Turn Screen Time Into Skill Time
Weekly After School Training for Inspiring Creative Growth (and FUN!) For Ages 7-13
Seats are limited!
“Best Art School in Barrie”
Visit Our Other Cartoon Camp Programs:
20+ Years of Award-Winning Professional Animation Industry and Post-Secondary Leadership Experience.
Voted “Best Art School in Barrie” & “Business Champion” in 2025.
A safe, inspiring and supportive space for all. Sibling Discount: 10% off the 2nd seat to the same month.
1 light snack, a juicebox and all traditional art materials included with each session.
Fun & supportive mentorship at the “Best Art School in Barrie” (2025)
⏰ When: Every school-day Wednesday from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.
🎨 For Who: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.
✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided with each class—just bring your imagination!
🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group learning environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning animation industry veteran and educator.
👫 Sibling Savings: Automatically save 10% on your second seat when siblings enroll for the same month.
👍 Flexibility: Enroll for each individual month or SAVE by joining us for the full term.
(3:45 - 4:00pm is flex arrival with fun creative time!)
Have Questions?
PLEASE NOTE: Upchuckle Education is strictly a NUT-FREE space. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe & healthy.
FALL 2026 TERM
• Held every school-day Wednesday from 3:45 - 6pm
• 1 juicebox and 1 light snack included with each class
• Sibling discount: 10% off your 2nd seat to the same month (Ultimate Creator Pass excluded)
Bundle the FULL TERM & GET 1 CLASS FREE + $14 BONUS SAVINGS!—Make it an EPIC creative Fall! This deal’s gone on Sept 4th!
(Student Work)
September:
Flipbook Animation
4 Wednesdays:
Sept 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th
Animation is about so much more than just moving drawings. It’s about drawings that move audiences, and this month, your child will learn that skill and discover that joy.
(Click + below to learn more).
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This September focuses on giving drawings energy and movement…literally! From their first paper-flip, your young artist will see why the art of animation is a magical creative superpower.
The Goal: We start simply with a two-pose exercise to build an understanding of the foundation of movement. From there, your child will dive into the physics of motion by tackling the "Bouncing Ball"—the essential exercise for understanding weight and timing that all pro animators start with. They’ll learn how to use squash and stretch to give their drawings a sense of reality and weight.
Mini Final Project: Students will design and animate their own straight-ahead story flipbook. Whether your creative child chooses to animate something silly, an action scene, or something abstract—we’ll be here to support them through every page of their journey. You’ll also receive a video of their finished animation after our month wraps up!
4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:
$169
(Less than $20/hr!)
9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!
Animation is about so much more than just moving drawings. It’s about drawings that move audiences, and this month, your child will learn that skill and discover that joy.
The Goal: We start simply with a two-pose exercise to build an understanding of the foundation of movement. From there, your child will dive into the physics of motion by tackling the "Bouncing Ball"—the essential exercise for understanding weight and timing that all pro animators start with. They’ll learn how to use squash and stretch to give their drawings a sense of reality and weight.
Mini Final Project: Students will design and animate their own straight-ahead story flipbook. Whether your creative child chooses to animate something silly, an action scene, or something abstract—we’ll be here to support them through every page of their journey. You’ll also receive a video of their finished animation after our month wraps up!
THE LOGISTICS
⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on September 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.
🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.
✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!
🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.
👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!
👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month
View our FAQ HERE
Enrollment closes:
Friday, Sept 4th @ 9am
ENROLL FOR THIS MONSTER-FILLED MONTH AND GET AN EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT ON OUR VERY SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CARTOON CAMP!
October:
Monster Mash Month
4 Wednesdays:
Oct 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
Get ready for a month of imagination & learning to create monsters, ghouls & goblins that will be so much fun it’s spooky! PLUS get a discount on our HALLOWEEN CARTOON CAMP with costumes, prizes, pizza & art for kids who aren’t able to Trick-Or-Treat!
(Click + below to learn more).
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Upchuckle transforms into a mad scientist's laboratory of creativity this October! From spooky specters and oozing slime monsters to grotesque goblins and wild werewolves, your young artist will discover how to bring their creepiest, most fantastic, and weirdest ideas to life on the page.
