Prime Time (Afternoon Academics)   

Discover the history of the Camas-Washougal region during a guided tour of the Two Rivers Heritage Museum. Explore exhibits featuring historic tools, textiles, baskets, photographs, and other artifacts donated by local community members. Led by Julianne Lawrance, the museum's first Executive Director and a passionate historian, this engaging experience highlights the stories of Indigenous Peoples and early settlers while celebrating the rich heritage that continues to shape the region today. Held at Two Rivers Heritage Museum, 1 Durgan Street, Washougal, WA 98671.

Take your acrylic painting to the next level! Move into increasingly experimental stages, learning to expand your creativity and express yourself in a more intuitive style. Free your artistic self. Focus will be on the elements of design and color, line, and shape with demonstrations, tips and activities. Designed to meet the needs of those who already possess some acrylic experience, but all levels are welcome. 

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The Search for Asia and the Making of America: How European and American ideas about China and Asia shaped world history and contributed to the creation and growth of the United States. Explore how European and American views of China and Asia evolved from the fifteenth through the nineteenth century. Discover how trade, exploration, religion, and imperial ambition shaped global history and influenced the growth of the United States, laying the foundation for Asian and Pacific Islander migration that transformed American society.

Creative Writing for the Absolute Beginner is the class you've been wanting to take. Have you ever promised yourself that you would 'someday' write a book of fiction, a young adult book, or romantic historical fiction? What about the short story sitting in your mind and wanting to be told, but you don't know how to begin? This class will provide you with the foundational skills to write creatively for any number of applications. We will share our stories as we create a portfolio of inventive, original works of fiction that will impress your family and friends.

Culture and Traditions are the fundamental aspects that sharpen human identity and regulate societal norms. Syrian and Lebanese culture and traditions are a passionate emphasis on family, community, hospitality, food, vibrant celebrations, religious traditions and holidays, and folklore passed down through generations. Jon this class to explore the history, social customs, and communication styles of Syria and Lebanon.

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Come learn about Energy! How did traditional fossil fuel-based sources develop?  How is Energy generated and transmitted?  What are the prospects of alternative/green sources (e.g., wind, solar, ocean)?  Learn of the pros/cons of each of these Energy sources, their impact on society, and current issues like AI and data-centers.

In 2018 DNA evidence was used to identify the Golden State Killer, a murderer whose crimes occurred in the late 1970s.  How do forensic scientists use DNA to solve crimes?  This class starts with basics, it is designed to appeal to a science beginner even though it will cover technical information.  What is DNA?  Is it on clothing as well as in blood?  How is it analyzed and used?  How accurate is it?  This class will cover beginning DNA, DNA evidence and analysis as well as a few case studies in how DNA has solved crimes as well as exonerated innocent people.

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This class will explore how you can plan a fun journey of self-discovery to the Hawaiian Islands for less money than you think.  Learn about lower cost travel options and authentic Hawaiian cultural activities.  Class taught by a 25+ year seasoned traveler to Hawaii.

Rock & roll was more than a new kind of music, it helped transform American culture. Trace the history of rock & roll from its roots in blues, gospel, country, and rhythm & blues through the birth of rock in the 1950s, the cultural revolution of the 1960s, the fragmentation and expansion of rock in the 1970s, and the rise of punk, alternative rock, and grunge. Explore the musicians, songs, technologies, and cultural changes that shaped rock history and examine larger questions about race, youth culture, rebellion, politics, sexuality, commercialism, and generational identity.

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Have you ever wanted to dive deeper into art history and actually use that knowledge to expand your own artistic expression? In this part history, part studio class, students will learn about specific eras of art history, including notable artists, artistic techniques, and the connection the art had on society while applying that information to create several original works of art. The chosen medium (drawing, watercolor, acrylic, etc.) will be up to each students' preference.

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Explore the ideas and questions at the heart of existentialism, including freedom, responsibility, authenticity, anxiety, identity, and the search for meaning. Through philosophy and literature, examine how thinkers have explored what it means to be human, navigate uncertainty, and create purpose in an ever-changing world.

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In the "Season of Gratitude", discover the art of listening to your own inner wisdom. Explore a process of self-expression to make you a stronger, freer, more authentic human being in all areas of life. Learn to connect with what you are most grateful for, how to record those thoughts and how they apply to daily life. Discover the freedom and flow of journaling as you shed resistance or intimidation to writing.

Write Your Memoir and give this gift of love to your family. This class will provide you with the roadmap to write like a pro. Every memoir has a greater purpose: a lesson or lessons that you learned and want to share with your family and friends. Let's capture those moments. Or perhaps you want to grasp a flash of time like a photograph and write it down before life changes so much that it's forgotten. We will write these unique experiences to entertain your family, enlighten the next generation, inspire others to do great things, instruct those curious about your journey, or for catharsis, and to get your remarkable story on paper.

The forces of Nature can create spectacular natural disasters. Come learn about super volcanoes, asteroid impacts, strong hurricanes, mega-quake tsunamis, super solar storms, etc. Some of these natural disasters have given rise to ancient legends, like Atlantis. Gain a deeper understanding of these natural disasters and they impact the Earth.

Explore the geology, plants, fish and wildlife and human history of a world-class active volcano here in our backyard. This course is led by a Geologist who has studied and visited our volcano many times.

For more than 140 years, the Camas Paper Mill has shaped the identity, economy, and culture of Camas and surrounding areas. This presentation explores the mill's origins in the 1880s, its growth into one of the region's largest employers, and its impact on generations of families. Learn about the mill's current operations, environmental cleanup efforts, and the community's vision for the future.

Held at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas

Explore the science behind climate change and the questions often raised by skeptics. This balanced lecture examines climate data, common misconceptions, and how scientific evidence is evaluated, encouraging critical thinking and respectful discussion. Speaker: Prof. Kyle Dittmer, Meteorologist & Hydrologist at The Native American Science Center. Held at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street.

Learn how to recognize and avoid today's most common phone, text, email, and online scams. Discover the warning signs of fraud, practical strategies for protecting your personal information, and what to do if you think you've been targeted. Through real-life examples and helpful resources, you'll leave with practical tips to stay safe and more confident navigating today's digital world. Speaker: Giga Alqeeq, Director of Cybersecurity Department, Clark College. Held at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street.

Learning begins long before we enter a classroom and continues throughout our lives. Explore what it means to be a lifelong learner, why curiosity matters, and practical strategies for finding trustworthy information and exploring new ideas. Together, we¿ll reflect on how knowledge is created, shared, and discovered, and how libraries support intellectual freedom, community connection, and opportunities for everyone to keep learning. Speaker: Julie Austad, Dean of Libraries, Clark College Held at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street.

Where are Our Bees in February? Washington is home to MANY species of bees. But we don't see them after September--where are they? In this talk, biology professor Steven Clark will share the very different (from humans) and very interesting life of our native bees. In addition to talking about where bees are, this talk will address bee stings, why most bees don't live in hives and many other fascinating traits of native bees.
Held at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas

Cemeteries are outdoor history books. In this three-week class, students explore why cemeteries matter to historians and genealogists while learning about burial practices, gravestones, and cemetery research methods. Through guided discussion and exploration, participants become familiar with historic cemeteries in Clark County and gain insight into cemetery administration, districts, and community oversight.

Learn basic weather reading skills to help the Gardener, Hiker, or outdoor person.  Learn to read weather maps, interpret cloud formations, understanding our local climate, and gain practical weather knowledge.  Taught by a USDA-Graduate School certified Meteorologist and former NOAA/NWS forecaster. 

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