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To join ICL just click on "JOIN ICL" below.

Spring courses start on March 24th.  You can view the courses being offered but can not register until

March 9, at 12:00 AM.  You will see the wording "Registration is closed" for the spring courses until March 9.

YHC campus map highlighting location of the ICL classroom and Goolsby center.   YHC-Campus-Map.pdf

Current Courses

    • March 24, 2026
    • April 21, 2026
    • 5 sessions
    • 862 Main Street, Young Harris - ICL Classroom
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Course Instructor  - Stephan Banakas

    Course Fee - $30.00

    The course is 5 sessions with April 28th as make up day if needed.


    This class will combine basic photographic skills with Spring wildflowers as the primary subjects to be photographed.  Each week students will attend a 4-hour class that will begin in the classroom with a Power Point presentation centered on basic camera techniques, adjustments, and considerations that will aid them in photographing these wildflowers.  After the classroom portion of the class students will then be taken to specific outdoor areas where they will photograph wildflowers that are blooming at that time.  Should anyone prefer not to join in this part of the class, they will have an opportunity to go to various areas and shoot at their leisure.

    Students will then be requested to submit a few of their photos to the instructor who will include the photos along with camera settings in the Power Point for presentation and discussion by the class during the following week.  And the above-described process will be repeated.

    Should the weather be bad, the classroom portion of the class would still be held and a ‘make up day’ for the outdoor portion of the class would be scheduled at the end of the 6-session class.

    The class would be limited to 10 students and would be conducted over 5 sessions lasting 4 hours/ session.

    Students must possess basic camera skills and be able to handle short hikes on uneven ground.




    Stephan Banakas is an avid fly fisherman and wildflower/landscape photographer.  He is originally from Pensacola, FL. where he worked as a police officer until he retired in 1999.  He now lives in Hayesville with his wife, Diane, and their two cats Gordon and Maggie.

    • March 30, 2026
    • May 18, 2026
    • 8 sessions
    • ICL Classroom
    • 14
    Register

    Course Instructor - George Curran

    Course Fee - $30.00


    Continue learning the basics of bridge by playing real hands.  You will improve your bidding and playing skills by participating in real bridge games and discussing the bidding and the play options.  This is a no stress environment where you can ask questions and discuss the hands and play.

    Note: this class is for new or returning players.

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    George Curran is a resident of Union County but has lived in Pennsylvania, California and Florida. He retired to the Blairsville area in 2008. He learned to play Bridge in the 1960s while in college and has played ever since. He has played social Bridge and duplicate Bridge. George is also a Bridge Instructor in Blairsville.


    • March 30, 2026
    • April 20, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 0
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    Course Instructor - Ann Marie Stanczyk

    Course Fee - $25.00

    Materials Fee - $25.00

    Specific superfoods target specific organs, bringing the exact nutrients needed to revive that organ. We will focus on the digestive tract, the liver, the kidneys, and the heart and the foods that heal them. Chances are, at least one or two of your organs are in need of help. As they awaken and rejoin the pack, your body will work like a well-oiled machine and return to you your zest for life.  There will be a $25 supply fee collected at the first class.  Class limit 18.

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    Ann Marie Stanczyk is a Medical Technologist with a Master's degree in Nutrition. She is focused on improving people's health and has shown many people of all ages how to avoid or reverse diabetes.  She has also worked for a holistic doctor in Blairsville for 6 years, who used diet and exercise, not drugs, to restore people's health.

    • March 30, 2026
    • April 20, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Young Harris City Hall - Community Room
    • 13
    Register

    Course Instructor - Rosemary Royston

    Course Fee - $25.00


    What do quilting and poetry have in common? Quite a lot, actually. In this class, poet Rosemary Royston will take participants on a journey that celebrates poetry, quilting, and their kinship. In each class, we will examine quilts, how they were created, and how the process mirrors poem-making. This is a time to enjoy things of beauty and see the connectivity of creative processes. For those who want to flex their writing muscle, optional prompts will be provided, and all quilters are welcome to hand-sew during class.

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     Rosemary Royston, artist and poet, is the author of Second Sight (2021, Kelsay Press) and Splitting the Soil (Finishing Line Press, 2014). She resides in the northeast Georgia mountains with her family. Her writing has been published in journals such as POEM, Split Rock Review, Southern Poetry Review, Poetry South, Appalachian Review, and Feels Blind Literary. She is a former Assistant Professor of English, and currently serves as Main Street Director for the City of Young Harris.

    • March 31, 2026
    • May 05, 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 6
    Register


    Instructor - Ann Powell

    Course Fee - $25.00

    Mah-Jongg is a game that originated in China and is similar to the Western card game rummy. It is a game of skill, strategy, and calculation and involves a degree of chance. The game is played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols. Three or four players play the game using numbered tiles. During those first years after its introduction a real craze developed around Mah-Jongg, but like all fashions it came and went. However, recently a growing number of people are realizing the intellectual challenge Mah-Jongg possesses and the beauty and excitement of the game itself. This class will lead you step by step into the wonderful world of Mah-Jongg.  Come learn and play.


    After living in various places: Pittsburgh, PA; Spartanburg, SC; Upper Saddle River, NJ; Chicago, IL; Charleston, SC and Franklin, NC, Ann made the retirement decision to live in Blairsville, GA in 2017. Ann learned how to play Mahjongg 12 years ago. While growing up in the Pittsburgh area, Ann did see and hear the tiles “clickity, clickity” on the tables while her friend’s parents played Mah-jongg. Never did she ever think she would one day learn to play and teach Mahjongg.


