DirectionsValdosta State University > Continuing Education > Personal Enrichment
Personal enrichment classeS
For more information, click on a class title below or scroll down the page. Links to classes will become live as detailed information becomes available.
Artistic Explorations
Stained Glass Art - Now 6 weeks!
Painting with Oils
Creative Drawing - NEW!
Classes for Two
Massage For Two
Culinary
Coffee Cupping
Whole Grains
Happy Holiday Fare - NEW!
Home & Garden
Lunch Break Gardening Series
Languages
Conversational Spanish
Conversational French
Beginning Sign Language
Music and Dance
Swing Into Social Dancing
Latin Dance Sampler - NEW!
Exercise and the Great Outdoors
Kickboxing for Heart Health - NEW!
Fly Fishing, Southern Style
Adventures in Camping - NEW!
Tech After Dark -
and for those on the go
Online classes
Creative Drawing
Bring out your inner artist! Learn terms and techniques while you discover creative approaches to drawing. Find out about value, line, proportion, shape, and more to create your own still life work of art. You will need to purchase your supplies before the first night of class:
- · Set of drawing pencils
- · Pink school eraser
- · 9 X 12 or larger drawing paper or sketch pad (no newsprint).
Dates: 5 Wednesdays, September 23 - October 21
Time: 6 – 8 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Rachel Brown
Fee: Fee: $69 (supplies not included); after September 18 - $79
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Painting with Oils
Uncover your artistic side! Let Geri Backus take you step by step through the creation of your own masterpiece in oils. For this class, all students will be painting the same subject so they can concentrate on technique and style. All supplies used in class including brushes, paints, canvases, and cleaners are included. Bring a flat box, approximately 16” by 24” to transport your painting.
Register Early! Class is limited to 15 students.
Dates: 5 Thursdays, September 17 - October 15
Time: 6 – 8 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Geri Backus
Fee: $89 (supplies included); after September 14 - $999
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Happy Holiday Fare
Entertaining is an important part of the holiday season. Let us help you ad festive fun and flavor to your holiday table! Learn how to prepare a delicious breakfast or brunch casserole that will have your guests asking for the recipe. While the casserole is in the oven, find out how to create a decorative AND edible table centerpiece and more! Come ready to sample!
Dates: Friday, November 6
Time: 6 – 9 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Laurie Colbert
Fee: $39; after November 3 - $49
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Whole Grain Goodies
Take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer! Learn tasty ways to prepare hearty, whole-grain dishes your family will love. Explore modern and ancient grains and discover how easy it is to make them a delicious part of your diet. Come ready to sample!
Dates: Friday, October 23
Time: 6 – 9 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Suzanne Royce
Fee: $39; after October 20 - $49
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Coffee Cupping Goes Organic
Something new is brewing at The Beanery! Learn the art of coffee cupping with three different organic coffees. Discover how to observe and evaluate each coffee’s essential flavor traits and aromas. Then practice your new skills as you explore changes in the way these coffees taste when paired with a variety of foods.
Register early! Class size is limited to 12.
Dates: Saturday, November 7
Time: 9 - 11 AM
Location: The Beanery, 1009 Williams Street
Instructor: Ellen Stevens
Fee: $19; after November 4 - $29
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Swing Into Social Dancing
Put your best foot forward in social and ballroom dancing! Learn the basics of several popular dances in a fun and friendly learning environment. Practice proper posture, leading, and following as you learn basic dance patterns and variations including the Swing, Foxtrot (Two-Step), Waltz, and Shag. Discover the fun of ballroom and get some great exercise as you dance to old standards, country and western, and popular music. Singles are welcome, but we can’t guarantee a partner for you. Wear leather-soled shoes (no sneakers, please).
Couples registering and paying together will receive a $15 discount on the second person.
| Dates: 8 Thursdays, September 24 – November 12, 2009 Time: 7 PM – 9 PM Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education Instructor: David Wiza Fee: $69; after September 21 - $79 |
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Latin Dance Sampler
Latin dancing is hot, hot, hot! Get your body moving with a great aerobic workout while you learn to sizzle on the dance floor! In this fun, upbeat class, you will be introduced to the salsa, merengue, cha cha cha and bachata, and touch on the cumbia.
Couples registering and paying together will receive a $15 discount on the second person.
| Dates: 5 Tuesdays, September 1- 29 Time: 7:30 - 9 PM Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education Instructor: Ellen Friedrich Fee: $59; after August 27 - $69 |
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Come learn a new skill and have fun discovering your artistic side! You’ll learn basic techniques for the design, construction, fabrication, and installation of stained glass panels, sun catchers, and three dimensional objects. Explore the vocabulary of stained glass, the elements of design, the materials for fabrication, the structural requirements for strength, the use of colors, textures and other elements of glass to create your own unique pieces of art. Don will be using the Tiffany glass (or copper foil) style of construction.
You can view some of Don William’s work right here in Valdosta. Stop by the Hampton Inn beside the James H. Rainwater Conference Center to see Valdosta scenes depicted in stained glass, or check out the stained glass elf above the front door of the Country Cobbler shoe store on Gornto Road!
The cost of all supplies is $50 and can be purchased from the instructor on the first night of class.
Extended format - now 6 weeks!
Class size is limited to 12 students. Register now!
Dates: 6 Mondays, October 26 - November 30, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
Location: “Stained Glass by Don” 620 N Ashley Street
Instructor: Don Williams
Fee: $149
(supplies not included); after October 22 - $159
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Broaden your fishing skills as you discover the joys of fly fishing, Southern style! Learn how to set up your rod and reel and choose the right fly line. Discover when to use dry and wet flies. Develop casting skills, find out about the benefits of indicator fishing, and more. Then head to the fishing hole for instruction and practice in the field. Apply your new skills and learn some advanced techniques.
