Adult and Family Enrichment
OVERVIEW
If you’re passionate about lifelong learning, Berkshire South’s Enrichment programs are sure to interest you. Explore new hobbies, learn practical skills, sharpen your mind, and build friendships with classmates who share your interests – all while having fun! Pre-registration for all classes is required 48 hours in advance.
For all program-related questions, please contact Molly at mamstead@berkshiresouth.org
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ADULT PROGRAMS
Handiwork Hangout
Ages 18+
Mondays, Now – June 17th (NEW Extended dates!)
1:00 – 3:00pm
&
Thursdays, June 27th – August 29th
6:00-8:00pm
Instructor: Susie Kandt
Free For Everyone
Calling all crochet, knitting, cross stitch, and embroidery enthusiasts! Come work on your current projects while enjoying the company of other handi-workers in our weekly social club. Make new friends, share techniques, and complete your projects. All levels of experience are welcome!
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Beginners Cha-Cha Dance
Ages 21+
Tuesdays, March 26th – April 30th
2:00 – 3:00pm
Instructor: Luana Dias David
*Members: $50.00
*Guests: $65.00
This workshop is designed for the absolute beginner who wants to learn Cha Cha and get started in the social dance community! We’ll have fun learning some of the basic moves. You’ll get a taste of how the moves flow and the many benefits to be gained from enjoying social dancing!
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Beginner’s Embroidery
Ages 18+
Mondays, February 26th – March 18th
4:00 – 5:30pm
Instructor: Susie Kandt
*Members: $30.00
*Guests: $40.00
If you’ve been looking for an introduction to hand embroidery, this four week workshop is for you! In this class you will get a sense of the materials and techniques, learn 5 of the most popular stitches, and create your own patch! All materials are included.
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Macrame Air Plant Holder
Ages 13+ FULL (accepting a waitlist)
Thursday, April 4th
5:00 – 7:00pm
Instructor: Parasrevi Taliadoros “Toula”
Free For Everyone
Join Toula from Make My Day Designs in creating a fun and funky macrame air plant holder!
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Earth Day Succulent Dish Garden Workshop
Ages 13+
Thursday, April 18th
5:00 – 7:00pm
Instructor: Vine Gate Lavender Floral Farm
Free For Everyone
Come create a succulent dish garden with assorted plants and decorative stones / gravel. A flowering plant (if available) is included for added color. You will also learn how to properly care for succulents. The succulent garden can be kept indoors year round, or live outdoors during the summer months. This garden makes a lovely table centerpiece. All materials are included.
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Italian Cooking with Hank Ferlauto
Thursday, April 18th
5:00 – 8:00pm
Instructor: Hank Ferlauto
Members: $65
Guests: $80
Join chef Hank Ferlauto for a fun, hands-on meal. Each class’s unique menu will consist of a pasta dish (or other first course), main course with a side vegetable, and dessert. After cooking, the group will sit and enjoy their meal together. Wine will be served with the meal.
Menu
Primo: Handmade pasta with creamy red pepper sauce
Secondo: Chicken saltimbocca and roasted asparagus with almonds and capers
Dolce: Limoncello Tiramisu
*With notice, accommodations can be made for different diets. Please reach out if you have any dietary restriction.
The Signs of Spring: A Guided Hike
Ages 18+
Friday, April 19th (inclement weather date April 26th)
1:00 – 3:00pm
Instructor: Tes Reed
Free For Everyone
Join naturalist and wilderness educator, Tes Reed, on a hike to explore the signs of spring. Learn how to identify trees by their branches, bark, buds, and first leaves. We will also find out what animals are doing this time of year, investigate wild edible plants, learn about non-native invasive plants, and more. The land will guide our journey.
*Community Vitality Grant Funded
Uke 101
Ages 13+
Thursdays, May 2nd – May 23rd
6:15 – 7:00 PM
Instructor: Keith Larsen
Members: $25.00
Guests: $35.00
This spring, discover the wonderful world of ukulele! This 4-week beginner course is designed to introduce basic chords and strumming patterns to people interested in learning or gaining confidence playing the ukulele. We will focus on holding the ukulele comfortably to ensure healthy playing habits, tuning the instrument, learning several chords, strumming, and reading a chord chart. No prior musical experience needed. Ukuleles will be provided.
Art Classes in Collaboration with Guild of Berkshire Artists
Registration for these classes is directly through the Guild of Berkshire Artists’ website.
