Access At CVUHS

Charlotte Sylvester has been practicing stained glass since 2020 and is looking forward to guiding experienced students through this exciting 3D stained glass class. During this 2-session course, students will use the Copper Foil Technique to create two inspiring stained glass keepsake pieces. Students will select from a variety of stained glass colors and learn how to assemble a glass triangle. Students will also learn how to hang a prism or memento inside each triangle. All tools and materials are provided for use during this course*. *A prism will be gifted to each student as thank you gift. This targeted course is for intermediate or experienced students only as knowledge of the copper foil technique is mandatory. Students must be 18+. Requirement: Closed-toed shoes and pants. Safety glasses, gloves and mask are provided; please feel free to bring your own. Sign up early as there are limited spots available. Please note, this class is NOT recommended for those that are pregnant or breastfeeding due to the possible exposure of lead solder.

Learn how to make spaetzle, the beloved German dumpling known for its tender texture and versatility. In this hands-on cooking class, students will learn the fundamentals of spaetzle dough, traditional shaping techniques, and proper cooking methods to achieve light, flavorful results. Participants will prepare fresh spaetzle from scratch and explore classic serving ideas—whether tossed with butter and herbs, paired with cheese, or served alongside savory dishes. Along the way, you’ll gain tips on ingredient variations, tools, and techniques you can easily recreate at home. We will be adding cheese at the end of class and will enjoy this dinner together with a side salad. Learn to make a delicious and simple homemade dressing that will compliment this dish! Perfect for home cooks of all skill levels, this class offers a delicious introduction to a comforting, time-honored dish. All ingredients are provided—just bring your appetite! Age 14+

Your donation to community education helps sustain, grow and improve our program. We rely solely on the program fees to run our program and pay our instructors. We also have a limited sponsorship fund that supports community members in need. Your kind contribution helps to keep class fees affordable so we can continue to make community education accessible to all. Thank you! If there is an amount you would like to donate, but it is not listed in our options below, please contact us at 802-482-7194 or email access@cvsdvt.org to arrange payment. Checks payable to: Access CVU, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg, VT., 05461

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite people? Purchase an Access Gift Certificate and support Community Education! Select the amount and check-out online. Your Gift Certificate will be emailed to you or the recipient; just let us know where to send it during checkout. If you would like a different amount, or you have a special request, please call us at 802-482-7194. Thank you for your support of Access! Note: An Access Gift Certificate never expires and is transferable!

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In this 4- session course we will cover acrylic painting techniques using different subjects each week. The purpose of class is to have fun and learn something new using acrylic as the medium. We will explore a variety of techniques and approaches that focus on how to make dynamic vibrant imagery using acrylic paint. We will use the best practices for exploring a new technique each week as well as how to paint off of an under-drawing. No experience necessary, and open to all levels. You will learn how to use a variegated/graded wash to learn how to work with the stay-wet method while painting on watercolor paper. You will also learn how to apply acrylic using the wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry methods. We will also cover the stifling technique to learn how to dapple in light using warm and cool colors on canvas. Lastly, we will use our learned techniques to layer interesting and fun imagery and shadowing. A list of materials to purchase prior to class will be provided after registration. Minimum age: 16+

Spend a Saturday with us creating your very own modern Adirondack chair in this one-day intensive workshop, running about four to five hours. Everything you need is provided, and while some boards will be pre-cut, you'll have the option to do your own cutting if you'd like. This way, you can customize your level of hands-on involvement. Please note that while everyone is welcome, this class isn't really aimed at absolute beginners. We recommend that participants either take our Intro to Woodworking class first or be comfortable enough in a woodshop using basic home tools like drills, saws, and sanders. During the class, you'll cut, assemble, and sand a sturdy chair made from 2x4 and 2x10 boards. We'll also discuss finishing options so you can decide whether to leave it natural or finish it at home. By the end of the day, you'll have a durable Adirondack chair ready for summer lounging and a great introduction to more advanced woodworking projects. Please bring PPE equipment such as safety goggles and gloves. Dust masks are optional. Bring a measuring tape and wear closed toed shoes, hat and tie hair back. We will take a 30 min break- feel free to bring snacks and lunch.

In this hands-on woodworking class, students will design and build a beautiful shaker-style nightstand—a piece known for its clean lines, practical beauty, and timeless appeal. This project is a perfect introduction to furniture-making and will look right at home in any bedroom, entryway, or living space. You’ll learn how to select and prepare lumber, use woodworking tools safely and confidently, and take accurate measurements that lead to professional-looking results. Along the way, we’ll introduce simple but strong joinery techniques that form the foundation of quality furniture construction. As the project comes together, students will shape parts, assemble the nightstand, and apply a smooth, attractive finish that brings out the natural beauty of the wood. Each step is demonstrated and guided, making the process approachable even if you’ve never built furniture before. No prior experience is required—just a willingness to learn, ask questions, and enjoy working with your hands. By the end of the class, you’ll go home with a completed nightstand you can be proud of, along with the skills and confidence to take on future woodworking projects. Min Age: 16+

