523898545
It’s “back to school time.” As students begin heading back to college and area schools, now is the perfect time for adults to consider the diverse, fun, enriching educational opportunities that exist across the Susquehanna Valley.
Albert Einstein had a lot to say about education: “The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” And most notable, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” But you don’t have to be a genius to pick up new skills and knowledge. We’ve gathered an extensive list of classes, workshops, and other educational activities taking place in traditional classrooms as well as in nontraditional settings that are likely to be right under your nose.
Cooking
1. Hungry for Knowledge
The phrase “hungry for knowledge” takes on a delicious new meaning. Learn how to make macarons, chocolate mousse, madeleines, cream puffs, truffles, and other delectable treats from award-winning Harrisburg-based chocolatier Frederic Loraschi. Private classes can be arranged; public classes are generally offered during the winter—check the business’ Facebook and Instagram posts for details. Frederic Loraschi Chocolate / 4615 Hillcrest St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-540-0000 / fredericloraschichocolate.com
2. Preserving Heritage
Downtown Lititz’s culinary shop Zest! has a new cooking school dedicated entirely to culinary classes. In August, you can learn Canning 101 from a mother/daughter duo in order to preserve your tomatoes, peaches, green beans, and other summertime crops. Or whip up an Italian menu in the Southern Italian class led by an Italian chef. The class schedule features a wide variety of ethnic and specialty cooking classes. Zest Cooking School / 1180 Erbs Quarry Road, Lititz, PA / 717-435-8890 / zestchef.com
3. Become a Chocolatier
Step inside downtown Mechanicsburg’s Brittle Bark and become a chocolatier—at least for a day—with shop owner Diane Krulac. Brittle Bark offers seasonal chocolatier classes: Currently, learn how to melt milk, dark, and white chocolate and incorporate flavorings; fill chocolate molds to make 2-D and 3-D chocolate pieces; dip pretzels and cookies into chocolate then decorate; and much more. Keep your chocolate creations or turn them into gifts complete with packaging. Brittle Bark / 33 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg, PA / 717-697-6950 / BrittleBark.com
4. Kitchen Confidential
It’s no secret that Camp Hill’s Cornerstone Coffeehouse is the place to go for a great cup of joe, but the private back room, Cornerstone Culinary Kitchen, may be its best-kept secret. Join Chef Chuck LaPorta in the Tuscan-inspired classroom for hands-on seasonal culinary classes. Upcoming August and September offerings include Super Summer Sandwiches, Everything Apples, Sensational Shellfish, and more. Cornerstone Culinary Kitchen at Cornerstone Coffeehouse / 2133 Market St., Camp Hill, PA / 717-909-6854 / cornerstoneculinary.com
5. Bring the Best Barbecue
Education with a foodie twist: Classes at Carlisle’s Kitchen Shoppe are designed to whet your appetite as well as hone your culinary skills. On August 4, couples can take the Hands-On BBQ Celebration & 4-Wine Flight Tasting led by Chef James Lupia. Couples will learn how to prepare pork and bacon BBQ sliders, salad featuring grilled peaches, the best BBQ beans, and limoncello mousse. Check the current newsletter for dozens of additional, delicious selections. The Kitchen Shoppe & Cooking School / 101 Shady Lane, Carlisle, PA / 800-391-2665 / kitchenshoppe.com
Nature and the Outdoors
6. Adventure Seeking
We are fortunate to have easy access to numerous state parks with an abundance of natural beauty and resources throughout the Susquehanna Valley—and that includes some fantastic educational events. In August, you can enjoy Yoga on the Terrace at King’s Gap Environmental Education Center, a tour of Shoaff’s Mill at Little Buffalo State Park, Wildlife Watchers on the Water Kayak Program at Codorus State Park, Hike Through History at Michaux State Forest, and more. PA’s State Parks / events.dcnr.pa.gov/calendar
Social and Contemporary Issues
7. Empowering Women
As the oldest and largest multi-racial women’s organization in the world, the YWCA advocates for justice, equity, and peace through the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women. Upcoming events include the Lancaster YWCA’s Racial Justice Institute planned for December or monthly women’s book groups that meet at the Gettysburg/Adams County YWCA. Most area YWCAs also offer speakers’ programs which can be tailored to your group’s, business’ or organization’s needs. YWCA locations throughout Central PA. YWCA Lancaster / 110 N. Lime St., Lancaster, PA / 717-393-1735 / ywcalancaster.org
Arts
8. Cook Up Some Fun
