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Mail-In or Drop-Off Mentor Recreation Department 8500 Civic Center Blvd. Mentor, Ohio 44060
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Fill out our registration form. Pay by check or charge.

Click on any highlighted class for class times, start dates and more.

Writing

Writing Away Your Worries Workshop
Adult
Instructor: Donna Peltz
Are you stressed, depressed and just not having as much joy in your life as you would like? One remedy may be learning to express and share what’s in your heart through writing. Writing, like other forms of creativity, can be both fun and therapeutic. Writing can also enrich our lives with others’ insights and wisdom. It can remind us to be grateful of life itself. Take this seminar to have more fun (and less stress) in your life again.

Language

Introduction to American Sign Language
Adult
Instructor: Kara Roy
Yes, you can sign! Make communicating with the deaf and non-verbal populations easier by learning basic skills.

Baby Sign Language
Adult
Instructor: Kara Roy
Imagine knowing what your child wants without use of speech. In this class for parents (babies do not attend) you’ll learn how to end the frustration of not knowing what your baby is telling you through the use of sign language. This course will show you how to get started with the Language, what to expect from your child and you’ll learn basic baby vocabulary. The course is best geared for adults who are expecting or have children up to 18 months of age.

Photography

Digital Photography at Wildwood
Adult
Instructor: Dee Hudson
Are you puzzled by pixels, want to learn the exciting world of digital cameras? Then this course of study is for you! We will start with the basics and explore digital photography and digital workflow. Session 1: Review types of cameras, features, price ranges, camera shooting modes, f-stops and apertures, depth of field, file formats, and archiving. Session 2: taking the photo from camera to computer, and delve into the complexities of file formats, when to use them, and novel ways of using digital photography. Session 3: Post processing, what you can do with the photo after you take it, using Windows Explorer, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. We will discuss white balance, histograms, straightening horizons, cropping, simple color corrections, red eye reduction and depth of field issues. Digital Camera not necessary.

Photoshop Elements-101: A Primer in Post Processing
Adult
Instructor: Steve Manchook
Introduction to navigating the vast arrangement of tools in this powerful and very affordable Adobe software. Learn the fundamentals of image processing after image capture. Must-know basics include cropping, sizing, sharpening, color correction, layers, retouching and many others. Class will include a Power-Point presentation demonstrating the tools as they are applied to everyday photography.

Just For Fun

Hollywood’s Winning Edge
Adult
Instructor: Frank Krupa
Unleash your power to persuade at this professional development event. Entertainment industry veteran Frank Krupa reveals Hollywood’s “Must Know” success secrets to help you package or repackage yourself or career advancement, deliver knockout presentations, build your brand-look the part, maintain a marketable, engaging image, kick-up interview and networking skills and much more! There are thousands of “feel good” motivators and communication skills experts. None provide this unique, in-depth perspective on Hollywood’s art and science of influence and persuasion. This lively, interactive program is packed with quotes and real life examples that inspire and relate to your personal quest for the winning edge…the advantage that makes you unstoppable and indispensable.

Wildwood Fireside Series: The Mansions of Lake County
Adult
This is the first of a series of three “leave a legacy” programs presented by a seven-member heritage partnership including the Lake County Historical Society, Lakeland Community College Foundation, Lake Health Foundation, Lake County Council on Aging, The News-Herald, Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation and Radio Station WELW.
Step back in time with Jim Collins and special guests for an extraordinary event set in the ageless charm of the Wildwood Cultural Center. Enjoy a fresh and fascinating look at Lake County’s incredible mansions, many of which are still standing. The estates of Moore, Everett, Coulby, Hanna, Squire and many others provide a rich perspective of Lake County at the turn of the century. You’ll hear great stories of famous people who left their mark in northeast Ohio. A tour of Wildwood Cultural Center will begin at 6:45 p.m. and the Mansions of Lake County program will begin at 7:15 p.m. Meet the presenters following the discussion.

Roses to Retail: An Evening with Local Author Barbara Snell Davis
Monday, September 13, 7-8:30 p.m.
Wildwood South Wing
Come and enjoy an account of growing up with Mentor Barbara Snell Davis, who so aptly shares her July publication, Roses to Retail. The author tells of her childhood among the acres of roses which enriched village. In the book, she relates her role as a benefactor of Mentor, as she and the city literally grew up together. Roses to Retail, from Ambrosia Press, is an entertaining book about Mentor then and now. Small town, America might well be another name for this early twentieth century village known as The Rose Capital of the Nation. Pre-registration is required.

Canine Education
Teens & Adults
Are you seeking a well behaved, well mannered dog? Attend these fun, educational, basic training classes and watch your dog evolve into an obedient member of your family by masterering commands using positive reinforcement training. Basic education classes are for dogs ages 6 months and older. Pet parents should bring a choke chain or flat collar and leash, soft training treats, a copy of your dog’s current vaccination record. No prong collars or retractable leashes, please. Instructor Kristen Hasasneh-Polzner has been a certified dog trainer for over 3 years and volunteers and has participated in training dogs at the Lake County Humane Society.

Online Learning with ed2go.com
Adult
Enjoy serious learning as well as personal enrichment and leisure pursuits online with ed2go.com/mentor! Ed2go online courses are engaging and highly interactive and the site is very easy to use. Discussion areas encourage students to regularly interact with their instructor and fellow students. A dedicated instructor is behind every course, pacing students through the lessons and answering questions creating a warm and supportive community of learners. Most courses contain 12 lessons that are released over a six week period and can be accessed online, anywhere and anytime, giving students the flexibility to study at their own pace but with enough structure and support to complete the course. Visit www.ed2go.com/mentor to get started today.

See Mentor on a Segway
All Ages
Want to do something fun, easy, and very different? Come take a tour of Mentor on a Segway! The Segway is the world’s first two wheeled, self-balancing human personal transporter. To move forward on the Segway, the rider just leans slightly forward. To turn left or right, the rider simply moves the LeanSteer frame left or right. It all feels natural, safe, and instinctive. This exciting Segway tour starts with a 15-20 minute practice and training session with our experienced guides, and then your guided tour begins. We will glide through Mentor as we pass the Municipal Center, Civic Center Pool, and continue along the curves and hills of the bike path to Veteran’s Park. At Veteran’s Park, we will travel next to beautiful ponds, over bridges, on wooden boardwalks, through the woods on gravel paths, and view spectacular wildlife and beautiful scenery. This tour is approximately 90 minutes, including training. All riders must be at least 14 years old and no one older then 120!

AARP Driver Safety Program
Senior
Licensed drivers 50 or older can take this course designed to refine existing skills as well as develop new, safe driving techniques. Bring your driver’s license to the first class.  Call the Senior Center at 974-5725 for details on this class.

Science Discovery – Chemistry
Youth
Discover the exciting world of science with fun, hands-on experiments and science projects. Instructor Eb Molesch has more than four decades of analytical science experience and will guide you through some really cool experiments in light (optics) such as rainbows and mixtures of color, you’ll learn what happens when matter changes, and you’ll have fun with color separation. Through hands-on experience, you’ll discover the magnificent properties of gases using balloons, soda pop, & changes in temperature, and explore the world of tiny objects with microscopes. Each student is going to get safety glasses, and a workbook with instructions on how to record the experiments, and then reach some conclusions about each module. Get ready for discovery! Class is for ages 8 – 12.