Tuesday July 31, 2012 | 01:57 PM
We're sure you've already learned a lot this summer, like how sunburns are awful and ice cream is awesome. Or maybe you've discovered that a cup of wine and some cellophane are an easy trick to get rid of fruit flies.
If you'd like to take your summer education to a level beyond dairy products and peeling skin, check out our list of lessons and workshops that'll teach you something fum and unforgettable:
Learn to Sail
You already are the captain of your own ship, am I right? Like, if your ship were your life. You're totally in charge. It's just that your "ship," as it stands, doesn't spend much time sailing the high seas. But it wants to. Learn to sail with beginners lessons from SailMaine in Portland. Fifteen-hour courses, family lessons, private lessons and women-only lessons available.
SailMaine | Portland | 772-7245 |
www.sailmaine.org
Learn to Surf
It sure is nice to doze off to the rhythmic sound of the waves tumbling into the sand. But it'd be cooler to ride those waves instead. Check out on of Southern Maine's surf shops for a private or group lesson that'll have you hanging ten in no time - or at least having a grand time dumping it in the whitewash.
Wahine Kai Surf School | Kennebunkport | 423-9066 |
www.themainesurfschool.com
Liquid Dreams | Ogunquit & York | 351-2545 (York) 207-641-2545 (Ogunquit) |
www.liquiddreamssurf.com
Aquaholics Surf Shop | Kennebunk | 967-8650 |
www.aquaholicsurf.com
Learn to Swing, Rumba, Bachata and Waltz
Do you try to swing your partner round and round, only to discover your partner would rather be jabbed with pins than dance with the likes of you? A dance lesson might do you wonders. Try a lesson at Maine Ballroom Dancing. They offer classes in tango, cha-cha, hustle, foxtrot, swing, rumba and others.
Maine Ballroom Dancing | Portland |
www.maineballroomdancing.com or 773-0002
Learn to Trapeze
Ah, the life of a trapeze swinger! All that swinging - all those bedazzled leotards! Learn the art of the trapeze without having to deal with all the circus nonsense. (The elephants can be so cliquey.) Apparatus Dance Theater hosts weekend trapeze workshops for kids and adults.
Apparatus Dance Theater workshops | Portland | $96/six week session of classes |
www.apparatusdancetheater.org or 806-9971
Learn to Belly Dance
Sometimes bellies seem to dance without any effort from us. They just...shake. Of course, giving that midsection a purposeful shimmy now and then is kinda fun. Learn to belly dance during workshops with different belly dance instructors on the first Monday of the month.
Narals | Auburn | $20 per session |
www.bellydancingmaine.com
Learn to Fly Fish
It looked so cool and meditative in "A River Runs Through It," didn't it? Fly casting is rhythmic, calming and not easy to master. But the good folks at LL Bean will get you well on your fly-fishing way with a walk-on adventure.
LL Bean Walk On Adventures | Freeport | $20 |
http://www.llbean.com or 888-552-3261
Learn to Wind Surf
Wind can be a hassle. It tosses the plates at your picnic, tornadoes your hair and knocks the patio furniture around. We can curse it if we want. But we can also catch it in a sail and make it pull us around a Maine lake. The latter is more fun.
Windsurfing Maine | North Leeds | $125 per person |
www.skindiversparadise.com or 784-7300
Learn to Rock Climb
Julie Andrews told us to climb every mountain. Have you climbed
any mountains yet? Learn how with Acadia Mountain Guides. They offer half day and full day instruction at Acadia, Baxter State Park, Camden and North Conway.
Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School | Bar Harbor | $60 to $255 depending on the size of the group |
www.acadiamountainguides.com or 288-8186
Learn to Cook
It's not that microwaved hot dogs aren't awesome. But maybe it'd be nice to make something a little less, uh, tubular. Take a cooking class to learn some basic techniques and dishes - your friends will be impressed. And grateful.
Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School | York | Most classes $55 |
www.stonewallkitchen.com or 877-899-8363
Vinland Food and Cooking Courses | Portland | $50/class |
vinland.me or 917-803-3172
Learn to Skeet Shoot
You could be a sharpshooter. But it's hard to tell, since you've only ever shot rubberbands at anything, and they usually end up veering dramatically in the wrong direction. Learn some safe shooting with Brad Varney at Varney's Clay Sports. He'll teach you the ins and outs of aiming a shotgun and hitting your target. Might help with the rubberband issue, too.
Varney's Clay Sports | Richmind | $60/hour |
www.varneysclaysports.com or 737-4993
Learn your Wine
You might hang out with wine a lot, but do you really
know it? Do you know its hopes and dreams? What makes it cry? Learn more about wine during one of the regular Wine Walks in the Old Port with Sommelier Erica Archer. Your relationship with wine will only grow stronger.
Wine Wise Events | Portland | $35-$60 |
winewiseevents.com
Learn to Get Crafty
Creativity shouldn't' go out the window once you become a grownup. Unfortunately, it sometimes does. Get reacquainted with your artistic side with an array of classes at Artascope in South Portland. From beaded charm bracelets and sea glass pendants to twisted wire rings and collage, the instructors will help you make something amazing.
Artascope | South Portland | About $50 |
artascope.com or 799-5154
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