Tuesday Courses   

Welcome to a study of “100 Years of the Best American Short Stories” edited by Moore and Pitlor. This course provides a deep dive into some of the finest short stories ever published. Authors include Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Joyce Carol Oates, to name a few. Before each session, students will read three designated submissions from the short-story anthology and then discuss them in class. We will be covering the first 20 stories, which explore a wide variety of settings, characters and intentions — wrapped in fascinating topics. This is a highly interactive class. Be ready to speak up and engage in dialogue about all the stories so that students and teacher alike may enjoy and learn from this text and from each other. 

NOTE: A copy of “100 Years of the Best American Short Stories,” edited by Lorrie Moore and Heidi Pitlor, is required. It is available, new or used (for as low as $7). This is a new course and a new book. The same book will be used for subsequent courses through Fall 2027. 

Have you ever wondered how you might feel stable and more at ease in unstable and uncertain times? This six-week course, for the novice as well as for the seasoned meditator, is designed to be user-friendly and devoid of any ideological framework. It aims to integrate the practice of meditation seamlessly into ordinary life. It’s an invitation to quiet an overactive mind, regulate and calm your nervous system and follow your curiosity down the yellow brick road of your inner world, as well as to better understand how we all create our subjective experience. Each class will include discussion, guidance and lengthening periods of meditative practice. 

NOTE: Participants from previous classes are welcome to repeat this class. It is quite useful to deepen the meditation experience. 

This course is a one-week introductory boot camp geared for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American Mah-Jongg. This boot camp is a one-week, five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities and is limited to two tables of four or five students at each table. Instruction will cover the game materials and the rules of play. This is not for people who have played before and want to get back into the game. Intermediate or advanced game play strategies are not part of this activity. At the conclusion of the boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginners to continue their AMJ play. 

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. The text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. 

Relax, have fun, and enjoy heartfelt stories about animals — both domestic and wild. Through these tales, you’ll experience the unique love, wisdom and presence that animals offer, while possibly reconnecting with meaningful encounters from your own life. Intuitive messages from animals will be shared and you will be guided through gentle visualizations to help you access your inner connection with animals. Together, these experiences will be explored through group discussions and Q&A, creating a supportive space for reflection. You’ll also hear lighthearted instructor-written fairy stories that use animal characters as metaphors for life’s lessons. This class is designed to awaken the soul, spark curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the many ways animals touch our lives.

This course will track the earliest history of humans in Oregon by taking a closer look at the remarkable research and theories of anthropologist Luther Cressman. Cressman traveled to the University of Oregon in 1929, researching archaeological artifacts. He discovered the famous Fort Rock sandals in Eastern Oregon underneath ash deposited by Mount Mazama’s eruption 7,600 years earlier. Carbon-14 data testing later confirmed that the Fort Rock sandals were more than 9,000 years old and the oldest of similar artifacts in North America. This discovery proved that Oregon’s human occupation dated to 12,750 years ago, well before Mazama’s eruption. The significance of carbon-14 dating, as well as changes in both climate and sociological conditions, will be examined.

From history and herstory to heresy, Karen Tate discusses aspects of sacred feminine liberation theology that might be most crucial for humanity’s healing and evolution. How one comes to discover Goddess might determine what one learns — and does not learn — about the Great She. Discover the divine feminine as deity, archetype and ideal in this course that uses lecture, discussion, activities, slides and some meditations.

Creating collages is a freeing, fresh way of creating compositions, whether they stand on their own or become sketches for other artwork. Working with recycled, purchased, found and hand-painted papers, students will learn to think outside the box to hone their art-making skills. We will start with the basics: cutting, gluing and exploring the elements of a composition. Demonstrations will be given on ways to select and combine papers and on working in multiples. Students will explore color, line, space, shape, texture and value and will start by creating small postcard-sized collage pieces. At the end of the workshop, participants will have images they can glue into their scrapbooks/sketchbooks. The course is geared to students of all experience levels.

NOTE: There is a $5 per student materials fee.

