Leisure and Special Interest
Try a new hobby or just learn something new with our wide range of special interest courses!
How to Register
- Register online by selecting "Add to Cart" on the desired course(s) and select "Cart" at the bottom of the page when you are ready to process your registration.
- The “Seats Left” information is updated every half hour and when you checkout.
- Other registration options are available.
NOTE: Individuals enrolling in on-campus classes must follow the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for students and should submit the COVID-19 Vaccination Documentation Form. Exemptions to these requirements may be requested based on either religious conviction or health reasons by submitting the appropriate Health Services form.
Courses
- Advanced Paranormal Research
- Brush Up on Beauty
- Joyful Life Design II
- Joyful Life Design: Course I
- Mushrooms, Mycelium and More
- New York State Safe Boating
- Photographing Nature with Your Digital Camera
- Photography Suite
- Secrets of Better Photography
- Simply Planting
- Successful Plant Propagation for the Home Gardener
- The Power of You Through Horse Partnered Coaching
- The Wonderful World of Terrariums
- Whiskey Appreciation
- Wine Appreciation
Advanced Paranormal Research
The purpose of this course is to provide advanced information and knowledge of the methods, tools, and approach to create a successful, knowledgeable, and professional paranormal team/investigator/researcher.
This course goes in depth into all things necessary to prepare yourself and/or your team to conduct a professional paranormal investigation. Prerequisite to this course is having already taken Paranormal Research 101 with Jack Kenna. Course fee includes a $80 materials fee.
There will be 8 sessions of this course. Course will be held in ADM, Room 103
Tues. 3/21 -5/16, 7:30 -9:30 pm
No class 4/11
Off-site investigation on Sat. 4/22 & Mon. 5/8, extended class time 7 - 11 p.m.
Jack Kenna, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 3/21 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Saturday, 4/22 7:00 pm - 10:55 pm Monday, 5/8 7:00 pm - 10:55 pm |
ZSPI-272 600 | 0 seats left | $159 | Section Full Call to be added to wait list |
Brush Up on Beauty
Whether you’re new to makeup or just exploring new colors, who doesn’t like trying new looks? In this two-hour class, you will learn the correct way to apply mascara, how to get a natural “base face,” and how to use brushes. We will also explore colors. Bring your own makeup and an inexpensive pack of small eye brushes so you can try these techniques for yourself! Feel free to bring any products you would like to learn new tricks with!
Course will be held in DCC, Room B05
Colleen Beale, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 3/23 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
ZSPI-267 600 | 4 seats left | $19 |
Joyful Life Design II
You can change your life. Uncomfortable? Stuck? Stressed out? Overwhelmed or numb? Have big goals but no plan? This course is for you. Happiness is a skill – not an accident. Learn to design your life for success and happiness in any circumstance. Master the science-backed skills proven to increase life satisfaction by up to 40 percent. In the second course, uncover your science-backed character strengths, explore common thinking traps, and improve goal achievement. Overcome obstacles, connect to your life purpose, and have fun while doing it. The capstone project will provide an opportunity to experiment and evaluate the effectiveness of your favorite technique, and plan for continued growth beyond the course. The class is delivered asynchronously, with new material and interaction weekly, and experiential assignments that bring the science into your daily life. It will also include group coaching sessions with Today Show guest and educator Christie Ellis, instructor of the course. Joyful Life Design I is a prerequisite for this course.
Online Course, 3/27 - 5/22
Christie Ellis, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 2/27 - 5/22 | ZSPI-271 600 | 100 seats left | $575 |
Joyful Life Design: Course I
You can change your life. Uncomfortable? Stuck? Stressed out? Overwhelmed or numb? Have big goals but no plan? This course is for you. Happiness is a skill – not an accident. Learn to design your life for success and happiness in any circumstance. Master the science-backed skills proven to increase life satisfaction by up to 40 percent. The first course teaches you to make habits that last, notice and change what’s going on in your mind, and end self-criticism and imposter syndrome. You will gain confidence, focus, and greater peace and well-being. Discover the PERMA model and receive a baseline and adjusted PERMA score. The class is delivered asynchronously, with new material and interaction weekly, and experiential assignments that bring the science into your daily life. It will also include group coaching sessions with Today Show guest and educator Christie Ellis, instructor of the course.
