community classes
FiftyNorth offers a diversity of classes to foster connection, learning, growth and joy
Our classes promote wellbeing through shared experiences and personal growth. From classes in the arts or crafts and handiwork, to tech training, retirement planning or grief support, our community classes provide opportunities to build skills and foster friendship.
We offer nearly 100 classes a year, and many are free to members. Some materials-based classes require an additional nominal fee. Scholarships are always available to offset costs. We want everyone to enjoy our Community Classes.
click below to jump to specific class interests
Arts
INTRO TO QUILLING
Tuesday, September 15
1:00-3:00pm
Instructor: Karla Kuisle
Capacity: 4 minimum, 12 maximum
Space: Room 103
Cost: $30 nonmember, $26 member, $10 platinum
Registration deadline: September 8
Curious about the age-old art of paper quilling? Learn how to turn simple looking paper strips into beautiful art. Paper quilling involves paper strips that are rolled, curled, pinched, and manipulated in other ways to create designs. In this class your instructor will introduce you to the techniques and you will go home with one or more small note cards/gift tags.
MINIATURE KITES
Wednesday, September 23
10:00am-12:00pm
Instructor: Cheryl Ramette
Capacity: 4 minimum, 12 maximum
In the event we do not meet minimum capacity we may have to cancel this class
Space: Room 105
Cost: $40 nonmember, $34 member, $10 Platinum
Registration deadline: September 16
Miniature kites have been around for many centuries, first introduced from China around 750 AD, then becoming more refined during the Edo period in Japan from 1603-1867. The instructor for this class first became aware of them in 2008 when checking out a kite flying festival at Waterfront Park in Portland, OR, where a kite flyer had a small box filled with tiny, beautifully decorated kites that flew! She was bedazzled. Over the past couple of decades she’s occasionally dabbled with making one herself that can fly, most recently with her current favorite medium, tea bags.
Join Cheryl for a morning of miniature kite making using patterns for reliable-flying miniature kites. You can see a few examples of her tiny kites in the case in the gallery, and accompanying the poem “Cheers!”. The kites will fly indoors just by walking with them, and outdoors if not too much wind.
Materials will be provided.
CREATIVE REFRESH: ART SUPPLY SWAP!
Wednesday, September 23
1:30-3:30pm
Location: Room 105
During Art Club
Have half-used paint tubes sitting in your closet? Extra canvases gathering dust? Or maybe you’re itching to try a new medium like printmaking or watercolors without breaking the bank?
Bring what you don’t use and leave with inspiration for your next project! Join us for a fun, community-focused Art Supply Swap—a great way to declutter your studio, discover new tools, and connect with fellow creatives.
✂️ What to Bring (Swap Guidelines)
To make sure everyone gets a great selection, please follow these quick guidelines:
Great items to swap:
Paints (tubes/jars with plenty left and lids sealed tight)
Brushes in good, usable shape
Sketchbooks, drawing papers, or unused canvases
Pastels, markers, colored pencils, and ink
Sculpting tools, palettes, easels, and craft supplies
Please skip:
Completely dried-out paints or glue
Brushes with stiff, ruined bristles
Broken equipment or tiny scraps of paper too small to reuse
Check out Art Club while you are at the Art Supply Swap. Art Club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30.
THE JAPANESE ART OF SUMI-E PAINTING
Thursday, September 24
1:00-2:30pm
Instructor: Sayaka Yamazaki
Capacity: 4 minimum, 10 maximum
Cost: $35 nonmember, $30 member, $10 Platinum
Space: Room 105
Registration deadline: September 17
The Japanese art of Sumi-e is painting on paper using a brush, ink, and water. It is simple but represents the most complex model. Create a variety of paintings that include animals, flowers, and nature such as bamboo, which symbolizes flexibility, strength, and longevity. Join us to learn techniques of painting and experience capturing the timeless beauty and the source of life and nature.
