2008 Schedule includes 25 program weeks!

Hands-on Glassmaking at the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass (Course #2388)

March 16 - 21; May 4 - 9; October 26 - 31; and November 16 - 21, 2008

Immerse yourself in hot and cold glass!  You will divide 20 studio hours between furnace working, flameworking and coldworking.  Highly qualified instructors will help you create beautiful glass objects.  At the furnace, you will work with molten glass to fashion paperweights, flowers and vessels. Using the basics of flameworking, you will make beads and small-scale sculpture at the torch.  In the kiln shop, you will create layered and fused pieces such as suncatchers, picture frames, tiles and jewelry.  In addition, you'll learn to sandblast glass during the week.  Demonstrations by master glassmakers as well as lectures on Corning's wonderful glass history augment the program. ($723 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $603 commuter)

That Wonderful Era of the Great Swing Bands, Famous Radio Comedians, History of American Aviation (Course #10997)

March 30 - April 4, 2008 
Survey the sounds and images of the great dance bands of the Swing Era, a dynamic period of American cultural history, using recordings from instructor's collection.  Miller, Shaw, Ellington, Goodman, the Dorseys, Basie and other giants will be covered.  Laugh again at wireless comedy-variety shows, comedy teams and their sketches, situation comedy and Jack Benny.  Radio historian, Gary Yoggy shares his extensive collection and will direct us in a radio play performance with sound effects!  Meet pioneer naval aviator, Glenn Curtiss, and explore the National Soaring Museum and the Wings of Eagles collection as aviation historian and author, Kirk House, glides us through the 20th century technological advances of American flight.  Come fly with us!  ($653 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $533 commuter)

Snapshot: A Glass Collectors' Compendium (Course #13958)
April 20 - 23, 2008
Come to the Crystal City for this program designed for collectors of antique and/or contemporary glass using the expertise of the staff of The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG); dealers and appraisers; local artists and collectors.  Special aspects include extensive use of the CMoG collections, Steuben Glass from 1903 to today; clinics on identification, conservation, photography and packing glass.  Learn how to use on-line auction sites to buy/sell glass. Plus create a blown and fused glass object yourself to add to your collection! Bring photos and/or objects for identification and appraisal.  Visit hot glass studios and the homes of private collectors.  Become more knowledgeable in four days about "all the possibilities of glass." ($490 per person, double occupancy / +$75 single occupancy / $388 commuter)

Hiking the Finger Lakes Trails – Trees, Gorges, and Glacial Geology in Wine Country (Course #12667)
May 11 - 16; May 18 - 23; May 26 - 31; October 19 - 24, 2008 
Explore the Finger Lakes Trail system that runs through wine country. Daily hikes on moderate to hilly terrain of 5 to 7 miles at a 3 mile per hour pace. Spectacular geologic wonders - gorges and waterfalls in Watkins Glen and Treman State Parks - sites built by the CCC in the '30s. Hike near Seneca Lake and in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Special features include Birdseye Hollow, Sugar Hill Recreation Center, a wine and micro-brew tasting, free time for Corning museums, forester/naturalist lectures and guided hikes. Discover upstate New York's white pine, hemlock and maple forests and the educational perspective of environmentalists and Iroquois specialists. October program date goes on sale March 25, 2008. ($663 double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy/ $543 commuter)

Finger Lakes Sampler: Tasty, Beautiful, Historic, with a Full Bouquet (Course #1757) 
June 15 - 20; June 22 - 27;  Aug. 17 - 22; Aug. 24 - 29; Sept 7 - 12; Sept.14 - 19;
Sept. 28 - Oct. 3 and Oct. 12 - 17, 2008
Such a Feast for the Senses! The fine art of wine tasting co-mingled with an appetizer of glacial geology, gorge hike and Finger Lake cruise. The entrée -- the amazing 3000-year history of glass from the famous Corning Museum of Glass, with its Hot Glass Show & Innovation Center. Side dishes include walking tours of local architecture and historic preservation, an amazing museums of aviation and a presentation on Iroquois culture.  Dessert is a visit to the study where Mark Twain wrote his most famous novels and a special feature all about the English glassmaker, Frederick Carder, founder of Steuben Glass in 1903.  Revel in the quality and diversity of historic sites and the natural beauty of our region. P.S. Don’t forget your corkscrew!  ($663 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $543 commuter)

