【推荐2】As a qualified teacher of art and design, Theresa Harwood offers short online courses on drawing and painting to help students both young and old develop into confident artists.

Academic drawing course

This course is for absolute beginners of any age who are not sure on what to do or how to use a pencil. The course will be limited to only six participants, 5 sessions, once a week.

Start date: June 5

Time:10:00 am～11:00 am

Price: $380

Water color painting course

This course is for anyone who is interested in developing skills for water colour painting. Through a series of 6 projects we learn wet on wet and wet on dry. The course will be limited to only twelve participants. 6 sessions, once a week.

Start date: April 23

Time:4:30 pm～5:30 pm

Price: $380

Landscape drawing course

This course is suitable for anyone from 11 to 90 years who are interested in developing skills for landscape drawing. The only requirement of the course is that you want to learn to draw! The course will be limited to only ten participants. 5 sessions, once a week.

Start date: May 24

Time:8:00 pm～9:00 pm

Price: $380

Western art history course

This course is for students, aged between 9 and 12 years. It looks at the fun facts of the key artworks of each art movement and explains why the artists painted certain views or people. The course will be limited to only eight participants. 6 sessions, once a week.

Start date: May 7

Time:10:30 am～11:30 am

Price: $380

These courses have limited spaces and are often sold out quickly, so do book your spot soon!

【推荐3】Essex Library Services Reading Friends

What is the role about?

Reading Friends is an exciting UK-wide programme from The Reading Agency. It’s been piloted in some other parts of the country over the last few years and now is being extended to Essex.

Developed with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Reading Friends deals with loneliness by bringing people together to read, chat and share stories. Essex Library Services is looking for volunteers to support the roll- out of the Reading Friends programme across Essex.

What will it involve?

*Chatting to people, either one to one, or in groups, using reading to get people talking. Contact will be via phone or computer initially. After restrictions are lifted, it is planned to do in-person sessions (活动时间) in libraries.

*Using reading — whether books, magazines, newspapers, or anything else — to start conversations. Nothing needs to be read before the session.

What skills and experience do you need?

*An interest in people

*Good communication and people skills

*Love of books and reading is not necessary, but would be a bonus

What will you get from volunteering?

*The satisfaction of contributing to the community and potentially preventing loneliness

*The chance to share the joy of reading

*Develop your experience and skills to enhance your resume (简历)

*A certificate of appreciation for coming along and helping out, which looks great on a resume

【推荐1】With sunshine and beaches, Hainan is a good choice for travelers. Its Tropical Rainforest National Park is a paradise for animals and plants. If you go there, what can you enjoy?

Animals

The park is home to 540 kinds of animals. Among them are Hainan gibbons (长臂猿), one of the world’s most endangered species. Hainan gibbons look like monkeys, but they have no tails. They usually eat fruits and leaves from more than 130 kinds of plants, mostly in treetops 15 meters above the ground.

Plants

The park is a “live museum” of plants. More than 3,600 kinds of wild plants grow there. It is also home to 133 kinds of national key protected plants. Cycas hainanensis is an example. It has big, feather-like leaves. It grows slowly, but can live up to 200 years. This ancient species probably was around when dinosaurs lived on earth.

Culture

The Li and Miao ethnic (民族的) groups have lived in the park for generations, mainly in the central Wuzhishan area. From their houses to their clothes, you can taste their culture. Li and Miao people live in houses that look like upside-down boats. To keep away animals like snakes and ants, they build their houses above the ground.

【推荐3】Santa Barbara Attractions Guide

Referred to as “Queen of the Missions” for its graceful beauty, the Old Mission Santa Barbara is the tenth of 21 missions (修道院) built in California. You can pack a picnic and spread out for happy hour at the rose garden across the way while admiring the view.

PHONE: 805-682-471301

ADMISSIONS: Adult $5; Child $1

Elephants, flamingos, lions and even penguins ... some of the most funny members of the animal kingdom are waiting for you at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Special features include giraffe feedings, the zoo train and a family play area. Apart from amazing naturalistic animal exhibits, the zoo also offers several picnic areas, seasonal educational classes and event rental opportunities.

PHONE: 805-962-5339

ADMISSIONS: Adult $12; Child $10

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a great place to relax and take some wonderful photos! This “living museum”features a variety of habitats that focus on showing and protecting California’s native plants. Throughout the year, concerts, lectures and other special programs expand the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s educational efforts.

PHONE: 805-682-4726

ADMISSIONS: Adult $8; Child $4

A giant skeleton (骨骼) of a blue whale greets you at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, letting you know that you have arrived at a magical place devoted to the wonders of nature. Book in advance so that you can visit this once-in-a-lifetime museum.

PHONE: 805-682-4711

ADMISSIONS: Adult $17; Child $11