    • March 31, 2026
    • April 28, 2026
    • 5 sessions
    • Art Studio - 1942 Old Hwy 64 W, Hayesville, NC
    • 9
    Register

    Course Instructor - Billie Shelburn

    Course Fee - $30.00

    Materials Fee - $20.00 per class

    Painting Fast and Loose is the perfect way to achieve spontaneous excitement and intuitive works of art.  Watercolor is the easiest way to do it.  The freshness and immediate blending of colors and shapes is so exciting to then put finishing touches of realism on top of the work.  Or, if you prefer it is perfectly fine to work abstractedly also.  Come and enjoy the freedom this type of producing work can be achieved.  All materials needed will be provided for $20 per class paid weekly. to insure similar results.

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    Billie Shelburn is a contemporary studio artist and fine art instructor in painting, drawing and mixed media. Billie’s works are comprised of representational, impressionistic and mixed media styles.  Her paintings have won National, International and Regional awards.  Billie was inducted into the National Organization for Women in Arts in Washington, D.C. and has served on the Executive Boards of Georgia Watercolor Society.  





    • April 01, 2026
    • May 13, 2026
    • 7 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 25
    Register

    Course Instructor - Teryn Romaine

    Course Fee - $25.00

    We will learn about the important aspects of using native plants in your landscaping, and how to do so. There will be 5 classroom sessions and 2 field trips.

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    I am a retired high school biology teacher who has been involved with local chapters of state Native Plant Societies (FL and GA) since 2011.  When we moved here 5 years ago my husband and I started the North Georgia Mountains chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society, with goals including expanding people's understanding of the importance of promoting native plants and including them in garden installations.


    • April 01, 2026
    • May 20, 2026
    • 8 sessions
    • Inspire Fitness Studio - 108 Brasstown Creek Rd, Young Harris, Georgia
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Course Instructor - Shauna Belt

    Course Fee - $50.00

    Piloga is the perfect fusion of Pilates precision and yoga flow. This class is designed to build core strength, improve flexibility, and enhance mind-body connection through a seamless blend of dynamic Pilates movements and grounding yoga postures.

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    Shauna Belt 200 HR YTT Yoga Renew Certification,  Pilates Instructor ISSA Certified, Group Fitness Instructor Issa Certified.  Shauna is a true believer in the benefits of Yoga and Pilates.  She is very passionate about teaching people how to be more flexible and balanced.  Come join her on the mat!


    • April 01, 2026
    • May 13, 2026
    • 7 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 0
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    Course Instructor - George Owen

    Course Fee - $30.00

    For the fourth year George Owen is presenting his most popular ICL course this spring. This time it's two hours 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. for seven weeks on Wednesdays, open to a wide audience beginning April 1 for adults ranging from newcomers to our area who love the outdoors to those seeking to broaden their Southern Appalachians outdoor and/or hiking knowledge. Beginners to experts in outdoor knowledge are welcome. George has spent over a half-century creating and leading outdoor adventure in this area, ranging from northern Georgia to the Smokies and beyond. Everything from Southern Appalachian animals to weather and much information about hiking trails and far more will be presented. Many free handouts come to all in the class, and several hours will feature guest experts from our area on related outdoor subjects. One such presenter will be an expert on photographing mountain wildflowers, perfect for spring. Those so desiring are also invited to join George and bring your own snacks and drinks to class in the lounge adjoining the classroom after class. Afterwards, several of George's friends will lead short, easy hikes each Wednesday afternoon (weather permitting) in the area for those wishing a little post-lunch trek.

    Instructor George Owen has served as president of three Southern Appalachian area hiking clubs and has laid out and supervised construction of over 125 miles of new and relocated trails on the Chattahoochee National Forest. He has also served various other positions in these hiking clubs. He grew up hunting, fishing, and exploring the wilds of his native central Florida from childhood. While in college he ran the nature lore program of one of Florida's largest youth camps. He married and moved to Georgia with his wife Sandy, where they became parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandchildren. After a career with several jobs in northern Georgia, beginning with management positions in the hospital field, George in early retirement was a guide for an American company for ten years in the Swiss Alps. Limited now by health concerns, he still keeps up involvement with trail clubs and the outdoors.

     

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    • April 01, 2026
    • May 06, 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • Towns County Old Recreation Center, 900 North Main Street, Hiawassee, GA
    • 5
    Register

    Course Instructor Sharon Harkavy

    Course Fee $30.00

    If you want to learn how to play pickleball in a fun and friendly class with beginners, then this is the class for you.  Starting on Wednesday, April 1, Intro to pickleball will be offered indoors.  The first session will meet on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm at the Towns County Old Rec Center in Hiawassee.  The class will run for an hour and a half and conclude at 3:30. The session will end on May 6.  I will provide paddles and balls.  YOU need to come wearing court sneakers, either pickleball or tennis.  This is important because running and walking sneakers do not allow for proper lateral motion, and I don’t want anyone tripping because of their footwear.  You should also wear eyeglasses or protective eyewear and comfortable clothing such as shorts, leggings, sweatpants, shorts, etc. We will be getting sweaty.  Please bring a full water bottle as well.  You will learn everything needed to become a player of this fun game.  Past players who are still not feeling comfortable with the rules or their skills may repeat a class.   Please note:  this class is very popular.  The entire class is based on having 8 participants at EVERY CLASS.  Currently, I have had to recruit people I know to fill in the many gaps we have had all season.  At this new venue, I will not have anyone to fill in for absent people.  Please remember when you don’t attend, it affects everyone in the class.  Can’t wait to get you started on playing this wonderful game.


