classes

A barter-based education series featuring workshops on a variety of topics in a relaxed and inspiring environment. Register now for these classes in our April 2020 series - pre-registration is required. Our volunteer instructors prepare based on how many people sign up, so PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU WILL ACTUALLY ATTEND.

MONDAY, April 6 - Friday, April 10, 2020


Monday


InJOYOURYEAR: A Vision Board Experience

Date
Monday, April 6

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Time
12 – 1 p.m.

Class Description

InJOYourYear is a vision board experience that helps you to create a visual representation of how you want Joy to show up in your life and how you can be intentional about creating the joy you need in each area of your life. Guests will experience a guided lifestyle visualization exercise, share what joy looks like and means to them, and leave with a uniquely designed and curated vision board focused on how they can put more joy into each area of their life for the rest of the year.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Red wine

  • French-inspired anything

  • Vintage anything

  • Coffee date

  • Anything to donate to a local girls’ home for young ladies ages 12-18 - household items, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, books, volunteer, etc.

About the Instructor

Sharee McFadden is a dedicated community member, writer, consultant, speaker, and media personality. She believes that joy is paramount for success in every area of your life and helps others find their joy through personal coaching, live, high-energy events, and motivational speaking and workshops. She works with you to help you develop the mindset you need for a life you can laugh at, live for, and love more so that you can put more joy into your life and truly InJOYourLife.


Becoming A Nature Nerd through Citizen Science

Date
Monday, April 6

Time
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Class Description

Interested in studying nature, feeling more connected to your surroundings, helping the natural environment, but not sure where to start? Join us on a powerpoint tour through the instructor’s favorite citizen science platforms that apply to our region. Just through being observant on a daily walk, you can submit meaningful data to scientists who will use your data to take meaningful conservation steps!  We’ll show you how!  It’s easy!

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Baked snacks

  • Homemade preserved foods (you made too much tomato sauce this year?)

  • Houseplants or houseplant accessories (such as an old pot you don’t like anymore)

  • Nature art (draw me a picture?)

  • Clean thrift store/used mugs with plants or wild animals on them (donation for nature center)

About the Instructor

Kelsey Frey is the manager of education and outreach for York County Parks, part-time environmental educator for Lancaster County Parks, and runs her own business, Creative Nature Works, in her spare time. Kelsey’s passionate about many natural history topics, including landscaping with native plants; caterpillars, moths & butterflies; and herpetology.


Avoiding the Triangle: Bermuda travel simply

Date
Monday, April 6

Time
7 p.m.

Class Description

Looking for a great getaway off the east coast that’s not Ocean City? Join Angela and Adam as they give you all the tools to book and enjoy a relaxing trip to Bermuda. Flight info, cost effective places to stay, buying your own food and getting around this beautiful island country just 650 miles off the North Carolina coast.

Age restrictions

18 and up

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Flower pots

  • Potting soil

  • Pet-safe plants

    (Angela is going to be planting lavender and lemongrass)

About the Instructor

Angela and Adam follow the Andrew Zimmern model when vacationing: “be a traveler and not a tourist.” They have made five trips to Bermuda since 2011. By sea and by air, they can provide some must-sees for everyone and quite a few locals-only attractions not on your everyday Google search.


TUESDAY


Investing 101

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Date
Tuesday, April 7

Time
12 - 1 p.m.

Class Description

Investing basics:

  • Where do you begin?

  • What options are available to invest in the stock market?

  • Tax-advantaged plans

  • 3 Ds of investing

  • Rule of 72

  • Managed accounts vs. self-directed brokerage accounts

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Coffee meeting/get-together

  • Dark chocolate anything

  • New towels, pillows, sheets (full), or shower curtains and hooks - to donate for abused women through Love Lives

About the Instructor

Julie Bortner is a mother of three who used to be an athletic trainer, but is currently a regional manager investment advisor representative with Primerica. She has 19+ years of experience in that field, with most financial licenses. She has helped many families gain hope through becoming debt free, properly protected, and financially independent. She does a great job managing their money.


