Craven Community College’s (Craven CC) Community Enrichment Program (CEP) has announced a robust class selection for the first quarter of the new year. CEP classes are for learners of all ages and interests who want to discover the joy of learning and exploring new hobbies.
“The aim is to help community members find new interests and develop new skills in the new year,” said CEP Coordinator Dr. Suzanne Madison. “We’ve added several new and popular classes to the mix, and the goal is to have everyone learn more in 2024.”
For those interested in getting their dance moves on, Move Your Body: Dance Fusion will teach beginner modern, African, and zydeco dance. It will be held Thursdays, Jan. 4-25 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Another stimulating class, Basic Self-Defense, will cover defensive techniques and self-protection skills on Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 12-March 6 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Meditation and yoga will be offered to strengthen and calm the body and mind through gentle stretching and mindful breathing techniques. Meditation will run on Wednesdays, Jan. 24-Feb. 14 or March 6-27 from 6 to 7 p.m., and Introduction to Yoga will be held on Fridays, March 1-22 or March 6-27 from 10:45 a.m. to noon.
Of course, burning all that energy will require some good food, and the CEP has that covered with a delicious array of cooking classes to be held at the Volt Center kitchen. Comfort Food will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. or Friday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. Sweet-tooth cravings can be satisfied with Biscotti Baking, offered Friday, Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Learn to make Homemade Pasta and Red Sauce from scratch on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. or Friday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Or discover how to make chicken breast cordon bleu stuffed with feta and spinach and topped with a creamy Dijon sauce in Stuff It Cooking on Thursday, March 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. or Friday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to noon.
For linguistic learners, Intro to American Sign Language will be offered on Tuesdays, Jan. 9-March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Beginner Spanish will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 22-Feb. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. For basic Spanish speakers ready to dive deeper into the language, customs, manners, and etiquette, Conversational Spanish will run Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 5-March 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Artistically inclined community members can brush up on painting skills with Oil Painting for Beginners each Friday, Jan. 12-Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, or Painting with Acrylics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 6-29 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Lastly, those seeking to challenge their minds can explore one of the oldest board games in human history in Chess for Beginners. It will be held on Wednesdays, Feb. 7-28 from 12-2 p.m.
“As always, we welcome community feedback and suggestions for new classes,” said Madison. “Learning should be a fun, lifelong process, and we are continually looking for ways to enhance our offerings to keep our community engaged and meet their needs.”
Class topics offered are based on community input and range in skill levels from beginner to advanced. The CEP provides a diverse selection of non-credit, short-term, and affordable courses. Classes are held on Craven CC’s New Bern, Havelock, and Volt Center campuses and in community locations.
To view more information, register for a class, suggest a new topic, or request to teach a class, visit CravenCC.edu/CEP. For questions, contact Madison at 252-638-1519 or madisons@cravencc.edu.