    Sharon is a Maine native who now lives in Morganton, GA.  She has been playing pickleball for 1 year after decades of playing competitive tennis.  She is an IPTPA(International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association) certified instructor.  Sharon has been certified in many areas and has taught dance aerobics, fitness classes, stretching, STEP classes, water aerobics, deep water exercise, water walking, water STEP, and private swim lessons for both adults and children.  She has been teaching for over 2 decades.  She is active in the Blairsville Pickleball Club and also plays with the Fannin Pickleball club.  Sharon loves teaching active classes for all ages especially adults.  She is a mother of three, including a set of twins, grandmother of one, and is married to Jeff for almost 40 years.  She is an active animal rescue supporter and educator who currently shares her life with 4 dogs and 2 cats.  Sharon is looking forward to teaching the amazing game of pickleball to her new students. 


    • April 01, 2026
    • May 06, 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • Old Recreation Center, 900 North Main St., Hiawassee, GA
    • 2
    Register

    Course Instructor Sharon Harkavy

    Course Fee $30.00

    Okay, you know the basics of pickleball and you know how to play, but now what?  Do you want to get better?  Do you want to learn more than the basic shots?  Do you want to learn strategy?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have found the right class.  Starting on Wednesday, April 1, I will be offering this class inside at the Towns County “Old” rec center in Hiawassee at 3:30pm for an hour and a half concluding at 5pm.  The session will run for 7 weeks through May 6.  If you have a paddle, please bring it.  I will also have paddles to try and balls.  You need to wear court sneakers such as pickleball or tennis sneakers, eyeglasses or protective eyewear and comfortable clothing such as shorts, leggings, sweatpants, shorts, etc….We will be getting sweaty.  Please bring a full water bottle as well.  You will learn about drop shots, drives, the overhead smash, lobs, block volleys, punch volleys as well as strategy for better play.  Past students may repeat a class.  Please note:  The entire class is based on 8 participants at EVERY CLASS.  Currently, I have had to recruit people I know to fill in the gaps, but at this location I will not know anyone to fill in for absent participants.  Please remember when you don’t attend it affects everyone in the class.  Can’t wait to get you started on playing this wonderful game.



    Sharon is a Maine native who now lives in Morganton, GA.  She has been playing pickleball for 1 year after decades of playing competitive tennis.  She is an IPTPA(International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association) certified instructor.  Sharon has been certified in many areas and has taught dance aerobics, fitness classes, stretching, STEP classes, water aerobics, deep water exercise, water walking, water STEP, and private swim lessons for both adults and children.  She has been teaching for over 2 decades.  She is active in the Blairsville Pickleball Club and also plays with the Fannin Pickleball club.  Sharon loves teaching active classes for all ages especially adults.  She is a mother of three, including a set of twins, grandmother of one, and is married to Jeff for almost 40 years.  She is an active animal rescue supporter and educator who currently shares her life with 4 dogs and 2 cats.  Sharon is looking forward to teaching the amazing game of pickleball to her new students. 


    • April 02, 2026
    • May 21, 2026
    • 8 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 5
    Register

    Course Instructor - Chris Hall

    Course Fee - $25.00


    This class will cover tips to improve your game using various strategies for the different stages of the game. This class will also go into detail on quickly learning the new card.  We will cover card strategies, National Mah Jongg League rules, general advice, statistics and strategies on the Charleston, early-game, mid-game and end-of-game play. It is advisable to be experienced in the game before attending this class - this class is not for beginners.


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    Chris moved to Murphy, NC full-time in 2016 after retiring from the US Army.  She learned the game that year and has enjoyed playing regularly ever since learning the game.



    • April 02, 2026
    • April 09, 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    Register

    Course Instructor - Jean Gora

    Course Fee - $25.00

    Hitler’s rise to power in Germany was preceded by his written and verbal attacks on Jewish people and others. His book, Mein Kampf, and his recorded speeches gave the world advance notice of what he would do as the leader of Germany.  After he gained power in 1933, he took steps that were both brutal and organized. He and his associates showed an unusual ability to respond rapidly to unexpected developments.  Germany’s acquisition of   Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 allowed him to expand the scope of his actions. His successful invasion of Poland in September 1939, which prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, encouraged him to increase the brutality of these measures.  Starting then, Hitler and his associates conducted a continent-wide extermination program. Their justification was that ethnic Germans needed more “Lebensraum,” more living space. They could get it only by eliminating the people who already lived there. Hitler and his associates designed the program as they went along. At first, they conducted ad hoc massacres in Germany and in the countries they acquired.  Over time, they industrialized the process and dramatically increased its scale. German corporations supported the effort in ways large and small. Many individual Germans participated.  This course examines this 12-year-long process.

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    Jean Gora had a long career as a researcher in the banking and life insurance industries.  Her job involved presenting research results to clients all over the world.  She has taught ICL classes on the subprime mortgage crisis, the war in Bosnia, and (16 years ago) life under the Third Reich.  She lived in Europe much of the 1950s, when virtually all of the adults except her father's colleagues had lived under the control of NAZI Germany.  She has close ties with family in modern Germany, and she has degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Johns Hopkins University.