Intro to Cold Wax
Teacher: Carolyn Abrams
Mondays – May, 13th, 20th, June 3rd, & 10th
1pm – 4pm
*No Class Memorial Day, May 27th
Class Cost:
Members (BSRCC or Guild Members): $200
Guests: $250
Description and Details
Cold wax medium is an oil painting medium composed of beeswax with a small amount of solvent. Many luminous and unique effects are possible using this enchanting medium. We will explore the cold wax medium as it applies to oil paints as well as the intuitive process of using the medium to express yourself. We will experiment and play as we build on our vocabulary from one week to the next.
*Cold wax medium and squeegees are provided. A list of other materials to purchase will also be provided.
Refund Policy for this ongoing local workshop:
If weather or the instructor illness forces the cancellation of the workshop, GBA will reschedule the workshop at the earliest possible time with regard to instructor and facility availability. No refunds will be given if the participant is unable to attend the rescheduled workshop.
Medical related refunds are to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and refunds granted solely at the discretion of GBA.
Painterly Abstract Collage Workshop (FULL)
Teacher: Alexandra Sheldon
May 15th 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
May 16th & 17th 9:00AM – 4:00 PM
May 18th 8:00AM – 11:00 AM
Members: $485.00
Guests: $550.00
Description
The workshop is for all skill levels from beginner to professional. Explore composition, color, texture, light, movement, and narrative while making collages from scratch. Each session will begin with an artist’s talk and demonstration.
Spring Candle-Making Workshop
Tuesday, May 7th
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Instructor: Megan Kaiser from Brookman Candle & Co.
Members: $25.00
Guests: $40.00
Create your own reusable wooden bowl candle using natural soy and non-toxic, phthalate-free fragrances, like Wild Lilac, Spring Magnolia, Lemon Verbena and many others! Choose a crackling wood or cotton wick. Give your candle some personal touches with beautiful, local dried florals, wax melts, and a chunky ribbon. Bring a friend or come on your own! Please register each participant who will be making a candle.
Reiki - Individual Sessions
Ages 13+
Thursday, April 4th FULL
12:00 – 3:00pm
Wednesday, May 8th FULL
2:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 12th FULL
12:00 – 3:00 PM
Instructor: Carrie Harper
Members: $10.00
Guests: $15.00
Sign up for a 30 minute private session to experience the Reiki Healing Arts with Carrie Harper from Here To There Reiki Care. Reiki is a gentle form of healing in which the practitioner is a conduit for the Reiki energy to flow to the receiver. Reiki supports each person in an individual way for their highest good. This universal life force energy is accessible to all, balancing physical, emotional, mind, and spirit.
Genealogy
Ages 13+
Wednesdays, May 22nd, June 12th, & July 17th
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Instructor: Richard Pope
Members: $5.00
Guests: $8.00
Have you ever wondered about your family’s past but didn’t know where to start or who to ask? This is your opportunity! In this 30 minute session, Richard Pope, a certified genealogist, will help you get the answers you have been looking for and get you started in the right direction. Please note, Richard focuses on genealogy within America only.
Summer Music Jam
Ages 13+
Mondays, June 3rd, June 17th, July 1st, July 15th, August 5th, & August 19th
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Instructor: Sherry Steiner
Free For Everyone
Jamming is a spontaneous, improvisational musical collaboration. Come try out new sounds and meet fellow instrumentalists. Bring your instrument(s) and hop on the jam session.
Narcan Training
Ages 13+
Tuesday, June 4th
Wednesday, July 24th
Monday, August 19th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Instructor: Berkshire Harm Reduction
Free For Everyone
This is a community conversation and training about harm reduction and overdose prevention. Learn how harm reduction is a social justice movement and survival strategy. You will learn both overdose prevention and how to detect and respond to a possible overdose.
Renew, Rest & Recharge
Ages 18+
Thursday, June 13th
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Instructor: Thais Harris & Nicole DeLorey
Members: $30.00
Guests: $45.00
A special evening with holistic nutritionist & author, Thais Harris, and acupuncturist, Nicole DeLorey. Get into a state of rest and renewal with a guided relaxation and sound healing, while recharging your nervous system with acupuncture/acupressure and essential oil therapy. Integrate your experience with a group discussion and nourishing foods & beverages. You will receive a handout with practices and recipes to repeat this experience at home!
Love-Powered Weight Loss
Ages 18+
Thursday, July 18th
5:30 – 7:00 PM
Instructor: Thais Harris
Free For Everyone
Thais Harris, a board-certified holistic nutritionist, will introduce you to an innovative approach towards understanding your body and supporting it in shedding fat. This class is part lecture and part cooking paired with a personal metabolic questionnaire.
