A special event celebrating the art of expression by our current featured gallery artists Pamela Fingerhut, Diane J. Huff, and Margit Kagerer.
Learn to create a stunning three-dimensional desert landscape by combining drawing and pastels. Through step-by-step instruction, discover how values, color, and depth bring a scene to life. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, this supportive workshop guides you in creating a finished 9-by-12-inch artwork to display at home or give as a gift.
Join Dr. Brian Browne and take a tour through the brain's major structures and networks—and define what they are and how they change with age.
Every Thursday, make time for creativity in a welcoming, dedicated space. Beginners through experienced artists are invited to bring their own supplies and work independently or in a small group. Paint, draw, explore mixed media, fiber arts, glass, collage, and more. Develop skills, experiment, finish works in progress, or start something new. Self-directed studio time; no instructor.
Sharpen your strategy with our Defensive Play workshop, designed to help you use the Charleston to collect early information, read exposures, make safer discards, and know when to pivot from offense to defense. If you’re ready to elevate your game, this class is for you. Players will benefit most from this class after developing a solid foundation in offensive play and hand-building strategies.
Become a weather scientist for the day and discover how clouds form, why storms happen, and how meteorologists predict the weather. Taught by accomplished STEM students, this free session helps grades 1–5 learners build curiosity and critical-thinking skills while exploring meteorology as a future career. Students will create a cloud-in-a-container experiment and tornado model to explore air movement and pressure.
Come to our haunted desert for the 7th Annual Prickly Pear Festival! This free, family-friendly event features prickly pear treats and products, demonstrations of juicing, jojoba oil pressing and mesquite flour preparation, plus face painting, caricatures, a haunted-desert photo opportunity, and an interactive storytelling performance. Come in costume and kick off Halloween with fun, food, and desert-inspired festivities for all ages!
Discover the fun and strategy of American Mah Jongg in this lively, hands-on class. No experience needed! You’ll learn the essentials like tile names and suits, how to use the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card, and the basics of game play and etiquette. This class combines instruction with guided play to help you build confidence and enjoy the game.
Discover the gentle power of Tai Chi in 4 weekly class sessions for beginners and returning enthusiasts. Enjoy low-impact exercise that supports balance, flexibility, posture, stress reduction, cardiovascular fitness, and overall well-being. Each class begins with breathing exercises and gentle stretching before learning and executing Tai Chi techniques in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Every Monday, develop your painting skills in a supportive community where all levels and painting genres are welcome. Beginners build foundational skills through guided exercises, while experienced artists pursue independent projects, experiment with new media or subject matter, and receive personalized one-on-one coaching from Susan. Learn and strengthen techniques as you gain confidence while developing your own artistic style.
Discover the fascinating world of Arizona’s bats and their essential role in the desert ecosystem. Hally Cokenias, co-founder of Arizona Bat Rescue, explores the biology, behavior, habitats, and ecological importance of the state’s 29 bat species, including their role in controlling insects and pollinating native plants. Gain a deeper understanding of these often-misunderstood animals and the vital role they play in our desert.
In four Tuesday morning workshops, nationally recognized artist and instructor Larry Charles shares professional techniques for creating more realistic watercolors. Beginners are welcome! Each session includes a step-by-step demonstration followed by guided hands-on practice. Explore texture, clothing, skin tones, water reflections, lighting, and realistic hands and eyes. Expect to complete at least two finished watercolor techniques per class.
Discover the history, culture, language, and agricultural traditions of the O’odham and Piipaash, members of a thriving community bordering Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Fountain Hills. Explore how their ancestors lived along the Gila and Salt Rivers, including innovative approaches to water delivery and crop cultivation. Presented for free in partnership with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
In four Tuesday afternoon workshops, nationally recognized artist and instructor Larry Charles shares professional techniques for creating more realistic watercolors. Beginners are welcome! Each session includes a step-by-step demonstration followed by guided hands-on practice. Explore texture, clothing, skin tones, water reflections, lighting, and realistic hands and eyes. Expect to complete at least two finished watercolor techniques per class.
Give young writers the chance to see their own stories come to life! Over six weeks, 2th–5th graders will develop original stories into a short play, learning character development, dialogue, plot structure, and performance skills. Guided by children’s writing and theater professionals, students will collaborate, build confidence, and present their creation in a final reader’s theatre showcase for families.