    • April 02, 2026
    • April 23, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 8
    Register

    Course Instructor - David Vowell

    Course Fee -  $25.00


    Get to know the songs of Appalachia while having fun, not just singing but also learning about the old, old origins from Britain, Scotland, and Ireland, and how those songs got changed by Appalachian settlers.

    To pique your curiosity, here’s some of the themes we’ll explore:

    • Hymns that started off naughty!
    • Mean men and dangerous women.
    • Lessons from the critters.
    • Mushy mountain love songs.
    • A change is gonna come.
    • Uniquely American folk songs.

    We’ll have fun with plenty of sing-along, and before you know it you will be able to compose your own folk song.

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    David Vowell was a chorale music major at Stetson University, and twenty years ago became a regular performer in the Morning song tradition at the John C. Campbell Folk School. 

       


    • April 03, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 2
    Register

    Instructor - Denise Taranto

    Course Fee - $20.00

    Materials Fee - $40.00

    Explore the traditional Appalachian craft of broom making. Using a foot treadle, nylon twine, and broomcorn, create your own Fanned Hen’s Wing Whisk. This is a beginner class and the skill builder being taught is foot treadle management, adding in broom corn, and twine bindings. No experience necessary but moderate hand strength is needed.

    Materials: scissors and a utility knife with a new blade - all other supplies provided by instructor.


    Denise, a serial crafter, has been making baskets since 2014 and in 2022, became a broom maker after attending classes at Olive’s Porch and John C. Campbell Folk School. Since retiring  from education, broom making and crafting have now become activities that feed her creativity and provide an opportunity to give back to the community. She enjoys teaching classes at Oasis and Treasured Creations in Blairsville, GA and demonstrating broom making at the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee, GA.


    • April 03, 2026
    • May 08, 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • Classroom C - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    Register

    Course Instructor - Brent William Davidson, MD

    Course Fee - $30.00


    Selling options weekly can make you money to supplement your income.  I will show you what is possible in today’s crazy stock market.


    The classes are from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM each Friday for 6 classes.  You will need a cellphone, calculator and notebook. 

      

    We will be live on the stock market daily evaluating the Charles Schwab and ThinkorSwim platforms along with company options.

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    Brent Davidson, MD has been selling options since February 5, 2025. You will enjoy what you will learn.

    Disclaimer: This course is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Participation in this course does not constitute investment advice, nor does it guarantee financial results. All strategies and examples discussed are intended to illustrate concepts and should not be interpreted as recommendations for actual trades. Participants are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. ICL and course instructors are not responsible for any financial losses or other consequences resulting from decisions made based on course content.


    • April 06, 2026
    • April 09, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Gun Range - Meet at Ingles in Hayesville in Parking Area
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Course Instructor - George Gaines

    Course Fee - $35.00

    Materials Fee - $150.00 

    Safe Pistol Handling & Defensive Shooting Tactics I and II are the same course just offered at different times.


    All four days, students will meet in the parking area next to the gas station of the Hayesville Ingles grocery store on US 64 E.  It is recommended that you arrive around 8:30 AM in order for us to drive to the range at 8:45 AM. 

    “Safe Pistol Handling & Defensive Shooting Tactics,” is now being taught over four (4) consecutive days.  This format more nearly resembles that used by Dr. Gaines and the late Haim Geri in training students in the Israeli Shooting Method. Geri was the chief firearms instructor at Israel’s IMI Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.  In Israel he trained thousands of Israeli Security Officers.  As a team in the US, Gaines and Geri trained thousands of civilians and law enforcement officers to handle firearms safely and protect themselves and innocent civilians from life-threatening attacks. We shall be prepared for the worst and pray that we will never have to use a firearm in self-defense. This course is dedicated to the late Haim Geri.  Memory eternal.

    There are no special prerequisites to this class.  Previous students are encouraged to enroll and refresh their skills.  Repetition is the mother of mastery!

    Although the range shooting area is covered and protects from precipitation while loading/unloading pistols, our shooting will be outdoors, so bring rain gear just in case.  No open-toed shoes or sandals are allowed.  Wear shirts with a reasonably high collar to avoid hot shell casings.  Range etiquette will be discussed during the first day’s class. There are two offerings of this class:

    Range sessions will be held at a nearby private range and may last a bit longer than two (2) hours, if required. Since our time at the range is reserved, no spectators are allowed on the property.

    At the range, the instructor will provide students with 9mm semiautomatic pistols and ammo.  Students may bring personal pistols to the range, but it will be up to the instructor to determine if/when student guns may be used.

    This course relies heavily on live demonstrations, and students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform same at the range.  A Gaines Tactical Training Certificate will be awarded to those who complete the course.

    A fee of $150 covers the cost of materials, water, firearms use, gun cleaning, ammo, targets, and insurance. This is payable by cash/check on first day of class. Students will be asked to sign a customary release, much like that used in public/private commercial ranges. At the range, students are required to wear safety glasses and hearing protection.  Howard Light electronic headgear is what I use, and it runs around $35 to $60.  This type of gear allows you to hear range commands while cutting out the loud retort from firing.

    Content outline:

    Self-Defense Firearm Basics

    Defensive Shooting Fundamentals

    Shooting Equipment

    Basic and Advanced 

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    George grew up in Pensacola, Florida and has lived and worked throughout the United States and Europe.  He graduated from The University of Alabama and later earned his doctorate at the University of Georgia (1971).  His early career was spent teaching in the Louisiana State University System. 