KNIT A COZY COWL
ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE WELCOME
Wednesdays, October 7, 14
10:00-12:00pm
Instructor: Diane Pearsall
Capacity: 4 minimum, 10 maximum
In the event we do not meet minimum capacity we may have to cancel this class
Cost: $70 nonmember, $60 member, $20 Platinum
Space: Room 102
Registration deadline: September 30
Winter is coming sooner than you think. Will you be warm enough? Does your neck ache when it’s cold out? Knit a cozy, soft, snuggly cowl to keep you warm!
This class is for beginners, those wanting to renew their skills, and experienced knitters looking for a quick project. There will be homework! You’ll knit the cowl in the round with 2 colors of Cielo Yarn, a blend of Alpaca and Merino that is unbelievably soft against your skin. There are 3 pattern variations to choose from according to your skill level. Even though the cowl may look complicated, this class is appropriate for real beginners.
In the 1st class, beginners will learn the knit stitch and how to knit in the round. But you will spend most of the class knitting the actual cowl! More experienced knitters will choose their pattern and get started.
In the 2nd class you’ll finish the cowl, model it, and celebrate.
What do you need for the classes? Just bring a small scissors, some scrap paper and something to write with. The instructor will supply the yarn, needles, and stitch markers. She will even cast on for you to get you started!
(2 sessions)
THE NATURE OF WRITING
Tuesdays, October 13, 20, 27
3:30-5:00pm
Instructor: Marlais Brand
Capacity: 15
Cost: This class is free.
I invite folks with the means to donate $35 to FiftyNorth in lieu of a class fee, and in honor of our terrific volunteers.
Space: Room 105
Love to write? Always wanted to start? Never thought about it? This offering is for you– no writing experience necessary!
I’m leading a mini series this fall that uses nature to catalyze your creativity and celebrate abundance. We’ll meet weekly for an interactive workshop to:
celebrate the season & natural world
connect with each other & our bodies
live in the present
experiment with writing for self-expression
We’ll poke around our FiftyNorth backyard for a few minutes of each session, so dress for success.
About Me
I’m a published author, and in a previous life I taught fiction, poetry, rhetoric and art history at the University of Maryland, and The Field School. My book, The Hungry Coast, won the Midwest Book award, and, as a youngster I was featured in Scribner’s Best of the Fiction Workshops a few times. I hold BA, MA and MFA degrees in Literature and Writing. I’m also a certified trauma-informed coach and a Reiki master, and I love to bring mindfulness and somatic practices into teaching.
CZECH GLASS JEWELRY DESIGN WORKSHOP
Thursday, October 15
1:00-3:00pm
Instructor: Andrea Turini
Capacity: 6 minimum, 12 maximum
Cost: Nonmember $75, Member $60, Platinum $30
Space: Room 102
Registration deadline: October 8
A hands-on jewelry-making experience with artist Andrea Turini.
Following a short presentation on the history and craft of Czech glassmaking, participants enjoy a one-hour hands-on jewelry design session. Each person designs a coordinating set, either:
Earrings + Bracelet or
Earrings + Necklace
*Please specify your choice when registering
Participants select from Andrea’s curated collection of authentic Czech glass beads to create their designs. Andrea demonstrates design concepts and assists with selection, then completes the technical finishing (wrapping, crimping, and assembly) during class.
WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING
Tuesdays, November 3, 10, 17, 24
4:00-5:00pm
Instructor: David Miller
Capacity: 5 minimum, 10 maximum
Space: Room 102
Cost: $48 nonmember, $40 member, $0 Platinum
Registration deadline: October 27
Join David Miller in exploring the rhythms of West Africa! You will learn some common drum patterns (and maybe a song!) from the nations of Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, played on djembes and other West African percussion instruments. Instruments will be provided.
wellness
BALANCE SCREENING THROUGH NH+C
Monday, October 19
9:00-11:00am
Capacity: 6 – 1 for each time slot
Cost: FREE
Space: Room 104
Provider: NH+C
Appointment times to choose from:
9:00am
9:20am
9:40am
10:00am
10:20am
10:40am
(If you register online, your appointment time is chosen when you click on check out)
One on One screening with a Northfield Hospital + Clinics physical therapist to check your balance and risk of falls. A 5-10 minute session using professional screening tools.
