Summer fun begins with Casper College’s Community Education classes
A variety of fun classes to start the summer season are being offered at Casper College’s Community Education department.
“Start your summer with fun community education classes, from culinary and arts endeavors to fitness and outdoor escapades,” said Zhanna Gallegos, the community education coordinator at Casper College.
June courses include “Beginning Tennis,” “Tie-Dye Wonders,” “Country Swing,” “Firearm Machine Shop Fundamentals,” “Massive Map Quest,” “Woodworking Foundations,” and more.
A monthlong class, “Beginning Tennis,” will run on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning June 3 and concluding on June 26. Taught by Doug Williams, participants will learn how to stay fit and healthy with tennis, which many consider a lifetime sport. Williams, a 40-year veteran coach, will teach basic strokes and the game’s rules. Students will participate in drills and games to reinforce the lessons. Students are asked to bring water, a tennis racket, and wear comfortable athletic clothing and non-marking court shoes. Loaner racquets will also be available for student use. The class will be held from 5-6 p.m.
Belle Stapleton and Martha Wallace will share their love of tie-dying in the “Tie-Dye Wonders” class on Mondays, June 10 and 17 and Wednesday, June 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. According to Gallegos, students will embark on a delightful journey of tie-dyeing, which will allow them to express their artistic sensibility. Participants will uncover the essentials, preparation, and techniques for a successful and expressive product as they “Acquire the skills to create diverse patterns on T-shirts and other items,” said Gallegos. Participants are asked to bring a tie-dye material, items to dye, and a large towel for each article. They are also asked to wear clothes they won’t mind getting stained. Select supplies are provided, and during the first class, the instructors will cover tie-dye materials and make project recommendations. The class is suitable for all skill levels, according to Gallegos.
“’Country Swing’ will teach students to swing, turn, and twirl as they learn the footwork, how to lead and follow, and how to create and use a proper dance frame,” said instructor Julie Oliver. Terminology for the smooth-flowing dance will be discussed, including dance formations, movements, and dancing etiquette, while everyone practices impressive turns, lifts, dips, and sequences. “Dancers can come alone, with a friend, or partner and leave with moves worth showing off at a party or club,” said Gallegos. Dancers are asked to wear comfortable clothing and shoes with smooth, flat soles, as no street shoes are allowed. Prior dance experience is not required. The class will be held from 6:45-7:45 p.m. on Mondays, June 10 through July 1.
“Firearm Machine Shop Fundamentals” will teach students how to operate machine tools for working on firearms. Taught by Toyon Wiggs, students will receive hands-on experience with a metalworking lathe and milling machine for manufacturing parts and tools. According to Gallegos, students will acquire basic skills, safety protocols, and proper use of firearm-related processes in the machine shop setting. Participants will choose from various firearm projects to deepen their understanding. Everyone is welcome to bring their machine and measuring tools if they have them or borrow them from Wiggs. The class will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday from June 14 through June 22 and on one Sunday, June 23. Consumable machine tools and materials will be provided. No prior experience is required, and participants must be 18 or older and provide an ID.
A class to share with a child 12 or older will occur on Saturday, June 22, and run from 1-3 p.m. “’Massive Map Quest’” will allow attendees to explore and engage with massive 32×26-foot maps of North and South America, encompassing Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru,” said Gallegos. There will also be a 22’x16’ map of Wyoming. With both maps, discovering national parks, towns, cities, landmarks, mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes will be possible. Attendees are asked to bring clean shoes to walk on the maps in this class taught by Germaine Wagner.
Finally, “Woodworking Foundations,” taught by Nick Carter, will explore the basics of woodworking. Students will learn to operate the equipment and machinery involved in woodworking safely. Terminology will also be presented to simplify the woodworking process and techniques. “Nick will discuss how to plan and design a woodworking project, follow step-by-step demonstrations, and practice using tools and woodworking methods,” noted Gallegos. A waiver is required for “Woodworking Foundations,” which will run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, June 24-28 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Community education offers noncredit courses for personal enrichment and lifelong learning for people 16 and older. To sign up or for more information on these and other classes, go here or call 307-268-3401.