     In 1980 he began working in the private sector in marketing research for major corporations such as Southern Company, The Gallup Organization, Research International, and IPSOS.  During this time, he served as the International Accounts Director for Pratt & Whitney, UPS, Pepsico, and later for The Coca-Cola Company. 

    His last corporate assignment was Director of Consumer Insights for Outback Steakhouse International, where his duties included extensive marketing communication research in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. 

     Following his retirement in 2013, George pursues his lifelong commitment to teaching firearms safety.  He is an NRA Certified Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer as well as a USCCA Training Counselor.  He presently is Director of Open Enrollment for the US Branch of Israel’s IMI (Israel Military Industries) Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.


    • April 10, 2026
    • April 24, 2026
    • 3 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 7
    Register

    Course Instructor Joyce Clair

    Course Fee $25.00

    The first class will meet in the classroom and then go to the outdoors.

    Practice sketching outdoors, learn to see like an artist, and develop drawing skills while enjoying nature.  A series of three weekly outdoor classes will be held at area parks from 9am to noon.  

    Walmart is a good source for sketching supplies. Bring a sketch pad, sketch pencils, erasers and a ruler. You will also need a hat, folding chair, water, sunscreen and insect repellant.

    Skills are developed with practice, so attendance at all classes is recommended.   Instructor will give general instruction and tips at the beginning of each class. Students find a preferred subject to sketch and instructor provides individual guidance as needed.

    Sketching locations may require some walking on uneven ground. Locations will have access to restrooms. Rain protection may or may not be available. In the event of rain, a class may be rescheduled at a time good for most participants.     


    Joyce Clair is a watercolor artist and retired nurse practitioner who also enjoys drawing and teaching. She regularly teaches at regional art centers. Joyce grew up in Pennsylvania, lived in Maryland and Texas, and retired to Georgia in 2014. She studied drawing at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. Her watercolors are influenced by workshops with Skip Lawrence, Tom Lynch, Zoltan Szabo, Frank Webb, and Morris Green. Joyce’s paintings are displayed at the Murphy Art Center and Blue Ridge Art Center. Visit “Joyce Clair Art” on face book and www.fineartamerica.com to view her art.  



    • April 11, 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 0
    Join waitlist
    Course Instructor - Jan Carney
    Course Fee - $25.00
    Material Fee - $20.00

    Students will learn about safety and different woodburning techniques, transferring an image, using oil pastels for color, and how to seal their birdhouse.  You will leave with a complete and decorated birdhouse that doubles as a piece of art.  There is nothing to bring other than a snack and drink.

    Materials fee of 20.00 due at the time of class. 

    After retiring from Nursing I began to paint, I have always loved to draw and this seemed like the next step up.  Since then I have taken probably a dozen classes in different subjects such as watercolor, acrylics, mixed media, clay, and a basket class.  I continue to take classes as I feel you can always learn something new!

    I work in several mediums including pyrography, watercolor, acrylics, mixed media, graphite,  whisk brooms,  recently gourd art, and colored pencils. I often assist with watercolor classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School and I am the current coordinator of the Blue Ridge Drawing Group, also a current Board member of Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, I am a member of the Gilmer Plein Aire group and Arts Center, and I occasionally join the Blue Ridge Carvers meetings as well. I teach pyrography at Olive's Porch as well. I have watercolor paintings that were accepted into the Georgia Watercolor Society National Juried exhibits for 2025.

    I moved to Fannin County in 1988 and currently make my home in the Dial area with my husband, Reid Carney, my son and his wife, and two dogs.  We raise chickens, honey bees, a garden, and soon will add rabbits to the mix!

    Working with my art really makes me feel alive and I love it when I see people appreciate my creations!

    • April 20, 2026
    • April 23, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Gun Range - Meet at Ingles in Hayesville in Parking Area
    • 2
    Register

    Course Instructor - George Gaines

    Course Fee - $35.00

    Materials Fee - $150.00 

    Safe Pistol Handling & Defensive Shooting Tactics I and II are the same course just offered at different times.

    All four days, students will meet in the parking area next to the gas station of the Hayesville Ingles grocery store on US 64 E.  It is recommended that you arrive around 8:30 AM in order for us to drive to the range at

    8:45 AM.  

    “Safe Pistol Handling & Defensive Shooting Tactics,” is now being taught over four (4) consecutive days.  This format more nearly resembles that used by Dr. Gaines and the late Haim Geri in training students in the Israeli Shooting Method. Geri was the chief firearms instructor at Israel’s IMI Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.  In Israel he trained thousands of Israeli Security Officers.  As a team in the US, Gaines and Geri trained thousands of civilians and law enforcement officers to handle firearms safely and protect themselves and innocent civilians from life-threatening attacks. We shall be prepared for the worst and pray that we will never have to use a firearm in self-defense. This course is dedicated to the late Haim Geri.  Memory eternal.

    There are no special prerequisites to this class.  Previous students are encouraged to enroll and refresh their skills.  Repetition is the mother of mastery!

    Although the range shooting area is covered and protects from precipitation while loading/unloading pistols, our shooting will be outdoors, so bring rain gear just in case.  No open-toed shoes or sandals are allowed.  Wear shirts with a reasonably high collar to avoid hot shell casings.  Range etiquette will be discussed during the first day’s class. There are two offerings of this class:

    Range sessions will be held at a nearby private range and may last a bit longer than two (2) hours, if required. Since our time at the range is reserved, no spectators are allowed on the property.

