Adults & Seniors
Social connection is a crucial component of health and well-being at any age, but especially as we get older. For retirees, it is important to replace the social connections of work with new friendships, new interests and new opportunities to make a positive difference. The fun part is, we get to decide what those connections will be!
Ongoing Classes
Workshops
Clubs & Groups
Exercise for EveryBody
Dates: Starts January 6. Ongoing
M/W/F | 9–10 am | $3 | Gym
Keep the body strong all summer long in this all-level exercise class, the longest running class at SCH! Whether you’re new to exercise or a longtime fitness enthusiast, this class has a place for you, and is a great place to form new community connections and friendships.
Let’s Talk: 55+ Discussion Group
once a month on mondays | 10:15–11:45 AM | free | Meeting room
Each Conversations on Aging “Let’s Talk” is an informal, interactive discussion with peers, facilitated by Conversations on Aging volunteers. A different topic is chosen for each month. Presented in partnership with Cascadia Health.
Dates and Topics:
December 16: Resilience: Bouncing Back
January 6: Battling the Blues
February 24: Creating Home as you Age
March 17: Forgetfulness (Where did I leave my glasses?)
April 21: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
May 19: Giving up the Keys
June 9: Learning from Grief and Loss
Alignment Based Yoga for Healthy Aging
Dates: January 7-March 20, and April 1-June 5
Tuesdays & thursdays | 9–10 am | $18/ DROP-IN or $80 for a 5-class punch pass | Gym
Keep your body nimble and strong in this all-levels, safe-for-aging yoga class led by an expert instructor.
Tai Chi
Dates: January 9-March 20, and April 3-June 5
Thursdays | 1:30-2:30 Pm | $18 or $80 for a 5-class punch card/ DROP-IN | Gym
Tai Chi for Health is an introductory class for both beginners and anyone returning to Tai Chi after taking a break. This class practices the Yang style, short form, which consists of 24 forms. Tai Chi helps us all with balance and slow breathing, feeling calm and strong in our bodies. Come join us and find out how joyful movement can be!
Creative Club
Dates: January 8-March 19, and April 2-June 4
Wednesdays | 10:15 AM-12 pm | $10/DROP-IN or $40 for a 5-class punch card | meeting room
Explore your creative self in this fun, engaging, low-stress weekly series led by local artists and storytellers!
Please note, the first Wednesday of each month will be devoted to Story Sharing, where each person gets an uninterrupted five minutes to share their tale.
January Creative Club: Figure drawing explorations. Over the course of the month, we will draw figures in action to understand how the body moves, create multiple characters, place them in a setting, and work in oil pastels. Our inspiration is Degas and his dancers. Please bring images of people in action poses to get started - all other supplies will be provided.
February Creative Club: Visible stitching. Mend or embellish garments and many other items! Start with a stitch sampler to become familiar with this technique or, if you are ready, make a simple tote. Bring a solid button down shirt (such as a chambray shirt, an apron or pair of pants) to decorate in Boro style. Materials supplied but feel free to bring your own.
February’s Story Sharing Topic: Love
Portland Haiku Group
Dates: December 21, January 18 1-3 pm (*note different time in January), February 15, March 15, April 19, May 17
3rd Saturday | 12-2 Pm | $3/ DROP-IN | meeting room
Come together to share haiku and similar short poems, and support each other in the development and appreciation of poetry originating from Japanese culture. Contact Shelley Baker-Gard for more information: sbakergard@msn.com
Mah Jongg Nights
Dates: January 16, January 30, February 6, February 20, March 6, March 20
1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays | 6:30-8:30 Pm | Free | meeting room
American Mah Jongg, one set provided. Bring your own set. Growing group of players. ALL experience levels welcome, learn with us!
Ukulele Jam (SMURK)
Dates: January 9-March 20
Thursdays | 6:30-8:30 Pm | FREE/ DROP-IN | Lobby
Ukuleles RULE. Come jam with the Sellwood Moreland Ukulele Revival Klub! All levels are welcome.
Book Club
4th thursdays | 6:30-8:30 Pm | FREE/ DROP-IN | meeting room
Join this lively group of readers to discuss each month’s book choice. See the book choices on the SCH calendar.
Dates:
1/23: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
2/27: Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilon Woo
3/27: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Drop-in Basketball 21+
Tuesdays | 6:15–9 Pm | $10/ DROP-IN or $40 for a 5-session punch card | Gym
Bring your A-game to our gym!
