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BLOOMINGDALE -- Registration is underway as adult special interest classes begin for the fall semester at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.
Director Emily Waggoner said a mixture of new and returning options are offered, from trade and industry to special interest courses. Phone registration continues Sept. 3, 8, 9 and 10, while online enrollment is available until Sept. 14. Programs will be available either for free or at a cost, and some may also require supplies. Space is limited.
"We have quite a handful of new classes that we are offering this fall. Not only are we offering four cooking classes, with Italian Cooking in particular already being a huge hit and filling up in just a few days, but we also have a couple of classes focused on curbing burnout and developing skills to become successful in life," Waggoner said. "We are offering another class on learning how to sew with a sewing machine, one on planning the perfect vacation, one about writing the next radio hit, and, finally, a class focused on learning how to use your technology and navigate the World Wide Web."
Waggoner said courses were selected based on potential success, but recent students and the general public also were queried -- the latter through Facebook -- to gauge their interests. According to their responses, the main subjects included arts and crafts, culinary arts, and health and wellness.
Among the returning programs is Craft and Chat, in which fellow crafters gather and work on independent projects without an instructor. A similar offering is the new Book Club, where members will discuss a selected book. Both programs are free and will run for the full term.
"Instead of having an instructor and a set craft to work on, we provide a place and time for fellow crafters to get together and work on those projects they may have been procrastinating on. Book Club will be a brand-new 'class' offered under the same premise," she added. "We are providing a place and time for people to come together and discuss a book that we will post on our Facebook page every other week throughout the fall term. We are also encouraging people to bring other books they are interested in sharing with the group. Literacy is very important to us, and we want to give people another fun and social way to engage with reading."
Those interested in hands-on learning may enroll in trade and industry courses such as basic electricity, an eight-week program starting Sept. 15 and held Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. for $70 plus supplies; small engine repair, a four-week program on Thursdays beginning Sept. 17 from 6-9 p.m. for $60, with students bringing their own engine; basic car maintenance, an eight-week course on Wednesdays starting Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. for $60; and advanced car maintenance, an eight-week program each Thursday starting Sept. 17 from 6-8 p.m. for $60.
Among the special interest classes are Beginner's Quilting, an eight-week program on Tuesdays starting Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Advanced Quilting, an eight-week course on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 16 from 5-8 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Basic Crochet, a five-week program on Wednesdays starting Oct. 6 from 5-7 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Beginner's Sewing, a six-week course on Thursdays starting Sept. 17 from 6-8 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Cricut for Beginners, an eight-week program on Wednesdays starting Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. for $45; and Guitar, an eight-week program on Thursdays starting Sept. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for $60, with students bringing their own guitar.
Those interested in learning more languages may take part in Beginner's Spanish, an eight-week course each Tuesday starting Sept. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. for $55, or Beginner's Italian, a six-week program on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 15 from 5:30-7 p.m. for $45.
Additionally, Craft and Chat and Book Club are both offered for free on Tuesdays starting Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m. for the full term. Other offerings include Stress Management 101, a four-week program on Thursdays starting Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. for $45; Success Mindsets, a unique personal growth system available in a four-week program on Tuesdays starting Sept. 15 from 6-8 p.m. for $40; Travel Planning, a four-week course each Wednesday starting Sept. 23 from 7-8 p.m. for $30; Intro to Tech, a four-week program on Thursdays starting Sept. 24 from 4:30-6 p.m. for $45, with attendees bringing their own technology; and songwriting, an eight-week course on Tuesdays starting Sept. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for $50.
Meanwhile, something's cooking for food lovers, but class space is limited to 10 seats per class. They include Cooking on a Budget, a four-week course held Tuesdays starting Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Everyday Cooking Made Simple, a four-week program held on Tuesdays starting Oct. 13 from 5-8 p.m. for $45 plus supplies; Italian Cooking 101, a four-week program on Wednesdays starting Sept. 16 from 5-8 p.m. for $55 plus supplies; and Soups 101, a four-week class on Thursdays starting Sept. 17 from 5-8 p.m. for $50 plus supplies.
Waggoner said the cooking classes were among the most popular, with Italian Cooking filling within a few days. She noted that she is interested in expanding offerings in the future, including art or even a trade-related course such as carpentry or welding.
"In general, people seem to be especially interested in classes that are hands-on, practical, or give them an opportunity to try something they may not normally have access to," she continued. "The purpose of our special interest classes is to give people in our community affordable opportunities to continue learning, try something new, develop a useful skill, or simply get out of the house and connect with other people. We want the JVS to be a resource for the entire community, not just our daytime students. There is no age limit on learning something new, and these classes give us an opportunity to bring people into our building for reasons they may not have considered before.
"More than anything, we want this program to continue being shaped by the people of the Ohio Valley. If there is something people want to learn, we want to hear about it. Likewise, if someone has a skill, hobby, or area of expertise that they would enjoy sharing with others, we would love to hear from them. We are always looking for new ideas and instructors as we continue growing the program."
Payment is due the first night of class, and early registration is encouraged to ensure the class is not canceled due to low enrollment. Adult classes are available to anyone age 18 or older regardless of educational background or residence, while students ages 16-17 may also register, provided a parent or guardian is present for each session. For participants under age 16, contact Waggoner to discuss possible arrangements.
For more information, contact the JVS at (740) 264-5545, Ext. 118, from 4-8 p.m. or email emily.waggoner@jeffjvs.org. Registration also may be completed online through a Google Form at the JVS website.