Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. It’s an awesome guide to living like a local and loving life in Minot. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you totally should. All thoughts in this post are my own.
Derek always gets me the best gifts. I guess that’s what happens when you have lived with someone a long while and been best friends a long while before that. He knows my favorite gifts don’t come in jewelry boxes or in the form of the latest technology. To date my favorite gifts from him have included: a wall-mounted pencil sharpener, new headphones for listening to audio books, a two-player bocce ball set, and (most recently) a wheel thrown pottery class from the Minot Adult Learning Center.
In high school I took all the art classes our small school system offered. Each year I excelled at drawing, multi-media, art history and painting. But when the annual pottery unit rolled around I really started to struggle. The whole thing was very frustrating–because ceramics was what I most wanted to be good at. When it was time to put clay on the wheel things literally fell apart for me.
In my entire high school career I only ever got one piece successfully off the wheel. Ever since, I have wanted a second chance. I’ve longed for renewed instruction, and another chance to spin up a bowl or a mug.
But finding an open community class has been much harder than it seemed at first. We’ve lived in six different communities during our ten-year marriage and never has a wheel thrown ceramics class lined up with our schedule (or been available to me.)
Ceramics Through the Minot Adult Learning Center
I’d all but given up when Derek revealed that this year for my birthday he had enrolled me into a wheel class offered through the Minot Adult Learning Center.
The class I took was offered in five courses. Three nights were spent learning technique and building. The last two nights were spent prepping our pieces for the kiln and glazing.
While the pieces I made are not worthy of high praise, the instruction was phenomenal, the other participants were a joy to be around and I had a lot of fun. And I learned a lot too!
Each night of building focused on a different technique (I excelled most at making plates…even though I wanted to make a good bowl more than anything in the world.) After a time of set up and instruction, participants were free to practice building as many pieces as time would allow. I typically only turned out 2ish pieces per class, but others (some who had taken the class before) could turn out many more in a single night.
I loved that supplies were unlimited for use and that the class size was small enough to allow questions to be thoroughly answered and one-on-one help from the instructor when needed.
This was my first time taking a course from the Minot Adult Learning Center and it was a wonderful experience. If you are thinking about taking a class (or teaching–they’re always looking for good instructors!) here are some things to know.
Get the Course Flyer Early
New classes start in the fall, winter and spring. Get the course offerings early from their website so you can check your schedule well in advance.
Sign Up Promptly
Some classes fill up fast. (The wheel thrown pottery course always sells out.) If you know what you want to take sign up early. Don’t risk losing your place. For example, Derek signed me up the day registration opened through the Minot Adult Learning Center. Within two days the class was full.
There Are All Kinds of Classes
Classes aren’t just limited to arts and crafts. The community education program offeres courses in technology, art, wellness, and community enrichment. Their technology courses include classes in PhotoShop, Canva, and using Google apps. Art classes include drawing, painting, ceramics, and rosemaling. Wellness courses include all kinds of fitness classes (including Zumba and aqua aerobics.) And community enrichment includes things like retirement planning, book clubs and drawing social security.
In addition to these classes the Minot Adult Learning Center also offers GED prep, English courses and college/career prep.
Most Classes Have a Fee
Most classes have a fee to cover instruction and supplies. I think the cost is reasonable (especially for the fitness classes–they usually end up being about $4/class!!) However, some offerings are free and open. Check their website and schedule for details.
If you are looking to get out and try something new, I hope you’ll keep the Minot Adult Learning Center on your radar. For more on places to take classes here in Minot check out this post. And be sure to check out BeLOCAL’s listings of places to volunteer, get involved in sports/fitness and take in the arts around town.
**Please note: At the time of writing classes at the Minot Adult Learning Center have been temporarily suspended following a recommendation by Governor Burgum. Updates as to when classes will resume will be available on their website and social channels.**
