Community Classes for Adults
If you have any questions about classes or have ideas for a class you'd like to see
us do, please call Michelle Bartlett at 907-474-7021, or email summer@alaska.edu.
UAF Summer Sessions & Lifelong Learning offers a variety of non-credit bearing classes accessible to members of the community without the requirements of typical college courses. Many of these courses are practical, hands-on workshop style classes taught by local experts.
To register and pay for a class, follow the link below:
Summer courses:
Pickleball Camp for AdultsInstructor: Kayla Clark
Meets: August 10 - 14, Monday - Friday, 10:30 am - 12 pm
Location: SRC, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Are you curious to try out the fastest growing sport in the USA? Pickleball is a net sport that takes elements of tennis and ping pong, combining them into a game that is accessible for kids as well as senior citizens. This course will cover the basics of serving, dinking, volleys, lobs, rules of game play and more! A full week of practice will have you feeling confident to join in on Open and Relish Play with the Farthest North Pickleball Club. Beware, this game is quite addicting and very social too! This course is ideal for brand new players, or players looking for more practice.
Cost: $125
Instructor: Kristin Link
Meets: August 29 - 30, Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 4 pm (waitlist only)
Location: Georgeson Botanical Garden, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Discover the art of observational drawing in this hands-on botanical sketching workshop set in the beautiful Georgeson Botanical Garden. Over two days, participants will develop foundational sketching skills while deepening their understanding of the plant world, learning to see, draw, and describe plants with both artistic sensitivity and scientific curiosity. Working from life in the garden and in the classroom, students will practice pencil, pen, watercolor, and mixed media sketching techniques, explore basic botany and plant families of interior Alaska, and learn to create field sketches that capture not just the plant itself, but its relationship to the surrounding environment and ecosystem. No prior drawing experience is required, only a curiosity about the natural world and a willingness to look closely. Click to see the materials list for the Field Sketching and Botanical Art Workshop.
Cost: $175
Instructor: JR Ancheta
Meets: July 18, Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm
Location: 111 Bunell, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Explore downtown Fairbanks while you learn how to use your digital camera.
No photo skills are necessary. Basic editing will be covered back in the classroom.
Class time will be split between downtown and the UAF campus.
Cost: $70
Instructor: Allison Juneau
Meets: July 25, Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm
Location: 303 ART, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Palette knife painting, sometimes referred to as “impasto” painting,
is a fun and engaging way to create paintings with a beautifully textured and sculptural
surface. Work with artist Allison Juneau to learn methods of mixing and applying paint
with a knife, silicone tools, and even household items to create interesting textures.
This workshop is suitable for both new and experienced painters, and participants
can work with either oils or acrylics. If you would like to work with oils, please
bring your own paint. Impasto medium (for both oil and acrylic) will be available
for everyone to use. Practicing acrylic painters may want to bring their own paint,
but acrylic paint will be available for those who need it. Painting tools and wood
panels will be provided. Everyone should bring an apron.
Cost: $95
Instructor: Kate Powers
Meets: July 31 - August 2, Friday 6 pm - 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm
Location: Georgeson Botanical Garden, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Botanical Impressions is a three-day immersive workshop exploring the
ecology, color, and expressive potential of Alaskan wildflowers through mixed-media
art. Participants will sketch and create layered botanical studies on site in the
Georgeson Botanical Garden, with a focus on the Ginger Gauss Wildflower Garden and
Wetland Pond. Using water-based mixed media and watercolor underpaintings, participants
will observe, experiment, and share ideas in a collaborative environment. Open to
adult learners of all experience levels.
Cost: $150
Instructor: Linda Wies
Meets: August 8 & 9, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm
Location: Georgeson Botanical Garden, UAF ϳԹ
Description: Participants will carve, ink, and print their own designs on fabric in
this two-day workshop at the Georgeson Botanical Garden. On the first day, students
will learn about carving tools, different types of inks, and common block-printing
materials such as wood, linoleum, and rubber. Participants will be introduced to both
a lever press and a roller press, experiment with hand-printing techniques, plan their
designs, and begin carving their blocks. On the second day, students will finish carving
and bring their designs to life through printing. Canvas tote bags, tea towels, baby
onesies, and fabric squares will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring
T-shirts or other fabric items to create beautiful, functional pieces.
Cost: $150
Instructor: Anna Kindberg
Meets: August 14 - 16, Friday 6 pm - 8 pm, Saturday 10 am-4 pm, and Sunday, 11 am
- 2 pm
Location: 203 Murie, UAF ϳԹ
Description: In this weekend intensive course, you will gain a basic understanding
of the kingdom Fungi and learn how to identify some of the common species of mushrooms
in Interior Alaska. We will spend time in the field collecting mushrooms, learning
how to use a dichotomous key, making spore prints, and learning which features to
hone into when identifying mushrooms. Finding choice edible species is not guaranteed,
but you will leave the class knowing how to identify at least four edible species.
Cost: $140
All registrations for Non-credit Short Classes are completed through CampDoc. Please visit the Campdoc website at to create a profile and register for classes. If you have previously registered with CampDoc, you will not need to create a new profile.
Payment can be made during registration through CampDoc. Please note that Non-credit Short Classes require a $25.00 non-refundable deposit that must be paid at the time of registration. The final payment is due 1 week before the class start date. If you register for a class and decide not to attend, you MUST drop the course via CampDoc a week before the start date or you will be charged for the full class. For additional information contact Summer Sessions at 474-7021 or summer@alaska.edu. How do I register with CampDoc?
If you are unfamiliar with Campdoc, this handy guide might help you get started.
How do I find out more information about Parking?
If your Non-credit Short Class takes place on campus between 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday, you will be required to have a current parking decal or short term parking permit displayed in your vehicle. Outside of these times, no permit is required. For more information about parking on campus call 474-7275 or view parking locations at uaf.edu/campusmap.