Your browser is not optimized for viewing this website.

More information »

St. Johns County Council on Aging



Our Classes

Creating a Home to Retire In ~ Safely on Monday, January 26 at River House

$1250

with Jillann Gildea

Calendar Jan 26, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Learn about the importance of planning ahead for staying at home into your Golden years.

This discussion includes:

  • Staying vs Assisted Living
  • Selling and downsizing
  • In depth space planning for remodeling.
  • American Disabilities Act Planning
  • Smart Home Options
  • Budgeting realities

Please be prepared for a jam-packed Informative session. Bring something to take notes with so you can use these techniques in your own life journey.

Jillann Gildea has been in Real Estate and Interior Design for over 30 years and is a National Marketing Award Winner. She is a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer with a specialty in Ageing in Place. She is the Lead Designer for JAG Design Team. Today she enjoys helping others create functional living spaces that bring joy to their life at whatever stage they are in.

This one session class will take place on Monday, January 26 from 9 - 11 at River House, 179 Marine Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084. 

For adults age 18 and up

Will run

Art Journal Projects: Hand Lettering and Where to Add It on Monday, January 26 at River House

$1250

with Liz Monaco

Calendar Jan 26, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Learn Hand Lettering and Where to add it on your page.

Join our inspiring hands-on class designed to help you craft and personalize your very own art journal! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop offers a perfect space to explore your creativity, experiment with different techniques, and develop your unique artistic voice.

Page Techniques: Practice diverse methods like watercolor washes, mixed media layering, doodling, stamping, and collaging to bring your pages to life.

Creative Exploration: Use prompts and exercises to unlock ideas, encourage spontaneous art-making, and let your pages evolve naturally.

Personalization: Learn how to incorporate your own memorabilia, quotes, and themes that resonate with your personal story or interests.

Maintaining Your Journal: Tips for staying motivated, documenting your everyday moments, and making journaling a fun and ongoing creative project to continue exploring long after the session.

Who Should Join: Anyone interested in art, self-expression, or simply exploring new ways to create! No prior experience needed—just an open mind and a love for making art.

Basic Supplies to bring each week:

  • Journal-A Commercial or handmade journal with heavy paper for mixed media projects 
  • Glue – Mod Podge or PVA (white school glue), Fabric tac glue, and Glue stick 
  • Scissors 
  • Pencil 
  • Eraser  
  • Ruler
  • Acrylic paints- Metallic and primary colors 
  • Graphite Pencil 
  • Color Markers 
  • Gel Pens (White, Gold, Silver,) 
  • Color Wheel 

Additional supplies may be needed depending on the type of project offered each week. You will want to adapt these projects to your own style and colors. Art prompts are offered at each class to help encourage working with different materials. Note: Whenever you can, try using or adapting what you have on hand. 

Contact Liz Monaco at lizart23@gmail.com for any of the upcoming projects and supply lists. Let me know the dates you will be attending.

Please email Liz at lizart123@gmail.com for the supply list for the class.

Class session will be held on Monday, January 26 from 1:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Sculpt, Stride & Stretch on Mondays in February at River House

$2825

with Katie Smith

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 3 weeks

This class is designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength without increasing risk. Energizing and easy-to-follow movements promote heart-healthy, total-body conditioning to increase balance, cardiovascular, and muscular endurance. Follow along with engaging music as we alternate between low impact aerobics conditioning and upper body strength training using dumbbells. 

The final 30 mins will be devoted to stretching the entire body to increase flexibility and mobility

Equipment needed:

  • water
  • towel
  • dumbbells or a band
  • athletic shoes

Katie is on a mission to empower everyone with the mantra "get stronger to live longer." As an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor since 2018 she brings her passion for health and wellness to the St. Augustine community through a variety of engaging classes. Specializing in Body Pump, Indoor Cycle, Boot Camp, Core & Flexibility, and Active Older Adult Classes, Katie ensures her sessions are both enjoyable and challenging. Her journey is a testament to the adage that age is just a number, as she achieved her lifelong ambition of becoming a fitness instructor at 44.