The ABCs of CBD: What You need To Know

Date
Tuesday, April 7

Time
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Class Description

The CBD industry is booming, and there is a lot of confusion. Participants can expect to learn why people are turning to this plant-based substance, and the difference between sister plants hemp - the main source of CBD - and marijuana, which contains the  psychoactive THC.  They will learn about the body’s endocannabinoid system and why it is important. Since CBD is not regulated, participants will learn how to identify quality CBD products, and avoid the fake ones.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Your favorite bottle of budget-friendly, dry red wine                                                                                           

  • Keto-friendly snacks (store-bought or homemade)                                                                                              

  • A coffee or drink meet-up where I can learn more about you                                                                              

  • Any personal experiences you are willing to share if you have used CBD

  • Flower bulbs I can plant

About the Instructor

In 2019, Lisa Treible left her 30+ year career as an energy engineer and consultant. She embarked on a journey of self discovery. Along the way, she was invited to attend a seminar on CBD, and went thinking CBD was just a fad. After extensive research, she tried it for joint pain, and found it also helped balance her mood. From skeptic to user to believer, Lisa became passionate about spreading the word, and making sure people were educated about the “ABCs of CBD.”  Now a CBD educator, Lisa has discovered a whole new world.


Journaling for Greater Abundance

Date
Tuesday, April 7

Time
7 p.m.

Class Description

Building self-awareness through journaling is a powerful act of self-cafe. During this session, participants will learn and practice three daily journaling practices that will help you tap into your own life’s abundance for greater contentment and inspiration. Bring a journal to use. We will spend a few minutes talking about building your journaling practice and the rest of the time will be spent experimenting with journaling for greater abundance.

Suggested swap items for this class                                                                                                   

  • Journals

  • Pens

  • Current literary fiction/novels

  • Your favorite coffee

About the Instructor

Shawn Fink is a life coach and has been using journaling practices with her clients for 10 years. She is an avid journaler and writer. She uses journaling to uplift and inspire. She has lived in York for 20 years and frequents all the coffee shops with her journals.


Wednesday


Digital Photography/the Basics of Shooting Manual Mode

Date
Wednesday, April 8

Time
12 - 1 p.m.

Class Description

You can expect to learn about the basics of digital photography and shooting in manual mode. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO - let’s talk about that in an understandable way. You can bring your camera/DSLR with you to this class - recommended, but not required.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • An empty journal (leave an entry if you so dare)

  • A coffee and conversation - you pick the place and let’s talk!

  • A list of hikes within a few hours’ drive

  • A thrift store sweater (size Large)

  • Old coffee mug

About the Instructor

Bryce is a proud York native that finds passion in people, photography, and conversation. He is currently a volunteer coordinator and sits on the YYSO board. Bryce enjoys nature and drinks coffee for the conversation, not the caffeine.


Create Using a Paint Pouring Process - Find Your Joy!

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Date
Wednesday, April 8

Time
5:30 p.m.

Class Description

You will enjoy creating a masterpiece to take with you at the end of this paint pouring process! Anyone can create beautiful and unique art. This art is unpredictable and joyful! You will need to bring the following:

  • a 12x12” or smaller sized canvas

  • 4 small bottles (2 oz.) of any color acrylic craft paint

  • 1 small bottle of white acrylic craft paint

We will be practicing the technique of a “white paint drag.” Please bring your phone so you can play your favorite music as we pour!

Age restrictions

14 and up

Suggested swap items for this class

  • A six-pack of craft beer - IPAs or imperial stout

  • Homemade soap

  • Men’s jeans size 30 or 32

  • Notecards

  • A beautiful poem that inspires you

  • Mittens or gloves

  • Winter hat

  • A massage

  • Salty treat snacks: chips, nuts, crackers, granola bars

  • Any organic vegetarian food items, such as cans of beans, cheese, fruit, vegetables from gardens

About the Instructor

Kate Hartman went on to college to become an art therapist and then graduated to become a teacher of little ones. She practiced art on the side and every now and then had to retreat to her sketchpad and pencil, her charcoal and pastel, and play in the paint! After attending a workshop taught by a seasoned paint pourer, she learned many techniques included in this art. She realized the process of art is really what she enjoys the most and found this sort of art was steeped deeply in process. She turned on a tune as music set her soul free and noticed paint poured itself to the music.


It’s a Beer Share, Y’All

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Date
Wednesday, April 8

Time
7 p.m.

Class Description

Here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna walk into Uncle Traveling Matt’s irresponsibly full cooler of beer, pick out a few bottles, bring them with me (chilled of course), open them in front of you, and then pour some out for everyone that is sitting in front of me. I invite you to do the same. I will bring some special beers. You don’t have to match that level of geekiness. But walk into your favorite bottle shop, say “I’m looking for something to take to a bottle share,” and they will take it from there.

Age restrictions

21+ (bring ID)

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Bring one or more large bottle/growler/can or some special beer

  • Or bring meat-based snacks (charcuterie)

About the Instructor

Uncle Traveling Matt runs beer festivals in the area, brews with people who can stand him, and recently checked “drive a fanboat” off his bucket list.


Thursday


Blackout Poetry, Found Poetry, and Other Acts of Uncreative writing

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Date
Thursday, April 9

Time
12 - 1 p.m.

