throughout. They wrote down the gifts received so we could focus on spending those moments with our son. The other kids had so much fun and the staff kept up with them so adults could enjoy themselves too! I would absolutely do another party here! Best part was no clean up!Bethany Haney

This art center offers a multitude of classes. There's a pottery studio, dance classes, printmaking, needle arts and more. They offer classes for kids and have a vibrant art program for local homeschooled kids. I have taken a number of classes here: silk scarf dyeing, tamari ball embroidery, gel plate printing and even a dance class. The instructors have all been very good and I was pleased with the outcomes of my projects. The art center also hosts community events, such as First Friday art shows. Something is always going on at the Knoxville Arts and Fine Crafts Center. You can check their calendar online to find an event that interests you.Sheri Burns

Great fun! Did the Pinch a Pot class, Emily (instructor) is a warm, intelligent woman whose teachings shows how much she loves clay which she instills in her students – can't wait to take another class there! 10/10, Highly recommend others take advantage of this Knoxville treasureAmy Forson

I really enjoyed the pottery class I took here. The instructor explained the whys and hows of what we were doing as opposed to just showing us the clay and saying "go for it." It was a little difficult I figure out which door to use, but I may have missed a sign.Patricia Morris

The reason I am giving a bad review is because I called to cancel my granddaughter's art class for today because she is not feeling well. Since I have already paid for this class I just asked if I could register her for another. I would like to quote what Ms Shelley's response was to me. (We do not offer make up classes, please read the email receipt from when you signed up for the class} In todays society with Covid running drastically wild I would like to think that she would rather I be honest and not bring her to class. Or maybe she just needs my money more than she cares about everyone's health. Either way I will find a much more compassionate person to teach my granddaughter art and possibly better morals. Be warned should something happen for any reason that you may not be able to make it, ( SHE DOES NOT CARE ). I would not recommend her to anyone.Diane Samarco

My daughter's absolutely love taking Art classes and workshops with Miss Shelley! My husband and I enjoy seeing what they have created each class and Miss Shelley has this unique way of teaching kids that engages every child in the lesson no matter what skill level they are starting at and the kids are learning new things each class and having fun at the same time. We also appreciate the flexibility of being able to select the classes that work for our schedule and our girls enjoy trying out different classes (Painting, craft, slime, and clay) Your kids will thank you and the Art they will create is something you will treasure always and will want to display. We love Miss Shelley's Art classes!Stephanie Smith

My kids have had the privilege of taking art classes with Ms. Shelley for years and they adore both her and her classes! She always comes up with fun projects for them to work on and they consistently produce beautiful art with her instruction. I’m amazed at their skill level and progress over the years. Not only are their art skills improving greatly, but they become more confident and learn important life lessons! Mrs. Shelley is warm, supportive, and caring! Highly recommend.MsMeredithh

This self-guided, zip line / ropes/obstacle course was a lot of fun and challenging. We completed the beginner Fish Trail which had great obstacles as well as zip lines. This trail in particular had a few options for ways to complete it quickly if you realize you want to be on a more advanced trail. We took the long route on this trail and had a great time. The Bird Trail was recommended by the staff as they say that is a popular trail. This trail was a fun and challenging for us and featured a chance to be in the “bird house” which was super cool. While we could give you a few tips on how to navigate some of the most challenging obstacles, what’s the fun in that? We definitely recommend booking for an early morning spot as the cooler weather makes the experience more enjoyable. I would say for the beginner and moderate trails you could finish 3 trails in the 2.5 hour time period. I assume that is the same for the advanced trails, but we did not feel up for an advanced trail. Also 2.5 hours is plenty of time on the course, you will be exhausted. The staff was great, really chill and was attentive to making sure we had a good time. Safety was their #1 concern but did it in a fun manner. At $50 per person, I’m not sure you could find a zip line experience for much cheaper, worth every penny.Tarra Gray

My 8 yr old daughter and I had a good time at Navitat Knoxville. The staff was nice and helpful. They made sure we understood how everything worked and had us do a practice run to make sure we had it before we went on the course. We made it through the 2 easy courses and one of the mid range ones, the bird trail was my daughters favorite, we were tired by the end of the third one, but still a lot of fun. They advise you on which way to go for the best experience for you. They also have an upgrade option where you can apply the purchase price to their punch card, it's much cheaper per visit if you plan to return, great option for locals, we definitely will be coming back. Thanks Guys!!!Amber Turner