Valid fishing license required for ages 16 & up.
- · Beginners & experienced anglers welcome!
- · Must be 8 years or older
- · Ages 8 - 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- · Please bring a sack lunch
- · Equipment list and waiver will be mailed with your receipt.
Dates: Saturday, September 26
Time: 9 AM - 3 PM (lunch and gear not included)
Location: TBA
Instructor: Alan Carter
Fee:$49; after September 23 - $59 (lunch and gear not included)
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Is the economy taking a toll on your vacation budget? Try camping, an exciting and inexpensive alternative to resorts and hotels. In this interactive program, you will learn how to select a park and campsite, set up your tent, choose and use your lantern and stove, camping safety, and more.
Once your campsite is set up, you will be hungry. Well, move over beans and wieners! Discover how to prepare and cook some easy and delicious dishes you never thought possible over a camp stove or fire. Please bring a bottle of water, lawn chair, and paper and pencil to take notes.
Dates: Saturday, September 19
Time: 9:00 AM - 12 PM
Location: Grand Bay Picnic Area
Instructor: Alan Carter
Fee:$29; after September 16 - $39
Languages
Learn basic conversational French in an informal and relaxed atmosphere while using photographs, the Internet, and music to immerse yourself in French culture. You’ll focus on conversation for the traveler so you can communicate with native speakers about dining, sight-seeing, traveling and more. No textbook required. Handouts will be provided. (1.2 CEU)
Dates: 6 Tuesdays, October 6 - November 10
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Lisa Buie-Collard
Fee:$69; after October 1 - $79
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Come learn the basics of American Sign Language (ASL), the language used by Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons. This is the third most widely used language in the United States. You’ll learn about Deaf culture as you practice the manual alphabet, basic signs, and common phrases. Build your conversational skills so that you can better communicate with your Deaf and Hard of Hearing friends, neighbors, co-workers, and customers! (1 CEU)
The textbook is American Sign Language Phrase Book by Lou Fant and is not included in the fee. The book may be purchased for approximately $14 through local or online bookstores.
Dates:5 Wednesdays, October 7 - November 4
Time: 6 PM – 8 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Erin Salmon
Fee:$69 (book not included); after
March 19 - $79
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Develop your Spanish language skills through conversation and listening. You’ll focus on communication skills: understanding, speaking, reading and writing. Learn common words and phrases, sentence structure, and how to ask and answer basic questions in a fun and stress-free atmosphere. No textbook required. Handouts will be provided. (1.2 CEU)
Dates:6 Mondays, September 21 - October 26
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Laci Medeiros
Fee:$69; after September 16 - $79
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In the Garden with Bobby Flowers... Fall Lunch Break Series
VSU Horticulturist Bobby Flowers will guide you through some of the ins and outs of gardening in South Georgia. All classes will be held at VSU’s Regional Center for Continuing Education, 903 North Patterson Street.
Winterize your Landscape
Even in South Georgia, your garden needs to be prepared for winter’s chill and help ensure it will be healthy come spring. Find out what to do to put your landscape to bed for the winter. You’ll learn about proper pruning, fertilizing, and application of herbicides.
Dates:Tuesday, September 22
Time: 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Fee:$19 (includes lunch); after September 17 - $25
Discover how simple it is to create and maintain a rain garden that is beautiful, economical, and helps the environment. A rain garden locks rainwater into the ground, keeps nutrients in your soil, and helps stop polluted runoff from finding its way into storm drains where it runs into streams and water supplies. Rain gardens also save time and money by reducing the amount of watering you have to do. Even in a drought, your garden can look fantastic!
Dates:Tuesday, September 29
Time: 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Fee:$19 (includes lunch); after September 17 - $25
Bobby's Picks for Perennials and Annuals
Looking for the right plants for your garden and landscape? Look no further! Bobby shares his best picks for beautiful perennials and annuals that are well-suited to our South Georgia climate.
Dates:Tuesday, October 6
Time: 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Fee:$19 (includes lunch); after September 17 - $25
Take all three gardening classes for a special price - $50 (includes lunch)
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The price for attending any of the Gardening Lunch & Learn programs without having lunch is $12.
Treat yourself and a partner to a delightful experience! Join us and learn basic Therapeutic Swedish massage techniques to help alleviate stress and pain. Discover fun and effective hands-on techniques and experience the optimal body mechanics and quality of touch that will benefit you and your partner. Find out what massage therapy is and how stress affects the body. Learn the history, purpose and benefits of Swedish massage, full-body therapeutic massage routing and finishing touches, the efficient use of the massage table and where to find supplies. Don’t have room for a massage table? Donna will also discuss how to give a massage at home without a table. Each participant must bring their own pillow. (Please note: This class is for couples only. Class is limited to 5 couples.)
Register early - class is limited to 5 couples.
Dates:Saturday, October 24
Time: 2 - 4 PM
Location: Mindful Massage and Bodyworks, 2229 E Park Avenue
Instructor: Donna Garbett, LMT
Fee: $59 (per couple); after October 21 - $69
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Tired of the same old fitness routines? Energize your workout with cardio kickboxing! Learn the fundamental kicks, punches, and jabs while increasing your stamina, strength, and flexibility and building self-confidence and respect for others in this fun and fast-paced class. Get moving and feel great! (Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Athletic shoes are recommended.)
Dates:6 Tuesdays, October 6 – November 10
Time: 6:30 – 8 PM
Location: Regional Center for Continuing Education
Instructor: Cheryl Powell
Fee: $69; after October 1 - $79
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