Are you interested in learning to crochet? Come join us! We will learn the easiest stitch in the crochet world — the single crochet — and the magic circle. We’ll then combine those to make what’s called an amigurumi, which is a small stuffed doll, creature, ball or cat toy. Join us for a fun afternoon of crafting for four weeks this fall and come away with a great holiday gift for your loved one (or kitty-cat)! Part of each class will be teaching via live video, followed by work on students’ projects.

NOTE: Enrolled students will receive a list of recommended materials and yarn options. There is no class on Oct. 6.

Do you return from a memorable trip only to find that your photos don’t capture what it was really like to be there? This practical three-session class explores how to create stronger, more engaging travel photographs with any camera, from smartphones to professional systems. From planning your trip to printing the final image, you’ll learn how to work with the best light, improve composition and recognize the moments that tell the story of a place. The class focuses on observation, timing and visual storytelling rather than technical camera settings, making it ideal for photographers of all experience levels who want to create images that preserve both the sights and the experience of travel.

What is cryptocurrency? Join us and find out. This course is primarily for those who know little to nothing about cryptocurrencies (of which bitcoin is the most well-known). Each session will include in-class instruction using PowerPoint slide presentations and video clips followed by group discussions. We will review the history of money and world economies. You can expect to gain a greater understanding of the role cryptocurrencies are now playing in the world’s geopolitical and monetary arenas, focusing particularly on the role the U.S. is and will be playing and how it might affect us. By the end of the course you can expect to have a basic understanding of cryptocurrencies, as well as to have enough knowledge to procure and manage your own bitcoin.

DISCLAIMER AND LIABILITY WAIVER: This course is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. By enrolling, you assume all investment risks and agree to hold Southern Oregon University and its representatives harmless from any financial losses, damages or claims. 

Students will learn and practice dances of England, France and Italy that date from the Renaissance and Baroque periods and the late 18th century. At each class, participants will actively engage in a physical warm-up and targeted dance techniques. They will have ample time to practice the dances’ movements as they are taught. The warm-up is to prepare the body to move and dance. The techniques will break down the steps and movements needed to perform each dance and note how those steps evolved over time. Different dances will be taught than in previous versions of this course. No partner or prior dance background is required to participate.

NOTE: This is an active, physical class and we will be on our feet 90 minutes. Know your limitations. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This course will examine and allow for discussion of end-of-life healthcare options including palliative care, hospice, medical aid in dying (MAID), the Oregon Death With Dignity Act (DWDA), Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking (VSED), POLST and advance directives. Two 90-minute sessions will allow for lectures and case presentations on these topics as well as adequate time for discussion and questions. The primary presenter is an Oregon physician with experience in family and emergency medicine, EMS medical direction and end-of-life care. Some topics may be covered in presentations from other experienced and knowledgeable local healthcare providers.

NOTE: This is an educational course, and no specific medical advice, services, care or prescriptions will be provided to attendees.

Every family carries secrets. This course explores family secrets from psychological and sociological perspectives. In our tell-all era, what secrets are kept and which are exposed? As we age, what do we do with secrets we have kept our whole lives? Ancestry explorations through DNA provide us with evidence of our origins and paternity/maternity. What do we do with those results? How do secrets interfere with relational closeness or distance? How are cultural secrets surrounding sexuality, immigration and war trauma steeped in shame and protected by shame? These are the areas of exploration for this class. Our core textbook walks us step by step through an exploration of whether to expose a secret and asks, “Whose secret is it?” 

NOTE: The textbook, Evan Imber-Black’s “The Secret Life of Families” (Bantam Books 1999), is still timely today and available through online sources for less than $20. Additional books in the bibliography are optional. 

Where does government money come from — and where does it go? This six-class course challenges the most common myth in economic life: that the federal government runs like a household budget. Starting from first principles, we will explore what fiat currency actually is, how money is created, and what separates a currency issuer (the federal government) from a currency user (everyone else). We will unpack the national “debt,” inflation, sectoral balances and the role of taxes in funding federal spending. Along the way we’ll screen “Finding the Money,” Stephanie Kelton’s documentary on modern monetary theory. No economics background is required — just curiosity and a willingness to question what you’ve been told. 