This was absolutely the most fun night I have had in a while. They have three levels of obstacle courses that are self guided. They are challenging, but in a great way. The ziplines were so fun!! You are literally up in the trees. It is beautiful. The guides aka " crew" were the best. They show you how to safely use the equipment and send you on your way. The guides are there to help if needed and they were all very friendly and seemed to really enjoy working there, which makes a difference. I can't recommend this place enough and am excited about going back and working my way towards the hard course.Rebecca Faullin

Did you know that SAFD welcomes adult dance students? SAFD has top notch professional teachers in a supportive, positive, healthy environment that welcomes dancers of all types. The office is well-organized, and the owner is very much on top of everything that happens in the studio. Outstanding value. I can hardly overstate how much I love this place. If you are an adult looking for quality ballet and other dance classes, SAFD is the place to come.Pam Holler

I have been dancing for almost 10 years at studio arts and love it there the teachers are very nice and a bit tough,but make it as fun as possible for the students.From my personal experience it’s better than any other studio I’ve been to.If you are looking for a non-competitive studio just for technique and recital at the end of the dance year,this is the place for you.once again I really love it.👍👍👍👍👍Leonie Manthey

My daughter has been taking ballet for almost a year now & we love Studio Arts. The staff is very nice & professional & she is learning a lot. She really enjoys taking classes there.Sharie Scheuer

Look no further for a great dance and music school! We have been so pleased with our experience at Angela Floyd Schools! This is our fourth year at this studio, third year on one of their competition teams, and our first year joining the music school. Our very first experience was a summer camp at the studio. It was a week long program and our daughter had the best time! Everyone was so friendly and we knew this was the place for us! The staff is organized and efficient in handling the day to day business of the studio. We have been so impressed with the teachers. They are qualified and come from dance backgrounds. They are very genuine and care for the child’s dance education. From day one, they have taught proper dance vocabulary for the dance movements. While the teachers bring a fun approach to teaching they also are serious in teaching proper technique. Our daughter started piano this year and we have been so pleased with her progress. The one-on-one experience with her teacher has been priceless. The teacher is so engaging and each week brings a contagious excitement under which our daughter has thrived. So, if you are looking for a studio to call home, look no further. You will not be disappointed.Nathan Jenkins

Our 8 year old daughter has been dancing at AFS for 5 years. She started out in ballet, but moved to Hip Hop as it better suited her personality. Her teachers have been wonderful to her throughout the years – working with her individually as well as in a class setting. She thrives on what she calls "The Big Stage" at the end of the year recital (which, by the way, is the best run recital in Knoxville – by far!). Our daughter has just started violin lessons at AFS as well and she is really loving it. So much so that she wants to continue with both dance and music. Our family sees this as both convenient and valuable to have both offerings in one place. There are hours to put in – for sure – but any good studio would require that. The flexibility in making up classes is appreciated as well. The staff knows our family and interacts with us whenever they have the opportunity. All of the above make this a great place for our daughter to experience, learn, and develop a long-term love for the arts. I highly recommend Angela Floyd Schools!Panda Paws

We are so happy to be part of the Angela Floyd Family! Our daughter attends the performing arts preschool program and we are thrilled with it. Ms. Karen and Mr. Alex are wonderful teachers and we cannot believe how much she learns not only in dance and music but academically as well. We are beyond impressed with how they have handled the COVID situation. They presented virtual options so quickly and it was nice to have a bit of normalcy in our routine and continue with classes online. Our daughter has taken all of the summer camps and we felt super safe with the safeguards they had in place and she was thrilled to be back in the studio. I danced when I was younger and have always wanted to take a class again but didn't want to be with younger kids. I was so excited when I found out they have an adult ballet class. I love my night out with women my age enjoying the art of dance. This year I have added the adult jazz class and am very excited about it! If you are looking for a home studio for yourself or your child look no further!Heaven's Cabins