    At the range, the instructor will provide students with 9mm semiautomatic pistols and ammo.  Students may bring personal pistols to the range, but it will be up to the instructor to determine if/when student guns may be used.

    This course relies heavily on live demonstrations, and students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform same at the range.  A Gaines Tactical Training Certificate will be awarded to those who complete the course.

    A fee of $150 covers the cost of materials, water, firearms use, gun cleaning, ammo, targets, and insurance. This is payable by cash/check on first day of class. Students will be asked to sign a customary release, much like that used in public/private commercial ranges. At the range, students are required to wear safety glasses and hearing protection.  Howard Light electronic headgear is what I use, and it runs around $35 to $60.  This type of gear allows you to hear range commands while cutting out the loud retort from firing.

    Content outline:

    Self-Defense Firearm Basics

    Defensive Shooting Fundamentals

    Shooting Equipment

    Basic and Advanced 

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    George grew up in Pensacola, Florida and has lived and worked throughout the United States and Europe.  He graduated from The University of Alabama and later earned his doctorate at the University of Georgia (1971).  His early career was spent teaching in the Louisiana State University System. 

     In 1980 he began working in the private sector in marketing research for major corporations such as Southern Company, The Gallup Organization, Research International, and IPSOS.  During this time, he served as the International Accounts Director for Pratt & Whitney, UPS, Pepsico, and later for The Coca-Cola Company. 

    His last corporate assignment was Director of Consumer Insights for Outback Steakhouse International, where his duties included extensive marketing communication research in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. 

     Following his retirement in 2013, George pursues his lifelong commitment to teaching firearms safety.  He is an NRA Certified Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer as well as a USCCA Training Counselor.  He presently is Director of Open Enrollment for the US Branch of Israel’s IMI (Israel Military Industries) Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.


    • April 23, 2026
    • May 21, 2026
    • 5 sessions
    • Art Studio - 1942 Old Hwy 64 W, Hayesville, NC
    • 8
    Register

    Course Instructor - Billie Shelburn

    Course Fee - $30.00

    Materials Fee - $20.00 per class

    There are many ways to use pen and ink, micron pens, and other forms of markers with watercolor paintings.  Incorporating the two basic elements can be suggestive and complete an idea you are trying to achieve.  Specifically embellishing certain areas to make them more important, or just using marks in certain areas can complete and enhance your painting.  Come and enjoy learning to use the two forms together to express your ideas.  All materials needed will be provided for $20 per class paid weekly to insure similar results.

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    Billie Shelburn is a contemporary studio artist and fine art instructor in painting, drawing and mixed media. Billie’s works are comprised of representational, impressionistic and mixed media styles.  Her paintings have won National, International and Regional awards.  Billie was inducted into the National Organization for Women in Arts in Washington, D.C. and has served on the Executive Boards of Georgia Watercolor Society.  





    • April 27, 2026
    • May 18, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    Register

    Course Instructor - Teresa Heavner

    Course Fee - $25.00


    We will be reviewing a minimum of 8 body systems, how they work and the more common ways they fail.

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    Teresa has undergraduate and MD degrees from Wake Forest University. Residency in Family Medicine in Bangor, Maine. She has 35 years with Chatuge Family Practice in Hayesville, NC. Preceptor for medical students for 30 years.


    • April 28, 2026
    • May 19, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 21
    Register

    Course Instructor - Heather Welch 

    Course Fee - $25.00

    This course examines how the female body was understood and represented in Early Modern England. Drawing on midwifery manuals, medical treatises, and sensational crime pamphlets, these texts collectively reveal how women’s bodies became sites of medical authority, legal investigation, and moral anxiety. Through close analysis of primary sources, the course considers how print culture shaped—and was shaped by—changing understandings of gender, power, and the body.  

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    Heather Welch holds a PhD in History from Georgia State University and has taught at University of North Georgia, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University. She has lived in Towns County for 18 years. Currently, she works at the Mountain Regional Library System. Heather considers herself a lifelong learner and feels very passionate about helping others find enjoyment in learning.



    • May 01, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 5
    Register

    Instructor - Denise Taranto

    Course Fee - $20.00

    Materials Fee - $40.00

    Explore the traditional Appalachian craft of broom making. Using a foot treadle, nylon twine, and broomcorn, create 3 whisks in one sitting. You will make a car whisk, a cake tester, and an iron skillet brush or wok brush or vegetable brush. This is a beginner class and the skill builders being taught are foot treadle management, twine bindings, and plaiting with leather. No experience necessary but moderate hand strength is needed.

    Materials: scissors and a utility knife with a new blade - all other supplies provided by instructor.


    Denise, a serial crafter, has been making baskets since 2014 and in 2022, became a broom maker after attending classes at Olive’s Porch and John C. Campbell Folk School. Since retiring  from education, broom making and crafting have now become activities that feed her creativity and provide an opportunity to give back to the community. She enjoys teaching classes at Oasis and Treasured Creations in Blairsville, GA and demonstrating broom making at the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee, GA.

