If the thought of sitting in a classroom again gives you flashbacks to 8th-grade algebra, you may be pleasantly surprised by some of these more grown-up options. It’s never too late to become a film buff, a gourmet chef, a concert pianist – or all of the above. Here are a handful of courses where you can focus on the fine art of recreation, with no textbooks in sight:

DIGITAL POINT-AND-SHOOT

Think you’re the last person on earth who doesn’t know how to use a digital camera? Not so. The New School has an entire class devoted to the fine art of digital photography (one of its most popular courses, in fact). A patient instructor will help you learn how both the art and mechanics of working your new toy. For more traditional shutterbugs, the school also offers classes on black and white printing and travel photography.

April 29-30, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. $320.00. For more information, visit www.nsu.newschool.edu or call 212-229-5690.

FUNDAMENTALS OF GARDENING

New Yorkers lucky enough to have a small plot of land to call their own should check out the gardening classes at the New York Botanical Garden. Fundamentals of Gardening covers soil cultivation, planting, watering, mulching, and weeding. And landless plant lovers can get in on the action, too – there’s also a course in indoor gardens.

Multiple dates, $246 non-members; $221 members. For more information, visit www.nybg.org/edu or call 718-817-8747.

AMATEUR STARGAZERS

Amateur stargazers can learn the secrets of urban observing or the legends behind their favorite constellations at the Hayden Planetarium. Classes generally last four to six weeks, cost less than $100, and repeat throughout the year.

For more information, visit www.amnh.org/programs/hayden or call 212-769-5200.

ICE ON LOCATION

Want to learn to cook like the city’s top chefs? The Institute for Culinary Education offers an “on location” course that lets you spy on them in their own kitchens. Participating chefs include Stephen Jackson of Chanterelle, Marco Moreira of Tocqueville, and Terrance Brennan of Artisanal. The school also offers just about any cooking class you might need, from basic knife skills to holiday entertaining, plus a separate program for wine tasting.

Day-long classes are $80-$95 each. For more information, visit www.iceculinary.com/recreational or call 212-847-0770.

BELLY DANCE BASICS

Before you hit the gym, you might want to consider another use for that jiggle ’round the middle. Hunter College offers a course in belly dancing taught by Reyna Alcala, formerly of the Ibrahim Ferrah Near East Dance Company. If you can’t stomach that, Hunter also boasts more conventional options like Argentine tango and merengue.

Six sessions, $99. For more information, visit http://ce.hunter.cuny.edu or call 212-650-3850.

BASIC SPACE PLANNING

Tired of basing your design sensibilities on what’s new at Ikea? Maybe it’s time for a class on interior design. Parsons offers both a basic beginner’s class on space planning as well as more advanced courses in lighting, residential design, and kitchen and bath.

12 sessions, $486. For more information, visit www.parsons.edu/continuing_ed/index or call 212-229-8933.

UNORTHODOX MATERIALS

Aspiring Leonardos should check out Cooper Union, which offers a range of classes in the fine arts. Aside from your basic figure drawing and watercolor courses, it also offers some quirkier ones like “Unorthodox Materials in Drawing and Painting,” where brave souls are encouraged to experiment with coffee, beets, chocolate, and rusted metal.

April 2-3, $190. For more information, visit www.cooperunion.edu/ce or call 212-353-4195.

MOVIES 101

Students in NYU’s Movies 101 get a sneak peek at new films and a chance to lob questions at their actors and directors. One of the school’s most popular continuing ed courses, recent screenings have included “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Secret Window,” and “13 Going on 30.” Other intriguing film classes at NYU include “Documentaries: Changing our World” and “The History of Sex on Screen.”

Tuesdays, 6:45-9:45 p.m. starting February 1. $225. For more information, visit http://www.scps.nyu.edu/ or call 212-998-7200.

BUDDING MUSICIANS

So maybe you’ll never play Carnegie Hall. That doesn’t mean you can’t brush up on your piano or violin. Julliard’s evening division offers performance classes at all levels as well as a host of music appreciation courses, including “The Life and Music of Brahms,” “Composers of Today,” and “Verdi in Paris.”

$420 per semester. For more information, visit www.juilliard.edu/asp/evdiv_occ/course_search.php or call 212-799-5040.