Community Schools programs start Wednesday

Summer is officially gone. The leaves are yellow, the temperatures are dropping and Community Schools is back in session.

The Community Schools program, which is a partnership between the city of Soldotna and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District starts on Sept. 26 and will run throughout the fall. The program offers a wide array of classes open to the community, including sport events, cultural and historical education, self-reliance knowledge and fun classes.

The Community Schools program is a promotion “life-long learning by providing educational, cultural and recreational classes and activities for people of all ages. A partnership with the community and schools to utilize the many resources provided through community involvement,” according to Soldotna’s website.

This years classes include creative classes such as fur sewing and spinning yarn.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The fur sewing class will “demonstrate hide stretching and teach skin sewing techniques and secrets for making projects such as; trapper-style fur hats, women’s dress band hats, sheepskin slippers with beaver cuffs, baby booties, baby hats, children’s beaver mittens, sheepskin trapper-style hats, and earmuffs,” according to the class description.

There are also cooking classes, including a Dutch oven cooking course where students will learn the technical aspects of cooking in a Dutch oven, described as a “historical cast iron delight.”

In November, the community is invited to look to the stars with Kenai Peninsula College Astronomy Professor Andy Veh.

On Nov. 1, 8 and 15 from 7 to 9 p.m., Veh will make the stars tangible with his “Night Lights” classes.

“For the most part, if it’s clear I try to take the people who show up outside as much as we can,” Veh said. “… Then we try to observe as much as we can — stars, constellations, planets if their out. We’ll observe the moon if it’s out, whatever is out.”

Veh’s classes are free and open to the community. The classes meet at the Kenai Peninsula College in room 151. Students are encouraged to bring warm cloths, cookies and hot cocoa to combat the cold weather. Students are also encouraged to binoculars or a telescope if they have them.

“I don’t have a lesson plan,” Veh said. “There are several reasons for that … I don’t know if it’s cloudy or clear and I want to keep my options open. As people show up, I go by their interest. They ask questions and I try to answer them on top of my head.”

The program also offers free hall walking nights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through the hallways of Soldotna Prep School. The walks start on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. and gives people the opportunity to walk despite the weather.

Classes vary in pricing, with several free options. They also vary in time commitment. For a full list of the classes offered visit the Soldotna Parks and Recreation’s website, the Community Schools Program Facebook page or call 714-1211.

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com

More in News

Amber Gall (left) and Rachael Kincaid (right) are South Peninsula Hospital's new Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer, respectively. Photo provided by Derotha Ferraro
South Peninsula Hospital names new leadership

South Peninsula Hospital’s former chief nursing officer has been named the new chief operating officer.

A sign directs the public toward a tsunami shelter in Seldovia, Alaska, on Sept. 27, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Tsunami watch canceled for Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay communities

The watch followed an 8.7 earthquake that occurred Tuesday afternoon off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

A “Vote Here” sign directs voters to the voting station at Homer City Hall on Oct. 3, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Finn Heimbold/Homer News file photo)
Homer city election filing period opens Aug. 1

The deadline to file for candidacy is Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

Salutatorian Grace Kahn speaks during the Kenai Central High School graduation ceremony in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula represented by 3 in 2025 Summer of Heroes

The program spotlights Alaska youth driving change in their communities.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy outlines priorities for special session

The Senate and House majority say the Legislature plans to consider two veto overrides.

Mount Marathon, seen July 4, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Swiss hiker rescued near Mount Marathon in Seward

The hiker said he’d climbed a mountain and gone beyond his ability

tease
‘All the kids are grand champions’

Kenai Peninsula 4-H shows off at Agriculture Expo

Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson and Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney grill hot dogs at the Progress Days Block Party at Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Progress Days block party keeps celebration going

Vendors, food trucks, carnival games and contests entertained hundreds

Children take candy from a resident of Heritage Place during the 68th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It feels so hometown’

68th Annual Soldotna Progress Days parade brings festivity to city streets

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in