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Local Workshops Offer Guidance and Fun

Art education is something we all experienced as kids in school, fostering creativity and opening our minds to its techniques and place in cultural history. Studies say it also helps self-expression,  lowers stress, improves critical thinking and academic performance, and much more.

So why stop after childhood?

Continuing to seek creative outlets like art classes and workshops—at any age—helps us to break out of our comfort zones, learn new skills and techniques, and provides a social activity and setting. Plus, it’s a fun way to relax while also challenging ourselves.

“Public programming is important for all subjects. What I’ve noticed, especially since the pandemic, is that a lot of people are looking for things to do,” Rob Zimmer, Nature and Garden Writer and Radio Host says. “Especially during the day during the work week. Evenings are an excellent time for programming.”

In the Fox Cities, several institutions offer such courses. From kids’ music and art projects to adults’ gardening classes, dive into the plethora below:

Kimberly Public Library

Aurora Institute for the Arts

Anna Herrera, co-director and cello teacher
Randy Manning, co-director and violin teacher

“We usually go to different libraries in the Valley offering different music classes throughout the year. The most common ones are music exploration classes for children 0-10,” the co-directors say. “The class is usually between 30-45 minutes long and we do many listening, rhythmic and movement activities where kids can engage with us while we play our instruments and play games.

“We also do an instrument ‘petting zoo’ where kids can explore and play a real cello and violin! Some of the libraries that we’ve been to in the past are Kimberly, Appleton, Neenah, Menasha and Kaukauna, and also Building For Kids. All of these classes are free to the public!”

What is the inspiration behind your programs and workshops? “We like to spread the joy of music with our community, especially with little kids, who are soooo fun to work with. We also take this opportunity to let people know about our school and our Suzuki Strings program.

“Sometimes, the Kimberly library has reached out to us asking for specific music programs that we could offer, like the Ukulele class. They are usually not seasonally inspired.”

Popular classes/workshops this spring: “We have music exploration classes coming up this spring. These are open to children 0-10. Depending on each library, they might be open to a specific age range. Like I mentioned a few questions ago, the class is usually between 30-45 minutes long and we do many listening, rhythmic, and movement activities where kids can engage with us while we play our instruments and play games. We also do an instrument “petting zoo” where kids can explore and play a real cello and violin.”

Kimberly Library // March 7, 14 and 21 – 11 a.m to 12 p.m.

Menasha Library // April 11 – 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Fun facts: “We love to see familiar faces across different libraries! Some families come to most of the classes we offer across different libraries, and we love seeing the kids sing the songs and do the music games with us.”

Rob Zimmer, Nature and Garden Writer and Radio Host

“Public libraries offer an excellent source of programming of all types. My audience is especially drawn to the type of programming I provide, including many programs on nature and gardening in Wisconsin. I also do travel programs featuring destinations throughout the country that people tend to enjoy.
“My listeners and followers on Facebook at Rob Zimmer Outdoors, enjoy my programs that are very upbeat and lively and full of colorful slides. Whether it’s birds or butterflies or dragonflies or hostas or whatever the theme, my programs are fun, informative and unique.

Popular classes/workshops this spring: “This spring, I’ll be presenting on a number of interesting topics. The Wild Omrdnative plant conference in Neenah will feature my program on the native orchids of Wisconsin. I will also be doing programs at area libraries and the Green Bay Botanical Garden.

“My three-part gardening series kicks off in February at Kimberly Public library with What’s New in Gardening for 2025? This is always a fun and popular offering as I tease many of the new plants gardeners can look forward to seeing in garden centers this spring and summer, as well as hot gardening trends and plants of the year. I will be doing a program on monarchs, as well. Monarchs are always popular among nature lovers and gardeners and this program will showcase fun ways to help them out. For house plant lovers, I will be doing a program called The Indoor Garden. This will feature some of the hottest house plants, caring for house plants, as well as other indoor gardening opportunities.

“My programs are fun and exciting for all ages. Often, homeschool groups will attend my programs. Of course, they are always welcome. One of my biggest passions is to get children excited and passionate about nature and gardening.

“Many seniors also attend my programs as they are looking to continue their education, learn more, as well as simply enjoy wonderful educational talks about birds, butterflies, wildflowers and more.”

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, Neenah

Taylor Moeller-Roy, Glass Studio Manager
“We provide extraordinary glass experiences to spark fun, kindle creativity, and illuminate learning for all,” Moeller-Roy says. “For me personally, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass is a cherished place within the local and global glass community that highlights the beauty and complexity of glass art. The museum has been a crucial institution in Neenah since 1959 providing artistic opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“At Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, we provide glass fusing, flameworking, hot sculpting, glass blowing, and other specialty workshops. These can range from our three hour long intensive classes to our Art Activity Days that take place on the first Saturdays of the month. I do my best to offer as wide of a range of classes at different price points as possible to keep people ages 5 and up excited and interested. I try to keep my eyes open in our galleries, paying attention to rotating exhibitions and what pieces visitors gravitate to. If I pass by (usually while on my way to get more coffee) I stop by to ask if they have any questions or would like to know more about the artwork. Oftentimes I try to take inspiration from what catches people’s eyes, for example transparent colors. Many people gravitate towards these pieces as the way light and space interact with these pieces is unique to glass as a medium. I try to use those key aspects as inspiration in my own artwork and when I’m considering running a class with that as the focus.

