Here are 50 ideas for different types of classes you can take as an adult.  To find any of these, search by using the subject + the name of your hometown. It’s easier to meet people if the class meets more than just one time.  

Daniel Bayard Jackson, a professional friendship coach, advises her clients to go three times to an event. This makes it more likely that you can connect with someone because you can bring up something from the prior meeting. She has a handy guide for how to turn acquaintances into friends when you subscribe to her email.

It is possible for online learning or virtual classes to turn into something where you can meet people in person over time.  Building new skills is a great way to have built-in conversation starters because it’s easy to discuss what you’re learning.  I didn’t find any free courses, but I found plenty that are good for older adults.  

You can narrow your search down into day or evening classes.  The basic search formula if you see one that interests you is the subject + class + your city.  You will be amazed at the variety of topics where you can find a class.

1. Ceramics and Pottery: These classes can cover basics like wheel-throwing or hand-building techniques and progress to advanced skills like glazing and firing.  When I looked at what’s offered in Dallas I found a 5-week class, but you can look at pottery stores for this.
2. Photography: There’s so much to learn about photography, from basics to advanced techniques, understanding equipment, lighting, composition, and even photo editing software.  In Dallas I found a Photography studio that offers all kinds of in-person workshops from digital shooting to how to develop your own film.
3. Gardening: Classes can focus on different aspects such as organic gardening, urban gardening, landscape design, or specific types of plants. If this is your area of interest you can find a program to become a Master Gardener or a master composter.  These are pretty in-depth, but a good chance to meet others that like gardening. The course I found is 5-months long and meets once a week.
4. Cooking and Baking: Diverse cuisines, specific cooking techniques, baking, pastry making, wine pairing, and more could all be covered.  If you have a local Sur La Table or Williams Sonoma, they offer cooking classes.  
5. Music: Adults can learn to play a new instrument, take singing lessons, or learn music theory and composition.  The problem is that these types of course offerings is that they are usually one on one with an instructor, which doesn’t usually lead to group discussions.
6. Writing: Creative writing, poetry, scriptwriting, non-fiction writing, or even business writing can all be great creative outlets.  If you are interested in writing a novel there is an annual challenge where you might be able to meet other writers, maybe virtually AT FIRST, and then in person every November.  Check out this article.
7. Dance: Various styles such as ballroom, salsa, ballet, or hip-hop can be enjoyable and also a great way to stay fit while meeting others.  
8. Yoga/Meditation: These classes not only promote physical well-being but also mental health.
9. Language Learning: Learning a new language can be challenging and also a great way to meet new people and the classes are regular.
10. Woodworking or Carpentry: These skills can be therapeutic, creative, and practical around the house.  There is a chain of woodworking shops called Woodcraft, and they teach all kinds of woodworking classes.
11. Knitting and Crochet: These are traditional crafts that are often offered at sewing and fabric stores.
12. Jewelry Making: This can include everything from beading to working with precious metals.
13. Computer Programming: Coding skills can be a useful hobby that can also turn into a profitable side gig.  This might not be the place to meet other 50+ women because, I hate to cling to stereotypes, but this tends to attract a more male crowd.  
14. Bird Watching: Learn about different species, their habits, and habitats. Some classes might even include field trips.
15. Drawing and Sketching: Different from painting but a whole art world unto itself, with many different styles and mediums to explore.  Look for a creative arts center in your town.  In Dallas we have CAC, which has all kinds of classes.
16. Furniture Restoration: This hobby is practical and sustainable, teaching how to give a second life to worn-out furniture.
17. Astronomy: Learning about the stars, constellations, and perhaps even how to use a telescope can be fascinating.
18. Beer and Wine Making: These classes can be fun, and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
19. Calligraphy: An elegant and therapeutic hobby that can be used in many practical ways, like card making or wall art.  There are lots of virtual calligraphy courses, but look for an in person one.
20. Fitness Classes: Beyond traditional gym workouts, adults could explore pilates, martial arts, Zumba, or even circus classes for adults.

If you want to take something a bit more unusual, you might consider these

1. Glass Blowing: This ancient art form can result in beautiful pieces of art and utilitarian pieces alike.
2. Blacksmithing or Bladesmithing: These classes can teach how to forge and shape metal, even creating your own tools or knives.
3. Bookbinding: Learn the process of physically assembling a book from an ordered stack of paper sheets.
4. Perfume Making: Explore the art of creating your own scents with natural and synthetic ingredients.
5. Beekeeping: A class on the care and maintenance of bees can not only be fascinating but can also result in delicious honey.  Did you know that bees can be shipped to you through the mail?
6. Soap or Candle Making: Fun and practical, these classes could also lead to thoughtful homemade gifts.
7. Falconry: While certainly not common, classes to learn about training birds of prey do exist!  In fact, there are charitable organizations devoted to the preservation of birds of prey, which I can be another great way to meet people.
8. Foraging and Wildcrafting: Learn how to safely identify and gather edible plants in the wild.
9. Ice Sculpting: A unique art form that combines physical strength and delicate finesse.  This one is pretty far out there.  
10. Mushroom Cultivation: Growing your own gourmet or medicinal mushrooms is something that is really outside the box.  