The Goal: We focus on building memorable creatures using the core principles of character design and dynamic composition. Your artist will learn how to express their spookiest imaginings while mastering pro tricks for giving non-human characters wildly expressive personalities.
Mini Final Project: Move over Hollywood! Students will design, compose, and color their own Retro Monster Movie Poster. They’ll invent a giant cinematic beast interacting with a "hero" character escaping the chaos, script their own suspenseful taglines, and learn stylized hand-drawn typography to create a custom masterpiece they'll be proud to hang on their wall!
The October Perk: Enrolling in this after-school month automatically hooks you up with an exclusive $20 discount for our special Halloween Cartoon Camp on Saturday, October 24th! It’s an epic, 4-hour bash packed with costumes, prize giveaways, a pizza party, and copious amounts of candy. Best of all, it's for an incredible cause: the Saturday crew will be creating custom coloring pages for Oatley Vigmond's Accessible Halloween Village, supporting children with accessibility needs who aren't able to trick-or-treat. It’s the perfect way for your artist to level up their skills, celebrate, and use their art to make another child feel truly valued and entertained!
4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:
$169
(Less than $20/hr!)
9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!
Get ready for a month of imagination & learning to create monsters, ghouls & goblins that will be so much fun it’s spooky!
The Goal: We focus on building memorable creatures using the core principles of character design and dynamic composition. Your artist will learn how to express their spookiest imaginings while mastering pro tricks for giving non-human characters wildly expressive personalities.
Mini Final Project: Move over Hollywood! Students will design, compose, and color their own Retro Monster Movie Poster. They’ll invent a giant cinematic beast interacting with a "hero" character escaping the chaos, script their own suspenseful taglines, and learn stylized hand-drawn typography to create a custom masterpiece they'll be proud to hang on their wall!
The HALLOWEEN BONUS: Enrolling in this after-school month automatically hooks you up with an exclusive $20 discount for our special Halloween Cartoon Camp on Saturday, October 24th! More details on that Cartoon Camp are coming soon!
THE LOGISTICS
⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.
🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.
✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!
🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.
👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!
👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month
View our FAQ HERE
Enrollment closes:
Friday, Oct 2nd @ 9am
November:
Sculpting Expressive Characters
4 Wednesdays:
Nov 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
This month, we're giving our pencils a break as we step into the third dimension! Your young artist will discover the tactile magic of plasticine modeling, learning how to mold raw material into highly animated, freestanding figures that practically jump to life.
(Click + below to learn more).
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Working in 3D changes how an artist thinks (and even greatly improves their drawings!). This month shifts our focus from flat lines to physical volume, weight, and balance, giving students a hands-on understanding of how characters exist in the real world.
The Goal: We dive into the physical mechanics of modeling. Your artist will master structural balance and weight distribution, learning how to build sturdy, dynamic figures that stand perfectly on their own without slouching or breaking. We will focus heavily on sculpting personality into the medium—molding distinct facial structures, storytelling eyes, and custom textures whether clothing folds, warty flesh, or wild hairstyles.
Mini Final Project: Straight from the pipelines of professional animation studios, students will design and sculpt their own Signature Character Maquette. They will construct a wire armature (the internal skeleton), block out the primary masses, and refine the surface with specialized tools. Your child will walk away with a solid, custom-built character model born entirely from their own imagination.
4 Wednesdays (9hrs) For:
$169
(Less than $20/hr!)
9 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!
This month, we're giving our pencils a break as we step into the third dimension! Your young artist will discover the tactile magic of plasticine modeling, learning how to mold raw material into highly animated, freestanding figures that practically jump to life.
The Goal: We dive into the physical mechanics of modeling. Your artist will practice structural balance and weight distribution, learning how to build sturdy, dynamic figures that stand perfectly on their own without slouching or breaking. We will focus heavily on sculpting personality into the medium—molding distinct facial structures, storytelling eyes, and custom textures whether clothing folds, warty flesh, or wild hairstyles.