New Program
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New Program ❄
Tour the Mediterranean
Dates:
January 16: Southern France
January 30: Italy
February 13: Spain
February 27: Greece
March 13: Middle East
*Detailed menus for each date listed below
thursdays | 6:30 pM-8:30 pm | $65 per class / $300 for the whole session / Registration | kitchen
Expand your culinary horizons at SCH! Join registered dietitian and chef Terese Wallace for a taste of Mediterranean cuisine. Each 2-hour class will cover one of five regions: France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and the Middle East. The focus of the class will be on flavor, technique, and ease of preparation; instruction will be both hands-on and by demonstration, and basic knife skills will be taught and reinforced in each class. A vegetarian menu using seasonal produce is planned. Students will be able to enjoy a light meal of all food prepared in class and will receive a print copy of the recipes. The menu is suitable for weeknight preparation and no special skills are required. Wine or non-alcoholic beverages included.
Register for Tour the Mediterranean
Detailed Menus:
January 16: Southern France
Gougères (French cheese puffs)
Herbes de Provence (seasoning blend)
Galettes (a rustic pastry) with roasted root vegetables
Yogurt cake with thyme & lemon (a no-measure cake)
January 30: Italy
Whipped ricotta
Frizzled sage
Massaged kale salad with Caesar dressing
Saffron Orzotto (barley cooked risotto style)
Sautéed mushrooms
Panna cotta
February 20: Spain
Marinated olives
Romesco sauce (tomato, almond, and pepper sauce)
Arugula salad with preserved lemon vinaigrette
Weeknight vegetarian paella
Citrus polenta cake
February 27: Greece
Roasted chickpeas
Tirokaftei (spicy feta cheese dip)
Tzatziki (cucumber yogurt dip with herbs)
Spanakopita spirals (phyllo dough with spinach, feta, and dill)
Galatopita (Custard pie)
March 13: Middle East
Labneh (yogurt cheese)
Za’atar (a spice blend)
Handmade flatbread
Herb, onion, and cheese hand pies
Dates stuffed with chocolate
Club Incubator
We ❤️ Clubs! Sellwood Community House is all about bringing people together to meet friends, make friends, and build community. Many clubs have formed under our roof, and we would love to add to that list! If we don’t offer something that sparks your interest, come to us with your ideas and we can help connect you with others who might like to start something new! Reach out to info@sellwoodcommunityhouse.org.
Portland Go Meetup
wednesdays | 7:00 pM-9:00 pm | $5 suggested donation | meeting room
Join us for an evening of Go, a strategic 2 player game with lots of theory & philosophy around it. Also known as "baduk" or "the surrounding game." We have a limited supply of boards; if you have one you can easily bring along, please do!
Open to all skill levels, new players encouraged!
“All’s Well That Ends Well” End of Life Planning Workshop
Saturday April 5 | 9:30 am-12:00 pm | Register here with Oregon memorial association | meeting room
SCH is pleased to partner with Oregon Memorial Association to present “All’s Well That Ends Well.” This workshop offers you a chance to make end-of-life plans in a thoughtful and supportive environment. Participants will learn about how to plan, what to consider, and how best to make your wishes known to your loved ones and end-of-life care providers.
There is a $15 workbook fee for OMA members and a $25 workbook fee for nonmembers. OMA lifetime memberships are $50.
You can register for the workshop and purchase a workbook online at www.omaoregon.org/workshops or by calling 503-647-5590. You can also purchase a workbook at the workshop, but please make sure to register beforehand. Please also contact OMA if you are experiencing income insecurity.
Winter Adult Programming Schedule
Sellwood Community House offers dynamic programming for adults that fosters creativity, encourages social connection and supports mental and physical health.
Enjoy longtime favorite classes like Creative Club and Tai Chi, and all new offerings including process art workshops, Life Stories workshops, cooking classes, new clubs and more!
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Winter Adult Programming
❄ Winter Adult Programming
Supper Club
Sundays | 7-9 pm | $50 or $90 for 2 / registration on Zeffy | SCH
Dates: January 26, February 23, March 30
How It Works:
We supply the main dish, salad, and drinks.
You bring an appetizer, side, or dessert.
If your recipe is unique to you, share it for a chance to be featured in our cookbook, set to be published at the end of the year.
Please finalize your recipe one week in advance. We’ll reach out to gather the details so we can create recipe cards to share.
On-site childcare can be added at registration.
