Learning is a lifelong affair.
This maxim is not only something the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap believes, they’re doing something about it.
To celebrate a generous donation from the Shuswap Community Foundation and International Adult Learners’ Week, the alliance presents Learning for Life, a series of free workshops to be offered April 4 to 8 at the SASCU Downtown Activity Centre.
“One of the goals of the allliance is to promote literacy in the North Okanagan-Shuswap area in order to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and the community,” says literacy outreach co-ordinator Jennifer Findlay. “Community members are encouraged to become lifelong learners and attend any or all of the free workshops.”
Give your brain a workout with Dawn Benson and Hanne MacKay at 7 p.m. Monday April 4. Brain Fitness introduces participants to ways to improve brain power through a variety of mental stimulation and memory activities as well as stress reduction and movement exercises.
Write Your Own Story with published author Kay McCracken at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. McCracken will share a little of her own writing journey to inspire those who have only dreamed of writing, as well as some simple steps to get participants started. She will have handouts and asks participants to bring paper and pen for a short writing exercise.
Meet a poet who has never met a wrong one at Eat a Poem For Lunch with Karen Bissenden at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6.
“Poetry is a creature that anyone can catch,” says Bissenden, the author of I am Not my Poems. “If you own a pen, you can write poetry for song, for sentiment or for yourself.”
Go online with Mary Scheidegger, who will explore the ins and outs of the popular social networking site in Facebook for Beginners at 7 p.m. April 6.
“Facebook is no longer something the young kids use... it seems like everyone is Facebooking these days and, if you are brand-new to it, it can seem a little daunting,” she says. “Don’t worry, in this introductory workshop, you will learn about some of the most-used features of Facebook and how you can communicate with your friends and family, easily and safely.”
Join local storyteller, James Murray, in Celebrating the Story, 7 p.m. April 7. Participants will learn how to better present stories to their children, grandchildren, or an audience. There will be two free follow-up workshops April 14 and 20 for interested participants.
Discover the freedom writing can bring by putting pen to paper at 2 p.m. April 8 at Awakening the Writer’s Voice Within, with author Deanna Kawatski. The local author will guide students into their own hidden realm through a series of unique creative exercises. She will also read from her own work and invite questions.
Parents and grandparents can learn how to communicate with their “screenagers” in Texting 101 at 7 p.m. April 8.
Take your phone and let Heather and Meg Pratt-Johnson connect you with the younger set. Teens are encouraged to attend the workshop with their parents or grandparents to help teach them the art of texting.
Preregistration is nor required for any of the free workshops. Just show up and enjoy.
Participants have an opportunity to win prizes such as books and gift certificates from local book stores at the end of the workshop series.
The grand prize will be a free pass to the Shuswap Writers’ Festival in May courtesy of the Shuswap Association of Writers.