Online Course, 2/13 - 3/20
Christie Ellis, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 2/13 - 3/20 | ZSPI-270 600 | 99 seats left | $400 |
Mushrooms, Mycelium and More
Unravel the mystery and majesty of mushrooms! Discover the possibilities of a mycelium-based future! Learn how to find and identify fungi in the wild! If any of these exclamations interest you, then this is the course for you. Suggested reading: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms." ISBN 978-0-394-51992-0
Course will be held in Daycare Center, Room B06
Class on 5/1 will be held at Collar City Mushrooms, Troy
Avery Stempel of Collar City Mushrooms, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays, 4/17 - 5/8 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm |
ZSPI-260 600 | 5 seats left | $35 |
New York State Safe Boating
New York State requires certain boat operators to have a boating safety certificate. All individuals born on or after May 1, 1996 are now required to successfully complete an approved course in boater education in order to operate a motorboat. Additionally, operators of any age (14 or older) that wish to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) are required to complete a boater education course. For more information, please visit https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/education.aspx
Course will be held in ADM, Room 107
Michael Cannistraci, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Thursdays, 3/28 - 3/30 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
ZSPI-019 600 | 7 seats left | $69 |
Photographing Nature with Your Digital Camera
Nature photography can be a fun, relaxing, and exciting hobby! In this course, you'll learn about the many aspects of outdoor photography as well as how to master your digital camera's controls and features. With the knowledge you gain in this course, you'll be taking exceptional nature photos in no time.
You'll explore composition and lighting issues and find out how to take beautiful photos of landscapes, flowers, trees, and water. Along the way, you'll delve into your camera's shutter speed and aperture controls so that you'll be able to capture the photos you really want. You will discover how to use your computer to process your photos and digitally correct the most common problems. You'll see how your photos can become works of art rather than just snapshots of nature. By the end of this course, you'll have become the nature photographer you always wanted to be!
To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 - 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 2/15 - 4/7 | ZILC-162 600 | 15 seats left | $99 | |
| Online, 3/15 - 5/5 | ZILC-162 601 | 15 seats left | $99 | |
| Online, 4/12 - 6/2 | ZILC-162 602 | 15 seats left | $99 |
Photography Suite
The Photography Bundle includes 3 courses:
Discover Digital Photography
Gain the skills you need to take great photos with your digital camera and never miss a memorable moment again. This course is an informative introduction to digital photography, from DSLRs to smart phone cameras.
Mastering Your Digital SLR Camera
Break through the technology barrier and discover how to use your DSLR to take beautiful photos. This course will help you learn about features and controls, proper lenses, metering, exposure, and more to take your photography to the next level.
Photographing People With Your Digital Camera
Become a skilled photographer when it comes to taking beautiful pictures of adults, children, or babies. This course will help you discover the best way to shoot faces, fix common close-up problems, and use digital photo editing techniques to retouch your photos.
To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 - 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 2/15 - 4/7 | ZILC-164 600 | 14 seats left | $299 | |
| Online, 3/15 - 5/5 | ZILC-164 601 | 15 seats left | $299 | |
| Online, 4/12 - 6/2 | ZILC-164 602 | 15 seats left | $299 |
Secrets of Better Photography
This online class will teach you how to take outstanding photos. Whether you use a DSLR, a point-and-shoot camera, or your phone for your photography, you will learn how to get the best results from your camera. You can take your camera out of auto mode after learning about lighting, motion, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. You will also explore common photography topics, including portraiture, children’s photography, pet photography, and digital editing. Each lesson includes exercises and assignments, so you can apply what you learned to your own camera. By the time you finish, you will see a difference in both your photographer’s eye and your photos. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go.
To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 - 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 2/15 - 4/7 | ZILC-160 600 | 14 seats left | $115 | |
| Online, 3/15 - 5/5 | ZILC-160 601 | 15 seats left | $115 | |
| Online, 4/12 - 6/2 | ZILC-160 602 | 15 seats left | $115 |
Simply Planting
Learn how simple caring for your house plants can be. In this course you will learn how to pick plants from a nursery or a plant shop, then how to care for them. Through this them grow. You will have the opportunity to learn how to repot a plant, and then take it home and practice the techniques you learned in class. This course includes a $30 materials fee.