Offline Club
Monthly on Mondays, starting March 17 | 6:30-9 pm | $30, register Here | SCH
Join us for Offline Club! Take a break from your screens and connect with others in a meaningful way while experiencing the joy of building community the old-fashioned way.
What’s Included:
A complimentary drink (beer or wine)
Free popcorn
Board games sponsored by Cloud Cap
Tarot card readings
Hands-on cooking demo
Watercolor supplies
Typewriters with writing prompts
Sketching and coloring materials
Double Dutch jump ropes
Open basketball in our gym
A selection of books and magazines
Plus, Enjoy These Purchase Options:
Charcuterie boxes
Baked goods
Embroidery kits
Watercolor booklets
Appliqué kits
Basket weaving kits
And more!
Feel free to bring along a book, sketchbook, or your current craft project—whether it’s knitting, crochet, sewing, or anything else you’re working on. We can’t wait to see you there!
Cultivating Inner Peace
Thursday March 13 | 10:30 AM-12 pm | $18/ registration on Zeffy
As we step fully into 2025, some of us may be feeling anxious, stressed, way too busy to take care of ourselves, or lost in the needs of others.
In this new workshop, "Cultivating Inner Peace," you will learn to create your own little pocket of peacefulness each week right in your own home.
Together we will explore and experience a number of very useful tools and techniques to bring more calm, quiet, and ease to our days, then choose which ones suit us the best. You will take home a list of 4-5 ideas which can become a menu for weekly "Half Days of Mindfulness." Sometimes just an hour at the beginning or end of your week can really feel like a life saver.
Join Julie Little for this 90 minute workshop on Thursday March 13th, 10:30 am-12 pm, in the Sellwood Community House Meeting Room.
Register for Cultivating Inner Peace
Wine Tasting Workshop
Monday, february 3 | 6:30-8:30 | $60/registration on zeffy | SCH Kitchen
Choosing a bottle of wine in a store or from a wine list can be intimidating- especially if you are new to the wine world. Our wine expert Brielle will guide you through how to taste and evaluate a wine to determine your own wine preferences. Learn about tannin, acidity, body, balance, and more as you taste 3-4 wines. You will leave with the confidence to explain what you like and find wines you love.
Quick Pickles Workshop
Monday, February 10 | 6:30-8:30 PM | $45/ registration on Zeffy | SCH Kitchen
Unleash your culinary creativity and preserve the flavors of the season with our Quick Pickle Workshop! In this hands-on class, you'll learn the art of quick pickling, a great way to enhance your dishes and reduce food waste. A brief overview will be provided followed by hands-on pickling. Each of you will take home 2 jars of pickles. Experiment with herbs and spices to create unique flavor profiles and take home a few recipe suggestions.
Solid Perfume Workshop
Monday, March 3 | 6:30-8:30 PM | $65/ registration on Zeffy | SCH Kitchen
Join our hands-on Solid Perfume Class, where you’ll create your very own custom scent. In this workshop, you will learn the art of blending essential oils and fragrance notes, working with top, middle, and base notes to craft a well-balanced perfume. Take home two solid perfume tins and the skills to recreate your own fragrance blends at home.
Day: Monday March 3
Time: 6:30-8:30
Cost: $65/ registration on Zeffy
Location: SCH Kitchen
Sourdough Workshop
Monday, March 10 | 6:30-8:30 PM | $45/ registration on Zeffy | SCH Kitchen
Learn the art of sourdough making from starter to fresh-baked loaf!
Market Basket Weaving Workshop
Monday, March 31 | 6:30-8:30 PM | $115/ registration on Zeffy | Max Capacity: 20
Join us for a hands-on basket weaving class where creativity meets craftsmanship! In this session, you'll learn the traditional techniques of basket weaving using natural materials. Designed for beginner-intermediate level crafters, the class will guide you through the process. Participants will have the opportunity to create a beautiful, functional market basket that you can take home. All materials will be provided, and you’ll leave with your handmade basket and the skills and confidence to create more at home. Baskets measure 5x12" base; 14" tall.
New Year Vision Board Workshop
Saturday, FEbruary 15 | 10:30am - 12:30PM | Registration Required, $10 suggested Donation | Max Capacity: 12
Ready to manifest what you want for your life in 2025? Be it career, relationships, goal-setting, health, etc., come together with friends to create your own collage of images and words that will help make your intentions a reality. Basic supplies provided, but bringing magazines and images to use and share is highly encouraged.
New Classes
Help us decide what our next class offerings should be!
Need financial support for our Adult & Senior programs?
Apply for our scholarship program!