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.
Make time for your art. Whether you're just beginning your artistic journey or have years of creative experience, our Artist Open Studio offers dedicated time and a welcoming place to create. Whether your goal is to learn, practice, or refine your craft, take time for yourself and your art at The Holland Center. Artists Open Studio is each Thursday afternoon.
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.
Join in for this free session and become a weather scientist for the day where you will discover what makes our atmosphere so exciting! Students will learn how clouds form, why storms happen, and how meteorologists predict the weather. Then students will participate in a fun, hands-on cloud-in-a-container experiment and create a 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, join other artists learning, creating and painting together. All levels are welcome and encouraged to meet other artists in a positive and supportive environment. New students will be guided through basic exercises as your learn to paint. Experienced painters will find a supportive community of artists and guidance from a teacher that respects your uniqueness as an artist.
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.
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.
Get to know accomplished artists and learn all about their creative processes in the Amazing Artist series—a collaboration between The Sonoran Arts League & The Holland Center. This is a fantastic opportunity for art enthusiasts to connect with local talented artists as they share their journeys, inspirations, and passions with our community. This month's featured artist: Jeanne Bonine
Join in on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday each month for American Mah Jongg Open Play. Bring your friends, make new friends, and enjoy an afternoon of American Mah Jongg strategy and fun. All levels are welcome to join, with a special invitation to those that have taken our Learn American Mah Jongg and Beginner Guided Open Play classes.
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.
Make time for your art. Whether you're just beginning your artistic journey or have years of creative experience, our Artist Open Studio offers dedicated time and a welcoming place to create. Whether your goal is to learn, practice, or refine your craft, take time for yourself and your art at The Holland Center. Artists Open Studio is each Thursday afternoon.
Whether you know us as Foothills Community Foundation or The Holland Center, we're celebrating 40 years of bringing people together, and we'd love for you to join us! Over four decades, our organization has grown and evolved, bringing people together through programs, events, education, the arts and countless shared experiences. Along the way, we've built lasting friendships and a wonderful community of people who have helped shape who we are today.
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.
Join us for a leisurely stroll through our local native desert park — led by a Desert Awareness Naturalist — and learn about Sonoran Desert upland plants and how they survive. Walks are the 1st Saturday of the month December through April, begin at 10 a.m., and last for 60-90 minutes. The Nature Trail is relatively flat, and the Saguaro Trail is slightly uphill.
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.
Every Monday, join other artists learning, creating and painting together. All levels are welcome and encouraged to meet other artists in a positive and supportive environment. New students will be guided through basic exercises as your learn to paint. Experienced painters will find a supportive community of artists and guidance from a teacher that respects your uniqueness as an artist.
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.
Teens ages 14–18 are invited to join the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Cadet Program — a unique opportunity to learn about law enforcement, build leadership skills, and serve the community. Weekly Tuesday afternoon sessions provide hands-on training and real-world insight into public safety. This is a drop-in program—students can start at any time.
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.
Navigate holiday stress and caregiving challenges with practical guidance from Sam Cradduck, a nationally recognized gerontologist, author, and aging-care advocate with more than 35 years of experience. A seasoned speaker and co-host of the nationally distributed talk show "Aging Untold", Sam brings candid advice and compassionate insight to managing family dynamics, supporting loved ones, and preserving dignity and connection during the holidays.
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.
34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
(480) 488-1090
info@hollandcenter.org
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