What it is

Beginning Lapidary (EART 522) is a tuition-free, noncredit Saddleback College Emeritus Institute class in cutting and polishing stone. The Spring 2027 Extended Learning schedule describes it as exploring “the proper usage of lapidary machines for cutting and polishing stones: slabsaw, trim saw, grinders, sanders, lapping wheels, polishers and drills.” The same schedule places the Spring 2027 section at Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 4 (room code LWV4LAP), Tuesdays, 1:00–3:50 p.m., instructor T. Massamiri, class reference number 34063.

The college catalog describes EART 522 as 0.0 units (1.00 hour lecture, 2.00 hours lab), noncredit, “primarily for the older adult.” The schedule FAQ, however, states that anyone age 18 or older may enroll in Emeritus Institute and Adult Education classes and that the classes are tuition-free. The Emeritus Institute is described as California’s largest older-adult tuition-free lifelong learning program.

A companion Intermediate Lapidary (EART 523) section, CRN 34065, meets the same Spring 2027 term on Tuesdays, 5:00–7:50 p.m., in the same shop, with recommended preparation of EART 522. That intermediate description mentions cutting and polishing stones into shapes “such as cachobons [sic], cameos, and carvings.” This listing covers the beginning class as the public starting point.

Who it’s for

Adults 18 and older in south Orange County (and visitors willing to travel) who want a semester-length, tuition-free introduction to slab and cabochon equipment without buying a machine first. The catalog frames the course as primarily for older adults, but the schedule FAQ opens enrollment at age 18.

Why it’s listed

It is a first-party college schedule with a printed Spring 2027 date range, weekday and hours, CRN, instructor, street address, tuition-free price and a public registration calendar. The listing covers this beginning lapidary class, not the whole Emeritus catalog. California already has several workshops in other cities; this is Lapidary Plaza’s first Laguna Woods / Orange County class.

Official URL

https://www.saddleback.edu/sites/default/files/2026-10/spring_2027_extended_learning_schedule.pdf

Emeritus Institute: https://www.saddleback.edu/learning-saddleback/emeritus-institute
Class schedule (current classes): https://www.saddleback.edu/learning-saddleback/classes/class-schedule
New-student application: https://www.saddleback.edu/apply-pay/how-apply/new-student
2026–2027 Spring catalog (EART 522 / 523 course descriptions): https://www.saddleback.edu/sites/default/files/2026-09/2026-2027_saddleback_springcatalog_v1.0_2026.09.22_reducedsize.pdf

(All checked 2026-11-10 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 4, 23501 Via Mariposa W, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (schedule location code LWV4 / room LWV4LAP). Saddleback College’s main campus is in Mission Viejo; this section does not meet on that campus.

This is a workshop (a dated college class). It is not a club membership listing and does not sell lapidary equipment.

Notes

Dated session (Spring 2027 Extended Learning schedule, check date): Semester January 19–May 26, 2027. Beginning Lapidary CRN 34063, Tuesdays 1:00–3:50 p.m., instructor T. Massamiri. Intermediate Lapidary CRN 34065, Tuesdays 5:00–7:50 p.m., same instructor and shop.
Tuition (schedule FAQ): Tuition-free. Anyone age 18 or older may enroll. Students taking classes on the Saddleback College campus must pay the required health fee and on-campus parking fee; this section meets at Laguna Woods Village, not on the main campus.
Laguna Woods Village parking (schedule location pages): Non-resident students who drive into the community must buy a Student Parking Pass: $40 per vehicle per fall or spring semester ($30 in summer), check or cash only, no credit cards, no refunds. Passes are paid for and picked up at the Laguna Woods Village Community Center, 24351 El Toro Rd, Laguna Woods, CA 92637, beginning one week before the semester starts, with a government-issued ID.
Registration (schedule, check date): Spring 2027 registration for current Emeritus Institute and Adult Education students is November 17–23, 2026. New-student registration opens November 24, 2026. In-person registration help is also listed at community sites on later November and December dates. Courses in the printed schedule are subject to change; the class-schedule page is the live list.
How to enroll: New students apply online, then register in MySite with the five-digit CRN after their registration appointment begins, as described in the schedule. Auditing is not permitted. No registration form was submitted for this listing.
Small source note: CA workshops are already relatively dense (Escondido, Vista, Roseville, Nevada City and others); this is a different city and provider. The catalog says “primarily for the older adult,” while the FAQ opens the class at age 18. The intermediate description spells cabochons as “cachobons.”
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. Nothing was bought, and no email, phone call or form was used.

FAQ

Q: When is Beginning Lapidary?
A: In Spring 2027 the official schedule lists CRN 34063 on Tuesdays, 1:00–3:50 p.m., during the January 19–May 26, 2027 semester.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The class is tuition-free. Non-resident students who drive into Laguna Woods Village pay a $40 spring Student Parking Pass fee, as printed in the schedule.

Q: Where does the class meet?
A: Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 4, 23501 Via Mariposa W, Laguna Woods, CA 92637.

Q: Do I have to be a senior?
A: The catalog describes the course as primarily for the older adult, but the schedule FAQ says anyone age 18 or older may enroll.

Q: When can I register?
A: On the check date, new-student registration for Spring 2027 was set to open November 24, 2026; current Emeritus students register November 17–23. Confirm dates on the college’s Emeritus and class-schedule pages.