    • May 08, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 9
    Register

    Instructor - Cheryl Warner

    Course Fee - $20.00

    Materials Fee - $20.00 

    This is a multi-media project utilizing several different artistic techniques. For this project, you'll experiment with collaging colorful paper onto a canvas, iris folding, embellishing and giving it an antique look as a final touch. Come ready to learn new skills and have fun with paper. The picture below is only one example as you will choose the paper colors and the saying to make your piece unique. (you'll be contacted ahead of time for these choices) 

    It is a paper-crafting technique that involves taping thin, folded strips of paper (or fabric) in a spiraled, overlapping pattern to fill a shaped cutout. This class will teach you the technique while creating a beautiful piece of art you can send as a greeting card or frame as a 5X7" or 8X10" pop of spring in your home. (frames are not included).  The picture below is only an example-- you will choose your own colors with a variety of solid templates. The possibilities are endless so start imaging how yours will look now! While the vase is the main focus of the class, you will leave with a few other handmade items not shown.

    All supplies will be provided for $20 payable to the instructor at the start of the class; however, if you have a heavy, stationary tape dispenser bring it with you.


    Deep down I'm still a Louisiana girl-- but Georgia has been my home since 1992. My BA degree was in elementary/ special education, M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction and Ed.S in Arts Integration. I loved elementary-aged, but after moving to the high school level, I worked there for 14 years. After retiring and moving to Blairsville four years ago, I taught GED classes at the Detention Center through NGTC.  

    I began "creating" anything I could around the age of 6. I can remember making cat beds out of kleenex boxes and popsicle sticks. I designed my own Barbie clothes and made my own outfits in high school. 

    The hardest question to answer is "what type of art do you do?" I don't knit. I don't crochet. But I like painting, wood crafts, papercrafts, sewing, mixed media projects, sewing, quilting, and a lot more. 

    My daughter and I craft together as Mumsy & Me Creations, LLC when we have time. Our creations are in Cable's Gallery, Keen Creations & The Farmer Mercantile. 

    I'm excited to join ICL staff so I can share my two favorite talents: teaching and crafting!



    • May 09, 2026
    • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 20
    Register

    Course Leader - George Gaines

    Course Fee - $25.00


    The fundamental principles of security are the same for Houses of Worship and large gatherings or events. This is 6-hour classroom course introduces students to security fundamentals that underlie a safe environment for congregational events, without hindering normal routine and activities.

    Students will master fundamental concepts, methods, and limited skills to detect, prevent, and neutralize threats to the safety of a church congregation or members of a large gathering.  

    Although this course addresses the importance of physical self-defense and firearms skills in security, such skills are necessarily developed through additional training in these areas. For students wishing to develop these skills, the instructor offers laboratory (range) courses in physical self-defense, safe pistol handling and defensive shooting, and advanced tactical pistol shooting.

    Goals:

    1.  To provide the theoretical and practical know-how of guiding principles governing security

    2.  To enhance technical and tactical skills necessary for the prevention and effective engagement of a variety of security threats

    3.  To provide a foundation for communicating with other members of the security team

    Objectives:

     1.  Identify and explain the three (3) elements of the Security Model

     2.  Apply the Security Model to an event setting

     3.  Explain the importance of having a deterrence strategy

     4.  Name at least three (3) types of level one (physical) deterrence

     5.  Explain why having easily identifiable security may be a bad idea

     6.  Explain the role of church greeters in security

     7.  Describe how rings of security should operate in an event

     8.  List at least five (5) sources of intelligence

     9.  Diagram the continuous outreach & reporting process

    10. Explain differences between lone wolf and hate group attacks

    11. Outline a plan for involving the congregation in security

    12. Describe how law enforcement should work with event security

    13. Given case studies that reveal advance knowledge of threats, propose actions to prevent

    14. Given case studies without advance knowledge of threats, propose actions to prevent

    15. Name at least five (5) characteristics of an effective greeter

    16.  Distinguish between racial and predictive profiling

    17. Explain the three (3) things that we must look for in order to recognize threat

    18. Explain the rapid process for friend or foe determination

    19. Recognize suspicious indicators at various event functions

    20. Demonstrate skill in asking probing, friendly questions

    21. Recognize the inherent danger posed by the spotlight effect

    22. Identify steps to be taken should the threat be allowed into the event

    23. After viewing video interviews with first responders and witnesses of church shootings, identify

    security breakdowns and propose ways in which these tragedies could have been minimized or avoided

    24. Identify organizational and legal requirements and options for a security team

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    The instructor is Dr. George Gaines, Chief Instructor, Gaines Tactical Training, Hayesville, NC. 

    Dr. Gaines holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Georgia, with specialization in training

    psychology, performance testing & measurement.  He worked in academia and corporate life for over 40

    years.  As a firearms instructor, he has trained thousands of students, civilian and law enforcement, and

    has certified more than a hundred firearms instructors and range safety officers. He has achieved the

    following certifications:

    •       NRA Certified Instructor (Pistol, Home Defense, Refuse to be a Victim) 

    •       NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer

    •       USCCA Certified Instructor (Concealed Carry, Home Defense, Pistol)

    •       USCCA Certified Training Counselor

    •       Florida-Approved CCW Instructor

    •       North Carolina Justice Academy Certified CCP Instructor

    • Florida Public Safety Institute Instructor

    In addition to the training required for his certifications, Dr. Gaines has accumulated nearly 3,000 hours

    of advanced training with professional security.  He has adapted these principles to the security needs of

    houses of worship, having trained over 300 members of house of worship security teams.


    • May 13, 2026
    • June 03, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 4
    Register

    Course Instructor - Art Frenz

    Course Fee - $25.00

    Looking for a fun and challenging card game? Join us for Double Deck Pinochle! Experience the excitement of this classic card game, no experience necessary! Whether you’re new to the game or looking to sharpen your skills, join us and enjoy the game.