Our experience of survival swim lessons at Baby Otter Swim academy was unreal! Fantastic! I’ve had my kids (6 kids- ages 2-11) in traditional swim lessons now for about 4 years. In the summer of 2019, I learned about this new “survival” swim technique…and we were blown away by the results! Within 2 weeks of beginning lessons, my 6-year-old son (previously scared of the water, nervous in the shallow end, can’t go underwater) was swimming laps across a 40-ft pool, head under water! The transformation was absolutely incredible! This technique really equips children to save themselves in emergency by teaching them LIFE-SAVING positions in the water and then follow-through to move and get out! Once he learned this new technique, my sons ability took off (he had already had 2-3 years of traditional lessons, but STILL was not a swimmer or ANYWHERE near safe around water)! By the end of the six week course, he was swimming capably and confidently across the pool for multiple laps, diving to the bottom to retrieve toys, jumping into the deep end and swimming 40 ft to the stairs, floating on his back for as long as he desired, and utterly astounding his mom. 😍 He could also float unaided in a full set of clothes (heavy jacket, pants, long sleeved shirt). The results for my 4 year old and two year old were similar. My four year old was confident for the rest of the summer swimming even in the deep end! My 2 year old daughter amazed us and still (6 months later) talks about her swim lessons and is ready to return to the water this summer! The comfort and assurance that these lessons have given me as a mother when my children are near water is PRICELESS. Our eyes are still always and ever vigilant, but it is incredible to see my children ALL moving confidently and safely around water. The Baby Otter Swim Academy teachers were a delight to work with. They offered flexibility and were extremely attentive to each personality and the different needs of each child. The teachers were calm with the crankiest of children, and even with the high intensity pace of this training, they were never sharp, scary, or “in-your-face” like some instructors I’ve known. 5-stars, excellent swim instruction!Tami Jones

I truly cannot day enough positive things about our experience with Baby Otter Swim. My 2.5yo and 9mo took lessons from Kate and Lauren and I was blown away by their patience, kindness, and passion. They’re very knowledgeable about what they do and I always felt my children were in very safe capable hands. My 2.5yo can be a challenging toddler at times but Kate always treated him with kindness and respect. She handles tantrums like such a pro without being patronizing or condescending. I’m amazed at how much my children learned over one course. If you’re apprehensive about the idea of survival swim like I was (apprehensive was an understatement for me), take this as your sign and go for it. You won’t regret allowing your children to learn such a valuable lifesaving skill. Plus, they offer stroke transition classes too! It was bittersweet finishing our summer swim lessons, but it’s been such a joy working with Kate and Lauren and watching my children learn so much. We can’t wait to return next year.Victoria Starkey

We have six children (ages 11 – 2) that we put through the academy in 2019. The results were outstanding! My older swimmers gained a ton of confidence, while my younger ones learned the swim/float/swim survival technique and can get themselves out of the pool if they fall in. That's right, my 2-year-old can fall into the deep end, turn and swim back to the wall, and climb out! And I had a 6-year-old who was terrified of the water now swimming full laps across a 40-ft pool! It's worth every penny!Chris Jones

Our toddler has been going to CBKC for about two years now, and our 6 mo daughter just started in their infants group 2 weeks ago. All of the teachers and staff at the daycare have been absolutely amazing! The culture in the center is such that all teachers get to know and interact with every kid and as a result, transitions between age groups go extremely smoothly. My husband has noted multiple times how nicely surprised he is when he goes to pick up the kids and without asking, everyone in the center knows whose dad he is. The community there is like one big family and I think this is the best possible environment for a kid to be happily growing and learning in. During the pandemic CBKC has been following strict protocols about safety. Children's temperature is taken at the front door every morning and parents are not allowed to go inside. While it has been difficult not being able to go in and see my children's teachers every day, the center has been using an app where we can not only exchange messages with them, but we receive regular updates about the kids, what they are doing, eating and learning. The multiple pictures that I get every day of both my son and daughter and the lovely messages that accompany them have been priceless! Seeing them happy, surrounded by friends, posing with a big smile and a favorite toy or learning how to sit or write letters literally makes my day every single time. It is more than clear that the teachers truly care for and love my kids, and I feel reassured that my little ones are happy and safe with them. CBKC also has connections with local farms and recently my son got to meet in person and even pat two baby goats that visited the center's outdoor playground. He was super excited about it and loved seeing the pictures which we got from the event and telling me about his experience.Milka Doktorova

We love Cedar Bluff Kinder Care! We were so lucky that they had an opening when we moved to town in the fall. And the weekly tuition fee is reasonable for this area. The hours work perfect with our work schedule, 6:30am-6:00pm. Not only do they serve breakfast, lunch, and snack, they are healthier than recommended guidelines! The directors and teachers are so wonderful, and the structured curriculum is perfect for the age groups. I have also been pleasantly surprised that Kinder Care stays open even if Knox schools close for whatever random reasons like they tend to do, so we have been able to make it to work with no stress. My son is constantly saying he loves school and he looks forward to going every day. The love here is outstanding!Nina K Mata

