Workshops to date
Fit and Fabulous
Instructor: Carolyn Hunter, Certified Fitness Instructor
Looking for some inspiration and practical tips to meet your health and fitness goals? Carolyn will show you step by step how to choose nutritious foods, set realistic goals, and will give tips on stretching and exercises to ease stress and be a healthier you.
Belly Dancing
Instructor: Katrina Volgina, Professional and International Ballroom Dancer
Join Katrina as she teaches you the basics of Belly dancing. Have fun while you “shimmy” your way to great abs.
Growing and Using Herbs
Instructor: Nicole Sanchez – Executive Director, Columbus Botanical Garden
Learn the basics of growing herbs in small gardens and containers and how to use herbal vinegars in your cooking. You will receive handouts with recipes to try, growing tips and suggestions. Each participant will be making an herbal vinegar using their choice of several herbs.
Event Planning 101
Instructor: Alicia Rodgers, experienced event planner in the US and Mexico
Alicia will help you develop the skills to quickly stage any event large or small. This is a hands on class where you will learn how to stretch your budget by making your own decorations, flower arrangements, and having the correct amount of food and drinks.
Fun with Beads
Instructor: Nikki Rainey
Here’s your chance to learn beading basics from Nikki and take home some bling for yourself. Participants will design and make a cell phone charm to take home.
The Wonderful World of Wine
Instructor: John Little, Georgia Crown
This workshop will explain how to read wine labels, types and origins of wines and how to pair wine with your favorite foods. Oh, and there’s tasting, too!
Fantastic Beauty Basics
Instructor: Paul Starnes, Master Hair Stylist, Unkommen Salon
If you’ve ever had a bad hair day or want to change your look, this class is for you! Paul has 16 years of experience and will explain the science behind a great cut that enhances your natural beauty. Topics will include hair care, styling hints, and how to use color. During the workshop, Paul will use volunteers from the group as he shares his expertise.
Attention! New tax laws that affect you as a military spouse
Instructor: Laurel Wilkerson, Esq., Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
Overview of legal issues every military spouse should know. Recent changes in federal law will be highlighted to include the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), and how it affects military spouses.
Patriotic Chipboard Frame
Instructor: Beth Kingston, Spokesperson for Xyron, craft supply manufacturer
Celebrate your hero with a patriotic chipboard frame! Create a table-top stand alone frame with room for two photos – perfect for home, office or as a gift (and with no glass, it can easily go on a deployment). This project is for beginners and experienced crafters and will get your creative juices flowing! Participants will take home a hand made frame.
Ready, Set, Retirement!
Instructor: Joe Young, Assistance Vice President, CB&T
When do you want to retire? How are you going to pay for it? This seminar covers investment products and strategies that are designed to provide an income stream in retirement. You will learn about basic Social Security benefits, pensions (including a comparison of the High 3 plan and Army Redux plan), 401K plans and the TSP, Traditional and Roth IRAs as well as fixed and variable annuities. One lucky workshop participant will receive a $50 savings bond.
Your Credit Score – What does that number mean??
Instructor: Jenny Smith, Branch Manager, CB&T
Ever wonder what factors influence your credit score? Jenny will explain the basics of credit to include what your score means as wells as other factors that influence a banks’ decision to lend money. One lucky workshop participant will receive a $50 savings bond.
Hiking and Backpacking for fun and fitness
Instructor: Brittany Beadle, Recreational Specialist, Climbing Wall Instructor, FMWR
Looking to change up your outside activities? Hiking and backpacking are a great, inexpensive way to get fit, enjoy the outdoors and explore the local area. Brittany will bring equipment to try and show you how and what to pack for a day or a week. Other topics include safety in the woods and lists of local places to try out your new found hobby.
Beyond Calories – Why You Can’t Lose Weight
Instructors: Drs. Brenna Murphy and Elizabeth Cantrell, Elements Natural Medicine Clinic
Find out how your hormones may be sabotaging your diet and exercise plan. Discover from natural medicine experts how stress can make you gain weight and what you can do about it.
Beating PMS Naturally
Instructors: Drs. Brenna Murphy and Elizabeth Cantrell, Elements Natural Medicine Clinic
Gain some insight on how to use natural approaches to help you through your monthly cycle.
Making Scents of It All – The Art of Aromatherapy
Instructor: Debbie Blake-Knox, National Certified and State Licensed Massage Therapist
Discover the strong relationship between smell, memory, mood, emotion and thought as we use this class to experiment with essential oils that can change our mood and reduce emotional stress. Participants will make an Aromatherapy Spritz with an essential oil blend of their choice to take home.
Springtime Paper Box
Instructor: Beth Kingston, spokesperson for Xyron, craft supply manufacturer
We will make a darling paper box using just a few scraps of paper and your creativity! This box is perfect for candy, pens, as a teacher’s gift or a thank you – and is wonderful activity to do with kids on a rainy day. Each participant will take home a hand crafted paper box.
Latin Dance: The Merengue
Instructor: Pedro Rodriquez, CSU Extension Education Dance Instructor
Mr. Rodriquez has been teaching Latin dance for over 30 years and loves to share his enthusiasm with his students. If you have always wanted to try dancing, and never took the time, now is your chance to learn something new!
Latin Dance: Salsa
Instructor: Pedro Rodriquez, CSU Extension Education Dance Instructor
You’ve seen the moves on TV and the movies – now learn them for yourself and be ready to impress your husband and friends! An experienced teacher, Mr. Rodriquez will show you the moves and teach you the basics of salsa.
The Five Love Languages
Instructor: Chaplain Douglas Hoover
Change your relationships for the better when you understand your family members’ “love languages”. Based on the book by Gary Chapman, CH Hoover will lead you through the different ways people express and interpret love and explain how to apply them to your relationships every day. Participants will receive a free paperback copy of The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
Coping Skills: Children and the military lifestyle
Instructors: Amy Kowatch, Deeanna Enfinger, and Jenny Rasmussen of the Fort Benning Parent to Parent Team
Have you ever wondered how you as a military parent can help your child through the transitions of PCS and other changes? The Parent and Parent team will lead discussion on the topic of raising resilient children. Learn the 7 C’s of resiliency and about the many resources available to parents in the community.
Journaling: Raise your inner voice and trust yourself!
Instructor: Paula Hale
Things don’t happen unless they are written down! The journal is a tool for change and Paula will share how journaling provides and unparalleled experience with your thoughts that helps you claim your inner voice. Participants will receive a free journal to take home.
Gardening for Butterflies
Instructor: Patricia Collins, Director for Education for Callaway Gardens
Learn how to lure these colorful insects into your yard and garden. Discover the plants butterflies prefer as well as gardening techniques to make your garden a butterfly haven.
TEENS: A parent’s vital role as an agent of change
Instructor: Kendra Kuhlman, AFTB instructor, Army wife and proud mom of a teen
It is said life with a teenager is like being on a roller coaster. You never know what is around the next curve! It’s a huge time of change in the life of the child and the parent. Learn some tips on how to navigate these years purposefully.
