Education & Classes in Wilkes-Barre

Jason Harris brews classic American pale ales right alongside his own patented version of watermelon beer, illustrating his passion for both traditional techniques and forward-thinking beer recipes. The company he started in 1992, Keystone Homebrew Supply, now employs a staff of similarly dedicated crafters who are wise in the ways and means of making your own beer, wine, cheese, mead, honey, and flavored play-doh. In addition to stocking all the required equipment and ingredients, Keystone's 23,000-square-foot location in Montgomeryville also hosts classes that inspire amateurs to cook up their own tipples and cheeses.

Donna Infantolino has been baking since she was tall enough to reach the kitchen table, crafting recipes from scratch in her aunt and grandmother’s kitchens. At her combination café and bakery, she and business partner Beth Butler begin every recipe with organic, sustainable ingredients, such as Nielsen-Massey pure vanilla and Scharffen Berger chocolate, whenever possible. The dessert dream team crafts wedding cakes, traditional and filled cupcakes, and one-of-a-kind sculpted cakes in original shapes such as convincing guitars or sassy pumps. They also accommodate customers with dietary restrictions through vegan and gluten-free options.

All in the Icing's staffers expand recreational baking abilities during small-group BYOB classes, which include all of the high-quality ingredients and equipment necessary to create sweet or savory recipes. At the end of sessions, participants head home with their tasty works to share with family or break into tiny pieces to add to crumb collections.

Ocean Sands Scuba's knowledgeable instructors guide divers into the deep with scuba training for beginner and advanced aquanauts alike. Interested patrons test their sea lungs in introductory scuba classes, splashing about in the facility's custom-built pool before moving on to a complete certification course. During certification, students pick up essential information on equipment, techniques, and the trendiest Atlantean nightclubs through in-class study and pool dives. After four weekly classes, burgeoning submergers hit the open water on one of Ocean Sands Scuba's dive trips to Gull Lake or Lake Michigan. Ocean Sands Scuba also stocks scuba equipment from Scubapro, Diverite, and Stahlsac for divers who have already reached certification or for hydrophobic sea turtles.

Corks pop and spirits flow at Eastcoast School of Bartending, where students learn the tricks of the trade in a realistic environment. When not busy in the classroom, students man an actual a 35-foot U-shaped bar stocked with more than 250 bottles, bar utensils, and more than 200 glasses of varying types ready to aid on the journey to bartending mastery. Eastcoast’s instructors cover all areas of the craft, including drink recipes, customer service, alcohol awareness, and how to memorize every regular’s favorite cartoon character. After completing the course, students receive a graduation license approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and recognized in all 50 states. Eastcoast also offers graduates free job-placement services and refresher training for life.

Karen Klein, Art Magic's proprietor and instructor, teaches students of all ages to tap into their creativity during her seven-week art courses, which utilize a wide variety of media, such as drawing, painting, and clay sculpture. A certified K–12 instructor, Karen has been doling out artistic wisdom in public schools since the 1970s and, more recently, in her own workshop classroom. She draws upon this experience to guide budding Monets in her loosely structured classes, giving students total creative control while she stokes the fires of creativity with expert advice and word-association tests.

In A’ La Art’s walk-in studio, art-savvy staffers share technical tips and aesthetic advice as they mingle with visitors painting pottery, molding clay, and arranging fused-glass projects. Patrons can customize plain bisque pieces—selected from an array of hundreds—with stencils and stamps before daubing on food-safe paints and glazes. Alternatively, they can layer iridescent patterns of colored glass beads onto clear glass bases, creating fused glassware such as bowls, plates, or one-use hammers. Experts kiln-fire completed work, which patrons can pick up roughly a week after their studio time.