The Boothbay Harbor peninsula and surrounding towns are full of people with interesting hobbies and unique skills. Boothbay Region Adult & Community Education looks forward to working with them to develop classes that share those passions and experiences with the greater community.

Take Al D’Andrea, for example. He lives in Boothbay Harbor with his wife Margit Ahlin, one of BRAE’s academic instructors. Al reached out over the winter to share that he is artistic director of Snowlion Repertory Company, and guides meditation practitioners at the Portland Maine Natural Meditation Practice Group, which has sat weekly for over 25 years.

Al was excited to bring his love of meditation to the community. Beginning Tuesday, May 2, he will teach Natural Meditation to Boothbay Region High School from 5 to 6 p.m. The class continues through May 23.

Natural meditation is suitable for beginners to advanced practitioners. Let go of the need to do something and learn to just sit and observe what arises - thoughts, feelings, mental perceptions, and emotions. Through this process, participants will learn to reduce reactivity to events, develop calm abiding, and gain insight into the nature of the non-dualistic mind beyond all thoughts and concepts. The cost is $40. Sign up at Boothbayae.maineadulted.org.

Like Al, do you have a skill, hobby, or experience you would like to share, but you are not sure what is involved in teaching an adult education class?

Join BRAE Director Raye Leonard from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at Boothbay Region High School for a how-to and Q & A session to learn everything you need to know about bringing your passion to the classroom. The cost is $10. Sign up at Boothbayae.maineadulted.org.

An online version of Teach an Adult Education Class will also be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 15. Sign up at MACE.maineadulted.org. Students must have an audio- and video-enabled device and reliable internet access to get the most from online classes.

Everyone’s favorite instructor is back in May. Deb Arter’s cooking classes were so popular in March that BRAE is excited to offer a pop-up Springtime Chocolate Extravaganza from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Boothbay Region High School.

Arter will guide students through making decadent Fudge Sauce, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls, and Molten Lava Cakes. Recipes and generous samples warm from the oven are included. Bring an apron and a container to take home the leftovers. The cost is $40. Sign up at Boothbayae.maineadulted.org.

Register online at boothbayae.maineadulted.com. There is a non-refundable $1.99 per course online registration fee. Avoid it by emailing Kate Winslow at kwinslow@aos98schools.org to register.

Boothbay Adult & Community Education offers high school completion, college preparation, English language learning, workforce training, and general enrichment programs to the AOS 98 communities of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Georgetown, and Southport. For more information, email Director Raye Leonard at rleonard@aos98schools.org or visit boothbayae.maineadulted.org.