Recognizing that “the arts” includes not only visual arts, but a full range of music, culinary arts, dance, and other movements, the nonprofit ACAC offers a full slate of classes designed “to cultivate an arts-rich community.” August and September classes include Cooking with Fresh Herbs, Stoneware Salad Bowl, Taste of India Food & Wine Pairings, Instant Pot Meals, Fused Glass, Paint Your Pet, Taste of Argentina, and more. Adams County Arts Council / 125 S. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA / 717-334-5006 / adamsarts.org
9. Head to Toe Creativity
From head to toe—literally—the nonprofitCALC has you covered with classes to “encourage creativity and self-esteem through exploration and appreciation of the visual arts.” Upcoming classes include “Happy Feet!”—a class for first-time sock knitters in August.Or enjoy the Creative Night Out PaintParty in September. Carlisle Arts Learning Center / 38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle, PA / 717-249-6973 / carlislearts.org
10. The Art of Craft
Learn how to hone artistic skills at the PCCA’s Landis House in Newport. At the breadbasket workshop, attendees will create an 8x8-inch square reed basket. Class offerings are constantly evolving and rotating; past classes have focused on “blackout poetry,” creating “tiny books,” and many other creative endeavors. Perry County Council of the Arts / 1 S. Second St., Newport, PA / 717-567-7023 / perrycountyarts.org
11. Learning Retreat
Perched atop a hillside in York County, the Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center offers nearly 100 classes annually in a beautiful retreat-like setting. In August, choose from classes in weaving, dyeing, or making a checked wool rug. Additional classes throughout the year include spinning, creating shawls or blankets, and many other fine arts led by owner and resident instructor Sara Bixler and numerous expert guest instructors. Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center / 435 Popps Ford Road, York Haven, PA / 717-212-9022 / redstoneglen.com
12. Get Your Craft On
The Keystone State has a rich history of artisans, craftsmen, and artists who have called Pennsylvania home. This legacy continues with unique classes and workshops offered at the PGC’s Lancaster location. In August: Build a Ukulele, Make a Loop Back Windsor Chair, or Design and Sew a Leather Bag. Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen / 335 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA / 717-431-8706 / pacrafts.org
13. Draw Out Your Talents
“Draw” your artistic talents out of their shell by choosing from a variety of art classes at the AAH—pottery, portraiture, painting, photography, illustration, and even art history. One of the oldest art nonprofits in Central PA, the AAH was founded in 1926 and is located in the historic Findlay Mansion along Front Street across from the Susquehanna River. Art Association of Harrisburg / 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-236-1432 / artassocofhbg.com
14. Mix It Up
This nonprofit arts organization, located in a red barn outside Mechanicsburg and founded in 1954, offers year-round classes and workshops. In addition to drawing and painting, you can hone your mixed-media skills with classes such as Torn Papers & Paint or Decoupage & Drinks, Date Night with Pottery or Date Night with Glassblowing. The Art Center: School and Galleries of Mechanicsburg / 18 Artcraft Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA / 717-697-2072 / theartcenterschoolandgalleries.com
15. Anti-Art School
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is described as “a monthly art party where life, drawing and cabaret collide!” It happens every First Saturday at York’s Parliament Arts’ gallery, and artists of all abilities are welcome. The Parliament Arts Organization / 116 E. King St., York, PA / 717-467-1731 / parliamentyork.org
16. Bubbling Up Fun
Located in the heart of Midtown Harrisburg, The Millworks features a brewery, restaurant, artist gallery, studios—and a wide variety of unique classes. In August, join instructor Ann Benton Yeager to learn a new paint technique and create your own bubbly, trippy “fluid art” masterpiece. Millworks / 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-695-4888 / millworksharrisburg.com
Educational Enrichment
17. Sharpening Skills
Opportunities await at each of HACC’s branch campuses. Central Pennsylvania’s community college offers a wide variety of traditional classes, as well as continuing education.
HACC’s Gettysburg campus hosts three Community Education Days annually, with the next one set for October 12. The format is structured so that attendees can choose between 15 educational sessions across a wide variety of topics—arts, politics, history, finance, computer skills, and more. The $49 fee includes your choice of three classes, refreshments, and lunch.
