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.
Courses
- Ecological Gardening
- Handwriting for Real People
- New York State Safe Boating
- Pet Dogs in the 21st Century
- Whiskey Appreciation
- Wine Appreciation
Ecological Gardening
Explore practices and principles that can save you money and headaches, and help you create a healthy ecosystem in your garden. Learn ways you can increase biodiversity, connect in a more sustainable way with the natural world, and do less work in your garden while helping the environment, not harming it.
Course will be held in Daycare Center, Room B06
Richard Daley, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 6/7 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-277 700 | 21 seats left | $27 |
Handwriting for Real People
Make your handwriting legible, rapid, and accident-resistant – and do some “penmanship myth busting” along the way! If your handwriting troubles include problems reading cursive, you’ll also discover how to do that accurately and rapidly, whether or not you write that way yourself. Prepare for surprises as you explore how to gain and maintain your own best balance of clarity, speed and individuality. Course fee includes a $13 materials fee.
Course will be held in Administration Building Room 102
Kate Gladstone, author of Read Cursive Fast, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 6/22 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
ZSPI-275 700 | 8 seats left | $49 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Wednesdays, 6/5 - 6/7 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
ZSPI-019 700 | 8 seats left | $69 |
Pet Dogs in the 21st Century
In today’s society, behavior problems in our pet dogs are on the rise every year, despite the fact that dog training has never been more accessible. This course will offer a full and complete look at behavior in our dog population in the 21st century, including the struggles our dogs have faced in our rapidly changing world. Using the program model in Family Dog Mediation, L.E.G.S. (Learning-Environment-Genetics-Self), this course will offer an applied ethologist look into understanding our dogs while considering their natural behaviors, unnatural behaviors, and our (human) expectations. We will also look into the various breed groups to gain a better understanding of what to expect. We love your pets but please leave them at home.
Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113
Jamie Sharma, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 6/7 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
ZSPI-279 700 | 21 seats left | $59 |
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 Williams Hall, Room 113
Carlo DeVito, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursdays, 6/22 - 6/29 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-273 700 | 14 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, 6/8 - 6/15 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZSPI-263 700 | 14 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 2023 Hours (May 22 - July 28): Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, Closed
(excluding college holidays and vacations)