Access At CVUHS

Lift up our community and join us for the third CVU Empty Bowls Dinner, Thursday, April 9th, 6:00pm at the CVU High School Café. This popular event sold out quickly last year, so don't delay in purchasing your tickets. Only 250 tickets available! NOTE: TICKETS WILL NOT BE FOR SALE AT THE EVENT! Empty Bowls is a global grassroots movement that rallies communities to combat food insecurity. Community members are invited to participate in a soup dinner to raise money for a local food shelf. This year's recipient will be the Williston Food Shelf. The Williston Community Food Shelf has NO guaranteed source of funding. We rely exclusively on the monetary and food donations from our generous community to fulfill our mission of Feeding Our Hungry Neighbors. Tickets: $25 donation per adult, $15 donation per child (<12 years). Donations: If you are not able to make the dinner event please consider a monetary donation. All monetary donations are tax deductible. Select an amount from the green DONTATIONS tab below and follow the prompts to check out. If you would prefer to mail a check make it payable to the Williston Community Food Shelf, PO Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495 (Notation- CVU Empty Bowls). If you need help registering for tickets or making a donation online, contact us at 802-482-7194. Event: Each ticket will include one food grade handmade ceramic bowl*, and a dinner of homemade soups (vegan and vegetarian options available), artesian bread, and Sisters of Anarchy scooped ice-cream. *Your chosen bowl will act as a continuous reminder that your contribution helped fill the “bowls that go empty every day” in our state. Silent Auction*: Featured products generously donated by local businesses, additional bowls, as well as beautiful wooden cutting boards handcrafted by CVU woodworking students will be open for bid. Payment by cash, Venmo, or check. Credit Card Payments are also possible. if you own a business and would like to contribute a product or service please contact access@cvsdvt.org) Sponsors*: Thank you to all of our sponsors, listed below, for your generous contribution! If you are a business owner and would like to sponsor for our event, please call us at 802-482-7194.

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+

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. While students will snack during each class, there will not be full meals provided during every class; students are recommended to plan accordingly. 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. June 1st will be a makeup day in case of instructor illness or weather cancellations.

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. The menu for this class contains shellfish and gluten, and unfortunately these can not be avoided. Please contact Access at access@cvsdvt.org or 802-482-7194 with any questions. For students aged 13 and older. This is a participatory cooking class. A small group of 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 wanted to learn the ins and outs of baking sourdough bread? Come learn from Natalie while she walks you through the basics! On the first night of the course we will taste fresh sourdough bread, feed your new starter, mix dough, and let it ferment. Then the following night, we will bake our bread and explore all things sourdough! This class is perfect for folks new to baking sourdough, as we will begin with a very simple recipe, but anyone is welcome. Sourdough starter from local microbakery, The Village Bakehouse, is included in the class price. The starter will come in a large mason jar that you'll be able to use for future feeding and storing. Please see this link for recommended supplies to purchase and bring to the first class; if you're not able to purchase supplies ahead of time, there will be extras available in class for sharing. This participatory class is intended for students 13 and older; younger students are welcome to attend with an adult caregiver who is also registered. Already have an understanding for baking your own Sourdough bread and ready for a new challenge? Join Natalie in May for Baking 101: Sourdough Bagels.

Join Evelyn Sun, culinary instructor, for an immersive evening of bold and vibrant Thai flavors. In this hands-on class, we’ll work in small groups to prepare a complete Thai menu, starting with som tum, a refreshing green papaya salad that balances sweet, sour, salty, and spicy notes. We’ll then move on to chicken stir-fry with holy basil (pad kra pao), exploring the aromatic ingredients that make this beloved street food classic so irresistible. The evening concludes on a sweet note with mango sticky rice drizzled in rich coconut milk. Along the way, we’ll explore unique ingredients, techniques, and flavor pairings—then sit down to enjoy the meal together. For students aged 13 and older. This is a participatory cooking class. A small group of students will work together at each cooking station to complete the recipe on the night's menu. "Evelyn is such an enthusiastic instructor, and draws on her life experiences to share her joy of Asian cooking. I love her classes."

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!"

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.