Mini Final Project: Straight from the pipelines of professional animation studios, students will design and sculpt their own Signature Character Maquette. They will construct a wire armature (the internal skeleton), block out the primary masses, and refine the surface with specialized tools. Your child will walk away with a solid, custom-built character model born entirely from their own imagination.
THE LOGISTICS
⏰ When: 4 Wednesdays on November 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.
🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.
✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!
🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.
👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!
👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month
View our FAQ HERE
Enrollment closes:
Friday, Oct 30th @ 9am
December:
Animated Video Christmas Cards
(Just a fun Christmas image we created—not the class project!)
3 Wednesdays:
Dec 2nd, 9th & 16th
Give the gift of animation this Christmas! Your child will have a blast creating a hand-drawn flipbook card that literally moves family and friends. It will be filmed and sent to you in time to give the recipient.
(Click + below to learn more).
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Animation is the ultimate drawing magic trick! This month is all about learning the fun foundations of frame-by-frame movement using nothing but paper, pencils, and an idea.
The Goal: We focus on the simple mechanics of making drawings look alive. Before starting on their cards, students will brainstorm different ideas and then practice the basics of timing—learning how small changes from page to page create the illusion of motion, giving them the tools to tell any holiday story or sequence they imagine.
Mini Final Project: The Animated Christmas Flip-Card. Students will bring their own festive idea to life, sketching and binding a working flipbook card. We will film the final product and email the video to you before the break. Whether the recipient lives in the same house or on the other side of the world—it’s a truly unique, personal, and memorable gift.
3 Wednesdays (6.75hrs) For:
$129
(Less than $20/hr!)
6.75 hours of fun, professional training for less than $20/hr!
Give the gift of animation this Christmas! Your child will have a blast creating a hand-drawn flipbook card that literally moves family and friends. It will be filmed and sent to you in time to give the recipient.
The Goal: We focus on the simple mechanics of making drawings look alive. Before starting on their cards, students will brainstorm different ideas and then practice the basics of timing—learning how small changes from page to page create the illusion of motion, giving them the tools to tell any holiday story or sequence they imagine.
Mini Final Project: The Animated Christmas Flip-Card. Students will bring their own festive idea to life, sketching and binding a working flipbook card. We will film the final product and email the video to you before the break. Whether the recipient lives in the same house or on the other side of the world—it’s a truly unique, personal, and memorable gift.
THE LOGISTICS
⏰ When: 3 Wednesdays on December 2nd, 9th, and 16th from 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM.
🎨 Who It’s For: Creative explorers ages 7–13 who want to level up their art, design, storytelling and animation skills.
✏️ What’s Included: All traditional art supplies, a juicebox and light snack are provided for each session—just bring your imagination!
🏆 The Setting: A specialized, small-group environment (max 12 students) led by an award-winning industry veteran at Upchuckle Education in Barrie.
👍 Flexibility: Enroll for individual months or SAVE by bundling the full Fall Term! Get it while you can—the Bundle discount expires September 4th!
👦👧 Sibling Discount: Automatically save 10% on your 2nd seat for the same month
View our FAQ HERE
Enrollment closes:
Friday, Nov 27th @ 9am
Limited seats (Max 12 per Month)
Children must be enrolled by their own parent/legal guardian.
All prices are subject to HST.
Your After School Leaders
BRAD FERGUSON
Brad is a professional artist, animator, storyboard artist, director and showrunner with over 20 years of award-winning industry experience.
As the Founder and Director of Upchuckle Education, he draws on his extensive background as a former Post-Secondary Animation Instructor, Coordinator and 4-year Animation Diploma Program Director to provide high-level mentorship and support to every student.
Some Studios & Networks Brad has worked with:
Emily-Mae Van Der Ster
Discovering her own creative spark as a young child greatly contributed to Emily-Mae's appreciation of the profound and positive impact creative expression has on people.
With a background that includes experience in early childhood education and social work, inspiring and encouraging the unique minds of children is her passion. Artistically, Emily-Mae enjoys working across both digital and physical media, exploring everything from drawing and colouring to clay sculpture and storytelling. Emily-Mae is a welcomed addition to the Upchuckle team.
