Offerings
Where is Spark PA located?
We run all of our programs and classes on our 6 acre piece of property in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania in the Poconos. We have an amazing art studio, known as the Alappat Atelier, where all Spark classes are held. This is Sebastian Alappat’s working art studio and it is covered artwork that he has made over the years. Now, it is also home to the Spark PA studio. Kids love to walk in and see the massive fossilized dinosaur pieces, the entire Alice in Wonderland section and all of the comic book art. There is a separate waiting area for parents and two bathrooms available for parents and kids.
Pennsylvania Story
Hi! We are Sebastian & Amanda, the power couple behind SPARK PA. We lived in NYC together since 2011 but in 2017 after the birth of our first child Arya, we bought our dream home, a century-old barn house in the heart of the Poconos that Sebastian had visited with his oldest friends. We knew we had found our forever home and the Barn became a place that we enjoyed on weekends away from the city and also rented out as an Airbnb. Additionally, we hosted our signature art, yoga and adventure retreats for adults on the grounds.
We started to feel the deep call to be in nature and to live more closely with the land. We were craving trees and wide open spaces and although our apartment did have an incredible backyard, we still longed for more. We wanted our kids to have the freedom to climb trees, to run barefoot, to garden and live in closer alignment with the seasons.
After riding out the pandemic, we decided to make the jump to the country. The property also had an art studio on the land which is not only Sebastian’s personal studio but also the perfect place for a new SPARK location. It’s been two years and we are so happy to have made such a massive life change to bring this program to children locally.
We have since had our third child and created another project as a result of our new life: SPARK Nature. After a run-in with a bear, it became increasingly obvious that we were called to weave a nature element into our offerings. While it’s always been in the backdrop, nature has never been front and center but with the launch of our forest school run on this land, that’s all about to change.
We are extremely committed to reconnecting children with the natural world to help them remember the magic, beauty, and power of this great earth. This land serves as a peaceful sanctuary for children to have direct experience with nature, with trails, a stream, a bamboo forest, a playground, and even a zen garden. It is the ideal place for outdoor learning and beautifully complements both the artistic and mindfulness aspects of our other offerings.
We truly believe SPARK is incredibly unique and fundamentally holistic and so necessary in today’s world, meeting the child on many levels with yoga for their physical bodies, meditation for their growing minds, art for soulful self-expression, and nature for the cultivation of their inner spirits.
It is truly such a gift to be living here and we are deeply and forever grateful.
Spark Nature - Forest School
Our Forest School connects children with the magic of nature. We believe that unstructured, imaginative play outdoors is essential for their well-being. Let’s nurture their connection with the Earth and watch them thrive!
What makes Spark PA unique?
This is the only program of its kind to combine art, yoga, meditation and nature for a holistic and wholesome approach to teaching children. All offerings are held at a real working art studio and beautiful maintained property that is itself a work of art.
The two main teachers are husband and wife team, Sebastian Alappat, who founded the company over ten years ago and his wife, Amanda, who has been with Spark since day 1. No one cares quite like the owners do!
