Each 9-week session holds a variety of classes. Most are 50 minutes each class.
They vary from session to session. But they are all very interesting.
The current session (Spring ) runs from April 1 to May 27, 2026.
SPRING 2026 class descriptions
BeginNing @ 9AM:
| Coffee and Conversation | 9:00 – 11:00 | Dining Room |
Come have a cup of coffee and visit with other members between 9:00 and 11:00.
It’s a great way to relax before your next class and meet some new friends.
| YOGA FOR GOLDEN ADULTS | Kent Hayes |
Our senior adult yoga is designed for students who cannot or prefer not to lie on
the floor. After warm-up activities, we will slowly move from one pose to another, paying particular attention not to overstretch our bodies or make ourselves uncomfortable. We hope to improve our range of motion and flexibility.
| ZUMBA GOLD | Suzanne Hyman |
Zumba Gold introduces easy-to-follow choreography featuring Latin and international music and dance movements. This very fun class focuses on balance, range of motion, and coordination. Come ready to sweat a little and prepare to leave feeling strong! Please wear comfortable clothes and supportive/exercise shoes.
| UKULELE FUN | Everett Spell |
Dust off that old ukulele and join the fun! We will help each other learn to strum and also sing along with familiar songs. Beginners welcome!
| *A DEEP DIVE INTO FOUR AUTHORS | Carol McAlpin |
Several authors write story cycles, wherein their narratives unfold in a particular town or region and are often connected by interlocking characters and themes. We will study four such cycles, reading 2 stories from each of them, so that we “dig deep” into their subject matter and style. As always, I welcome your “reader responses,” knowing that when we share our views about a story that we’ve read together, we come away – not only with our own impressions – but also with a room full of others. (stories will be provided).
| THE ART STUDIO | 9:00 – 11:50 | Self-directed |
We will provide the room; you provide the talent! If you are looking for somewhere to paint/draw, share ideas and techniques with fellow artists, then this is the place for you! It is a great way to practice your skills and enjoy the fellowship of other artists. Please bring your own supplies – no oils – acrylics and watercolors only.
BeginNing @ 10AM:
| TAI CHI | Robin Anderson |
Learn about and experience Tai Chi for relaxation and enhanced health. Tai Chi consists of slow, gentle turning and stretching movements designed to improve and maintain good balance and circulation. You will learn a short set of Tai Chi movements, along with exercises that improve mobility, flexibility, and balance. Wear flat shoes as well as comfortable clothing that allows movement. This class is for both beginning and continuing participants.
| *EYEWITNESS TO DISCOVERY | Tom Kuhn |
Be a fly on the wall and learn the back story as we explore the greatest discoveries in the history of archaeology together. From the walls of Homer’s Troy, to Machu Picchu, King Tut’s tomb, Lascaux Cave, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Chinese Terra Cotta Army we will share our own “Eureka” moments with the archaeologists and lucky amateurs whose discoveries have changed our view of the ancient world.
| LET’S PLAY MAH-JONGG | 10:00 – 11:50 | Self-directed |
Players with knowledge of the game are invited to practice and improve their skills.
| *WORLD WAR I: ORIGINS, HISTORY, & CONSEQUENCES: | Dr. Jack Meyer |
Dr. Meyer, former professor of military history, will discuss the political events leading up to the beginning of the war, including the political blunders on all sides. We will then examine the battles, strategies, propaganda, and technical developments during the war. We will conclude with the peace treaties and their consequences, including the almost inevitable result of WWII and the current problems in the Middle East.
| *ALL ABOUT VEGETABLES | Frances Broom |
Sometime in your life you probably have been told “eat your vegetables, they’re good for you.” It’s true, vegetables contain nutrients that help to promote a healthy body, a keen mind, and ward off disease. Eating a variety of vegetables not only, feeds the hungry stomach, but also, the hungry soul. In this class we will be discussing the history of vegetables, and the many nutrients they contain for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
| AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN THE SOUTH – BEGINNING IN 1780 | Doug Patterson |
Who were the Patriot leaders in the South and what did they do that helped win the war? What were the outcomes of the battles of Cowpens, Ninety-Six, Guilford Courthouse, the war of the posts, and Eutaw Springs? How did the march to the Dan River help to defeat Lord Cornwallis? Who won the war and what were the results of the war in S.C? When was the war officially over?
BeginNing @ 11AM:
| THE UNITED STATES 1808-1828 | Dr. Jessica Kross |
This class continues an exploration of politics and major issues in the New Nation. We will explore 1808-1828 which includes the War of 1812, a political reorganization with the demise of the Federalist Party and the emergence of the Whigs, and a growing anti-intellectualism which will continue through the nineteenth century and beyond.
| *PERPLEXITY | Jerry Allen |
Perplexity is like having a personal expert on call – always available, always patient. In this course, we’ll learn to use it to answer common technical questions and to make sense of confusing tech concepts. Through live demonstrations, you’ll learn how to ask the right questions, think through problems step by step, and verify what you find. If you’ve ever thought “I wish I knew how that worked” or “This tech stuff just isn’t for me,” this class is exactly what you need!
| *NATURE & GARDENING POTPOURRI | Coordinated by Master Naturalist, Jeanette Smith |
There will be classes on Spring Gardening by Master Gardeners and a local Nursery, current Conservation Issues, Watersheds in the Midlands, Hints to be a Better Bird Watcher, and Special Features in Midlands State Parks.
| RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD, A HUMAN JOURNEY OF FAITH | Edwina Winter |
Humans need religion as much as oxygen, so we are going to explore religions and beliefs around the world, both ancient and modern. We will look at similarities and differences and their effect on the world: good, bad, and ugly.
After lunch
| FRENCH IN ACTION | 1:15 – 2:15 | Liz Knight |
Enjoy role-playing dialogues designed for living-this-life situations. We’ll refresh our French by starting at the beginning. Pronunciation and grammar included.
| *SPANISH | 1:15 – 2:15 | Nancie Shillington-Perez |
Amigos, come enjoy acquiring Spanish as children do, immersed in great books and listening to simple sentences and catchy tunes! You will be able to read aloud on Day One as Spanish is a phonetic language. Cognitive approaches will also be utilized through a portion of each class, and short homework assignments will reinforce what we cover in our time together.
| LET’S PLAY MAH-JONGG | 1:15 – 3:00 | Group-directed |
Players with knowledge of the game are invited to practice & improve their skills.
Classes are held in the Leisure Ministries Building at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. You can turn from Trenholm Road and follow to the back of the property where you will find ample parking.
Come into the building at the entryway with three arches.
Shepherd's Center of Columbia 