    Art and his wife Diane retired in 2009 and moved from Florida to the North Georgia Mountains and enjoy the change of seasons and the mountains. In 2010 they joined ICL and have since served various positions on the ICL board. They and their Welsh Springer Spaniels currently live full-time in Blairsville. They enjoy camping, genealogy, and cooking. They have two sons, one in Florida and one in Alabama and five grandchildren.



    • May 15, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 4
    Register

    Instructor - Denise Taranto

    Course Fee - $20.00

    Materials Fee - $40.00

    This Appalachian broom class is for experienced broom makers. Learn to make a Rooster Tail Whisk in your color choice of corn and twine. The skill builders for this class are foot treadle management, adding in corn, wrapping bindings, and weaving a spur or corn knot. Moderate hand strength is needed.

    Materials: scissors and a utility knife with a new blade - all other supplies provided by instructor.

    Denise, a serial crafter, has been making baskets since 2014 and in 2022, became a broom maker after attending classes at Olive’s Porch and John C. Campbell Folk School. Since retiring  from education, broom making and crafting have now become activities that feed her creativity and provide an opportunity to give back to the community. She enjoys teaching classes at Oasis and Treasured Creations in Blairsville, GA and demonstrating broom making at the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee, GA.

    • May 18, 2026
    • May 21, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Gun Range - Meet at Ingles in Haysville in Parking Area
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Instructor - George Gaines

    Course Fee - $35.00

    Materials Fee - $195.00 

    It is mandatory that students have taken a previous ICL course from

    Dr. Gaines that had a live shooting component.

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    All four days, students will meet in the parking area next to the gas station of the Hayesville Ingles grocery store on US 64 E.  It is recommended that you arrive around 8:30 AM in order for us to drive to the range at 8:45 AM.  

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    This class is taught over four (4) consecutive days, which means you will experience four full days of shooting.  This format closely resembles that used by Dr. Gaines and the late Haim Geri in training students in the Israeli Shooting Method. Geri was the chief firearms instructor at Israel’s IMI Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.  In Israel he trained thousands of Israeli Security Officers.  As a team in the US, Gaines and Geri trained thousands of civilians and law enforcement officers to handle firearms safely and protect themselves and innocent civilians from life-threatening attacks. We shall be prepared for the worst and pray that we will never have to use a firearm in self-defense. This course is dedicated to the late Haim Geri.  Memory eternal.

    Although the range shooting area is covered and protects from precipitation while loading/unloading pistols, our shooting will be outdoors, so bring rain gear just in case.  No open-toed shoes or sandals are allowed.  Wear shirts with a reasonably high collar to avoid hot shell casings.  Range etiquette will be discussed during the first day’s class.  There is one offering of this class this term.

    Range sessions will be held at a nearby private range, which is only a short drive away, and may last a bit longer than two (2) hours, if required. Since our time at the range is reserved, no spectators are allowed on the property.

    At the range, the instructor will provide students with 9mm semiautomatic pistols and ammo.  Students may bring personal pistols to the range, but it will be up to the instructor to determine if/when student guns may be used.

    This course relies heavily on live demonstrations, and students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform same at the range.  A Gaines Tactical Training Certificate will be awarded to those who complete the course.

    A fee of $195 covers the cost of materials, water, firearms use, gun cleaning, ammo, targets, and  insurance for four full days of shooting. This is payable by cash/check on first day of class. Students will be asked to sign a customary release, much like that used in public/private commercial ranges. At the range, students are required to wear safety glasses and hearing protection.  Howard Light electronic headgear is what I use, and it runs around $35 to $60.  This type of gear allows you to hear range commands while cutting out the loud retort from firing.

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    George grew up in Pensacola, Florida and has lived and worked throughout the United States and Europe.  He graduated from The University of Alabama and later earned his doctorate at the University of Georgia (1971).  His early career was spent teaching in the Louisiana State University System. 

     In 1980 he began working in the private sector in marketing research for major corporations such as Southern Company, The Gallup Organization, Research International, and IPSOS.  During this time, he served as the International Accounts Director for Pratt & Whitney, UPS, Pepsico, and later for The Coca-Cola Company. 

    His last corporate assignment was Director of Consumer Insights for Outback Steakhouse International, where his duties included extensive marketing communication research in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. 

     Following his retirement in 2013, George pursues his lifelong commitment to teaching firearms safety.  He is an NRA Certified Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer as well as a USCCA Training Counselor.  He presently is Director of Open Enrollment for the US Branch of Israel’s IMI (Israel Military Industries) Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training.


    • May 20, 2026
    • 1:00 PM
    • May 21, 2026
    • 3:00 PM
    • ICL Classroom - 862 Main Street, Young Harris
    • 11
    Register

    Course Instructor - Barbara Keyes

    Couse Fee - $25.00

    Material Fee - $15


    This picture will be done on an 11 x 14 canvas, all paints and brushes will be provided for the supply fee of $15 (payable first day of class). No experience is required, just a love of color and a new adventure in painting.



    Barbara Keyes of Hiawassee has been a decorative artist for 30 years. She has exhibited at craft shows from Virginia to Miami but prefers to stay in the mountains of Georgia for now. A member of  the Murphy Art guild and Mountain Regional arts and crafts in Hiawassee has given her a forum to teach acrylic painting to all age groups from children to seniors.


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