Classes

Classes at Dory come in many shapes and sizes. Members can organize their own classes or study groups, audit classes at Belfast Area High School or the Waldo County Technical Center, access college classes online, find a local tutor/mentor, or participate in offerings from local organizations like the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition or Torchlight Media. Keeping in mind that learning happens everywhere, not just “in class,” we find classes to be a valuable ingredient in a well-rounded education.

Courses offered at the community space tend to be hands-on, interdisciplinary and project-based. Below are some recent offerings continuously updated as they are organized!

Classes 2025/2026

Wellness (Melissa and Jenn)

The Art of Self Directed Learning with Muffins (David)

Torchlight - Intro to Audio Production (Chris and Michelle)

Cooking (David & Larkspur)

Dungeons and Dragons (Austen)

Open Studio (Melissa)

Spanish (Ellen)

Improv Class (Larkspur)

Writing (David)

Debate (David)

Graffiti (Melissa and Jenn)

Math Lab (Jana)

Animal Behavior (Larkspur)

Nature Journaling (Larkspur)

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (David)

Mystery Mel (Mel)

Knots and Navigation - Atlantic Challenge (Arista)

World History - Early Humans to Agrarian Societies (David)

World History - Empires and Belief Systems (David)

World History - The First Global Age and Modernity (David)

Telling Our Own Stories (Larkspur)

Drawing (Finn)

“Call Me American” Book Group

Introduction to Psychology: A Curious and Eclectic Exploration (Will)

New Games Class (Gill)

Hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness (Larkspur)

Communication (Larkspur)

Makelangelo Art Robot Build (Gideon)

Poetry (Annette)

SmashBros (Jude)

Movement

Soccer (Panagioti)

Yoga (Amy)

Run Club (Jasmine)

Tabata Workout (Kai)

Cross Country and Track (RSU 71)

Hikes

Rowing with Come Boating

Miscellany

Games of all kinds

Spelling Bee/Jeopardy (Ariel)

Bookbinding and Repair (Cayla)

3D Printer

Field Trips

Hurricane Island

Maine Statehouse visit with Maine Youth Power

Apple picking at Elwell’s Orchard

Come Boating

Mawte: Bound Together (Colby Art Museum)

Dogsled Movie

The President’ Cake Movie

Pressing Cider at Sasha & Mark’s

Macbeth at the Strand

Gleaning at Johnny’s Seeds with Waldo County Bounty

Window Insert Build at Windowdressers

Center for Maine Contemporary Art - Painting Biennial and Art Workshop

Sledding on Chicken Hill

Stacking Wood for Waldo County Woodshed

Zillman Museum of Art & 42,000 piece puzzle at the Bangor Public Library

Stonecoast Weaving School - Fiber Arts History and hands-on Carding, Spinning, Weaving, Embroidery and Floor Loom

LC Bates Museum

Tanglewood Visit - Snowshoeing and cooking on a fire

Earthways Guide Service - Wood shop Visit and Earthlodge

Hiking - Bald Rock, Lincolnville

Hiking, Sears Island, Searsport

Hiking, Bald Mountain, Hope

Mount Waldo - Hike, History and Archaeology

Maine Grains Mill Tour

Strawberry Hill Farms Maple Syrup Production Tour (with Jeremy)

Self Defense (with Connor)

Orono Trampoline Park

Belfast Soup Kitchen - Volunteering

Camping Trip to Mount Blue State Park and Tumbledown Mountain

Individual Projects/Experiences outside of Dory (a partial list!)

Haiku Death Match-Colonial theatre

Belfast Library - Youth Poetry Competition

American Sign Language ( Carrie)

“Puffs” play by the Maskers

Part-time Work

Teen Center (Wednesdays)

Phoenix Knights Gaming

Waterfall Arts Classes

Telling Room (writing classes and writing community)

Internships

Boardgame Cafe (Friday Nights - organized by Dory member)

Come Boating - Youth Rowing Program

Soccer at the YMCA

Music Lessons at Troy Howard

Camden International Film Festival - Torchlight Field Trip

Torchlight Showcase at the Colonial

Blacksmithing workshop (during April break)

Abdi Iftin “Call Me American” Author’s Talk

Flying Shoes Contra Dance

Cranky Show Showcase at Marsh River Theater

Bagaduce Youth Chorus

“Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless” Author’s Talk and Writing Workshop

Bird Week - Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition (Dory members leading bird walk)

Spring 2025

Media Lab at Torchlight

Learn to produce sound and video pieces from beginning to end using modern media tools. This class is fully student-directed, with youth writing, producing and sharing work in small teams. Projects are supported by Torchlight staff who act in a mentor/producer role, supporting students with creative process, technical know-how and access to equipment. Students will have an opportunity to share work at the Colonial Theater as part of the biannual Torchlight Showcase, or through broadcast on WBFY community radio.