Course will be held in DCC, Room B06
Yamaris Cancel of The Planter, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 2/15 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-258 600 | 22 seats left | $42 |
Successful Plant Propagation for the Home Gardener
This two-week course goes through the basic principles of propagating plants using materials and methods that will work at home without elaborate or expensive equipment. The first week covers seed starting and includes information in selecting containers, growing media, how to sow seeds, how to transplant seedlings, and subsequent care of young plants. The second week covers more ways to increase plants by the techniques of division, grafting, and various types of vegetative cuttings such as leaf, root and stem cuttings. Through a variety of hands-on activities participants will have the opportunity to start their own seeds and take cutting to continue growing at home. This class is taught by a HVCC faculty member.
Course will be held in DCC, Room B06
Hunter Fonda, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 3/11 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday, 3/25 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
ZSPI-254 600 | 6 seats left | $49 |
The Power of You Through Horse Partnered Coaching
The limit to success today is not lack of knowledge. Knowledge is great, but as humans we sometimes focus more on our fears and limiting beliefs than actually doing the things we should be doing. This is not just another team-building or leadership development workshop. This is an opportunity for high-performing individuals to receive instantaneous, non-judgmental feedback about their biggest challenges and design action plans. While working with horses, students will experience a thought-provoking adventure that helps them find out what energizes them; receive unbiased feedback about how they show up and how others receive it; get honest feedback about what stands in their way to achieving remarkable results; uncover what they’re tolerating; and identify next steps to reach their goals.
Class will be held at 148 Gansevoort Road, Gansevoort
Katie Navarra Bradley, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 4/26 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm |
ZSPI-261 600 | 7 seats left | $125 |
The Wonderful World of Terrariums
Learn about where terrariums came from and all you need to know on how to build your own! In this course, you will learn about open and closed terrariums and which plants to use, and receive step-by-step instructions to build your own terrarium! Students must withdraw five business days before the start of the course for a full refund.
Course will be held in DCC, Room B06
Yamaris Cancel, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 3/8 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-268 600 | 16 seats left | $57 |
Whiskey Appreciation
In this course, we will cover the basics of whiskey appreciation, identifying flavors, acidity, and tannins. We will discuss moonshine, bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, Canadian whiskey, rye, Irish whiskey, Scotch blends, single grain whiskies, single malt whisky, and Islay Scotch whisky. There will be tasting and notes involved. The course will teach about how each whiskey is made, and where the best regions are for each type. Other styles and varietals will be explored as well. We’ll discuss the differences between whiskies and regions, i.e. Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maryland, emerging US regions, Ireland, Scotland, and Japan. Must be 21 years of age or older to register for this course.
Course will be held in WIL, Room 113
Carlo DeVito, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 5/4 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday, 5/11 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-273 600 | 3 seats left | $69 |
Wine Appreciation
In this course, we will cover the basics of wine appreciation. Identifying flavors. Acidity. Tannins. We will discuss white wines: Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc; and Riesling. Red wines: Cabernet Savignon, Pino Noir, and Merlot. There will be a section of ports and sherries. And on sparkling wines. There will be tasting and notes involved. The course will teach about how each wine is made, and where the best regions are for each type. Other styles and varietals will be explored as well. Differences between California, Europe, Southern Hemisphere, and East Coast will be discussed as well. Must be 21 years of age or older to register for this course.
Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113
Carlo DeVito, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursdays, 4/20 - 4/27 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-263 600 | 17 seats left | $69 |
Course Categories
Additional Resources
Some courses require that students are prepared with information beyond that in the course description - including how to access online courses, parking, CEU details and more.
Here you will find forms for all of our courses and programs, including kids on campus, related to registration, consent and release, scholarship requests and more.
Cancellation and refund policies vary depending on the type and length of course. Find out about course cancellations, requesting a refund and more.
Get in Touch
Community and Professional Education
Fax: (518) 629-8103
Regular Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(excluding college holidays and vacations)