Amy Baskin

Community Education director

Does your New Year’s resolution include working out more, taking better care of yourself, experimenting with a new hobby or generally expanding your horizons? Look no further, the Community Education winter/spring session is about to begin.

Community Education classes are an easy and affordable way to try new things or sharpen your skills. Classes are taught by instructors that make learning fun and easy. More than 100 classes are ready and waiting for you. Are you ready for a new look? Tired of the same old styles? Beauty Boot Camp is your ticket to a new you. Did you recently get a new iPad, computer or camera? Do all your friends talk about Pinterest or Shutterfly? Our classes will teach you how to use all the latest technology and tools.

We have new cooking, gardening, craft and art classes to stimulate your creativity and artistic senses. Dog training, soap making, quilting, furniture making and Cricut classes provide enrichment. Trips make it easy for you to explore and experience new places and activities. Back by popular demand is the spring trip to Bachman’s and Macy’s for their annual flower show and the 100-mile garage sale in Lake City and Wabasha. A new wine tour has been added this year so come and travel with us.

Youth have lots of options to stay busy on the early release and spring break days so be sure to check out those classes. If you are interested in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder, working with gifted learners or early childhood we have several classes in those areas and many of them offer CEU’s if you need training credits.

On the more serious side, women won’t want to miss our class on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack and hear the story of one woman who saved her friend because she knew that symptoms for women are very different from men. You can also learn how to protect your assets, create a simple will, health care directive or power of attorney. A new mom’s group offers support for families with young children and new grandparents can learn how things have changed since their children were born and how to care for a new baby.

Community Education offers something for everyone so check out the new brochure that will arrive mid-January or visit our web site if you just can’t wait: www.austin.k12.mn.us/clc.