Taking captivating and creative photographs is a challenge. While determining whether a photograph is aesthetically pleasing may be subjective, there are basic techniques for photographers to follow to assist in the photography process. This beginner's course will provide an overview of the basics needed to successfully take photographs. Through this course, you will learn about camera basics, including equipment and settings. Additionally, the course will dive into composition, focusing, and editing to create eye-catching visuals and enhance the photography experience.

For more information or to register please click the link.

This is where your future begins!  Whether you are looking to complete your high school education (diploma or HiSET, formerly GED), wanting to brush off skills for college, or heading toward a career, this is the first step.  During this one-on-one meeting, we will discuss your academic history and current standing, any barriers to progress, and goals; short & long term. We will also give a clear picture of how our program works and what you can expect from us.   

We accept new students throughout the school year! Submit this request for information and we will be in touch!

Aroostook County Adult Education Programs are all partnering with the EnGen online learning platform to provide ESL instruction, support and career guidance. 

EnGen is a personalized, career-aligned English learning platform that offers 130+ courses that equip learners of all levels with both language and career skills to access opportunities in high-demand fields.  Courses range from Beginner English Literacy to more advanced career-aligned courses in the fields of healthcare, manufacturing, retail, hospitality and many more.  

When you enroll in these courses through Adult Education you will have access to all the EnGEn courses as well as support and instruction from a local instructor who will work with you to ensure your success in ESL.  You will also have the option to work with the local instructor either in person or remotely via video conferencing.

Contact any of our Aroostook County Adult Education offices today to learn more.

In Southern Aroostook County 

Houlton/Hodgdon Adult and Community Education Center - (207) 538-3191

In Central Aroostook

MSAD1 Adult and Community Education (Presque Isle) - (207) 764-4776

Eastern Aroostook Adult and Community Education (Caribou) - 207-493-4272

In the St. John Valley 

Valley Unified Continuing Education - (207) 834-3536

Van Buren Adult and Community Education-(207) 868-5758

Photographing Nature with Your Digital Camera

Jump into the world of nature photography! In this course, you'll master taking beautiful outdoor photos of everything from landscapes to specific nature items such as water, flowers, trees, animals, and more. Along the way, you'll learn all about digital camera equipment, telephoto photography, and even macro photography. With plenty of examples and opportunities to share your work, you'll be shooting breathtaking photos in no time!

Start a Pet Sitting Business

If you're an animal lover, find out how to translate your passion into a profitable career! In this course, you'll master the essentials of starting a pet sitting business. You'll begin with dog and cat care, including nutrition, exercise, first aid, and identification of common diseases. You'll also find out how to handle home visits and impress potential clients. In addition, you'll delve into finances and explore start-up costs, accounting, fee-setting, business plans, and low-cost marketing. By the end of this course, you'll have all the knowledge you need to be a successful pet sitter.

Become a Veterinary Assistant

Do you like animals? Would you like to prepare for a career as a veterinary assistant? This course, taught by a practicing veterinarian and college instructor, will give you the information you need to counsel veterinary clients on pet nutrition, vaccinations, worms, fleas, first aid, euthanasia, and alternative medicine. You will also get a taste of how a veterinary hospital ticks as a small business by focusing on billing, workplace safety, and marketing through client education programs.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

This is an instructor led course.  Available class dates are April 12, May 17, Jun 14 and July 12.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

This is an Instructor-Led class.  Sessions begin on May 17th, Jun 14th, July 12th and Aug 16th.  For more information or to register please click the link.

Spark your creativity and start writing with this online writing course bundle. You will learn the mechanics of writing and editing, and have your story work-shopped by peers.

Creative writing is more than just having a good idea for a story. To be a writer, you must know the mechanics of writing, have strong editing skills, and be able to give and receive constructive feedback in a writer's workshop. If you have an idea for a story, these online writing courses will help you create a publishable piece of fiction or nonfiction.

Beginning Writer's Workshop

Learn how to bring your creative writing piece to life. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

Writing Essentials

Learn the fundamentals of strong writing. Writing Essentials focuses on composition, grammar, and structure, so you can create clear and effective paragraphs.

The Keys to Effective Editing

Become your own editor. You will learn how shape a rough draft into a final draft with professional editing techniques.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16. For more information or to register please click the link.

Fiction spans several genres and touches millions of readers. Some of the most enduring works of fiction have come from genres like fantasy, romance, and mystery. And today, many genre pieces have gone on to become multimedia franchises. If you want to become a writer, there's no better time to learn genre fiction and screenwriting.

Explore Fiction Writing will teach you how to write works of fantasy, romance, and mystery. You will also learn screenwriting, since film as a medium can further expand your story ideas. You will learn how characterization, plotting, narrative, and other techniques of fiction translate to genre writing. And through targeted writing assignments, you will put what you learn into practice. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course bundle will help you broaden your skills and understand what makes readers engage with your work.

Writing the first draft is only the first step though. You will also learn how to revise and proofread like an editor. As you craft your work from first to final draft, you will also learn what happens after "The End." Marketing your work and submitting for publication is an important part of a writer's work, and you will learn how to navigate this process. With the tools you will gain in this course, you will be ready to write, edit, and submit your story, novel, or screenplay.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.  For more information or to register please click the link.

The phrase 'stranger-than-fiction' exists for a reason. Some of the most fascinating stories are completely true, and there's a huge audience ready to read them. In fact, non-fiction book sales grew by over $6 billion from 2013-2018 with no sign of slowing down.

The Explore Non-Fiction Writing Suite covers the best ways to tell a non-fiction story: as a book, a memoir, as a magazine article, or in a travel piece.

If you dream of becoming a full-time author or just have a story to tell, Write and Publish Your Nonfiction Book will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece. After learning what goes into the general non-fiction book, you will learn about the art of memoir. What you produce in Write Your Life Story may find a lucrative market, just like the bestselling Rocket Boys and Angela's Ashes.

While magazines have mostly gone digital, the non-fiction essay is still a page turner. The Craft of Magazine Writing focuses on time-tested techniques for researching, writing, and pitching your work to magazines. Another highly engaging way to tell a true story is the 'travel piece.' Travel Writing will teach you how to translate what you experience in your travels into publishable articles and books.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

For more information or to register please click the link.