September 12 from 9am-11am

This hands-on class guides new and experienced beekeepers through the complete honey harvesting process from start to finish. Participants will learn how to assess hive readiness, safely remove frames, and use essential tools such as smokers, uncapping knives, and extractors. The class also covers best practices for filtering, bottling, and storing honey, along with practical tips for keeping equipment clean and protecting hive health during and after the harvest. Whether you are preparing for your first season or looking to sharpen your technique, this session offers clear steps, demonstrations, and plenty of time for questions.

September 26 from 9am-11am

This course teaches new and developing beekeepers how to prepare colonies for a successful Iowa winter. Participants will learn how to assess colony strength, manage mite loads, ensure proper food stores, and configure equipment for cold-weather survival. The class covers insulation options, moisture control, entrance management, wind protection, and how to monitor colonies without disrupting the cluster. We also explore common overwintering challenges in the Midwest and practical steps to minimize losses. Whether this is your first winter or you want to refine your approach, this session provides clear guidance to help your bees emerge healthy and strong in spring.

July 18, 2026, 9:00am-10:15am
Join us for a history hike through Council Bluffs’ past, Saturday, July 18, at 9 am.  We’ll walk 30 minutes from the 100 block of West Broadway to the Bayliss Park area, take a fifteen-minute break, then walk 30 minutes back to our point of origin. Give us an hour and we’ll give you 150 years of history, right from the very spots it happened! Meet in front of Barley's, 114 W Broadway.

From a forced Native American relocation to a religious enclave, from the frontier’s wildest saloons to the first capital of Nebraska, these city blocks have witnessed some of the most remarkable chapters in American history. They were the setting for Lincoln’s meeting with Dodge and later became the focus of one of the nation’s most sweeping urban renewal projects.  

June 5- June 25

This is a 4-week series at Bent Tree Golf Club led by PGA Professionals!

Looking for a fun way to spend time together? Spend your Thursday evenings at Bent Tree Golf Club during this 4- week couples golf lesson series. Whether you're new to golf or just want to strengthen the basics, this series is designed to help you build skills, confidence, and enjoy time together!

You'll learn:
-Chipping
-Putting
-Full swing
-Golf etiquette and rules

Walk away with a skill you can continue to enjoy together!

Open to adults 18 years and older.
Thursday evenings in June from 6:00-7:30pm
$120 per person for the full 4-week session. Must register each person individually.
 

Class is Saturday June, 27, 2026 - 8:30am - 10:30am - Council Bluffs Campus 
Designing a self-sufficient backyard starts with intention and smart planning. In this class, you’ll learn how to assess your space, map out productive zones, and build a system that works with your goals—whether that’s feeding your family, reducing grocery bills, or creating surplus. We’ll cover garden bed placement, perennial vs. annual crops, water access, composting systems, and how to stack functions within limited space. You’ll leave with a clear framework for designing your own backyard system and the confidence to begin implementing it immediately.

Class will be held Thursday Evenings 6:00pm - 8:30pm September 24th thru November 5th - Looft Hall CB Campus
This educational series is designed for small farmers, market gardeners, and backyard growers interested in selling locally produced food and agricultural products. The topics will primarily focus on produce production, but many sessions will also be valuable for small livestock producers looking to expand their business knowledge and market opportunities.
Whether you are growing vegetables in a backyard garden, managing a market garden, operating a diversified small farm, or raising livestock on a small scale, this series will provide practical information, local resources, and valuable connections to help you develop and grow your farm business.

Class is Saturday, July 11, 2026  8:30am - 10:30am - Council Bluffs Campus 
Urban farming isn’t just a hobby—it can be a profitable venture when approached strategically. In this class, you’ll learn how to identify high-value crops, maximize production in small spaces, and create multiple income streams from a single property. We’ll explore real-world examples of market gardening, plant sales, value-added products, and subscription models like crop shares. You’ll also gain insight into pricing, marketing, and building a loyal customer base. Whether you’re looking for side income or a full-scale operation, this class will help you see what’s possible and how to get started.

September 12, 2026 from 1:00pm-3:00pm
Looft Hall
Join this fun and creative candle-making experience led by Horizons Candle Shop! During this hands-on class, you'll create two custom 4-ounce candles while choosing from a variety of fragrance options to design your perfect scent. No experience is necessary—Horizons will guide you through the entire process from start to finish. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, mingle with friends, participate in fun giveaways, and leave with two beautiful handmade candles created by you! Pre-registration is required.
As an added bonus for those who register, enjoy 20% off all Horizons Candle Shop products purchased during the class.

