Needham Community Education

Most people who've used ChatGPT think they understand AI. Most of them are wrong and it's not their fault. They just haven't been shown what they're missing. Yet. In three focused sessions, you'll stop guessing and start using ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini the way people who get results do, with strategy, confidence, and zero wasted time. You'll leave excited to keep going. This isn't about dabbling. It's about building AI fluency that compounds your effectiveness every single day, whether you're at work, running a business, or just want AI to work for your life. You'll develop: ● Smart tool selection, knowing exactly which AI handles specific tasks best ● Strategic prompting skills that consistently deliver results you actually need ● Seamless workflow integration for research, communication, and problem-solving ● Privacy safeguards and legal awareness so you can innovate without risk ● Efficiency breakthroughs that free up hours for what matters most Your outcome: A personalized AI toolkit, practical techniques you'll use immediately, and the confidence to keep evolving as these tools do. You'll think differently about what's possible. Note: Students should bring their fully charged laptop or tablet to class. Mobile phones do not work well for this workshop. We will be using the FREE versions of all the AI bots we teach and access them through your browser of choice. No need to download anything. Limited to 25.

ASHI CPR and AED certification program teaches participants how to recognize cardiac arrest, activate emergency medical services, and perform CPR appropriately until additional assistance arrives. Also covered is use of the Automatic External Defibrillator, how to respond to urgent choking situations and use of Narcan.

Bring your imagination to life with vibrant color and bold brushstrokes! Acrylic paint, the chosen medium for many amateur and professional artists, is versatile, non-toxic, easy to clean, and offers brilliant color. Professional artist, Eddie Bruckner, will teach you about values, color, paint mixing, brushwork, and more in a fun, encouraging environment, using guided step-by-step exercises. These classes are perfect for total beginners or anyone looking to reconnect with their creative side. Note: Each week and each session introduces new exercises and mini-projects you can proudly display at home. Register for any or all of the session options. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 15.

This Advanced Beginner bridge course is designed to take the beginner player to the next level of both bidding and play of the hand. We will continue to work on no trump techniques and to strengthen trump suit play. In addition, we will spend time on simple defensive techniques (like leads) and attitude signals. If we have the time we will also introduce competitive bidding like overcalls and takeout doubles. All new and fun challenges await!

Advance your understanding of how to use your manual controls, including ISO, shutter speed, aperture. Employing these controls will enable you to take and create great images on your phone, in various conditions and settings. You will also learn about editing apps that will further improve your images. Equipment such as telephoto lenses, tripods and filters will be covered and useful handouts will be provided. Limited to 20.

This program is for students who want to continue developing their Spanish skills and already know the present, imperfect, and preterite tenses. We will work on activities to strengthen your knowledge of those tenses, plus learn new vocabulary and continue to practice speaking in Spanish. It's a welcoming class of learners. Students will need to purchase a textbook (approximately $35) for this course. Details can be found here.

In this class, students will have the opportunity to learn the future and conditional tenses, to expand their vocabulary, and to converse with each other. Students will need to purchase a textbook (approximately $35) for this course.Details can be found here.

It’s not always a fun topic to think about—but it’s an important one: aging. Planning ahead can reduce stress, minimize reliance on others, and help ensure access to high-quality, personalized options that align with your lifestyle. Join us for a light, interactive conversation about aging in place. We’ll explore emerging trends in technology and housing, along with practical considerations such as advanced planning and how to pay for care. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres as we connect in a relaxed, welcoming setting. The goal of this session is to provide you with a clear, thoughtful framework to guide your planning and help you make informed decisions about aging on your own terms.

Versatile and affordable, potatoes appear everywhere from base for soups, to snacks, to very elegant curries. This class will explore the simple and exotic potato dishes that will tickle your taste buds. We will make Aloo Chaat, a medley of steamed potatoes, topped with chopped onions, chickpeas, cilantro and drizzled with thinned and spiced yogurt and sweet and sour date chutney. Next, we will make a very popular and simple potato and tomato curry to accompany Potato Pulao–Basmati rice cooked with spiced potatoes. This is a celebration of a very humble vegetable. Note: A $20 ingredients fee is payable to the instructor in class. Limited to 12.

Come join Shruti Mehta for an evening of cooking and culture as we prepare a simple meal together. An Indian meal always consists of four dishes: a vegetable dish, a lentil dish, bread and rice. A fancier meal will include something fried on the side. Come prepared for hands-on participation and get transported to another world. Possible dishes may include Creamed Corn and Vegetable Fritters (deep-fried pakoras), served with Date Chutney (sweet and sour dipping sauce made with dates and tamarind), Aloo-Gobhi, a simple curry made with cauliflower chunks and cubed potatoes cooked with ginger, chilies, tomato and spices, Tadka Dal, a medley of 3 different dals with ginger, garlic and chilies, served with steamed rice. These dishes will be served with a quick Garlic Naan–popular store-bought bread embellished with garlic and butter. Note: A $20 ingredients fee is payable to the instructor in class. Limited to 12.

No more excuses; here’s your chance to learn the greatest game ever! This class is designed for beginners or for those who learned a little in the past but don’t remember a lot. You will be learning or re-learning the right way to play this game in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. And, in just a few short weeks, you will be able to play on your own with others you’ve met at class. Come challenge yourself while having a great time. Limited to 10.

Discover how much fun it can be to draw — even if you haven’t picked up a pencil in years! This small-group drawing class is perfect for beginners who want to learn the foundations of art in a supportive and inspiring environment. You will learn how to truly see like an artist while exploring shading, proportion, and simple composition. Each session builds your confidence with easy, step-by-step instruction from a professional visual artist who will help you develop your own creative style. Experiment with line, light, and shadow while gaining a deeper appreciation for the beauty in everyday life. No experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to explore your artistic side. Note: Each week and each session introduces new exercises and mini-projects you can proudly display at home. Register for any or all of the session options. A materials list can be found here. Limited to 15.