Sweet Midsummer Spa Day
Ages 18+
Saturday, July 20th
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Instructor: Nicole Irene
Member: $25.00
Guest: $40.00
Join Nicole for a DIY spa day as we sip refreshing holy basil & strawberry mocktails! We will make a home-made sweet basil lip scrub, rose face wash, and gentle rosehip facial moisturizer for a radiant complexion.
Charcuterie Workshop
Ages 21+
Thursday, July 25th
6:00-7:00pm
Instructor: E. Silver Charcuterie
Members: $30.00
Guests: $45.00
Build your own charcuterie board with E. Silver Charcuterie! They will teach you tips and tricks to impress your guests with a stunning and delicious spread. BYO wine to enjoy as we make, learn, and eat! Class includes all materials (Palm leaf disposable platter, Gift-worthy bakery box transport board home, & charcuterie)
Steady Mood and Blood Sugar
Ages 16+
Wednesday, August 7th
5:30 – 7:00 PM
Instructor: Thais Harris
Free For Everyone
Learn how to balance carbs, fats, and protein to keep your mind and body happy. This class is part lecture and part hands-on cooking with Thais Harris who is board certified in holistic nutrition.
Sunkissed: Summer Skin Care
Ages 18+
Saturday, August 17th
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Instructor: Nicole Irene
Member: $25.00
Guest: $40.00
Sip on sweet calendula tea while using the same plant to create a home-made after-sun spray, calming lotion, and simple salve lip balm.
*Programs noted with a (*) are part of our Community Vitality programming, which is funded by the Lennox Foundation and the Lee Bank Foundation.
CONTINUOUS PROGRAMS
Community Supper
Every Other Monday
Curbside Pick-Up Only, Unless Otherwise Noted.
5:00-6:00 pm
April Dates:
April 1st & 15th
Please Note: We will NOT host Community Supper on Monday, April 29th. Suppers will resume in May!
Funding for these meals is generously provided by Greylock Federal Credit Union, Fallon Health, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires, and the Lennox Foundation.
Free For Everyone
April 15th, 2024 Menu
Pollo Guisado (Guatemalan Chicken Stew)
Rice
Beans
Cucumber and Lettuce Salad
Volunteer Chef:
Janet Elsbach
Co-Chef Lisbenia Reyes
Call the front desk or check our Facebook page and Instagram for the weekly menu. No reservations are needed.
- If there is inclement weather we will offer Community Supper for curbside pick up only.
- We are only able to serve every other Monday and are actively looking for chefs or volunteers to cook.
- Please note that we are watching county COVID numbers closely, and will respond quickly to state and local guidance as it comes.
- We strongly encourage calling the Front Desk 413 528 2810 before coming out in case of any program changes.
- First come, first served. Only 125 meals will be prepared
- FREE FOR EVERYONE
Berkshire Ukulele Band (BUB)
Ages 13+
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm
Instructor: Jean Atwater-Willams & Keith Larsen
Free For Everyone
A music educator will teach ukulele technique, chord progressions, and songs from many musical genres. Students and music lovers of all levels are welcome, including beginners. The ability to read music is not required. Music and chord charts will be provided. There will be opportunities to perform at community events throughout the year. This is a drop in program but calling ahead is encouraged as the group occasionally performs off site during regular class times.
This is a FREE program supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the following local cultural councils: Alford-Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, New Marlborough, Otis, Sandisfield, Sheffield, and Stockbridge.
Berkshire Sings!
Ages 13+
Wednesdays, 6:45pm – 8:30pm
Instructor: Robert Kelly
Free For Everyone
Sing ’till your heart’s content under the guidance and accompaniment of musician and teacher Robert Kelly. Songs include pop, folk, jazz standards, and show tunes. Exercises in breathing, relaxation, and listening will be incorporated, and opportunities to perform at community events will be offered. Everyone is welcome-no prior experience necessary. All you need is the desire to sing! Music will be provided. This is a drop-in program, but calling ahead is encouraged as the group occasionally performs off-site during regular class times.
This is a FREE program supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the following local cultural councils: Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Otis, Sandisfield, Sheffield, and Stockbridge.
Community Garden
Winter Plot: October 1st – March 31st $25 per plot
Summer Plot: April 1st – September 31st $45 per plot
Year Round Plot: April 1st – March 31st $65 per plot
Want to grow your own vegetables and flowers, but lack the space to do so? Our fenced garden has eight 4′ x 14′ raised beds with access to water. Rent one (or more!) for the next growing season. Fall is the perfect time to plant garlic, carrots, tulip bulbs, spinach greens and more.
Contact Amanda Leavenworth at 413-528-2810 ext 32 to learn more or reserve your plot.
