Our Programs
CoachArt offers free art and athletic lessons to chronically ill children* and their siblings between the ages of 5-18 in the U.S.
One-on-One Lessons
One-on-One Lessons are the core of CoachArt’s service model. Caring volunteer coaches provide free instruction to seriously ill children and their siblings in the activity of their choice, either in-person or online. After four weekly lessons, CoachArt kids can renew that activity or sign up for something new. Lesson materials are provided at no cost to volunteers or families.
CoachArt Clubs
CoachArt Clubs are series of four weekly group lessons led by an experienced coach in which kids form bonds with fellow participants while gaining valuable skills in an activity they enjoy.
One-Day Group Lessons
CoachArt’s One Day Group Lessons provide short-term instruction for a group of kids who want to learn a new skill in a supportive social environment.
*Who qualifies for CoachArt's free programs?
CoachArt serves U.S. children with a serious physical illness, and their siblings, between the ages of 5-18. See a list of qualifying diagnoses here.
I think if I can BEAT CANCER
I can climb to the top of this wall.
CoachArt kid Ella
age 8, Oakland
CoachArt Connect makes it easy
The award-winning CoachArt Connect app enables volunteers and families to efficiently schedule online or in-person lessons together. Online lessons can happen within the app!
Free lesson materials
CoachArt covers the expense of the materials needed for each lesson — whether it’s ingredients for cooking, paints and brushes for art, or a soccer ball, etc. CoachArt pays for materials for volunteers coaches too.
Frequently Asked Questions
CoachArt lessons take place both online and in the communities where children live. One-on-One Lessons can be a great opportunity for immunocompromised kids or for those who would benefit from individual attention; they can happen online or in the child’s home. Group Lessons and Clubs take place online or in community locations depending on the activity. Each CoachArt lesson is approximately one hour long, and can occur during the week or on weekends. CoachArt requires a parent or guardian to be on-site during the lessons.
CoachArt accepts applications, and provides lessons, year-round. We match children with volunteer coaches for four weeks of One-on-One lessons, and at the end of those four weeks your child can choose whether to continue those lessons or try something new. We also offer four-week Clubs and one-day group activities throughout the year.
The CoachArt program is completely free for families! All materials needed for the lessons will be provided. We ask our volunteer coaches to cover the cost of their background check but a waiver is available.
CoachArt volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, reside in the United States of America, and clear a criminal background check. Volunteers do not need to be experts, and no formal training is required. We ask that volunteers possess enough knowledge to teach a four-week session of beginner-level lessons and feel confident enough to provide an activity without support. We have lesson plans, activity ideas, templates and other resources to make it easy.
If you know a family with a child age 5-18 who has a serious illness (see qualifying diagnoses here), we’d appreciate it if you tell them about CoachArt. To enroll, they simply need to complete an online or hard copy application in English or Spanish. You can download and print an informational flyer about CoachArt to display in your office or distribute at events: https://coachart.org/flyer. And you can request hard copies of our folded brochure here.
