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Classes & Seminars

Bicycling - Tune up Your Bike and Our World!

WITC Course #30134

Register with Tanna Worrell at 825-2101

Dates: Saturdays April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2011

Time: 1-4pm

Cost: $49 ($26.50 for seniors 62 and better) registration fee to WITC.  Children ages 15 and under are free with a paying adult.

Instructor: Nate White

 

This seminar series offers instruction on setting up a tool kit, nomenclature, and ABC quick check; tires, brakes, and truing a wheel; road skills and parking lot drills to develop safe-ride instant reactions; and chains, gears, and ergonomics. Open to anyone mechanically inclined or not. Family friendly. Children under 12, please bring a bicycling adult. At Lamar – A Historic Center for Progressive Community located a half mile from the Gandy Dancer Bike Trail at 1488 200th Street, in the country between Centuria and St. Croix Falls. If you’ve got a wobble in a bike tire or trouble shifting gears, come to these classes to learn basic bicycle mechanics and safe riding, and to hear some visionary ideas for bicycling as a bigger part of the transportation world. These classes will be taught by bicycle activist and repair genius, Nate White.  Nate, a recent graduate of Augsburg College who grew up in the Osceola area, and presents at sustainable living conferences throughout the area.

                                               

Instructor Kris Schmid has a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, and worked as an engineer for seven years before starting Legacy Solar based out of Frederic, Wisconsin, in 2003.  Schmid has taught classes for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, and Lamar.  In addition to teaching on radiant solar systems, he also teaches classes on photovoltaic systems.  He is certified with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). 

 

Bicycles —Tuning up your bike and our world

Sundays May  2, 9, 16, 23

1-4 p.m.

Instructors:  Nate White, Steve Clark, Andy Lindholm

Cost:  $34.42 payable to WITC

Register with Tanna Worrell at Unity Community at 825-2101 ext. 1560

 

If you’ve got a wobble in a bike tire or trouble shifting gears, come to these classes to learn basic bicycle mechanics and safe riding, and to hear some visionary ideas for bicycling as a bigger part of the transportation world.  The seminar, team taught by Nate White, Steve Clark, and Andy Lindberg, offers instruction on setting up a tool kit, nomenclature, and ABC quick check;  tires, brakes, and truing a wheel; road skills and parking lot drills to develop safe-ride instant reactions; and chains, gears, and ergonomics.  Participants will also have a chance to explore setting up a bike co-op in Polk County. The seminar is open to anyone mechanically inclined or not.  Family friendly.  Children under 12, please bring a bicycling adult.   Lamar – A Historic Center for Progressive Community is located a half mile from the Gandy Dancer Bike Trail.

 

Instructors: Bicycle activist and repair genius, Nate White, bicycled from Minneapolis to Portland in 2009 to raise awareness for bicycle transportation and meet with Portland advocates who have gone a little further down the road.  Nate, a recent graduate of Augsburg College who grew up in the Osceola area, presents at sustainable living conferences throughout the area. Steve Clark, Bicycle Transportation Coordinator for Saint Paul, is a League Certified Instructor and brings elements of “Traffic Skills 101” to the seminar along with his professional expertise as a consultant, activist, and occasional builder of remarkable bicycle-powered trailers.  Steve and his family also operate Bike-Farm near Cushing. Andy Lindberg is one of the founding members of the Bike Cave Collective in Duluth where he is also a student at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.  Andy, a three-speed specialist, is from the Twin Cities and grew up with a bicycle shop in the family.       

 

 Green:  The New Color of Investment Opportunity

Tuesday, June 15th, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Host:  Rhett Neuman,  Presenter: Scott Metz

Cost:  Free.  Donation to Lamar appreciated.

 

The community is invited to learn about ways that money can be put to work for a sustainable future.  Socially responsible investing is on the increase in the United States as more people become aware of the investment options that are available to those who want to live in accordance to their personal values and ethics.  Calvert has been a leader in the field of sustainable and responsible investing (SRI) for over 25 years, demonstrating that investors may manage risk and enhance long-term portfolio performance by investing in well-governed, sustainable and responsible companies. 

 

Rhett Paul Neuman from Saint Croix Falls is CFP® Senior Vice President-Financial Consultant of RBC Wealth Management. Rhett graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 1991 with a B.A. in Finance.  He serves on the board of Camp Odatyn, a non-profit camp for children with heart disease and on the Saint Croix Hospital Foundation Board.  Rhett and his family have lived in Saint Croix Falls since 1993, where he coaches all kinds of youth athletics and delivers Meal on Wheels. Presenter Scott Metz has been with Calvert for ten years.  Prior to joining Calvert he worked as a Financial Advisor with MassMutual out of Pittsburgh, PA.  Scott has a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Maryland.  Scott and his family relocated to the Midwest from the Washington, D.C. area four years ago.

