In this year-long series of art classes we'll explor nature's rhythms across the four seasons: winter spring, summer and winter.  Each class session focuses on onbserving and captureing seasonal changes in plants, animals and weather through drawing, watercolor and ink. Students will connect with the environment through hands-on activities, embracing the stillness of winter, renewal of spring, abundance of summer and transition of fall. Join us for one season or experience the full cycle. Each session offers a deeper appreciation of nature's contact transformations For supplies, we will use large drawing pads, pencils, pens and charcoal.

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

We have cookie swaps, but how about going healthy and sharing ideas about how to dress up a salad?  Let's learn from each other about creating dressings that will make you and your loved ones look forward to eating healthy greens and vegetables! 

Whether you're new to homemade salad dressings or just love to share cooking ideas, this workshop is for you.  Annie Sargent will bring some of her favorite recipes and tips, and we hope if you have some favorites you will do the same.  This is an in-person class.

Zumba Gold is Bold! is designed for all ages - for those new to Zumba, for those who have had an injury, or those who love Zumba, but would like a modified version.  Zumba Gold runs for 45 minutes, unlike Zumba that runs for an hour. There is verbal cuing as well as non-verbal cues.  The music is the same great, fun, upbeat music.  You will sweat and you will receive the many benefits of dancing. The only change is the movements will be less stressful on your joints and your body.  It’s a class where you are exercising, but having fun doing it!!  

Lisa Elliot has been a licensed Zumba and Zumba Gold instructor since 2015.  Her specialty is Zumba Gold. She thoroughly enjoys getting to know those that come to her classes and seeing them have fun and getting the health benefits of dancing!

During these three sessions, you will learn basic accounting principles and how to apply them to setting up QuickBooks Online for a small business or organization.  This is a live, online class using ZOOM.

• Your instructor will assist you in accessing a free year long subscription to Quickbooks Online. 
• When you register for the class you'll receive a link to a survey.  Please take a few minutes to complete the survey so the instructor can tailor the course for individual learners. 

The design of the course is that you'll attend the class and also do 2-3 hours of work with the software between sessions which greatly enhances your learning.

You will receive a link to a brief pre-assessment with your email receipt.  This will assist the instructor in meeting your goals for the class. 

Val is a lifelong business educator and academic advisor focused on helping enrich and enhance students' educational and life purposes. He is experienced in college management and as an adult educator having taught at Mid-State College and Kennebec Valley Community College. His teaching experience covers over 45 years in the areas of computer applications, accounting, and Quickbooks training workshops.

Sharpen your observational and creative skills by learning to draw scenes from memory! In this class, you'll practice observing your surroundings during the day and translating those experiences into expressive drawings Through guided exercises, you'll develop techniques to recall details, capter the essence of a moment, and infuse your work with personal interpretation. Whether you're sketching a bustling cafe, a quiet park, or a fleeting interaction, this class encourages mindfulness and creativity while improving your drawing abilities.  Open to individuals of all skill levels, the course provides a supportive environment for exploring memory as a souce of artistic inspiration. This is an in-person class.

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

Learn how to hide data, split and freeze a window, create ranges, understand the name manager, learn additional functions, copy and paste, sort data, and learn the power of filters. Some examples of using Microsoft Excel as a practical tool include the amortization table, 20 top functions companies want their employees to know, and pivot tables. This is a live online class using ZOOM. 

The design of this course includes 2-3 hours of work with the software between classes to gain maximum benefit from the sessions.

Makeup class, if needed, 04/24/25.

You will receive a link to a brief pre-assessment with your email receipt.  This will assist the instructor in meeting your goals for  the class. 

You will want to have Microsoft Excel on your computer for this workshop and many people find it helpful to have two monitors, though it is certainly not necessary to benefit from the sessions.  There are two ways to accomplish this: 1) attach an external screen to your computer (contact our program if you need technical assistance with that); or 2) using two computers (one for Excel and the other for the ZOOM meeting).  

Val is a lifelong business educator and academic advisor focused on helping enrich and enhance students' educational and life purposes. He is experienced in college management and as an adult educator having taught at Mid-State College and Kennebec Valley Community College. His teaching experience covers over 45 years in the areas of computer applications, accounting, and Quickbooks training workshops.

Join Jess for a day full of creativity and fun while you paint your own 2'x2' barn quilt! The barn quilts created in this class will be painted on a primed wooden signboard with your choice of block quilt design and paint colors. Jess will guide you through marking your design, taping and painting. Not just for barns anymore, your decorated barn quilt can be hung inside your home as well as outside. You will be provided with instructions on how to seal your board for inside or outside display.  This is an in-person class.

All materials will be provided including your 2x2 board, choice of paints and designs, and tape. Please bring an apron/smock and a dish to share for a potluck lunch. Drinks, plates, bowls, & silverware will be provided.  Maximum 10 participants. 

Jess Johnson is a teacher and mixed media artist. She has been in Maine public education for 20 years and enjoys teaching others and loves seeing the different perspectives of one's art pieces.

This course is designed to get you solidly grounded in the fundamentals needed to enjoy fly fishing. Topics covered include tackle selection and assembly, knots, fly casting, fish foods, artificial flies, fly fishing strategies, entomology, and wading safety. After completing this course, you should have all the understanding and skills necessary to catch fish with a fly rod on your own. This is an in-person class.

This course will be taught in Orono by Kevin Tracewski, a registered Maine guide and author of the best selling book, A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine.