Needham Community Education

Are you or your student starting to worry about the college admissions process? This interactive session will give parents of any high school student an understanding of the college admissions components, and what they can do to reduce the stress often associated with the process. The class will include information and tips for topics including SAT/ACT tests, college visits, the steps to create a great college list, how applications are reviewed, and types of financial aid. *Please note price change from catalog. Class is $45.

In honor of the country’s 250th anniversary, the Concord Museum has put together a special event for NCE. Participants will first enjoy a docent-led tour of the museum’s Revolutionary galleries. The tour will be followed by a living history Revolutionary era character portrayal. Finally, a curator will provide a “spotlight” talk on a particular item(s) in the museum’s collection. This will be a unique opportunity for our community members!Limited to 15.

This program is for students who have had some experience in watercolor. Prior Continuing Watercolor students are welcome (all projects will be new). We will focus on the essential techniques of watercolor to take your painting skills to the next level. There will be a different project each week focusing on a particular technique, including seeing values clearly, becoming comfortable with the water to pigment ratios, color mixing, laying down nice graded washes, soft edge control, and understanding form to give your paintings a 3-dimensional feel. All the projects are demonstrated step-by-step and a video of each class is provided afterwards for review. Projects include simple landscapes, seascapes, flowers, birds, still-life fruit and vegetables. A materials list can be found here.

In this workshop, the instructor will demonstrate step-by-step how to paint the subject. A line drawing, photo and tonal study are provided for each workshop. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 12.

In this workshop, the instructor will demonstrate step-by-step how to paint the subject. A line drawing, photo and tonal study are provided for each workshop. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 12.

In this workshop, the instructor will demonstrate step-by-step how to paint the subject. A line drawing, photo and tonal study are provided for each workshop. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 12.

In this workshop, the instructor will demonstrate step-by-step how to paint the subject. A line drawing, photo and tonal study are provided for each workshop. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 12.

In this workshop, the instructor will demonstrate step-by-step how to paint the subject. A line drawing, photo and tonal study are provided for each workshop. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 12.

Join fellow French language lovers, conversing in a warm and inviting setting class led by an enthusiastic near-native speaker. This course is designed for students who have an advanced comprehension and expression. We will refine our French via word nuances, sophisticated locutions, figurative French and advanced grammatical topics.

Do you speak Spanish fluently, have a solid knowledge base and strong vocabulary but don’t have much opportunity to practice or improve? This class will provide ample opportunities for you to practice your Spanish as we read and discuss current events and short articles. We Will have group discussions and explore different perspectives about an issue. Join us- you will improve your Spanish, have fun, and enjoy interesting discussions with the other participants.

Bring your drawings to life with the rich layered color of professional colored pencils. Learn essential techniques for shading, blending, and building depth while exploring color theory and composition. Each class offers step-by-step instruction, creative projects, and personalized feedback from professional artist Eddie Bruckner. Whether you’re new to drawing or looking to refine your skills, this course will help you create vibrant, realistic artwork, one layer at a time. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 15.

Deciding how and when to claim Social Security is one of the most critical financial decisions a person will make in his or her lifetime. Without an understanding of the many complex rules surrounding Social Security, you could leave thousands of dollars on the table. Learning the answers to the following questions will arm you with the information you need: When should I file for benefits? What are the advantages and disadvantages of filing at age 62 or deferring to age 70? How does the November 2015 change in the rules affect me? How can I make sure I am taking advantage of available spousal, survivor or divorced benefits? How much of my Social Security will be subject to income tax? What potential changes are in store for Social Security and how might they affect my claiming decision?

Express yourself while connecting to others, and having fun! Spend an evening learning basic djembe hand-drumming techniques, employing traditional rhythms from Guinea and Mali. Benefits to hand drumming include building confidence, memory improvement, and greater coordination skills. No prior music experience is necessary. Drums are available to rent in advance, by emailing the instructor: AcornDrumming@gmail.com. Limited to 25.

Explore the exciting possibilities of combining melted beeswax with watercolor. We will drip and draw gestural lines with liquefied beeswax. Then we will develop our artwork with watercolor glazes. The wax dries quickly, to offer a graceful resist for your watercolors, combining an important textural and line element with a fluid medium. The beeswax, wax melters, and the specialized application tools will be provided by the instructor. This is an enjoyable experimental way to spice up your watercolors. Demos and handouts will be provided. A $5 materials fee is payable to the instructor in class. A supply list can be found here.

Walk Powisset's woodlands and meadows, guided by Powisset's mycologist, Amanda, who will provide tips for locating and identifying fungi. Amanda will discuss the role of fungi in the ecosystem, how sustenance foraging can be utilized to diversify our diets and combat food insecurity, as well as the future possibilities of mushrooms as medicine, cosmetics and a valuable source of protein in our growing and changing world. There will be a focus on safety while foraging, how to avoid poisonous look-alikes and take a deep dive into a handful of common edible and medicinal fungi found in Massachusetts. Participants will learn about the beauty and mystery of the fungal kingdom, proper foraging etiquette and how to preserve and make the most of a successful harvest. The second portion of this workshop will be a log inoculation class, where each participant will create their own Shiitake log to take home and grow. Working as a team, we will drill holes in each log, fill them with Shiitake mycelium, and seal the holes with wax to prepare them for their colonization period. Instructional materials will be provided for continuing the growing process and will cover the next steps to ensure a successful harvest at home. Logs inoculated during class will be ready to fruit in the spring season. In the third segment of the workshop, the farm Chef will join you in the Powisset Kitchen to create an unforgettable mushroom culinary experience and mushroom feast. Please note, we will forage mushrooms for educational purposes only and not for consuming. Join us as we discover the wonders of mushrooms and their natural habitats. Note: Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes suitable for uneven, perhaps wet/muddy, terrain. Limited to 12.

Join Dan Dain, author of the award-winning book A History of Boston, as he leads us through his subjective list of the most famous, and infamous, women from Massachusetts history, from Mary Chilton to Michelle Wu. Limited to 24.

If you love flowers and want to learn how to easily create gorgeous arrangements for your home, this is a fabulous introduction to floral design. With an abundant selection of flowers to choose from, learn techniques and basic design principles from experts. Leave with the confidence to create gorgeous flower arrangements. Limited to 15.

This class will equip you with important skills to understand and manage money including budgeting, saving and investing, credit and debt. At any age and phase of life, it is important to know the basics of finance and overcome barriers or fears to grasp those skills. Limited to 12.

Learn to sew while creating a 5”x 6”x 4” mini basket with a flat bottom. This project is fun to make and useful for small items. It also makes a nice gift to fill with goodies. Fused with both woven interfacing and fleece, it stands well on its own. You will need 1/3 yard if using the same fabric throughout the basket OR 1/4 yard (or 1 fat quarter) for outer and handle pcs. and 1/4 yard (or 1 fat quarter) for lining. Limited to 6.

Celebrate the season with an evening of elegance and festive cheer at our holiday Champagne tasting. Join us for a guided journey through a curated selection of exceptional Champagnes—from crisp Blanc de Blancs and rich vintage cuvées to vibrant rosé expressions. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy thoughtfully paired seasonal bites while learning about Champagne production methods, grape varieties, and terroir. Champagne will be paired with holiday and seasonal heavy hors d'oeuvres from Baker's Best Catering. Note: A $25 wine fee is payable in class. Limited to 29.

Immerse yourself in the beautiful French language and gain a practical command of the vocabulary and grammar through topics that will include greetings, pronunciation, counting, indefinite articles, definite articles, interrogatives, infinitive expressions and a few irregular verbs. The goal of this program is to provide you with the tools to conduct basic conversations and write brief paragraphs about a range of everyday topics, using the present and near future tenses. Students will need to purchase Contacts edition 8 or 9, easily found used or downloadable online. If you miss a class, you may view the recording or schedule a half-hour private lesson with the instructor ($39, purchase at nce.reg.eleyo.com or by phone with NCE).