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Center Notes

Increase your babysitting skills

For young people who are thinking about starting their own babysitting business or those who want to increase their skill level, The Center of Anna Maria Island is hosting a babysitting class on Saturday, Oct. 22. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and participants will learn skills to help them babysit safely and effectively, including becoming certified in CPR and first aid. Skills covered in the course include getting started with a business, caregiving, working with parents and children and key safety measures. The class is open to young people from 11-17. The cost to attend is $85 for Center members or $100 for non-members. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 14. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Learn to play canasta

Come out to The Center of Anna Maria Island and learn to play canasta. The nonprofit is hosting a six-week class from Oct. 18-Nov. 22 to teach people of all ages how to play American canasta. Classes take place every Tuesday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Players will be split into teams of four and will learn strategies and rules of play to help them beat their opponents. The cost for the class series is $90 for Center members and $100 for non-members. All classes take place at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria, and the deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 14. For more information, or to reserve your spot, call 941-778-1908.

Center hosts capoeira classes for beginners

For anyone who’s ever wanted to learn the intricacies of the Brazilian dance fighting martial art, a six-week course on capoeira for beginners is kicking off on Monday, Oct. 17. Classes will meet every week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. through Nov. 21. Participants will learn the basic movements of capoeira and how to apply them while also exploring some of the art form’s history, and will engage in a capoeira roda. The class is open to all ages; it’s recommended that a parent or guardian accompany students under 10 years old for their first class. The cost is $50 for Center members or $60 for non-members and the deadline to register is Oct. 14. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Get CPR certified at The Center

Landes Emergency Training Services is offering an AED/CPR certification class this month at The Center of Anna Maria Island. The class is on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 6:30-8 p.m. and participants will earn a two-year certification upon completion. The training session is open to all community members with a cost of $90 for Center members and $100 for non-members. Registration is required by Friday, Oct. 14. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Learn improv skills at The Center

The Center of Anna Maria Island joins organizations from all around the country in offering GameOn programming, a course designed to help children develop their improv, theatrical, listening and public speaking skills through games. Classes take place every Thursday from Oct. 20-Dec. 15 with kids ages 6-8 meeting at 4 p.m. and children ages 9-11 meeting at 5 p.m. The cost for the series is $200 for Center members or $225 for non-members. All classes are at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 14. For more information, or to register your child, call 941-778-1908.

Attract pollinators with seed bombs

Teens in fourth through ninth grades are invited to come to The Center of Anna Maria Island and learn how to make seed bombs on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 6-7 p.m. During the class, created in partnership with the Manatee County Public Library System, students will learn how to create beautiful, functional seed bombs to brighten up their outdoor space and also create a food source for pollinating insects and birds. The cost to attend is $20 for Center members or $25 for non-members. All supplies will be provided. The class takes place at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. To register, call 941-778-1908.

Tumble Tots classes roll into The Center

Learn to flip, kick and tumble at The Center of Anna Maria this fall with tumbling classes for youth. Classes take place every Thursday from Oct. 20-Nov. 17. Tumble Tots classes for kids ages 2-4 will be held from 3-3:45 p.m., followed by youth tumbling for kids entering kindergarten through fifth grade from 3:35-4:30 p.m. and advanced youth tumbling for students entering kindergarten through fifth grade from 4:30-5 p.m. Students will be placed in the advanced tumbling class based on skill level and at the discretion of the instructor. The cost to participate is $100 for Center members or $125 for non-members. Registration is required by Friday, Oct. 14. To register, call 941-778-1908. All classes will be held at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.

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