Class sessions will be held on Mondays, February 2, 9, 23 (no class session on Feb. 16) from 9 to 10:30 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Jewelry Wire Wrapping Class on Mondays in February at River House

$3750

with Kathy Tengesdahl

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 3 weeks

Jewelry art students can expect to learn basic tool use and refine a wire loop in the first class as well as creating a pair of wire wrapped crystal earrings. In subsequent classes we will create spirals combined with crystals to create earrings and advancing to a tree of life wire wrapped pendant as well as a wire link bracelet. Along the way you will learn correct tool usage, wire straightening, wrapped loops, unclosed loops, and making your own loop clasps.

Supplies required:

  • VOUIU 6 piece jewelry plier set
  • PH Panda Hall 34 color 4mm electroplate glass crystals AB.
  • Bencreat wire, roll of 20 gauge and 26 gauge silver wire
  • GUFJUCH stainless steel earring hook set, wires, backs, jump rings

(These items can be found on Amazon)

Kathy Tengesdahl has an AA degree in art and a BS in Education. She combines that with 35 years of creating Jewelry art and she is adept at bead weaving with a focus on creating with wire wrapping. She has taught for the past 5 yrs in The Villages, Florida and now 7 months living in St Augustine. She hopes you will join her in creating something beautiful that you will be proud to wear.

Class sessions will be held on Mondays, February 2, 9, 23 (No class session Feb. 16) from 10 to noon at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Chair Yoga on Mondays in February at River House

$1875

with Rebecca Dawson

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 11 am, runs for 3 weeks

Discover a yoga practice that has therapeutic benefits for seniors who may not be able to stand for long periods of time or may be uncomfortable seated on the floor.

Class sessions will be held on Mondays, February 2, 9, 23 (no class session on Feb. 16) from 11:00 - noon at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Embody Ageless Vitality on Mondays in February at River House

$1875

with Sharon Infante

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 12 pm, runs for 3 weeks

Begin to explore and embody practices that release stress, trauma, and unresolved emotional patterns that may be holding you back from living your best life. You will learn and participate in gentle stretching, mindful movement, and breathwork meditation designed to ease tension in the fascia, muscles, and connective tissues—especially in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. These movement routines are rooted in ancient somatic and energetic practices that support physical healing and emotional well-being, promoting a deep sense of inner freedom, balance, and joy.

Please wear comfortable clothing, sneakers or rubber-soled shoes, and bring a water bottle.

Be prepared to sit, stand, gently shake, stretch, and reach in slow, accessible ways.

Sharon has been on her journey since 2000, trained in Woodstock, NY with Master trainers of Sound and Frequency. She is a Qigong Practitioner, Senior Trainer of IIQTC Tai Chi Easy Leader, certified in various Tai Chi Health forms, Master Reiki and energy healer, and completed studies in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)

Class sessions will be held on Mondays, February 2, 9, 23 (no class session on Feb. 16) from Noon to 1:00 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Zumba Gold (Lower Impact) on Mondays in February at River House

$1875

with Angela Engel

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 12:15 pm, runs for 3 weeks

This is a lower intensity version of a regular Zumba class.

Zumba Gold introduces easy-to-follow dance moves that focus on balance, range of motion and coordination. Class sessions will focus on cardiovascular, muscular conditionins, balance and flexibilty.

Supplies needed:

  • Water,
  • Towel
  • Comfortable clothes that you can move in
  • Sneakers
  • Light hand weights (optional)

Angela has been doing Zumba for 12 years and teaching for 10.

Class sessions will be held on Mondays, February 2, 9, 23  (no class session on Feb. 16) from 12:15 to 1:15 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Art Journal - Collage Fodder on Monday, February 2 at River House

$1250

with Liz Monaco

Calendar Feb 2, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Making collage fodder with a gel press is a great way to create unique textures and vibrant backgrounds for your journals.

Supplies:

  • Gel press plate (5x7)
  • Acrylic paints or inks in your chosen colors
  • Various textured and patterned objects (stamps, stencils, fabric scraps, bubble wrap, leaves)
  • Copy Paper or cardstock for printing.

Class session will be held on Monday, February 2 from 1:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run





Forgot password?
Staff Log In