What is the inspiration behind programs and workshops? “I do my best to utilize inspiration from a lot of different sources. Typically seasons and holidays are major inspirations, as they’re things that people from all different backgrounds can recognize or identify with. For example, I enjoy hosting pride flag classes in June and love bug art activity days in February. I also try to use our collection as inspiration when designing our regular programming. This helps our students/guest artists find inspiration beyond my class sample. Often, I’ll utilize my own personal artwork or the instructor’s artwork when organizing classes. This way, I know that the instructor is passionate about the technique or subject matter and is knowledgeable as their heart is in it. I keep the class themes different to hopefully highlight the current season and the season that people might be thinking about. For example, in winter, we run our “Snowman Family Portrait” but I also run our “Floral S-Curve” class because while some may be loving the cold weather, others are trying to keep sunnier days in mind. In July, I love to run our garden art classes but we’ve also had a large demand for “Christmas in July Ornament” classes.”

Popular classes/workshops this spring: “Our most popular classes tend to be artwork that is functional for outside, especially with the weather being nice! We offer a variety of garden/yard art classes, in different shapes and techniques. These are fused glass art classes that work with glass artists in the local area. We offer these as adult classes (16 years old or older) and family classes (ages 5 and up, preferably with a trusted adult). These are fantastic classes for people of all skill levels as the students learn the basics of cutting sheet glass, giving them full independence for their design. Students also have access to what is called ‘Accessory glass’ meaning crushed up glass, long pulled stringers of glass, and other sorts of glass rods. Students are encouraged to draw their design to work with their instructor on how to best create it. Our instructors are fantastic about working with everyone individually in order to make sure that the final piece is what they were hoping to create. Afterwards we fire the glass pieces in kilns, similar to how ceramics is finished. These pieces are heated in our ovens up to 1480 degrees Fahrenheit and slowly cooled to room temperature. Afterward, we attach them to metal stakes so that they can be stood up in the grass or garden soil.

“During summer and spring break, we also have kids camps! Kids aged 5-15 come in for Monday-Thursday camp days where they work on glass projects and glass related artwork. Each day we focus on different galleries or artwork in our galleries to talk about different techniques, artwork themes, and glass art history. The campers use these discussions as a theme when creating different projects with glass. For example, we’ll have the artwork of Jen Blazina in our galleries at that time. Some of her frequent techniques include screen printing and glass casting. This will inspire the themes of some of the art we create with the kids. At the end of the week we always create a short “exhibition” (about 30 minutes) in the galleries so the campers can show their artwork in a real life fine art museum! These camps almost always fill up and tend to have waitlists as it’s an extremely unique camp within the fox cities.

Any fun facts or anything else you think our readers should know about the classes and workshops you offer at the museum? “For me, the biggest thing I want people to know about our workshops and classes is that we teach anyone and everyone. People do not need to have any kind of glass experience or artistic skill. We offer our classes with photos of the artwork for people to use as inspiration and teach the techniques and methodology behind the specific piece but our students come from all different backgrounds. With some of our floral classes, for example, people create designs that have nothing to do with flowers. Someone might come in and create a robot or a polar bear; others might use this opportunity to recreate the design from the sample exactly. When I teach or work with my instructors, I make sure that these classes are adaptable to anyone. If someone comes in and says “I’m not creative, can I just make exactly what you made” or if they come in and say “my partner signed me up as a gift, but I want to make something completely different. Is that ok?” the answer is always “yes!” I want people to feel what I feel working with glass – anything is possible. Creativity only knows the limits we give it, so let’s not give it any limits.”

How do readers learn more about how to participate? “If people want to know more, please stop by our museum! We are free and open to the public every day of the week except for Mondays. There is always someone at the front desk to answer any questions and help you sign up. You may find a class in session that you can peak into to get an idea of what classes are like. We have samples of our classes in our lobby and downstairs by our classroom to see in person. We also have a great website that people can check out – https://bmmglass.com/ under our classes and camps you can find information about kids camps, Art Activity Days, adult classes, visiting artists workshops and more! I always remind people as well that becoming a member of our beloved museum helps us provide programming for all AND gets you 10% off all classes and camps (except art activity days).”