Corning’s Intergenerational Experiences Over the Centuries  (Course #4983)
June 29 to July 4; July 20 - 25; July 27 to August 1; and August 3 - 8, 2008
Participate in the daily life of an 18^th century frontier family.  Discover glassmaking past and present.  Explore the natural setting of Watson Homestead with its 600 acres, creek, low ropes and 36’ climbing tower.  Hands-on experiences include blacksmithing, open hearth cooking, tin punching and glass fusing.  Field trips to the Corning Museum of Glass with its Studio, Innovation Center and Hot Glass show.  The Benjamin Patterson Inn Museum complex includes 1796 inn, one-room schoolhouse, 1700s log cabin, and agricultural exhibit.  At the Glenn Curtiss Museum see “Curtiss Jenny” and other early aeroplanes.  Local sightseeing, art activities and a historic architecture guided walk complete this fun-filled week for grand bigs and littles!  ($618 per adult / $468 per child, ages 9 to 12 / commuters $498 adults or $348 children)

Dead Sea Scrolls: History and Controversy, Comic Strips, Comic Books and Cartoons; and Popular Culture of the Nifty 50s (Course #16579)
September 21 - 26, 2008
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls changed religious history.  Learn about controversies surrounding their translation, as well as their unique importance in our understanding of first century Judaism, Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament from Dr. Dan O’Connor, noted scholar in this field. Look, up in the sky, superheroes, funny animals, tear-jerking romance will be "illustrated" by cultural historian and inveterate collector of this distinctive American art form, Kirk House. Don't miss this "panel" discussion of popular culture. Revisit the defining aspects of the Baby Boomer generation - get all shook up with classic ol'time rock and roll, recall your early television favorites, foods, fashions, and fads, and more serious issues like voting rights, segregation and the space race. Kirk House also teaches this course filled with mirth and surprises.  ($643 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $523 commuter)

Women's Wellness: Mindful Practices for Agile Brains, Aware Bodies and Growing Spirits (Course # 15184)
November 9 - 14, 2008
What are the connections between body, mind and spirit? How satisfied are you with the various aspects of your life? Spend six days exploring the contemporary wellness scene including medical research for our minds and bodies, various forms of eastern movement and relaxation techniques, massage, spiritual mapping and life coaching from practitioners, health educators and spiritual directors.  This active week will be gentle, confidential and life-affirming.  Bring your mother/daughter, sister or dear friend along with your intentions for a fuller, healthier and more dynamic life to this program open to all abilities and limited to twenty participants. ($653 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $533 commuter)

Wellness and the Aging Brain; Mark Twain, and Glenn H. Curtiss (Course # 16580)
November 16 - 21, 2008
Practice strategies for maintaining brain fitness, study the “big 5” areas of brain wellness, learn physical activities for balance and coordination and how creativity and the use of all of our intelligences enhance brain function.  This interactive and participatory course, taught by author and life-span educator Barbara Bruce, will offer a toolbox of ideas to keep the brain fit and functioning for years to come. In 1870, Samuel Clemens married Olivia Langdon, a local Elmira girl.  During the next 20 years, they spent their summers at Quarry Farm just outside of Elmira, where Twain wrote his most famous novels.  Visit Quarry Farm and join Dr. Michael Kiskis as he discusses Twain's books and their relation to his family life - an examination of Sam Clemens' personal and artistic triumphs and tragedies.  Meet pioneer aviator and inventor, Glenn H. Curtiss of Hammondsport, NY, during the centennial celebration of his 1908 "June Bug" flight with instructor and local historian, Kirk House.  Curtiss set motorcycle land speed records before teaming up with Alexander Graham Bell to create aviation history.  Field trips to the Curtiss Museum and two other aviation centers included.  ($653 per person, double occupancy / +$100 single occupancy / $533 commuter)