Math Workshop

Ranging from the beautiful to the practical, Math Workshop introduces mathematical concepts and offers an opportunity to practice basic skills with the help of a tutor. A good opportunity to dip your toe in to the mysterious world of math or to receive support in self-directed study.

Big History — Part 2: Origins of Life to Modern Society

This is the second part of a two-part course tracing the history of the Universe, Earth, Life and Human Society, from the big bang to the present, drawing on diverse disciplines from astrophysics to anthropology. How do we know what we know? How does human knowledge grow and develop over time? Though the scope of this course is wide, we will ground our inquiry in the landscape and cultures that surround us. Highly recommended as a jumping-off point for exploring various topics and disciplines. This course draws on curriculum and multimedia resources from https://bhp-public.oerproject.com/

Mystery Class

What happens in mystery class is, well, a mystery. The only requirement is showing up with an open mind and a willingness to try something new. Past lessons have covered everything from making nettle cordage to building robots to qi gong to studying animal tracks.

Open Studio with Melissa Kelly

Join artist, art therapist and educator Melissa Kelly in her Belfast studio for an hour of art-making. Projects range across various media, but the spirit of the class is always creative, open-ended and fun.

Movie Class

Watch and discuss movies that you wouldn’t ordinarily see including drama, documentary and experimental film. This class is student organized and films are chosen by participants.

Book Club!

Read and discuss amazing books. Books are chosen by participants.

Fall 2024

Big History — Part 1: The Big Bang to the Origins of Life

This two-part course traces the history of the Universe, Earth, Life and Human Society, from the big bang to the present, drawing on diverse disciplines from astrophysics to anthropology. How do we know what we know? How does human knowledge grow and develop over time? Though the scope of this course is wide, we will ground our inquiry in the landscape and cultures that surround us. Highly recommended as a jumping-off point for exploring various topics and disciplines. Big History — Part 2: Origins of Life to the Present will be offered in the Spring. This course draws on curriculum and multimedia resources from https://bhp-public.oerproject.com/

Games, Puzzles and Play

What are games? Why do we play? This course will explore mathematical, psychological and sociological concepts through the lens of play. We will examine the importance of play to human development and intelligence and draw on the tools of modern game theory to analyze contemporary life. Our approach will be in the spirit of serious play, using games, puzzles, improv and more.

Dawnland in Three Layers

Explore the history of our region in three layers: Geologic time, Wabanaki history and culture, and the period after European arrival. What stories are written on land? From the markings of glaciers to shell middens to old stone walls buried in the woods. How have humans understood, stewarded and altered their landscape? What lessons do these stories hold for our own relationship to this place? This course seeks to respectfully engage with Wabanaki Studies, using resources created by contemporary Wabanaki scholars. We will also explore and interpret primary sources from archives and digital records at the Belfast Free Library and the Penobscot Marine Museum.

Bookmaking with Melissa Kelly

We will explore a variety of bookmaking techniques such as learning how to bind our own mini books, creating zines and learning how to create a visual journal. Bookmaking holds promise as a therapeutic tool for individuals to explore their identities, share their perspectives and connect with others in a supportive and creative way.

Youth Radio on WBFY

In collaboration with Torchlight Media and WBFY, students will produce a weekly radio show for broadcast on Belfast's own community radio station. Learn the basics of audio production by exploring various forms: music, documentary, interview, and podcasting. Open to Belfast Area High School students.

Meditation

Learn simple, practical mindfulness techniques from breath work to walking meditation. This is a beginner class grounded in the experience rather than the theory of meditation, however, we will touch on various historical traditions as well as modern findings from neuroscience and psychology.

Cooking

Learn to cook! Each week we will choose new recipes to prepare for lunch featuring fresh local ingredients. We will explore various culinary traditions with a focus on how to create delicious, healthy meals on a budget. In the kitchen we will also explore various principles of physics and chemistry as well as botany, history and math. Knife skills, foraging, fermentation, outdoor cooking, food preservation (drying, canning, freezing, etc.), shopping on a budget. This class will also engage with local food systems, food insecurity and movements for food justice including service learning with the Belfast Soup Kitchen and Veggies for All.

In the Works. . .

-Movement Exploration with Shana Blumstein

-Place-based Writing Workshop with Linda Buckmaster

-Media Literacy

-The Art of Living (philosophy)

-Comprehensive Sex-Ed

Interested in offering a class? Get in touch!