Suzanne Hall prepares to spin wool into yarn during the first session of the Soldotna Community Schools yarn-spinning class on Tuesday, March 20 in the library of the Soldotna Preparatory School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Suzanne Hall prepares to spin wool into yarn during the first session of the Soldotna Community Schools yarn-spinning class on Tuesday, March 20 in the library of the Soldotna Preparatory School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Community Schools Program begins this month

The opportunity to learn how to sew fur, master the fundamentals of coffee, swing dance and cha-cha, excel at table tennis and more is now as easy as attending a class through the Soldotna Community Schools program.

The program is broken up into two, 10-week sessions. The first session started this month, and a variety of classes are available every week. From survival gardening to the power of masks, community members can learn or teach a multitude of topics.

The program was founded in 1975 with a partnership with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and other communities. Today, the school district and the city of Soldotna work together to make the program available to the central peninsula.

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

Assistant director of Soldotna Parks and Recreation Joel Todd said the ultimate goal of the program was to take advantage of school facilities in the off hours. These days, there are fewer classes taught schools, but many do still take place in the halls of Soldotna Prep School. Todd himself said he remembers taking Soldotna Community Schools classes at Soldotna Prep.

Class topics have a wide range. The teachers are community members who have a wealth of knowledge and passion they wish to share with others. There’s no degree required.

“In the past, the owner of the tackle shop would teach a class about fly fishing,” Todd said. “We’ve held on to that philosophy of community teaching community, and the community sharing skills with others.”

Todd said the program is constantly looking for new instructors. For each class, a small, relevant fee is charged, with the majority going back to the instructor, and a small portion going back into the program.

Todd said the city recognizes the program as an asset and a valuable part of the community, which is why the program takes care of as much of the logistics as possible, so instructors can focus on teaching their class, and less about the behind-the-scenes work.

“We work hard to make it so instructors can just walk in and teach their class,” Todd said. “It makes it easier for an instructor who works full time.”

For more information about Soldotna Community Schools visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SoldotnaCommunitySchools/.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

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