Join us for one of our most popular classes, a two-session woodworking experience where you’ll create a charcuterie board that becomes a lasting keepsake, gift, or centerpiece. No experience is necessary. I’ll have wood prepared in various states so you can do as much or as little power-tool work as you’re comfortable with. I provide as much or as little assistance as each student requests. All woods used in this class are repurposed/reclaimed—sourced from pallets, shipping containers, and old furniture. You’ll choose from a wide selection of hardwoods (maple, ash, purpleheart, birch, Brazilian cherry, oak, and more). All materials are included. What you’ll do Session 1: Think of a design you would like to try. A simple search on Google or Etsy will give you all kinds of shapes and sizes of Charcuterie boards. You’ll choose from a large selection of hardwoods. Some pieces will be ready to use; others will need preparation—planing, jointing/edge-joining, glue-up, and clamping—to form your board blank. Tools may include the miter saw, table saw, planer, and clamps. Session 2: Once unclamped, we’ll remove excess dried glue and plane to a uniform surface, then draw and cut your handle/profile on the band saw or scroll saw. Finish by sanding smooth, cleaning, and applying food-grade oil board oil. By the end, you’ll leave with a finished, food-safe charcuterie board that’s both functional and beautiful—ready to use or gift. Every student will go home with their own board. Although this is a beginner class, we’re also offering an Introduction to Woodworking and Shop Tools workshop for students who want to experience a wider variety of tools. It’s a great standalone class and not required for this workshop. Please bring safety glasses and a dust mask if you have one. We have a small supply on hand. Long hair will need to be tied back and no open toed shoes or looser clothing. Age: 16+ "Tony is a very dedicated, enthusiastic teacher with a clear love of his craft. He was so generous with his time, often starting class early and always willing to stay late to make sure everyone left with a satisfying product. I recommend his class whole-heartedly!"

This four-session studio program is designed for intermediate to advanced artists who are ready to move beyond technique and focus on developing a cohesive body of work with individual voice, intention, and character. The course emphasizes portfolio development, encouraging participants to explore how personal style emerges through creative decision-making rather than prescribed outcomes. While all participants will work from the same source material and still-life objects, each artist will be guided to approach the work in their own way—experimenting with compositional planning, material selection, mark-making, and conceptual emphasis. Students will be encouraged to manipulate materials creatively, push beyond comfort zones, and take thoughtful artistic risks in pursuit of more expressive and personal drawings. Throughout the program, the instructor will provide individualized feedback and lead discussions on how professional artists develop and refine their visual voice over time. Group critiques will offer opportunities to reflect, articulate artistic choices, and gain insight from peers. By the end of the course, students will have produced a small but intentional portfolio that reflects both technical skill and emerging personal style. Prior experience with drawing and artmaking is strongly recommended, as this course is designed for artists ready to work independently while engaging in guided critique and creative exploration. All materials are included in the fee. Min Age: 15+ David Paarlberg-Kvam

This six-week discussion-based book club explores French history, culture, and place through three acclaimed works of fiction set in pivotal moments of France’s past. Readings span the French Revolution, 19th-century Paris, and World War II–era France, offering insight into how literature reflects political upheaval, architectural grandeur, and everyday life. Through guided discussion and cultural context, participants will examine how setting shapes story and identity, from Revolutionary Paris to the Paris Opera House to occupied coastal France. An optional film screening will complement one of the readings. No prior knowledge of French language or history is required. *Sign-up for each session based on your interest and availability. Books include: 1. The Scarlet Pimpernel (Baroness Orczy) 2. The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) 3. All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr) The Scarlet Pimpernel (3/26 & 4/2) Cancelled Week 1 – Revolutionary France The Scarlet Pimpernel (first half) Discussion Focus: Historical overview of the French Revolution Class conflict, justice, and political violence How revolution is portrayed for an English-speaking audience Paris as a city under siege Week 2 – Heroes, Myths, and Adaptation The Scarlet Pimpernel (second half) Discussion Focus: The construction of heroism and disguise Moral ambiguity during times of upheaval Optional screening and discussion of the 1982 film adaptation Comparing literary and cinematic portrayals of Revolutionary France The Phantom of the Opera (4/9 & 4/16)Cancelled Week 1 – Paris and the Belle Époque The Phantom of the Opera (first half) Discussion Focus: Paris in the late 19th century The Palais Garnier as a symbol of culture and power Architecture, spectacle, and social hierarchy The city as both glamorous and shadowed Week 2 – Obsession, Isolation, and Space The Phantom of the Opera (second half) Discussion Focus: Gothic elements and psychological themes The role of hidden spaces and underground Paris Art, obsession, and belonging Myth versus reality in cultural landmarks All the Light We Cannot See 4/30 & 4/7) Week 1 – Occupied France All the Light We Cannot See (first half) Discussion Focus: France during Nazi occupation Civilian life, fear, and survival Saint-Malo and coastal France as setting Parallel narratives and moral choices Week 2 – Memory, Resistance, and Aftermath All the Light We Cannot See (second half) Discussion Focus: Resistance, complicity, and quiet heroism The long shadow of war on individuals and places Memory, loss, and rebuilding How literature preserves history and place Please check your local library to reserve these books as they are well known and available. All ages and interests are welcome!

Join Julie Lambre, a California native and graduate of Defense Language Institute, San Jose State and Trinity College (DC) as she helps you learn the French language using situational vocabulary and phrases so that you can confidently converse in French on your next trip. While French is spoken in many countries throughout the world, the main focus will be on the cultural aspects of France. During the 90-min sessions, the focus of the course will be on practical communication, cultural understanding and situational vocabulary. While not necessary, some knowledge of French will be helpful prior to taking this course. Please purchase the following texts (Amazon or your local bookstore) prior to the start of the course. 1. Traveling in France by Celine Van Loan 2. The Do's and Don'ts of Paris- CultureQuest Books After taking this course, you'll be ready to converse like a local on your next trip to France! All ages welcome!

This gentle yoga class is a meditative, fluid, and soothing class suitable for all levels. Students will experience slow movements to warm the body and release stress and muscular tension, breathing techniques to support the nervous system, and simple postures to help build strength and stability. Suitable for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Bring your mat and water bottle, as well as blocks and strap (towel) if needed. We will have some yoga mats and blocks available to borrow. "Ellen is a wonderful instructor, love her and her yoga classes!"