Academic, my dear Watson
Are you too busy to take a course? Well, why not take a course in
Time Management through the Nova Scotia Community College. Hurry, the
one-day workshop is happening on June 20 and will teach students things
such as how to save up to one hour per day of time, overcome
procrastination and learn prioritization techniques.
If you’re interested in learning sign language, the NSCC also offers
a beginner level American Sign Language course. Students will learn how
to introduce themselves, exchange personal information and give
directions and more. The weekday course starts June 22 and runs into
July. There are also more advanced sign language courses that students
can take at a later date.
Since 1887, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design has offered
non-credit studio courses for the adult general public. Introductory
Drawing is one of the courses currently available. The class starts
with students doing a self-portrait and moving on to other exercises,
such as sketching a portrait from a tiny photo and enlarging it and
work involving a live model. Students finish by doing another
self-portrait to see how they’ve progressed.
If you’re looking to put your pen and paper to a different sort of
use, consider the War, Peace and Technology class at Mount Saint
Vincent University. The course is described as “an analysis of the
nature and roots of war preparations including American, Russian and
Middle East foreign policies and political cultures, plus the extent
and consequences of arms production and sales. Topics include the peace
movement and UN strategies and alternatives to war and regional arms
buildup.” Non-degree students can audit the class, meaning they don’t
have to complete assignments or write exams. Plus, it’s half the price
to take the course that way.
Creative diversions
Little Mysteries Books offers a one-night seminar on June 23 called
The Magic of Stones & Crystals: Part One. Students will work with
and create a set of nine stones for healing, chakra work, meditation,
divination, magic and more.
Do you have a love of stained glass? The Cranberry Stained Glass
Shop offers classes and workshops throughout the summer. Tiffany lamps,
fused pendants, and window hangings are just some of the items students
can create. In the one-week Intensive Beginner Class, students will
learn the basics of stained glass copper foil construction and students
will make their own window hanging.
If pottery is your thing, Turnstile Pottery has both drop-in classes
and courses. On Tuesday nights there is a live nude model and people
can do either figure sculpting or illustration. On Thursday nights from
you can try out pottery or work on your own independent projects.
People usually make mugs and bowls. There is also a five-week
Introduction to Throwing class, beginning on Wednesday, July 8 and
running until mid-August. Throwing is the process of making ceramics on
a potter’s wheel. Register early as the maximum class size is five
students.
At the Clay Café, adults can drop in anytime and work on
projects such as wine glasses, beer steins, and customizable picture
frames. People can also purchase lumps of clay and the staff will help
you with the project.
Breaking a sweat
If improving your sex life is a part of your summer agenda, Venus
Envy offers workshops throughout the summer. Workshops include Erotic
Talk—Talking Dirty for Women and Going Down: A Guide to Fellatio. No
further explanation needed.
If you want to get some exercise in the water, rather than in the
bedroom, check out East Coast Outfitters. Throughout the summer, it has
something happening every night of the week. The most popular option is
a Friday night paddle starting at 6pm and ending at 8pm as the sun
sets, followed by a barbeque on the wharf. Sometimes there’s even live
entertainment. “That fills up every week, so that’s why we open on
Saturdays,” says Dave Adler of Outfitters. He recommends registering in
advance. The Saturday session starts at 4:30pm.
If you’d rather be in the water, take a diving course through
Torpedo Rays Scuba. There are diving courses for both the beginner and
more advanced diver. Joey Dobson of TRS says diving is one of the most
relaxing things. “You feel weightless,” he says.
Richard Woodbury is a writer and editor from Halifax.
He wishes there was a local Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp he could
attend.
Summer Learnin’ COURSE GUIDE
Nova Scotia Community College(80 Mawiomi, 491-4911)
Time Management, June 20, $150
American Sign Language, 60 hours, June 22-July 10, $375
Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (1107 Marginal,
444-9600)
Introductory Drawing, Tuesdays from June 23-August 4, $150
Mount Saint Vincent University (166 Bedford Highway, 457-6117)
War, Peace and Technology, Tuesday and Thursday nights, July
6-August 21, $573.35 for a degree student and $300.85 for an audit
student
Little Mysteries Books(1663 Barrington, 423-1313)
The Magic of Stones & Crystals Part One, June 23, $25
Cranberry Stained Glass Shop(110 Chain Lake, 876-5167)
Intensive Beginner Class, July 13-July 17, August 17-August 21,
$190
Turnstile Pottery(2207 Gottingen, 431-2529)
Figure Sculpting/Illustration, Tuesdays, 8pm-9pm, $12 if you use
Turnstile’s clay, and $10 if you bring your own supplies
Pottery/Independent Projects, Thursdays, 7:30pm-9pm, all the
equipment you need is provided for $15 (including glazes)
Introduction to Throwing, July 8-August 15, $175 (materials
included)
Clay Café(6413 Quinpool, 429-2994)
Venus Envy(1598 Barrington, 422-0004)
Erotic Talk—Talking Dirty for Women, June 23, $20 (or $10 for
those with limited incomes)
Going Down: A Guide to Fellatio, June 24, $20 (or $10)
East Coast Outfitters(2017 Lower Prospect Road, 852-2567)
Friday night/Saturday afternoon paddle, $30 tax included
Torpedo Rays Scuba(625 Windmill, 481-0444)
Beginner Diving: There are different course packages and start times
for beginner diving, with the standard, least expensive option costing
$329.99 + HST. Check out torpedorays.com for more details.
Advanced Open Water Diving: June 19, July 24, August 21, $229.99 +
HST
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2009.