My experience taking classes

I tried two classes.  I took a woodworking class.  This turned out to be a terrible place to meet people.  The class was full of men under 40.  I learned alot, but met no one.  

I then took a watercolor painting class.  This class was filled with women my age.  To be fair, I took the class with a friend, which really limits the chance to meet new people.  This class gave me two valuable insights.  First, I really need to take a class that meets more than once to engage with the people in the class.  Second, take the class solo.  

The bottom line is that I didn’t meet anyone, but I need to do a better job of stepping outside my comfort zone.  I think adult education programs are a great way to meet people.  

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How to Find The Right Book Club For You

When you are looking for a book club you should consider these details.  

• Does the book club read books that I like?  Some book clubs read only one type of book, like contemporary fiction or non-fiction.  They will usually give a list of the previous books they’ve read.  Many times they keep reading lists of past and future books.
• How often does the club meet and can you meet the reading requirements? Some have monthly meetings and others meet less frequently, which can make it hard to get to know people in the group.

There are plenty of book clubs around once you start looking.  I think it’s important to go to at least two meetings before you decide if it’s for you.  

How to Find a Book Club

There are so many ways to fiind a local book club (and even more if you want a virtual book club).  These tips are for in-person book clubs only.  

• Go to the local library, look for postings on the bulletin board or ask the library staff
• Check bookclubs.com for meetings in your area
• Ask at local bookstores
• Look in Facebook for groups in your area.  Do a quick search for a Facebook Group using “book club + your city”
• Check Nextdoor app to see if there’s one around you that is taking new members

How to Prepare for Your First Meeting

The first obvious thing to do is to read the book.  I was a little nervous before my first meeting so I also looked at discussion questions in advance.  It’s also helpful to make a few notes about the book.  Things you liked or disliked about it.  Questions you would ask the author if you could.  

I find it harder to flip through a book in a disucssion if it’s an electronic book.  For me notes are important if I read the book on my E-reader.  

It’s common for book clubs to discuss books other than the current selection.  Come with a few book titles that you really liked so you can make book recommendations.   

​Book Club Etiquette

1. Always Read the Book: Unless the group is really just a social club (which can happen), the central point of a book club is to discuss the chosen book. Unless you’ve had an emergency or something unexpected comes up, make sure you’ve read the book before the meeting. You don’t want to be the one person who can’t contribute or who needs the plot explained.

2. Respect Everyone’s Opinions: In any good discussion, there will be varying viewpoints. Some people might love a book that you didn’t enjoy and vice versa. Always respect the opinions of others, even when you disagree. Remember, the goal is not to convince everyone to agree with your perspective, but to share and understand different viewpoints.

3. Avoid Spoilers: If your group reads one book at a time, it’s crucial not to spoil the book for others. If you’re ahead in the book or if you’ve read it before, don’t reveal key plot points that could ruin the experience for others.

4. Contribute to the Conversation: Discussion is a two-way street. Be sure to add your thoughts, ask questions, and engage in the conversation, rather than just listening.

5. Avoid Dominating the Discussion: On the flip side, be careful not to monopolize the conversation. Make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. If you’re naturally more talkative, be mindful to make space for quieter members to express their thoughts.

My Personal Experience After Joining Book Clubs

I joined two book clubs in my quest to make new friends after 50.  I enjoyed one of the book clubs, but I haven’t met anyone from the group outside the club.  It takes time to get to know the people enough to do something outside the monthly meeting.  As a result, this method for making friends is not necessarily a quick way to go about it.  

The first group I found was through Facebook groups in my neighborhood.  It was a group that had been established for several years.  I went to two meetings.  

This group was not a good fit for me.  This group did teach me a valuable lesson to look for in future book clubs.  It taught me one thing to look out for.  Does the group do a lot of book talk?  This group didn’t.  

I’m not interested in a new book club where the primary subject of discussion is NOT the book.  This group really loved to talk about politics.  Even if I agree with them, that isn’t what I’m looking for in a book club.  I suspected this might not be a fit for me after the first meeting, but gave it two tries.  

The second one I found on bookclubs.com.  It’s a group that reads only Thrillers.  So far I’ve been enjoying this group, but haven’t made any one-on-one connections.  The group has women of all ages.  The jury is still out on whether this will be a place that I make any new connections.  

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Whatever the reason, I find that it’s not as easy for older adults to make new friends.  I miss being in social circles with people who have similar interests.  I want to have a few golden girls for my golden years.  

More importantly, studies show that people with strong social connections live longer.  All of the social isolation in 2019-2020 is proof that we need close friendships.  A recent study from Michigan State University study finds that friendships are more important the older you get.