1000 Islands Environmental Center, Kaukauna

Kat Berge, Assistant Naturalist
Brad Garrity, Naturalist 

“1000 Islands Environmental Center is a 350-acre conservancy zone with over 7 miles of  trails, including our newly refurbished boardwalk trail” Berge and Garrity say. “The Center provides the public with a place to enjoy our natural resources through  recreation and education. Inside the Nature Center you will find live animals, interactive  educational displays, a gift shop, and much more.Our property is unique in that we are located within the city of Kaukauna, right along the  banks of the Fox River.

“Our mission is to provide children, adults and families with the knowledge and skills  needed to build a sustainable balance among the environment, economy and community  through education, conservation and recreation.”

What goes into the  creation of your classes? “A big part of our programming here is our school-age programs (for grades k-12). We offer  onsite and offsite field trips and experiences that cover a broad range of topics, from  animal classification to river ecology.

“We look at the grade(s) of the class, the time span, and  if there are any requests the teachers may have, such as the incorporation of what they  have been or will be learning in the classroom. From there, Kat will use an existing lesson plan or modify one to meet the needs of the group. For instance, if a 5th grade group is requesting our Fox River Ecology program, Kat will look  at the existing program and see how it meets the needs of the groups. She will then work  with Brad on the timeline of events and determine what can be done in the amount of time  requested. They will also consider any accessibility concerns of the group to ensure that all students/staff/chaperones can participate in the program to the fullest extent.

“We offer a variety of public programs throughout the year as well that vary from self-guided  workshops to make & take crafts, as well as seasonal and holiday program offerings. The  staff works together to create program guides throughout the year, using guidance from our  volunteers and the public on what types of programs they would like to see. There are programs and events we repeat every year, such as our Eagle Days event in the winter and  Focus on the Fox in the fall.”

What is the inspiration behind programs and workshops? “It depends on the program! Some school-age program offerings, such as nature hikes or  scavenger hunts, are suited to the time of the year. Other program offerings generally stay  the same throughout the year. Kat can incorporate seasonally inspired themes and topics  into school-age programming at the request of the teacher.

“For our public programs, they tend to be seasonally inspired, but they can also just be activities and workshops people express interest in or we have done in the past. Last  October, for example, Brad hosted a ‘geocaching for treats’ program, where people could  come to the center to learn about geocaching and then use their new skills to located  hidden Halloween candy around the property.

“Kat will try and make 1000 Little Wonders programs seasonally appropriate, or theme them  around upcoming events, like when she did an eagle theme before the Eagles Day event in  January. She tends to teach about animals and seasonal adaptations (like when she did a  hibernation class in the fall) but also likes to have fun with the kids and talk about other  age-appropriate natural topics, such as weather or seasons.

Do you have particularly popular classes/workshops coming up this spring? Please  describe them in-depth. Who are the classes open to? “Our 1000 Little Wonders is a year-round program for children ages 3-5 (with a  parent/guardian) where they learn about various natural topics through story time,  exploration, and a themed craft. New this summer will be a 1000 Little Wonders explorers  program, where children ages 3-5 (with a parent/guardian) can be outside and learn about  natural topics through their senses and exploration.

“Beginning in the late spring we will open up crayfishing to the public for the season. During  our normal business hours, the public can come and use our crayfishing equipment to do a  self-guided exploration of Konkapot Creek to see what critters they can find. Brad and/or  Kat will also host public crayfishing programs throughout the summer where they will guide  the public on how to use the nets and other equipment, as well as how to safely explore the  creek and tips & tricks for finding crayfish and other river critters. Crayfish hunting is open  to whoever would like to come, but we recommend children are supervised by an adult for  their safety.

This spring our Friends of 1000 Islands group will be hosting the 41st annual Nature Images  Art Fair. More details to come!

Any fun facts or anything else you think our readers should know about the classes  and workshops you offer at the center? “We offer a wide range of programs for people of all ages and abilities, so we encourage you to try something new, and maybe even learn a new skill!

How do readers learn more about how to participate? Check out our Facebook page for up-to-date information on our upcoming programs and  workshops. If you are interested in scheduling a field trip for your school or group, visit the ‘Education  and Events’ tab on our website to learn more about offerings and how to schedule a visit.

Trout Museum of Art, Appleton Gretchen Wood

“I teach a variety of classes at the Trout: sewing, crafting, wreath making, acrylic painting and meditative art making, and also some kids summer camps.
“I am a painter and work primarily with acrylics. I have painted three different murals for the building for kids and enjoy teaching painting as well as other creative skills!”

What is the inspiration behind programs and workshops? Coming up this spring is the intro to acrylic painting and the acrylic painting 2 class. Both of these classes are always a lot of fun! I love hearing about the backgrounds of everyone and truly enjoy helping people become comfortable learning a new skill! These classes are open to anyone with no previous skill required (ages 14+).

“I think anyone that is looking for new ways to add some creativity into their life or just has an interest that they have always wanted to explore should consider making this the time to come have fun and try something new!”