Folks tend to get caught up in our regular grind, with some fun escapes, and it can be a good life.

There are however, opportunities to learn fun and useful skills and experiences that open up whole new vistas in our lives, both professionally and recreationally.

Standing on the deck of a boat, Capt. David Bacon holds up huge lingcod.
Capt. David Bacon teaches classes on how to fish for healthy meals, such as this lingcod. Credit: Courtesy photo

One of the best examples of all is the SBCC School of Extended Learning (we used to call it Adult Ed), which offers classes on a wide variety of fun, interesting and useful topics. SBCC has a full catalog of classes, and the variety of offerings is awe-inspiring.

SBCC has a history of reaching out into our community to find knowledgeable and engaging people with skillsets, fascinating backgrounds, and a knack and passion for teaching others.

It always amazes me what a deep and knowledge-rich population we have locally, and SBCC-SEL gives them a place to enhance our community.

That’s how SBCC-SEL found me and politely inquired about my interest in teaching fishing classes since I owned a fishing charter service, a bait & tackle shop, wrote about fishing and boating for various publications and serve on the Board of Directors of Coastal Conservation Association – California Chapter.

It is a joy to teach about something I love as much as fishing. I now teach a successive series of fishing classes including:

  1. Boat-based saltwater (class ID 25043).

2. Shore-based saltwater (class ID 25028).

3. Freshwater (class ID 25029).

The next series of classes begins in June, so whatever classes from SBCC SEL’s huge catalog you find compelling, sign up today.

Your own interests may include fishing, woodworking, writing, weaving, poetry, or any of an almost innumerable variety of possibilities. Chances are you can find a class that interests you by visiting https://sbcc.augusoft.net/.

Many of the classes are taught at the Wake Center on Turnpike Road near the 101 freeway. That is where I teach my fishing classes on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m.

Another busy location for classes is the Schott Center on Bath Street just a few blocks from the Cottage Hospital.

For me and for some of my fishing class students, one enjoyable and satisfying aspect of in-person classes is meeting and getting to know other community members who have signed up for the class because of shared interests.

I’ve seen some solid fishing buddy friendships form. That makes me feel good because the class served people in additional ways.

Capt. David Bacon is a boating safety consultant and expert witness, with a background in high-tech industries and charter boat ownership and operation. He teaches classes for Santa Barbara City College and, with a lifelong interest in wildlife, writes outdoors columns for Noozhawk and other publications. The opinions expressed are his own.