Class Description

Writers are always stealing from the world to make art and stories, from language, history, books loved, songs hated, and so on. In this class we will make poems from found objects in the world—newspapers, books, comics, the internet, even music. If you have an old magazine, newspaper, book, or comic book you would like to use, please bring it along, as long as you don’t mind it being altered, erased, or otherwise marked up in the service of art. It is not necessary to bring something, though; materials will be provided.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Non-perishable food items for donation to York County Food Bank

About the Instructor

Travis Kurowski is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Writing at York College of Pennsylvania, where he teaches creative writing and publishing. His poetry has been published in variety of literary journals, such as The Lumberyard and Little Star. For the past four years he has been working on a 21-sonnet sequence in the styles of Pablo Neruda, Robert Lowell, and Adrienne Rich.


Restaurant quality Meals at Home

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Date
Thursday, April 9

Time
5:30 p.m.

Class Description

During this class, we will learn what ingredients and techniques cooks use that make the simplest dishes into something you can charge money for. We will focus on proper seasoning, the importance of fat, and the quality of product to use. By the end, you will take home knowledge and skill to use in your own kitchen to impress not only others, but yourself as well.

Feel free to BYOB.

Age restrictions

None, but the instructor does swear…a lot.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Notebooks and pens

  • Old cookbooks

  • I’ve always wanted to learn to sew. We could lesson swap?

About the Instructor

Abbi Jo Ferree is a native daughter of York County. When not working, she is chasing after her two maniac children, Rory and Emmet, and keeping her husband, Paul, calm while they attempt to do backflips off staircases. Abbi is known to love a good cocktail and can be found supporting local York establishments to seek out the best. One day, when she’s old and gray, she hopes to be able to share her stories from her ridiculous life with anyone that will listen (which means she will tell random strangers in the grocery store line thoughts that she has that are entirely inappropriate to say in the grocery store line).


The Art of Crafting a Manhattan

Date
Thursday, April 9

Time
7 p.m.

Class Description

Basic and inventive Manhattan recipes. We will craft three styles of Manhattans, as well as talk about bourbon and rye, the history of the Manhattan, and vermouth styles. Participants should bring a notebook and pen to write down recipes.

Age restrictions

21+ (bring ID)

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Beer

  • Wine (boxed or bottle)

  • Fun men’s socks

About the Instructors

Bryan Busch grew up in Baltimore, MD. With a Business Management & Finance degree from Towson University in Maryland, Bryan has worked within a variety of roles in the hospitality industry, including back and front of house at PF Chang’s and Pabu in the Baltimore area. In 2014, Bryan moved to York, PA and started as General Manager of Tutoni’s Restaurant where he cultivated their craft cocktail program and ensured that the guest experience at Tutoni’s was the highest quality it could be. After a brief diversion in the auto industry, Bryan decided to return to his passion as the COO of ONE Hospitality Group in 2019. Here he gets to explore his love of craft cocktails on a regular basis.

Jacob Dopp grew up in Central PA, and currently resides in Harrisburg. Since the age of 14, he has been working in restaurants, from fast food to fine dining with positions that ranged from back of house staff (line cook, expo) to front of house staff (manager, server, bartender). Over the years, Jake has worked at Cheddar’s, Sawyer’s, Devon Seafood & Steak, and the Garlic Poet, among others. In 2018, Jake joined ONE Hospitality as the manager of Tutoni's restaurant and became regional manager in 2019 where he oversees ONE's properties in downtown York. Jake especially enjoys collaborating on cocktail programs for each location as part of his position.


Friday


Gather Around the Table: Creating Community One Meal at A Time

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Date
Friday, April 10

Time
12 -1 p.m.

Class Description

The attendees of this class will gather together and share lunch in the form of a potluck salad bar. (Details below.) By attending this class you will interact with new people, learn about things going on in York, and walk away with introductions to people you may not have known before. Connections will be made through conversation, sharing a meal, and possibly a corny game or two. Bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to meet new people and have fun.

Suggested swap items for this class

  • Please bring a salad topping to share with other attendees.

    The attendees of this class will gather together and share lunch in the form of a potluck salad bar. Debbie will provide lettuce and spinach as well as salad dressings. Instead of bringing an item to swap with Debbie you will provide something to add to the salad and will share a meal with the other attendees. Please bring your item in a serving container and provide a serving utensil.

About the Instructor

Debbie Bailey is a lover of people and food and any opportunity to combine those two things. She is a master hugger and a stranger magnet. She is a York City resident, enthusiast, and self-appointed cheerleader.