 

2nd Annual Lamar Music School

Tuesdays  July 6 –August 3 from 7-9 p.m.

On stage at the Lamar Festival Saturday, August 7, 2010

Instructors:  Brian Liggett; Bruce Bjork

Cost:  $50-$100 sliding fee scale

 

If you want to be part of a band, you can!  This five week seminar for musicians ages 12 and up culminates in performance on stage at the Lamar Festival August 7th.  Groups will form depending on participants’ preference of genre – rock, jazz, blues, country western, old tyme, blue grass -- and will write one song and practice one cover under the guidance of artist-instructors Bruce Bjork and Brian Liggett.  Last year’s performance was a highlight of the festival.  Besides that, all the youth musicians get free admission to all three days of the festival and art activities of all kinds.

 

Brian Liggett is a music innovator who has played in punk, progressive rock, funk, Latin, Reggae, metal, and blues bands.  He was the booking agent for The Hall for two years and brought national acts to the Milltown venue during that time.   Liggett is an alumnus of McNally Smith School of Music and has drummed for bands including Squib, John Snell X, and currently for The Belted Galloways and Wisco. Bruce Bjork is the originator of the Lamar Festival and does all the stage/sound production for the festival.  He was once a youth musician himself and is now a seasoned performer with over 30 years experience in bands such as the Breezy Bay Boys, the Nattering Nabobs, and many others.  Bruce is known for his accomplished vocals that range from tight harmonies to compelling blues solos and equally diverse range of guitar styles.

 

Cumbia Salsa: Dance of the Americas

Thursdays, July 8th  – 29th,  7-8:15 p.m.

Instructor:  Joseph Tsehai

Cost:  $35-60 sliding fee scale

 

Cumbia, a style of salsa developed in Colombia with roots in Africa, is characterized by its easy rhythm and accessible steps.  Perhaps that’s part of why Cumbia is danced from Peru to Panama and celebrated in festivals throughout South America.  This four-week series will give you an introduction and practice to this 4/4 rhythm.  And then, you can shine on the dance floor at the Lamar Festival during Viva!  A Celebration of Latin Dance and Music on Friday, August 6th.  No partner necessary, but come as a couple if you wish, for this friendly introduction to a dance style that people enjoy in throughout the world.

 

Joseph Tsehai, whose roots are in Veracruz, Mexico, and Africa believes in the power of dance to help connect people and build community. He has taught and performed in Toronto, Washington D.C. and Chicago and enjoys all the different styles of Salsa including Cumbia, LA, Cuban, and Casino Rueda.  Currently, Joseph is based out the Twin Cities where he teaches all kinds of Latin Dance and leads a performing rueda team.  He has been seen in performance at Picosa and the Benefit for Haiti at Solera

 

Hip-Hop Dance for Everyone

Mondays, July 12 – August 2, 7- 8:15 p.m.

Instructor:  Jae Phillip

Cost:  $30-$60 sliding fee scale

 

Hip Hop, known for its compelling beat and signature movements comes to Lamar for the first time ever under the direction of Jae Haile Phillips. Learn locking, and popping and get ready for some improvisation of your own.  This is a multi-generational class recommended for anyone age 8 and up.  Family friendly.  And after you’ve tried it yourself, come see professional dancers on stage at the Lamar Festival August 6-8th.    

 

Jae Haile Phillips is a performer, educator, and choreographer and travels internationally.  The University of Minnesota Salsa team for which he choreographs was picked to perform at the International Salsa Congress in Toronto in 2008.  His youth hip hop team appeared at B-Girl B in 2009.  Jae has offered youth camps for adopted Latin American children and other groups throughout the area.  He has taught and performed at the Salsa Congress in Chicago and the International Salsa Workshop in the Cayman Islands.  Jae, who makes his home in the Twin Cities, considers working with youth the ongoing highlight of his career.  Before embarking on a career in dance, he worked as a mechanical engineer and is affectionately known as the “Chief of Happiness.” 

 

2010 KIDS ART CAMP AT LAMAR:   A WORLD OF ART

 

 

Take a trip to Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas during the 6th Annual Kids Art Camp at Lamar.  Teaching artist Tiffany Page Meyer will guide children ages 5-14 through a world of multicultural art exploration created just for them and their friends during this summer day camp.  Each camp session lasts one week, descriptions are below. The camp schedule is Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.   At the end of the camp sessions, campers can have their own exotic art show as part of the 7th Annual Lamar Music Festival August 6-8th with fun for the whole family. The cost of the camp will be approximately $45-50 plus a $10 materials fee. Campers can bring a snack for the afternoons.