Your After School Questions, Answered
(Click your question from the list to see the answer)
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We recognize that every student is an individual, so we evaluate exceptions on a case-by-case basis. It should be noted that as a specialized art school, our sessions require a certain level of dedication and sustained creative focus which—while a lot of fun—may be somewhat demanding for younger students.
Because we do not have alternative activity spaces or non-art backup programs, we want to ensure every student can thrive in our focused, small-group setting. If your child is outside the 7-13 range but is exceptionally passionate about creativity, please reach out to us at Education@Upchuckle.com to discuss if the program would be a good fit.
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Drop-off: Students are welcome to arrive during our social creative window from 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM. This time is designed for students to arrive at staggered times, settle in and have some creative warm-up time before our lesson time begins at 4:00 PM.
Pick-up: Our building locks the exterior doors to the public at 5:00 PM. Our sessions conclude promptly at 6:00 PM, at which time we pack up and make our way to the designated entrance as a group. We will wait together inside the locked doors for the designated person(s) to arrive; please be sure to meet us at the door at this time. As outlined in the Terms & Policies Agreement, late pickup fees come into effect at 6:09 PM.
Transportation: Although we can’t wait to grow to the point of having Upchuckle bus lines carting Students around Barrie, we are not currently able to provide transportation.
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Yep! We love seeing families create together.
Just like our other Cartoon Camps, we offer a Sibling Discount: 10% off the 2nd seat when subscribing 2 children to the same month. This discount is automatically applied during the checkout process.
Because our bundles already offer a great savings, sibling discounts do not apply to Term Creator Packs or other bundles.
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Due to our limited seating and the prep & admin work required for each monthly cohort, our refund policy for Monthly Passes and Multi-Month Bundles is as follows:
1. Individual Monthly Passes
Cancellations 8+ calendar days before the first session: 50% of the pass is refundable.
Cancellations 7 or less calendar days before the first session: The pass is non-refundable.
2. Multi-Month Bundles
Cancellations 8+ calendar days before the first session of your next upcoming month: You will receive a refund equal to 50% of the full retail price of the next closest month and a 100% refund for any following months remaining in your bundle.
Cancellations 7 or less calendar days before the first session of your next upcoming month: The upcoming month is non-refundable, but you will receive a 100% refund for any following months remaining in your bundle.
Notes:
Sporadic refunds on any individual sessions or specific months within a bundle are not possible in any scenario.
Additional payment processing fees may also apply to refund amounts.
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Nope!
We are dedicated to each and every individual student and always want to ensure our specialized training remains available for those who have enrolled. If any given month has 2 or fewer students enrolled the lead instructor (Brad) will be the sole staff member present for each session, rather than our standard two instructors.
This is what allows us to continue the program for the month.
If this low enrollment policy is relevant for your child you will be notified on the Monday before the first Wednesday of the month once the enrollment cutoff has passed.
We do not offer refunds for low enrollment scenarios.
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It’s always best to meet our enrollment cutoff dates but if there is time and we have seats available we will do what we can to include your child.
We will need to move quickly through the entire enrollment process which relies heavily on your response time and our availability. We are happy to help out in a pinch but to ensure we are able to prepare, any late registration must be treated as a one-time exception rather than a routine occurrence. It should be noted that same-day enrollment is likely not possible.
Due to our building and intertwined curriculum, partial or mid-month enrollment is not possible.
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While our regular Cartoon Camps offer an Extended Hours Program, our After School Program does not currently offer this as an option.
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Once you purchase admission through our website, there is one final step to officially secure your child’s seat at Cartoon Camp After School:
Within 1 business day of your order we’ll email you a mandatory Student Information Form to help us ensure the health and safety of everyone at camp. Please watch your inbox (and spam folder) for this email from Education@Upchuckle.com—adding us to your contacts is a great idea!
The form will arrive with a clear deadline for submission (usually about 3 days—sooner if we’re nearing the enrollment cutoff date). Because we have to manage our limited seating carefully, missing this deadline will result in cancellation of your order and be subject to our refund policies.
Once we’ve reviewed your form we’ll reach out to either ask for clarification or confirm your child's seat is officially secured.
1–3 days before the first session of the month, we’ll send your Welcome Package with all the extra details your child will need to join us!