While everyone is eagerly anticipating, bonfires, sweater-weather and cheering their favorite football team on to greatness, why not pass the time by exploring some of the life-long learning opportunities at the Co-Lin Natchez campus this fall? Through our Special Interest program, the goal is to offer affordable, non-credit courses to the community that will allow some to pursue a new passion or forgotten hobby and while allowing others to develop skills that may benefit them in their professional lives or pursuit of a new career. Taking one of these evening courses will also give you the opportunity to meet people with similar likes or spend quality time with a friend who already shares your interests.

There are a variety of special interest classes available this fall, which kicked off Tuesday with Jim Wiggins’ class, The Civil Rights Movement: Narrative, Context & Legacy (12 weeks). This class is in conjunction with the Natchez Tricentennial and will take place in the theater room of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center on Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Also, you have the opportunity to get active! You will have three opportunities to hit the courts at Duncan Park with a Board Certified USPTA Instructor. Tennis classes are on Tuesdays for four weeks at a time. Due to popular demand, this year we have added a youth tennis class as well for ages 7 to 13.

For those of you looking to enhance or develop skills that will help you professionally, I encourage you to consider one of the following options: Excel (five weeks) will be held on Tuesdays, starting Sept. 13; The Truth about Grant-Writing (two meetings, one week) on Oct. 11 and Oct. 13; or PowerPoint Presentation (four weeks), which starts on Oct. 25 and meets on Tuesdays. Taking one or all of these classes could be that extra “oomph” you need in your current career or change of field.

If you have been hoping to get your creative juices flowing, then you are in luck. This semester, there are a wide variety of classes that focus on particular interests, crafts and hobbies. You will come away from any of these classes feeling inspired! Take one or both of our wreath making classes in order to make gorgeous displays for your door for the fall/football season as well as the Christmas season. Fall wreath making will be on Sept. 22 and holiday wreath making will take place on Nov. 17. Likewise, there will be two opportunities to learn how to make fragrant, decorative soaps that are non-lye based with the soap making workshops on Oct. 13 and Dec. 1. There will be a sewing class (five weeks) for beginners starting on Oct. 20 which will be held at the Living Word Worship Center off U.S. 61 North. We are also very excited to offer watercolor for beginners (4 weeks) for all those that want to try their hand at painting or revisit a long lost hobby. So dust off those paintbrushes by Oct. 25, and join in the fun. And last, but definitely not least, Craft Beer: Revolution to Main Stay (two weeks) will be on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 at The Camp Restaurant, and you must be at least 21 years old to register. Like the brewing class last year, this will be a fun, informative and tasty class!

All classes are offered at lowest possible cost and are designed to be stress-free. Our aim is to provide an avenue for life-long learners in our community striving toward new skills, hobbies or personal enrichment. This program is created with you in mind so as always, I welcome any and all feedback! Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for some classes. For more details on classes available, please visit our website, www.colin.edu, or contact Emily Edwards at 601-446-1103 or email emily.edwards@colin.edu. You may also register at the Willie Mae Dunn Library on the Co-Lin Natchez campus and don’t forget to keep an eye on our Facebook page (Co-Lin N-Sights). Pre-registration is required for all courses. All courses must meet a minimum number of participants to prevent cancellation and some courses have limited space available. If a class is canceled for any reason, full refunds will be available.

On behalf of the Co-Lin family, I invite you to take full advantage of any classes in this program that would benefit or interest you. Give yourself the gift of the life-long learning experience.

 

Emily Edwards is the learning resources coordinator for the Natchez campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.