Classes in Suwanee

?So many people go through life looking at things without really seeing them,? muses Mary Buck, founder of Studio 2.8. Her mission as a teacher is twofold: to help her pupils see things and to help them share what they see with others. ?Photography lets you paint with light,? she tells her classes, ?but you have to go in with a vision.? She gives her pupils the tools to realize their visions during workshops that delve into all facets of digital photography, from the basics of adjusting f-stop to the advanced skills needed to capture a delicious smell of pixels. It isn't surprising that Buck is a photography teacher; photography runs in her blood. Both of her siblings and her sister-in-law are skilled photographers, and she's been aiming her own lens at subjects since she was just 18. As a professional, her talent for catching dimples and laughter has led to portraits that families can pass down to new generations or Earth-conquering aliens. Seventeen years after starting her own studio, her passion for the art form has only grown, and her enthusiasm for sharing what she calls ?that fire in my belly? with her students still burns strong.

Though indoor climbing tends to be clear of mountain-goat traffic, climbers at Adrenaline Climbing may come across a different kind of animal: the adrenaline junkie. Owners Trey and Brad provide a haven for these gentle thrill-seekers at their enormous facility, which boasts 12,500 square feet of climbing space. Along with their staff, the duo takes a hands-on approach to climbing instruction, helping them with the equipment and spotting they need to traverse Adrenaline’s walls. To keep things fresh, the challenging routes and boulder problems—meticulously prepared by a route-management plan and rated according to the Yosemite Decimal System—are periodically recast. Adrenaline Climbing welcomes all climbers, dispensing lessons regardless of skill level, discipline, age, or spirit animal preference. The facility also hosts youth training, climbing classes, and even outdoor guiding trips.

Founded by celebrity wrestler and quadruple amputee Kyle Maynard, No Excuses CrossFit inspires clients to achieve their loftiest goals both in the gym and beyond. A coaching squad that includes elite athletes and firefighters leads each workout, helping students develop physical prowess, mental toughness, and realistic siren imitations. Designed for beginners, 50-minute CrossFit Basics classes challenge the entire body with cardio intervals and strength-training exercises designed to build speed and stamina. Calories melt and muscles ripple as students practice Olympic lifts and gymnastics-inspired pull-ups in a supportive, team-like environment, which includes personalized attention from the coaches, who emphasize proper form to prevent injuries. To foster a complete transformation, No Excuses' trainers also share fitness videos, nutrition pointers, and tips on building a human-size cocoon. Consult the class schedule for dates and times.

The mission of Wonder Color Art Studio is to enrich people’s lives through art and promote creativity in children and adults. The studio will provide an opportunity for students to be unique by expressing their own ideas and imagination.

Inspired by a memorable family activity night with their 7-year-old son, the husband-and-wife team behind Painted Cookies yearns to help kids unleash their creativity on edible cookie palettes. Party planners preroll, cut, and bake 10-inch homemade sugar cookies in shapes that match the theme of the party or home kit. At the party, kids don aprons, sport chef hats, and sprout Salvador Dalí mustaches, then customize their cookies by strewing them with candy toppings and sprinkles and painting them with icing in a variety of colors. Fists shovel smaller cookies into kids' mouths to prevent masterpieces from being consumed before they're finished. At the party's end, each child receives a keepsake photo, and a take-home baggie and bow in which to package his or her treat. Painted Cookies can provide nut-free cookies and toppings by special request. Call ahead to order a take-home kit or begin the party-planning process.

Informed by an ever-growing body of developmental research, classes at The Music Class introduce tots to tunes and concepts that boost creativity and listening skills. In Music Pups (a $72 value) courses, children under 4 years of age gleefully sing, dance, and bang away on rudimentary instruments such as the drums or theremin. Four and 5-year-olds learn concepts of tone and rhythm in the Music Cats course (a $77 value), which lets kids experiment with keyboards before defending their dissertations on the narrative redundancies of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Each 45-minute course meets four times in one month-long segment, and includes CDs for parents to play at home to follow up on in-class tutelage. This Groupon may also be used toward The Music Class' ten-week music courses.