HACC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division organizes on-going community education classes that range from one-day programs to classes running for several weeks at a time. At the York campus, community education classes include Basic Life Support, Customer Service, Forklift Certification, Emotional Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, and an EMT program. HACC’s Lancaster campus is offering classes in Microsoft Excel and ESL this summer/fall. Upcoming Harrisburg campus programs are designed to sharpen computer skills with classes in PowerPoint, Google Drive, and more; healthcare skills with CPR training; business-related skills including business writing and communications; and personal enrichment via fitness, screen printing, photography, and more.
A free anti-oppression series is being offered at HACC’s Lebanon campus this fall. Organized by the campus diversity committee in partnership with the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center, sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings, 8 to 9 a.m., October 23 through November 27.
Harrisburg Area Community College / 1 HACC Dr., Harrisburg, PA / 800-222-4222 / hacc.edu
18. Art Smarts
Unleash your inner artist with professional development or personal enrichment classes at PCAD. The current summer schedule wraps up in early August; check the website for new offerings, which typically include classes in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, HTML website design, painting (including digital painting), printmaking, and more. Pennsylvania College of Art & Design / 204 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA / 717-396-7833 or 800-689-0379 / pcad.edu/academics/continuing-education
Check Central PA’s many additional colleges and universities for upcoming class schedules:
19. Central Penn College, Summerdale and Lancaster, PA
20. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
21. Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA
22. Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
23. Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
24. Harrisburg University, Harrisburg, PA
25. Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA
26. Lebanon Valley College, Lebanon, PA
27. Messiah College, Grantham, PA
28. Millersville University, Millersville, PA
29. Penn State York / Penn State Harrisburg, PA
30. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Lancaster, PA
31. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster, PA
32. Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA
33. York College, York, PA
34. Into the Wild
Dedicated to holistic land management practices, York’s Horn Farm Center offers year-round classes, workshops and programs to share these growing skills with the Central PA community. Topics fall into the following categories: gardening/farming, cooking, ecological design, foraging, and wilderness skills. Or catch the buzz for beekeeping: Through the course of this two-year program, participants work side by side with experienced beekeepers to learn all aspects of keeping bees. Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education / 4945 Horn Road, York, PA / 717-757-6441 / hornfarmcenter.org
35. Be a Master Gardener
With chapters throughout the Susquehanna Valley, the Master Gardener program cultivates a thriving community of growers with numerous programs. For example, join the Master Gardeners of York County for the 13th Annual Gardening with Natives Tour and Seminar on August 18; learn about butterfly gardening from the Cumberland County Master Gardeners on August 21; or learn how to grow paw paws, figs, and gooseberries in a free program offered by the Perry County Extension Office on September 20.Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener Program / extension.psu.edu
History
36. Be a Battlefield Buff
Explore key locations and examine key moments in Civil War history through free ranger programs on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Programs include hikes, walks, and talks. The summer schedule (through August 12) includes daily guided tours through Soldiers’ National Cemetery, plus battle walks, “Care of the Wounded,” and more. Events are held at various locations / Gettysburg National Military Park / The National Park Service Museum and Visitor Center is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA / 717-334-1124 / nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/interpretation.htm
37. German GeneAlogy
Check your local historical society for lectures, classes, and other educational opportunities. The York County History Center is offering a genealogy conference, Researching Pennsylvania Germans, on September 22. Historical Societies and Centers / 250 E. Market St., York, PA / 717-848-1587 / yorkhistorycenter.org
Literary Events
38. Free For All
Be sure to check your local libraries for listings of fun events—not just for kids but for adults too. For example, the Cumberland County Library System is offering the following events in August: Spanish and other conversational language classes, Chix with Stix—a monthly knitting group, Foreign Film Friday, financial literacy, trivia, and more. Most programs are free. County Library Systems / cumberlandcountylibraries.org
39. Happy Bookworms
Harrisburg’s literary landmark schedules a steady stream of authors making their way through the mid-state. Upcoming authors offering free public presentations, discussions, and book signings include Darnell Moore (August 11; author of No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America), William Oldfield and Victoria Bruce (August 29, authors of Inspector Oldfield and the Black Hand Society: America’s Original Gangsters and the U.S. Postal Detective that Brought Them to Justice). Midtown Scholar Bookstore / 1302 N. Third St., Harrisburg, PA / 717- 236-1680 / midtownscholar.com
Wellness
40. Health Help
Don’t overlook the Susquehanna Valley’s hospitals as resources for health and wellness events. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, you can attend Understanding and Managing Stress (August 14) or Infant CPR (August 23). WellSpan York offers Heartsaver CPR & AED for Adult, Child, and Infant on August 28 from American Heart Association certified instructors. lghealthevents.org and wellspan.org/events