I’m going to experiment with finding new friends and report back with helpful tips for each method.  I’m pretty introverted, so this isn’t easy for me.  Think of it as a science experiment.  

I’m going to test out these ways to find new friends.  

Here are 25 of the best ways to make new friendships and meet people.  The first step is to choose just one and do it.  

• Joining a book club:  Book clubs are an easy way to get together with people that you don’t know very well and you have a built-in conversation topic, the book.  You can a book club through your local library or by using this site, which you can sort by genre and location.
• Volunteering: Helping a cause you believe in can bring you close to like-minded people.  I recently found this site that helps you match up your interests and skills with volunteer opportunities.
• Take Classes or Workshops: Whether it’s painting, pottery, woodworking or learning a new language, these classes can be a great place to meet new people and you can learn how to do something new at the same time.  I found a list of 30 ideas for adult classes.
• Online Communities: Joining online groups, forums or communities related to your interests can lead to real life meetups.  I can think of two online groups that I’m in that have in-person social events.  One is a podcast that has a Facebook community.    
• Join Sports Leagues: Participate in sports like pickle ball or bowling.  These sports have leagues based on your skill.  
• Networking Events: Professionally oriented events can lead to personal friendships, too.  This sounds like torture to me, but I will try it.  The best way to find one is to search for “networking group” + your city.  The one I found is also listed in meetup. There are so many meetup groups for all different kinds of interests.
• Running or Walking group: These groups can provide a routine opportunity to find people who are interested in physical health.  It’s easy to talk while you walk (or maybe for some while you run).  Local athletic stores often host these.  In Dallas, there is a store called Run On that organizes group runs and walks.   
• Attending Social Gatherings: Attend parties, barbecues, or other gatherings when invited.  If you are like me, you might be inclined to decline these invites but try going.  
• Religious Institutions: If you’re religious, your place of worship likely has social events or study groups.  A church group is also something where you meet on a regular basis, which helps you by giving you a weekly commitment.  
• Community Gardens:  Depending on where you live, there are often community gardens that you can volunteer in or rent a space in.    
• Hosting a Meetup or Social Event: Have a game night, potluck, or any gathering and ask attendees to bring someone new.
• Coworking Spaces: These spaces often have social events for members.
• Local Festivals or Events: These can provide a shared experience to bond over.  Does you town have a medieval festival or an art festival?  I’m ashamed to say Dallas has both of these, but I never go.  
• Gyms or Fitness Classes: Exercise can provide a routine opportunity to see the same people and strike up conversations.  I’ve belonged to my local YMCA and they have lots of classes and a really non-intimidating environment.  You can visit your local gym for free in most place at least once to see if you like it.  
• Cooking or Wine Tasting Classes: Bond over a shared love of food or drink.
• Concerts or Music Festivals: Shared musical taste can be a great conversation starter, although it can be hard to talk if they are loud.  
• Using Friendship Apps: There are apps designed to help people make new friends.  You might have thought of these just for dating, but they aren’t.  Here’s a list of the ones that are out there.
• Public Speaking Clubs: Organizations like Toastmasters can help you meet others while improving your speaking skills.
• Taking Your Dog to a Dog Park: It’s a great way to strike up a conversation with other dog owners.   You can find people at official dog parks or at local parks.  
• Attending a Book Signing or Lecture: These types of events are usually held at book stores and libraries. There is a program called Arts and Letters Live, which is through the local museum, so museums are good place to look.  
• Farmers’ Markets: These can offer a leisurely, low-pressure environment to strike up conversations.  This sounds like a stretch if you are not one to make long conversations at the grocery store, but at farmer’s markets there are often local vendors selling things they make and they like to talk to people about them.  
• Hobbies and Crafts Fairs: Connect over shared interests or learn a new skill, whether it’s knitting, pottery, or an art class.
• Language Exchange Programs: You can make friends while learning a new language.
• Local Political Groups or Campaigns: If you’re politically inclined, these can be places to meet like-minded people.  This might be last on my list because I’d rather not discuss potentially sensitive topics right off the bat.      
• Take a New Route to Work or Try a New Coffee Shop: Sometimes, changing your routine causes you to run across new people that you’ve never met before.  If you like coffee, try out new coffee shops on the regular.  Mel Robbins just did a podcast about how to meet people in your neighborhood coffee shop. It was really good.

If this list sounds really overwhelming, it does to me too.  I’m a shy person and some of the things on the list are way outside my comfort zone.  

I recently read How to have memorable conversations with new people.  The biggest take away is that all you have to do is ask questions and listen.  You don’t have to make small talk or talk about yourself if you’re curious about someone else.  Interesting people are really interested people.    It seems backward, but it does work.

I’m going to test out each of these and let you know which ones worked best for me.  I’ll also be reporting which of these would work best for someone who is not like me at all (i.e. more of an extrovert).  

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