Recreation   

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball class or who have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who are experienced players and have taught before. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet for 1½ hours at Lithia Park courts for five consecutive days. There will be an emphasis on sportsmanship and safety. This skills-building course will focus on different types of serves, lobs, third-shot drops or drop shots, drives, partner communication, stacking, and different types of scoring. We will introduce Nasty Nelson, Bert, and Erne. The last day will be a FUN Round-Robin whereby players will rotate play with all players. The instructors will be from Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club.

NOTE: If you have mobility issues, this course may not be for you. A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. Students are expected to have their own paddle, know the basic game, have court shoes, and a hat or visor. Safety glasses are recommended. Bring a hydrating drink and snack. If inclement weather occurs, class will be canceled.

Explore nearby winter trails with Moondance Forest, an avid cross-country skier. The group will meet at a Sno-Park close to Ashland each week. The first class will be at the Campbell Center. We’ll assess everyone’s understanding, check all gear, and get logistics for meeting on the mountain. This is not a beginner course, and students must be familiar with the activity and be aware of their physical abilities. Students must have their own gear or secure rentals. Slowing down will be encouraged, along with enjoying the scenery, breathing, releasing ambition, and always reducing effort. We’ll practice getting up and down from the ground, discuss the “buddy system,” and learn from each participant. Cross-country skiing is a wonderful way to feel your entire being while breathing the crisp mountain air and viewing Mount McLaughlin in the distance. If snow or weather conditions are unfavorable, we’ll hike the ski trail or reschedule.

NOTE: A seasonal Sno-Park pass for a car is $25 for November to April. A waiver must be signed at the first class for continued participation. The first session of this course on Wednesday, January 15, will be at the Campbell Center in Room B.

This course is intended for anyone interested in visiting the national parks and learning about the great lodges that were built to attract tourists to these national treasures. There are 15 great lodges — built between 1910 and 1938 — still operating. The course will look at the history of the lodges, their architecture, their amenities, their special features, and their relationship to the parks. Each class will include some history of the related national parks but will focus on how the lodges meld with this history. The instructors will provide tips on how to plan your visits and optimize your adventure based on their personal experiences visiting each of these lodges. The course will consist of a series of lectures supported by slide-show presentations highlighting photography of the lodges and national parks.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This class is for right- or left-handed absolute beginners, those who have tried knitting before but struggled with technique and tension, or for crocheters ready to try knitting. Starting from the basics, this class will teach a method for continental style knitting, also called German, European, or left-hand knitting. Students will learn to cast on, knit, purl, tink, frog, and bind off while knitting a series of beginner-level coasters or dishcloths.

NOTE: Materials: Knitting needles and other tools will be available to use for the duration of the class, and yarn used for the beginner projects will be provided.

Let your personality show with a custom hand-braided dog collar or dog leash or craft a survival bracelet that allows you to wear your emergency rope. Paracord is used in parachutes but has evolved into a variety of colors that can be braided with various techniques that we’ll explore in this course. Students must provide their own cord and buckets for their project, and registered students will be sent a supply list prior to the first class. The cost will depend on the project you choose to make.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course being offered, both on Wednesdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

Let your personality show with a custom hand-braided dog collar or dog leash or craft a survival bracelet that allows you to wear your emergency rope. Paracord is used in parachutes but has evolved into a variety of colors that can be braided with various techniques that we’ll explore in this course. Students must provide their own cord and buckets for their project, and registered students will be sent a supply list prior to the first class. The cost will depend on the project you choose to make.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course being offered, both on Wednesdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

This fun and active class is designed for pickleball players who understand and play the game. There will be two classes of three hours each at Lithia Park’s four upper courts. The round-robin is a structured form of pickleball play organized by skill level. Players will learn format, partnering, stacking (when and how to), what hand signals mean and when to use them, types of scoring, and byes. Different types of rally scoring will be introduced versus traditional scoring, along with when you may utilize each and why. We will cover the different types of pickleballs and details of timing used in round-robin events. Players will experience the application of the information learned as they participate in the round-robin and connect with their fellow players. We will play a minimum of six games and take a break between games at each class meeting.

NOTE: If you have mobility issues, this class may not be for you. There is a $3 charge for pickleballs payable to the instructor on the first day of class. All participants must sign a waiver on the first day of class. Plan to wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Protective eyewear is recommended. Class will be canceled if there is inclement weather.