Come to this class ready to move your feet to a swing beat! We will have fun exploring East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop with music by Count Basie and other swing musicians. These are partner dances, but you do not need a partner to attend. We will all be partners for one another. Solo jazz dance and styling will be sprinkled in as class warm-ups. Join us for all the benefits that social dance has to offer — mental and physical exercise, socializing and fun! No prior dance experience is needed.

NOTE: Signed liability waiver required to participate.

The Ashland New Plays Festival receives about 350 scripts annually in its quest to discover, develop and promote new plays. Through a community-based reading process, the festival selects four plays for professional staged readings. Course participants will read aloud and evaluate the first act of each of the four to explore character development, themes, structure and cultural foundations shaping each work. They will gain insight into how dramatic worlds and meaning are created and prepare for talkbacks with the playwrights. The four first acts will be sent to students prior to the first session. Two sessions will be held prior to the festival, with one session post-festival, for students to compare the experience of reading the plays versus hearing them read by professional actors.

NOTE: Festival tickets can be purchased at ashlandnewplays.org. Individual plays are $25, or $100 for all four.

We won’t actually be playing on our front porches, but we WILL be playing the kind of music that’s fun to perform at parties or informal gatherings with like-minded musicians. Students are asked to bring song charts with chord markings and lyrics to teach to the group, and everybody will play and sing. Songs should be easily accessible, easy to learn and fun to play! Instruments will typically be guitar, banjo, keyboard, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica, bass and fiddle. Students should be able to play basic chords in the keys of C, A, G, and D and have a tuner for their instrument. No music-reading ability is required. New and former students are welcome.

This is a survey course in the natural history of hawks, eagles and falcons. We will discuss the taxonomy, anatomy and behavior of these charismatic animals. Students will become familiar with the raptor “lifestyle” (hunting, courtship, interaction with other species), thereby gaining an appreciation for these birds of prey. Lectures will be augmented by a couple of brief videos. Prerequisite: A curiosity about our natural world. This course is being offered just prior to the arrival of Southern Oregon’s wintering raptors. Students will learn how and where to find these beautiful creatures. 

Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss each week’s breaking news, from Oregon to around the globe. All views and opinions are not only welcome but essential for lively discussion in the group. We cover a wide range of topics, including politics, climate change, technology and medicine. An agenda with articles to read will be sent to you prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun and sometimes controversial class, whose success is largely a product of the wisdom, knowledge and experience of our great group. Many people take our class again because it’s better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going! 

Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss each week’s breaking news, from Oregon to around the globe. All views and opinions are not only welcome but essential for lively discussion in the group. We cover a wide range of topics, including politics, climate change, technology and medicine. An agenda with articles to read will be sent to you prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun and sometimes controversial class, whose success is largely a product of the wisdom, knowledge and experience of our great group. Many people take our class again because it’s better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going! 

In this course you will learn about the art of serigraphy, aka screen printing. Students will practice three different techniques for making screen prints and look at the work of screen printing legend Corita Kent. Learn about the screen filler/drawing fluid technique, Grafix Dura-lar drawing technique and screen stencil making. You will come away with your own unique prints on paper and fabric!

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate.

Explore the fundamentals of clay and handbuilding in this beginner-friendly clay class. During the four weeks, students will learn pinch, coil and slab construction techniques. Surface decoration methods, glazing and an introduction to the firing process will also be covered. No previous experience in clay is needed, just a desire to play and explore.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate.

If you have ever watched a solid lump of clay take form on a potter’s wheel, it looks like magic, but really it is just a skill that can be practiced and learned. Over four weeks, students will learn the fundamental steps of throwing: preparing the clay, centering, opening, pulling the clay into a cylinder and shaping. We will also cover trimming and glazing. This course is designed for students with no experience or those who want to refine their skills.

NOTE: The total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate.

This class is a review of the herstory of the feminist movement from the 1970s to the present. It will include readings by authors who were founding mothers and current theorists, along with legal material. Topics are: women’s economic and professional participation and equality; family rights for heterosexual and LGB partners and parents; the Take Back the Night movement; and changes in proof of sexual violence against women and girls. The life of female artists in print, music, film and paintings will also be explored. Are their varied sex/race/class and sexuality perspectives represented in the arts? Has the decline in women’s bookstores affected female writers and readers? And do current legislation, policies and cases protect the legal class of women and girls? Come learn more and join the dialogue!