Even if you have never swung a club, this clinic will provide you with the skills and confidence to play golf. The program will include instruction in the development of a full swing, plus short game fundamentals: putting, chipping and pitching. On the 3rd day, if the course is not in heavy use, participants will have the opportunity to play some holes. Equipment can be provided if needed. Program takes place, rain or shine.

Step into your spiritual path with guidance from internationally known psychic medium Katherine Glass. This immersive beginning-level course offers new and continuing students a supportive and structured introduction to mediumship, intuitive development, and spirit communication. Through lectures, experiential exercises, and group practice, Katherine creates a safe and sacred space for participants to explore their natural mediumship gifts. By the end of this course, students will: Understand the fundamentals of mediumship and the role of the medium; develop basic psychic and mediumistic abilities; learn how to raise and manage their energetic vibration; practice connecting with spirit through guided meditation; gain tools for discernment, spiritual protection, and ethical practice; participate in practice readings in a guided, safe environment. Limited to 16.

Would you like to learn Spanish? Come and enjoy learning a new language in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. In the Beginning Spanish class, you will be immersed in the language, learn practical vocabulary, watch videos, and have conversations with classmates in which you practice your speaking skills each week. This course is for those with little or no knowledge of Spanish. Students will need to purchase a textbook (approximately $35) for this course. Details can be found here.

This class will be geared for the complete beginner who has had little or no experience in watercolor, but continuing students are welcome (all projects will be new). We will work on a number of skill-building exercises and small paintings, including washes, dry brush, sgraffito, spattering, masking and texturing techniques. We will explore how much water-to-pigment to use to create tints, glazes and deep dark shades, together with an introduction to color mixing. There will be step-by-step demonstrations in each class to help you learn the basic techniques of painting with this vibrant transparent medium. A materials list can be found here.

Belly dance is an invigorating and graceful dance form which involves isolations of the core muscles, hips, and shoulders. Each class begins with a warm up and runs the basics with added options to layer more advanced techniques. Included are travel steps and mini combos. All levels welcome! Enjoy the music and camaraderie in a supportive learning environment. Wear comfortable fitness attire. Dance barefoot or wear dance slippers. Hip scarves are fun to wear, if you have one.

Elevate your woodworking projects from ordinary to extraordinary by mastering the art of the butterfly inlay. This intermediate-level course is designed for woodworkers who want to add both structural integrity and a striking visual element to their live-edge tables or large slab projects. You will learn the precise mechanics of why and where to place a bow tie Dutchman, transforming functional crack stabilization into a signature design feature. Working with premium hardwood stability keys, our instructors will guide you through the critical steps of grain matching, structural evaluation, and layout optimization to ensure your inlay looks seamless and performs beautifully for generations. Hands-on practice is the core of this workshop, taking you step-by-step through modern routing methodologies (traditional hand tool method will be discussed). You will learn to scribe perfect outlines, clear waste material efficiently, and pare crisp corners using razor-sharp chisels. By exploring template routing techniques, you will gain the confidence to execute flawless, gap-free joinery on your own projects. Elevate your craft, prevent future wood movement split propagation, and leave this class with the specialized skills required to make your next tabletop a true masterpiece. Note: Students are strongly encouraged to bring their own safety glasses, mallets, marking knives and sharpened chisels. Routers will be provided. If you do not have tools, we have a limited supply for those who need them. Limited to 6.

Do you like to play games? Would you like to learn a new one? More popular than ever with adults of all ages, the game of Canasta is a fun, complex and addictive game. We will cover all aspects of the game, using Modern American Canasta rules. Participants will learn the rules and strategies needed to play. Each session will include instruction and supervised play. Meet new friends or gather your friends; either way this game offers you great brain exercise, fun, and a social experience.

Learn how to design and style your own beautiful charcuterie board. In this hands-on class, you will be guided step-by-step through arranging a variety of cheeses, cured meats, fruits, and accompaniments to create a balanced and visually appealing board. All materials are provided, including a selection of four cheeses, three cured meats, fresh fruits, crackers, nuts, jam, and additional elements for creative styling. You will also learn simple techniques such as cutting and shaping ingredients (including decorative kiwi cutting) to elevate your presentation. Your charcuterie will be displayed on a 10” palm leaf platter to take home in the provided box. You will also receive a helpful cheat-sheet filled with tips on styling, pairing, and ingredient selection for future use. During the class, guests will be able to enjoy a shared grazing board featuring high-quality, locally sourced New England products, creating a welcoming and social atmosphere. If you are hosting anyone for dinner over the weekend, your charcuterie board will be the centerpiece of your gathering! Limited to 20.

You admire them in Parisian boulangeries – delicate, perfect French cookies. Join guest chef Clarisse Maugis in this special hands-on class to make classic petits gateaux, or tea party cookies. You’ll make madeleines, the sweet vanilla sponge cookie with perfect “humps,” and create two types of delightful langue de chat, with soft middles and lovely crisp edges. Limited to 12.

Discover modern Italian‑inspired cocktails in this instructor‑led demonstration class focused on balance, freshness, and approachable technique. Watch as a selection of bittersweet, citrus‑forward, and herb‑driven cocktails are prepared step by step, with discussion of ingredients, flavor structure, and presentation. Participants will enjoy guided tastings of each cocktail and gain practical tips for recreating them at home. No hands‑on mixing required—just observe, taste, and learn. Come hungry, as the cocktails will be paired with hors d'oeuvres, prepared under the talented Cappella chef/owner, Rob Picardi. Note: A cocktail fee of $15 per person is payable in class. Limited to 25.