Class is Saturday, July 25, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm - Council Bluffs Campus 
Fall gardening is one of the most overlooked opportunities for productive growing. In this class, you’ll learn how to transition your garden from summer into a highly productive fall system. We’ll cover which crops thrive in cooling temperatures—such as leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas—and how to time plantings for continuous harvests before and after the first frost. You’ll also learn techniques for season extension, including row covers, low tunnels, and strategic planting windows. Whether you’re looking to get a second harvest from your space or maximize production late into the year, this class will give you a clear and actionable plan.

Saturday, August 15 10am-11:30am
In this sustainable flower design workshop, we will explore design techniques and strategies for creating a seasonal fresh cut flower arrangement from local flower farm, The Swallow's Nest. We will discuss aspects of the global flower industry and intentional ways to reduce environmental impact through flower design choices. All supplies are provided. 
Holly Lukasiewicz with District 2 Floral Studio will guide participants through this process. 

This entire 4-class series is offered at a discounted rate. Series starts Saturday, July 25 and continues through October 3. All classes held at the Council Bluffs Campus.
From planning your fall garden at the height of summer to preserving the last harvests of the season, this series walks you through what to grow, when to harvest, and how to make the most of every crop before winter sets in. Each class pairs seasonal growing knowledge with hands-on preservation skills, giving you a complete picture of how to keep your garden productive and your pantry stocked well into the colder months. Fall-Season Fruits & Vegetables: What to Start, Plant, Harvest — 07/25/26, 11 AM–1 PM, Late-Season Fruits & Vegetables: What to Start, Plant, Harvest — 08/22/26, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, Hands-on Preserving Fall-Season Fruit & Vegetable Harvests NOW — 09/19/26, 11 AM–2 PM, Hands-on Preserving Late-Season Fruit & Vegetable Harvests NOW — 10/03/26, 8:30–11:30 AM

This entire 4-class series is offered at a discounted rate. 
Series starts Saturday, June 13 and continues through August 8. All classes held at the Council Bluffs Campus.
From the first cool-weather crops of early summer to the peak of the main growing season, this series walks you through what to grow, when to harvest, and how to preserve it all before it goes to waste. Each class pairs seasonal growing knowledge with hands-on preservation skills, giving you a complete picture of how to get the most out of your garden all summer long. 

 Early-Season Fruits & Vegetables: What to Start, Plant, Harvest — 06/13/26, 11 AM–1 PM, Hands-on Preserving Early-Season Fruit & Vegetable Harvests NOW — 06/27/26, 11 AM–2 PM, Main-Season Fruits & Vegetables: What to Start, Plant, Harvest — 07/11/26, 11 AM–1 PM, Hands-on Preserving Main-Season Fruit & Vegetable Harvests NOW — 08/08/26, 8:30–11:30 AM

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials, and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes for lowercase and uppercase letters using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will learn how to form key letters that will allow them to continue their calligraphic study at home. Students will leave class with detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home, as well as all supplies provided in class: a pen holder, nib, and a jar of ink. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidance from an experienced instructor. 
Class is taught by Cheryl Dyer who is a poet, visual artist, and calligrapher. Her poetry has been published in several literary journals, and her visual artwork has been shown nationally. In addition to her artwork and writing she works as a lettering artist and calligraphy instructor.

Class is Saturday, June 27, 2026  11:00am - 2:00pm - Council Bluffs Campus Student Center Room 152
Don’t let your early harvest go to waste—learn how to preserve it at peak freshness. In this hands-on class, you’ll work directly with early-season produce to practice simple preservation techniques such as quick pickling, basic water bath canning, and refrigeration methods. We’ll focus on crops like greens, radishes, early cucumbers, and berries, showing you how to turn them into shelf-stable or ready-to-use products. You’ll leave with practical experience, preserved items to take home, and the confidence to continue preserving your harvest throughout the season.
**PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING AN APRON**
 

Class is Saturday, September 19, 2026  11:00am - 2:00pm - Council Bluffs Campus Student Center Room 152
Fall harvests bring a different set of flavors and preservation opportunities. In this hands-on
class, you’ll work with fall crops such as root vegetables, apples, and hardy greens to learn
practical preservation techniques. We’ll focus on methods like water bath canning, pickling, and
simple storage strategies that help extend shelf life and reduce waste. You’ll gain direct
experience preparing and preserving seasonal produce, along with guidance on adapting these
methods at home. Participants will leave with preserved items and the confidence to make the
most of their fall harvest.
**PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING AN APRON**