Lifelong Learning / Talks
MINNESOTA AGING PATHWAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH AGE FRIENDLY NORTHFIELD AND FIFTYNORTH PRESENT A SERIES OF PROGRAMS
Presenters: *Minnesota Aging Pathways
Capacity: 50
Cost: Free
Space: Room 103
These classes are open to the community in collaboration with Age Friendly Northfield
Pre-registration is requested for all classes online, in person at the FiftyNorth front desk, or phone: 507-664-3700
*Minnesota Aging Pathways is a free, statewide service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota’s area agencies on aging. Minnesota Aging Pathways helps older Minnesotans and caregivers find answers and connect to the services and support they need.
MEDICARE 101
Tuesday, September 29
1:00-2:00pm
Medicare can be complicated, but Minnesota Aging Pathways is here to help. Whether you’ve been on Medicare for a few years and just need a refresher, or you’re brand new to Medicare, Medicare 101 will help you understand the basics so you can manage your health care options.
2027 MEDIARE CHANGES/UPDATES
Tuesday, October 20
1:00-2:00pm
Medicare can be complicated, and it seems to change from year to year. Come learn about what’s new in Medicare for 2027, so you can choose the best plan for your needs. This presentation is offered in the fall of each year during Medicare Open Enrollment.
SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVEL TALK
Wednesday, September 16
1:00-3:00pm
Instructor: David Johnston
Capacity: 40
Cost: Free
Space: Room 103
Registration deadline: September 14
David Johnston, from Jeanie’s Journeys Tours & Travel, will share videos, pictures, history & cultural insights from a tour he and his wife led to South Africa in January 2026. Brenda Bultman & Darla DeLong will also share their experiences and pictures from the tour.
*Advanced registration is requested to assist us with preparation of seating.
class name SPANISH 1 – SECOND YEAR FALL SESSION
Every Monday / Wednesday
September 21, 23, 28, 30,
October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28,
November 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30,
December 2, 7, 9, 14
(25 sessions)
10:00-11:00am
Instructor: Chris Kauffeld
Capacity: 6 minimum, 15 maximum
Space: Room 106
Cost: $250
Registration deadline: September 14
Students will continue to work their way through the Realidades 1 Spanish textbook (available for $20 from the instructor or can be ordered on-line). The course will start with a quick review of unit 6A and then continue on from there, covering commands, the present progressive, the simple past and more stem-changing and irregular verbs in the present. Vocabulary will focus on chores, dwelling units, shopping, vacations and recycling.”
CPR and FIRST AID
Tuesday, September 22
9:00-12:00pm
Instructor: Jon Bolster
Capacity: 10
Cost: $72 non-member, $65 member, $0 platinum
Space: Room 105
Students will receive expert training in First Aid and Basic Life Support CPR (adult) including Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). This 3-hour class includes instruction, demonstrations and hands-on activities and culminates in the students earning an American Heart Card. It is appropriate training for Certified Nurse Assistants, healthcare workers, childcare workers, teachers, instructors, and volunteers. Many health care facilities require this training of their employees.
LUNCH AND LEARN – TOPIC: TIPS ON HOW TO PREP YOUR GARDEN FOR WINTER
Tuesday, September 22
12:00-1:00pm
Instructors: Sharon Boisselle & Kim Reis
Capacity: 4 minimum, 20 maximum
Cost: $10 nonmember, $8 member, $0 Platinum
Space: Room 102
Registration deadline: September 11
“How do I put my garden to bed for winter? Should I cut my plants down or leave them until spring? Should I still be watering? Join two Master Gardeners to talk about these topics and more. Learn how to make your garden even better next year by starting now.”
Bring your own sack lunch. Water will be provided.
TRAVEL TOGETHER, TRAVEL BETTER: UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S GUIDED TRAVEL OPTIONS
Thursday, October 22
1:00-2:00pm
Instructor: Leah Baker
Capacity: 40
Cost: Free
Space: Room 103
Registration deadline: October 19
Some of life’s best memories are made while exploring the world together. Learn about the many styles of guided travel available today, including large-group tours, small-group journeys, and private driver experiences. Whether you’re checking off a bucket-list destination, planning a family legacy trip, or simply looking for a stress-free way to travel, this session will help you understand your options. Includes Q&A and a door prize drawing.
