Want to learn more about wine? Windmills? Loving and aging? Photography? Political media? Theater? If you’re curious and want to learn more, check out the full list of 18 spring semester courses being offered by Belfast Senior College. Starting in the last week of March classes of four to six weeks in length will be offered in a variety of downtown Belfast venues and on Zoom. Registration opens on March 1, 2024. Senior College welcomes all who are 50 years of age and over to join its community of learners.

“We’re thrilled to have such a vast array of classes to offer on such a wide variety of topics,” said curriculum committee chair, Karen Gleeson, in a news release. “We think there’s something for just about everyone here —from learning about the basic elements of music to examining how the news media inform our democracy to arts, literature, gardening and so much more. We’re also excited to offer a variety of class meeting times that include mornings, afternoons, and multiple days of the week making them more available to more community members.”

Those who want to take Tuesday classes, which begin on March 26, have seven classes to choose from. Two classes will be held from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. In one class, “Illustrating Nature in Redwork,” students will create individual stitch samples and an online “stich book.” In another, “Dublin’s Joyce and Joyce’s Dublin,” students will read and discuss James Joyce’s Dubliners to learn more about his life and work. In a later Tuesday morning class, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., students have the opportunity to learn about “Carl Jung, Individuation and the Process of Aging” to gain insight into the midlife journey.

On Tuesday afternoons, three classes will be held from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. In “Beginner Computer Programming in Python” students will learn the most popular programming language in the world. In “Directing Your Final Production” students will learn how to write their own detailed end-of-life advanced directive. A third class, “Exploring the Elements of Music” will present clear information about what makes music work and what we’re hearing when we listen to music. A final Tuesday class offered via Zoom from 4 - 5:30 p.m. will provide an overview of “Women Photographers, Past and Present.”

Two Wednesday classes, beginning March 27, are offered from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. In “Love 101” students will read Leo Buscaglia’s book, Love, to reflect on how love manifests in our daily lives. In “Producing Theatre from Script to Stage,” students will read and discuss two plays to learn about the process of producing a theatrical performance.

If Thursday classes fit your schedule best, you’ll have seven classes to choose from, starting on March 28 with two held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.. “Photo Forum 1” is an intermediate level photography workshop for those wishing to get the most out of their pictures with camera controls, photo editing and imaging software. In “Drawing through the Ages” students will examine the style of master artists to then practice their own drawing skills.

Another Thursday morning class option, “The Power of Wind and Water as Human Culture,” held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. will explore the many ways that people adapt to the power of wind and water as documented in art, stories and inventions.

On Thursday afternoons, four classes are offered from 1 - 3 p.m.. In “Poetry Potpourri: Poets of Belfast,” students will take poetic adventures, hearing the varied voices in the broad world of poetry. “Not the Odds but the Stakes—How Our News Media Fail Democracy,” will focus on political news and its contribution to a functioning democracy. For a taste of something different, students who attend “The World of Fine Wine” will learn about where fine wine is produced, how it is made and how to discern its qualities. “Spring Watercolor Workshop: Painting from a Photograph” offers those preferring a hands-on workshop the opportunity to produce different paintings from one photograph.

Friday courses include “How Does Your Garden Grow? Prepping for Maine Spring.” Taught from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., this four-weeks-only course is designed to present useful information on gardening in our area. A one-day-only class, taught on Friday, April 26, from 1 - 3 p.m. offers an “Introduction to Self-Publishing Your Book” that will explain the joys and challenges and the many steps and tasks of self-publishing.

Belfast Senior College is an independent and volunteer-powered non-profit organization, now celebrating 30 years of programming. For the affordable price of $25 for a one-year membership, BSC offers year-round courses and events to inform, delight and connect community members age 50 and up. Members’ spouses and partners of any age also are welcome to join. Class tuition is $40 for the six-week classes and $30 for the four-week classes, and $15 for one-session-only class. Limited scholarships are available for students or members. Call the BSC office at 206-707-6010 for more scholarship information. For individual class descriptions, details on membership and course registration, go to belfastseniorcollege.org or visit the new Senior College office, at Belfast CoWorking, 17a Main Street near the waterfront. The office is open for March office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, , or by appointment.