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. You will make one prism and one 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+

Discover the basic principles of Zentangle®, a meditative art form developed in 2004 by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. This easy-to-learn and relaxing drawing method uses structured patterns—called tangles—made from simple lines, dots, and curves to create beautiful, original designs. After learning several foundational tangles, students will select their favorites to design a unique Zentangle Valentine card using a heart template on greeting card stock. No artistic experience is necessary—just a willingness to slow down and enjoy the creative process. All materials are provided by the instructor. Min age: 16+

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

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!

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!

Access Tote Bags by Donation

Access Tote Bags by Donation

This 10-week cooking class will cover cooking safety (including safe cutting techniques), healthy cooking hygiene, and how to cook various simple foods. This course is adapted to be accessible for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. The classes will break each cooking task down into manageable steps. Cooking topics may include: no bake cookies, pasta, nachos, coffee/tea, and seasonal treats using a toaster food safety including how to decipher expiration dates, how to know when food is cooked, how to identify mold, how to properly clean the kitchen, how to avoid burning yourself on the stove and pans following steps of a recipe team work in a shared kitchen space memory techniques to remember to turn the stove and oven off. This course will run for 10 weeks and the lessons will build on each other with the chance for lots of repetition. June 1st will be a makeup day in case of instructor illness or weather cancellations. Aids are welcome to join a student. A needs assessment covering food sensitivities/allergies, past cooking experiences and more will be part of the registration process. This class is intended for young adults ages 14 and older.

Join Evelyn and spend an engaging evening exploring the art of Asian dumplings, beginning with the creation of a versatile base filling that serves as the foundation for a variety of dumpling styles. You’ll learn how this single filling can be shaped and adapted for boiling, steaming, and pan-frying, allowing you to create multiple styles of dumplings with confidence. The class will also cover preparing a flavorful broth for wonton soup and show you how to turn dumplings into a complete, satisfying meal. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced home cook, this class is designed to expand your skills while treating you to a delicious cultural experience. This is a participatory cooking class. A small group of 3-4 students will work together at each cooking station to complete the recipe on the night's menu. "Evelyn is an amazing instructor. She’s passionate about food... and excited to share her knowledge."

Have you ever thought about keeping bees? This course offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about these vital and fascinating pollinators that play a crucial role in our food system. Taught by Vermont-based apiarists with over 40 years of combined experience, instructors will share not only essential beekeeping knowledge but also practical tips gained from decades of hands-on work in the field and in the beekeeping business. Across three informative sessions, students will gain a solid foundation in beekeeping, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. Whether you’re simply curious or considering starting a few hives of your own, this popular Access class provides the insight and confidence to take the next step. An optional on site class will be offered in May, with date, time, and location determined by weather and instructor availability. Deborah and Rick tending to bees at a hive.

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 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 a fun, hands-on, one-night beginner class (2.5–3 hours) where students of all ages can build a functional and attractive bat house. No prior woodworking experience is needed. Children are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian, making this a great opportunity for families to learn and build together. Participants will select their wood and prepare each piece for assembly. While some components will be pre-cut, there will also be opportunities to cut, adjust, and customize each bat house to make it your own. The class takes place in the CVU woodshop, with access to both hand tools and power tools as appropriate. All materials are included in the course fee. By building a bat house to keep or give as a gift, you’ll be supporting an important and increasingly threatened species affected by habitat loss and urban development. In addition to completing a meaningful, eco-friendly project, this class serves as a great introduction to the other woodworking courses offered, helping students build comfort and confidence with the tools and the shop environment. Please bring safety glasses and a dust mask if you have one. We have a small supply on hand if you need one. Long hair will need to be tied back and no open toed shoes or loose clothing. Note: The electric tool usage can create a bottleneck so please be patient, and use this time to learn and help others. "Teacher ( Tony) is generous, skilled, patient and a delight. I learned a lot about tools, bats, and woodworking!"

As with many holidays, Valentine’s Day is an occasion celebrated with sweets. Boxes of chocolates and shiny-wrapped candies appear everywhere, promising romance by way of sugar. And yet, like so many foods, commercialism has gotten the better of us. Massive corporations have taken candy making out of our hands and placed it onto store shelves, replacing care and craft with convenience. We’ve traded the recipes of earlier generations for industrially produced confections—overly sweet, chemically enhanced, and meant to impress more with packaging than flavor. But it wasn’t always this way; handmade treats were once a meaningful way to show affection, creativity, and care. Join us as we rediscover old-fashioned candy recipes that will make your Valentine’s Day truly special. We’ll learn how to make chocolate truffles, candied fruits, and also gummies, perfect for gifting to someone you love (or treating yourself). This Valentine’s Day, skip the plastic trays and generic assortments. Use your cooking skills to create heartfelt sweets that say far more than a store-bought box ever could. You may find the results so delightful that you’ll want to keep a few just for yourself. This is a participatory cooking class. A small group of 3-4 students will work together at each cooking station to complete the recipes on the night's menu. "Jacob is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and good with cooks of all skill levels. He really exemplifies what CVU Access courses are all about!"

Join long time master carver and woodworker, Bob Lindemann, as he teaches the principles of safely carving wood, using the tools correctly and efficiently, while creating objects to display or use. Participants will start with a blank and leave with a carved and beautifully ready to paint loon. Mount the small bird on a stand to display or add a small hook to hang on a window or as an ornament. High quality carving knives and chisels available for everyone to use in class. Option to purchase the tools ($45) at registration or after the class (cash/check). Minimum age requirement is 13.

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!"