Pre-registration is requested.
A NECESSARY WRITING TASK – AN OBITUARY
Monday & Thursday, October 26 & 29
9:00-11:00am
Capacity: 12 maximum
Space: Room 102
Cost: $40 nonmember, $32 member, $0 Platinum
When a death is reported in the newspaper, accompanied by an obituary for the deceased, how does that obituary happen? In many cases, stressed family members scramble to meet a deadline set by a funeral home or other site for a service, hoping to capture the essence of the deceased person as well as important information about memorials. Much of the anguish associated with this task can be eliminated by advance planning. This two-session course will give participants a chance to determine the key elements of an obituary and prepare a draft. We will meet on a Monday morning from 9-11 to map out the necessary features of an obituary and resume on Thursday at the same time to hear from a local funeral director on some of the pre-service and burial details and to work in pairs on provisional drafts. The goal: preparation of a reasonable draft for someone, perhaps yourself, as well as appreciating the details of this written form.
Instructor: Carol Rutz
LEARNING IMPROV COMEDY WORKSHOP
Wednesday, November 11
4:00-6:00pm
Instructor: Buddy Ricker
Capacity: 5 minimum, 15 maximum
Cost: $40 nonmember, $36 member, $0 Platinum
Space: Room 103
Registration deadline: Wednesday, November 4
In this two-hour intensive course, learn the foundation of improv comedy Short Form. We will learn the underlying concepts of improv, play a ton of fun brain bender games, and learn a couple of games for the stage. This is a great opportunity to gain insight into the world of improv, laugh, and get your brain working. You create the laughs as you learn the ways of lmprov.
AARP Smart Driving
AARP 4 Hour Smart Driving Classes
Location: Room 103
Fees: $32 non-AARP Members, $27 AARP Members;
AARP Members please register in person or by phone (you will need your AARP member number)
Various instructors
Capacity: 30
These courses are designed for the driver over age 50 to help discover how roads, cars, and you may have changed since you started driving. Learn eight driving strategies to make you a safer driver. Completion of this AARP Driver Safety course qualifies each student over age 55 (sometimes 50) a certificate redeemable for a discount on auto insurance premiums. Once you take this first-time course, you will then need to take a refresher course every 3 years to continue the discount. Please check with your insurance agent for age qualifications and renewal details. The cost of this class includes fees paid to AARP for the course.
NOTE:
*Please arrive at class 10-15 minutes early to complete registration forms before class starts
Please pre-register and check-in for all classes no matter your membership levels. It is also important to check-in at the front desk when you arrive for your class. We use attendance data for grant applications, insurance reimbursement, space planning and determining whether or not to cancel a class.
AARP Smart Driving 4-hour Course
Monday, September 14
9:00am-1:00pm
AARP Smart Driving 4-hour Course
Thursday, October 15
1:00-5:00pm
AARP Smart Driving 4-hour Course
Friday, November 13
9:00am-1:00pm
AARP Smart Driving 4-hour Course
Monday, December 7
9:00am-1:00pm
AARP Smart DriverTEK Classes
These free, 90-minute Smart DriverTEK Workshops will help you understand current and evolving vehicle safety technologies and how to use them. You will learn how the benefits of these technologies may enhance your driving safety and extend your safe driving years. You will receive a vehicle technology checklist and learn to identify the safety technologies that best suit your needs when purchasing a new vehicle.
Smart DriverTEK is offering Virtual Workshops
Technology is changing the driving experience. The new free, AARP Smart DriverTEK workshop will keep you in the know about the latest high-tech safety features in your current or future car. Learn about what new technologies are available, how they work, and how they can make driving safer and more enjoyable.
This interactive 90-minute workshop will help you understand:
Blind-spot detection systems
Forward-collision warning systems
Lane-departure warning systems
And much more!
PLEASE NOTE: ALL TIMES LISTED ARE IN EASTERN TIME.
Follow the link below to register for one of the workshop dates.