Join us on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays each month for informal American Mah Jongg Open Play. All levels are welcome, especially those who have completed our Mah Jongg classes. Bring friends, meet new players, and enjoy a fun way to support brain health and social connection. No instructor or group leader; social play only—no money games.
Discover the fun and strategy of American Mah Jongg in this lively, hands-on class. No experience needed! You’ll learn the essentials like tile names and suits, how to use the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card, and the basics of game play and etiquette. This class combines instruction with guided play to help you build confidence and enjoy the game.
Discover the beautiful art of pen and ink in this fun, creative two-day holiday workshop! Designed for beginners through intermediate artists, this class will introduce you to the techniques that make pen and ink such a unique and expressive art form. You’ll take home your own handmade holiday cards (at least 4) to share with family and friends.
Already know the basics of American Mah Jongg but want extra support? Strengthen your skills, build confidence, ask questions, and learn through hands-on play in a relaxed, social setting. No lessons are provided. Bring your 2026 NMJL card and your own set or use one provided. Limited to 12 players. Social play only—no money games.
Explore the forces and sounds that shape our world! Taught by accomplished STEM students, this free session helps grades 1–5 learners discover the basic laws of gravity and how sound travels and is processed by the human body. Students will verify Newton’s gravitational laws through an experiment, see a theremin demonstration, and observe sound vibrations through a “dancing rice” activity while exploring physics as a future career.
Bring your family, friends, and four-legged companions for a free community event celebrating pets, RV life, and connections that make a difference. Meet adoptable dogs, explore Newmar RVs, watch mobile grooming demonstrations, discover local pet-care resources, and cool off with ice cream. Hosted by RVOptimizer, this event brings people and pets together while helping deserving dogs find loving homes.
The Sonoran Desert has sustained its own remarkable ecosystem for thousands of years. But the rapid urbanization of Arizona and the broader Southwest has put that balance under serious strain. As Arizona and the surrounding states face large cutbacks of Colorado river water, understanding our role is crucial. Join us for a community conversation about our unique Cave Creek environment.
This can’t-miss line dancing class features an expert instructor guiding beginners and seasoned dancers through easy routines set to country and pop music. Wear comfy clothes and enjoy movement, rhythm, and laughter in a welcoming environment; there's no audience watching while you learn—just fun, low-impact exercise while learning new steps with others.
Join Sandi Carll of our Signature Program, Desert Foothills Theater, for four lively, low-stress improv classes designed to boost cognitive health, creativity, engagement, and connection. Enjoy fun, accessible games in a supportive, never-embarrassing environment. No improv experience or performance required! Activities can be adapted for low mobility or seated play.
Join in on an all-ages, interactive live music and storytelling performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies, deep canyons, and vast forests.
Experience deep relaxation and renewal through the soothing power of sound. This restorative sound bath combines crystal bowls, chimes, and grounding instruments to create calming vibrations that help quiet the mind, release stress, and bring the body back into balance.
Supplement your child's education with Actor's Quest — a one-day workshop, presented by our Signature Program Desert Foothills Theater. DFTs Children's Director will guide creativity, movement, and storytelling through interactive theatre games and acting exercises. This specialized homeschool theatre arts and literacy program offers a holistic approach to education, providing students with a wide range of academic, social-emotional, and creative benefits.
Create your own stunning 5" x 5" fused glass landscape! Students will be guided step-by-step through the process of designing and assembling your unique winter landscape. Using sheet glass, frit, powder, stringers, and vitrigraph you’ll learn how to layer and arrange the glass to bring your landscape to life. Join in and create a unique and beautiful piece of art.
Professional artist & art educator Nicolette Bonnstetter enlightens our community about the art world with her blend of creativity, humor, and thought-provoking discussions in the Art, Coffee, & Conversation series. Seasoned art enthusiasts and newcomers alike will enjoy her relatable approach to deeper contemplation about art. About this session: Art gone BIG...size matters and can change how you feel about what the artist is showing you.
Learn how to live in the quantum, where all possibilities exist. We are far more powerful than we have been led to believe, and we all have the ability to create what we want in our lives. The challenge, however, is to figure out — or "remember" — how to do that. Learn tools and exercises to get you there from a certified hypnotherapist and civil engineer.
34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
(480) 488-1090
info@hollandcenter.org
© Copyright 2026 | The Holland Center | Website maintained by Tech 4 Life