I switched my infant daughter to KinderCare after an incident at her last daycare where they let her flip a bouncy chair over and hit her head and didn’t inform me. Since we have been at KinderCare, I feel so much more at peace with leaving my daughter there and I’m finally able to work an 8 hour shift without worrying if she is ok. The new app they have is awesome and lets me k ow how she is throughout the day, as well as being able to see pics and videos of her. They do everything by the state requirements so I am notified immediately if something is wrong. My daughter finally loves her teachers and doesn’t cry when I leave her anymore. I have recommended this daycare to all of my friends as it was recommended to me!!Kelley Adcock

This place was so much fun for not just my children who are 5 and 7, but also for my wife and I as well. It's very educational for children of all ages. They need to fix and update some of the stations because they didn't work or they were limited in what they could do. Although, it's definitely worth a Sunday afternoon trip to share as a family. I will give it a update to 5 stars whenever they fix there stations. We got in for $5.00 each with my military discount. I'm a Navy vet and have a VA identification card. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$1–5Eric Bradley

We took our 4 year old and 2 year old here and they absolutely loved it. There were several different play areas that kept their attention for a couple hours. While we there we also saw multiple employees cleaning/sanitizing and making sure things were ready for the next kid. I would definitely take my kids back here again! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$6–10Seth Graber

They say it's for little ones 🤣, but really it's fine ☺️ for all ages. Great interactive place to take the children to. let's them learn and grow! The different enter action will keep them busy for hours. We saw birthday parties 🎉 there, so great place to host one for the little ones My 14 & 17 year olds both really enjoyed themselves , so I would highly recommend it, for a great fun family outing! 😁.Aj Foley

My teenage daughter has danced here for 2 years and it has been a great experience. Not only has she grown as a dancer, but the studio environment is encouraging and positive. The teachers model kindness and care for the girls which they extend to each other. We highly recommend Makers Ekklesia!Alison Sexton

Such an amazing studio with teachers who teach skillfully and lovingly… they train the students in the art of dance through the lens of worship. I’m so thankful that my daughters are growing in professional dance technique but also their walk with Jesus. Our family is so so thankful!Amy Spencer

We are pretty new to the toddler ballet class, but we love it so far. Jennifer and her instructors are lovely and my little girl loves dancing with them! So thankful to find a dance studio where Jesus is so important to what they do and how they act.Ashley Christina

My son has been taking lessons and attending Rock 101 for almost 2 years and it is so amazing to see how much he has learned! The instructors and staff are incredible and have helped our son develop such a love for music and playing. They are patient and also encourage and challenge him with the songs they give him, and he’s constantly learning and growing! He has developed great friendships with the other kids in the band and looks forward to going so much every week! I can’t recommend School of Rock highly enough!Kaitlin White

The performance program teaches kids different genres of rock and includes history of songs/artists. I love how the individual lessons allow the student to enlist help from the teacher to progress in the performance program. Giving musically gifted kids the opportunity to perform concerts by creating a "band" from select students allows my daughter to not only learn different genres from her own, but also teaches working with others to effect great music.GutterMasters Plus

My 13 year old has been at SOR for 8 months now and she loves it. Everyone from the owner, to the instructors, to the performance directors pour their heart and soul into these kids. Since joining my daughter has gained confidence and has even volunteered to sing back up, something she would have never done previously. SOR is a 45 minute drive from our home, there is no way I would make that drive if it wasn't 100% worth it.Penni Drake

I love my visit to this site! There is so much to see and do at this location. There’s no way I think anyone could hike it all in one day. Is you like to hike and be in nature, this is a great place to do it. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because of how hard it is to navigate around the center and on the hiking trails. All the different trails are not clearly marked, and it can get easy to get turned around. I definitely recommend buying a guide map for $1 in the visitor’s center and keeping it with you, because even the map can be a little confusing. As long as you keep your wits and have a good sense of direction you’ll be fine. It’s well worth the visit! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
FreeAmy Justine

A Knoxville gem! Ijams is a part of the Knoxville Urban Wilderness and a true gem within city limits. It resides on something like 300 acres off of a narrow, winding road in south Knoxville. There are a handful of trails and outdoor events for families and individuals and a variety of playgrounds for kids. The gift shop offers snacks, outdoor necessities, and local products. While you’re here, check out the indoor exhibit with the turtles, then hit the trail for some fresh air and the secret pond. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
FreeLauren Hunter

Ijams is the perfect little outdoors escape from the city. There are miles of little hiking and biking trails. You can find a lot of cool hidden little spots if you take the time to explore. If you just want to chill it’s a great place to set up and eno by the water. I’m a photographer and I take a lot of family photos here as well. They put on a lot of cool events like movies on the lawn and kayaking clinics, which I intend to take advantage of when I have the time. Can’t recommend this place enough!Katie Mae Williams