District 214 Community Education

Learn how to make meatball and spinach baked ziti, a hearty dish that combines savory meatballs, tender spinach, and rich tomato sauce topped with melted cheese. It's a perfect meal for any fall evening!

Do you hate to drive in bad weather or when it's dark outside? Expand your transportation options and independence through the ride sharing service, Uber. Learn to use Uber at major airports so that you can travel with confidence and without having to ask a friend for a ride, as well as for other appointments and errands. Open up your travel options with this fun and engaging class!

This class builds on the fundamentals studied in the Introduction to Ohara Ikebana. In this class, advanced styles such as Hana-Isho and Moribana will be covered. This is a hands-on class where students learn the techniques and philosophies of Ohara Ikebana. Since this is an at-home class, participants are responsible for purchasing their own flowers and materials. A list of required materials will be provided a few days prior to the class.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral arrangement which has been practiced for more than 600 years. This ancient art form has evolved to the present form that are enjoyed by Ikebana practitioners all over the world. The Ikebana arrangements emphasize the natural shapes and graceful lines of the flowers, stems and leaves while bringing together nature and humanity through its shape, line, and form. This is a hands on class where students learn the techniques, the rules, and the philosophy of Ikebana through creating arrangements with flowers, leaves, branches and other materials found in the nature around us. Since this is an at-home class, participants are responsible for purchasing their own flowers and materials. A list of required materials will be provided a few days prior to the class.

Open sewing is moving to Monday evenings this fall! This class is for anyone with prior sewing experience. All types of sewing projects are welcomed. Individual sewing, construction, and patterning guidance will be given to help students start and complete projects of their choosing, including alterations of existing garments or accessories. You can bring your own sewing machine or use the Janome machines that are in the classroom.

Are you overwhelmed or running out of storage with all of the photos just sitting on your phone? In our live online workshop, earn to delete the clutter, create printed photo books and protect your precious memories forever. In just one hour, you'll transform your chaotic photo collection into an organized library you can actually navigate, plus learn maintenance habits that take only minutes each week, without any confusing tech jargon.

Pickleball is a court sport played with a whiffle ball, net, and paddle. It’s slower paced than tennis and played on a smaller court the size of a doubles badminton court and it’s lots of fun! No experience required! This class is only open to beginners and will focus on learning the rules and skills necessary to play. There will be some paddles available to use or bring your own. Due to the popularity of our pickleball classes, all refunds are subject to a $10 administrative fee.

Serve up son fun at Pickleball Palooza, a lively skill-building event designed for players of all levels! Participants will rotate through 30-minute drill stations focused on serve accuracy, dink control, an the third-shot drop, followed by fast-paced, rotating game formats that put new skills into play. Take a break to relax and connect during a social break with provided food and drinks, then stick around for a raffle drawing to close out the fun. Whether you're sharpening your game or just looking to enjoy a great time on the courts, this event is the perfect blend of play, practice and community.

Maybe your family heritage is Polish and you remember Polish being spoken when you were growing up but never really learned it. You may be going on a trip to Poland, or you just want to have some fun and learn basic Polish conversation. Then this is the class for you! The book and workbook; Polski, Krok Po Kroku: Level 1, are needed for the class.

Cultivating, weeding, watering, and harvesting in your garden are over and done with for the season. What do you do next? For starters, letting it lay there until the following spring is exactly the wrong thing to do. Mark Lyons, an experienced garden coach, will discuss cleaning up the garden after the harvest is in, preparing the soil for the following spring, winterizing garden tools, fall planting, dealing with excess from the harvest, and preparing for next year's garden.

Have you been curious about what ChatGPT is exactly and how it may affect you? Learn what you need to know about ChatGPT powered by Artificial Intelligence in this fun and engaging class! You will understandhow it works exactly and why it's taking the world by storm. You'll also learn practical everyday uses for ChatGPT in the workforce and at home. Don't get left behind in today's tech savvy world, and attend this upcoming training!

Come join us in creating a variety of useful, quilted crafts while enjoying time with fellow makers. Projects will include tote bags, zippered pouches, tablet and phone cases and more. This class will not take place int he sewing room, so participants must bring their own sewing machine, as well as a list of basic quilting supplies provided before the start of class. Some basic sewing experience is required.

Quilting is creative, rewarding, relaxing and fun. Less experienced quilters will work on basic quilting patterns, measuring and cutting fabric and piecing (must have basic sewing skills and knowledge of using a sewing machine). Experienced quilters will work on current projects, any unfinished projects or start a new one. Our class creates a space for sharing ideas, fun facts, and new and old methods and tips. Bernina machines are available or bring your own if desired.

Relive Chicago’s iconic holiday tradition with “Remembering Marshall Field’s at Christmas” at the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate in Joliet. Historian Leslie Goddard brings the magic to life, tracing the store’s history through rare photos, the Walnut Room’s Great Tree, and Uncle Mistletoe. Your afternoon begins with a self-guided tour of the 1873 National Historic Landmark, followed by a homemade holiday luncheon and the main presentation. Conclude your visit at the historic Old Central Church as we celebrate the season with a perfect day of history and charm!