 

Instructor Tiffany Paige Meyer is a professional glass artist who teaches Artsy Smartsy preschool classes as well as Altered Books classes for teens and adults, both free programs at the Osceola Public Library. In 2008, she led visual arts week at Lamar with a focus on collage, and taught a mini-class in puppet making at the Lamar Music Festival in 2009. She is thrilled to be back!

Lamar Art Camp: Ages 5-7 ~ A Journey into a World of Art
WITC Class #40953

Monday-Friday, July 19-23, 1-4pm. 

Cost: $45-50 (prices to be announced this spring)

plus a $10 materials fee. Campers can bring a snack for the afternoons.

 

This camp will take place at Lamar Community Center, 1488 200th Street, in the country between St. Croix Falls and Centuria. Explore a different continent each day of camp.  Begin your journey with a story from Africa, Asia, or the Americas and then, create things like African Kente cloth designs, Japanese fish printing, papel cortado from Mexico, Aboriginal dot painting, and much, much more!

Lamar Art Camp: Ages 8-10 ~ Global Arts with Music
WITC Class #40954

Monday-Friday, July 26-30, 1-4pm. 

Cost: $45-50 (prices to be announced this spring) plus a $10 materials fee. Campers can bring a snack for the afternoons.

 

This camp will take place at Lamar Community Center, 1488 200th Street, in the country between St. Croix Falls and Centuria. Koru art of New Zealand, metal craft of Pakistan, sand painting of the Navajos, papermaking of Egypt, pottery of Mexico – experience these global art forms (and many more) firsthand! Each day will focus on a different area, with regional music playing in the background, and time for sharing at the end of the day. Join us for this spectacular adventure!

Lamar Art Camp: Ages 11-14 ~ Fascinating Origins
WITC Class #40955

Monday-Friday, August 2-6, 1-4pm.

Cost: $45-50 (prices to be announced this spring) plus a $10 materials fee. Campers can bring a snack for the afternoons.

 

This camp will take place at Lamar Community Center, 1488 200th Street, in the country between St. Croix Falls and Centuria. Uncover the origins of some fascinating art forms! Each day will focus on a different medium: one day might be Ojibwa x-ray painting and Huichol yarn painting; another might be the book arts of Japan; or Mexican metal tooling or Inuit carving or musical instruments of Africa. Whatever the focus, it’s sure to be an amazing trip!

Wildcrafting

Friday, August 13th  6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 14th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, August 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Instructor:  Teresa Wolfe

Cost: $125-$350 sliding fee scale

 

The natural world provides a vast array of botanicals to support our health and well-being.   In this wildcrafting workshop, scientist and herbalist Teresa Wolfe will guide participants in a weekend intensive where they will make salves, teas, and body oils from common medicinal plants that they will learn to identify and collect in a sustainable manner.  Teresa will also demonstrate how to make capsules, tinctures, and pills.  In addition, each participant will learn the principles of safe practices in using plants and the fundamentals of designing an herbal formula for personal use.  Over the course of the weekend, participants will assemble their own plant identification booklet and discover that the collection and use of plants for nutritional and medicinal benefit is surprisingly easy.

Instructor Teresa W. Wolfe, is a Herbalist with an M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition, and over 25 years experience in environmental education, biological sciences, and nutrition.  She has presented programs throughout the Midwest as well as internationally. Teresa’s practice focuses on the restoration of balance to humanity and the planet.   She is the founder and owner of Welcome Harvest Herbs and Products.  

 

Kids Make Magic Moves

Tuesdays, September 7, 14, 21, 28

9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Instructor:  Suzanne G.  River

Cost:  $40- $90 per family sliding fee scale

 

A happy class for parents and their children moving our miraculous bodies.

 

MagicMoves™ is an innovative movement program developed by Suzanne River. Participants move in a natural and unique way that accesses their body’s wisdom. Each class includes sharing circles, guided movement improvisation, practice of movement patterns, experiential anatomy, and hands-on re-patterning in a supportive setting for children and their parents.

 

Suzanne G. River is the founder, director, and primary teacher of Green River Dance for Global Somatics established in 1982.  Her magical work in the classroom with families helps participants feel good, move with ease, and build a caring network. Suzanne believes in initiating social change by teaching creative and spiritual expression through the body for all ages and diverse populations. 

 

 National Tour of Solar Homes and Businesses

October 3, 2010

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost:  Free

 

Please come to this open house on site at Lamar with tours of the radiant solar high mass heating system, information on sustainable building materials being used in the project, and reclaiming the embodied energy in this unique 1905 school on the National Register of Historic Places. Lamar has been part of the National Tour of Solar Homes and Businesses since renovation began in 2004.