NOTE: There will be required readings, but most will be scanned or copied and circulated.

Broaden your knitting skills by joining this knit-along and create a pair of wrist warmers and a pair of fingerless gloves. Participants will knit in class and on their own between classes as they learn techniques and tips for modifying simple patterns with some of the many options for the cast on, bind off, ribbing, charted stitch patterns and duplicate stitch. This is an advanced beginner/intermediate level course. Since we will not be going over the basics of knitting, participants must already know how to knit, purl, cast on and bind off. 

NOTE: Instructions for a gauge swatch to be completed before the first class, as well as yarn, needles and other material requirements will be sent by email. 

In this course you will learn the basics of relief printmaking. Students will learn design tips and tricks to make a dynamic print, proper tool usage and cleanup, and how to successfully transfer a design. Instructor Amy Godard will guide you through the process of creating your own one- color relief prints that can be made into cards or limited-edition prints.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate.

This four-week course of three-hour classes each week is for music appreciators and musicians alike. The instructor will lead the class through Western music from the 11th through the 15th centuries with an eye to historic performance practice. Subjects covered will include medieval modes, neumes and notational systems, instruments and repertoire from known and anonymous composers. Reading music is not a prerequisite to this course, as we’ll learn the music together by rote. Each class will have time at the end for the lab, an instructor-led hands-on demonstration and workshop using special medieval instruments from the instructor’s collection. This course is aimed at all levels of musical proficiency.

This course is an introduction to qigong and simple stretching patterns. Movements will be taught both as physical, energetic exercises and as methods for improving present moment awareness and mindfulness of subtle perceptions. No special clothing or experience is required. Participants should come as they are, ready to have fun with others! Although qigong can be studied for a lifetime, this brief series will give you a taste of the practices. Students will learn a set of simple movements that can be integrated into their daily routine. Students will also have access to videos on the instructor’s YouTube channel, and a DVD and digital material are available for purchase. The exercises will challenge and enhance flexibility, balance, and coordination. 

NOTE: This is an active class, and students need to be able to move comfortably in a home space. Students need to be able to lie down on and get up from the floor. Since this course is online, students must be prepared to take complete responsibility for their own physical well- being. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This class will provide an overview of the various choices in natural deathcare and why natural and conservation burials are the only sustainable solution based on scientific data. The class will discuss the public health and environmental concerns raised by cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, human composting and ocean/sky burials. Students will be encouraged to document their deathcare wishes and will be introduced to the Advance Natural Deathcare Directive, the four available regional choices and the four tasks of natural deathcare.

NOTE: This course is being offered in partnership with the Rogue Valley Manor. Seating will be shared equally with 20 seats for OLLI at SOU members and 20 for Manor residents.

Slow down, tune in, be amazed: Join us to experience the magic of nature journaling using a simple flexible framework that you can use anywhere, any time. Whether you are art-phobic or you are a plein-air painter, whether you are a scientist or a poet or both or neither, this course is for you — this approach to journaling is adaptable and accessible for everyone. All you need is a pencil and your curiosity! The course includes three two-hour sessions. The first session will be indoors on the SOU campus, with a short trip outside. The second session will be primarily outdoors on the SOU campus. The third session will visit Pompadour Bluff, a preserve near Ashland owned by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, for journaling on the land. Each session will include a mix of instruction, journaling time and group discussion. 

NOTE: Participants will need to bring a journal or notebook and a pencil or pen to each session. This course will include short, slow walks on the SOU campus (on sidewalks) and at a nature preserve (on a rustic unpaved road). Participants must be able to sit on a bench, in a camping chair or on the ground for journaling. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

The existential crisis we face due to global climate change and the copious need for data center electricity has brought renewed interest in nuclear energy. Recent advances in fission reactor technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and in plasma and fusion reactor science (the “breakeven” experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) hold promise for achieving these needs. In this course students will learn: 1) the history and context for nuclear energy; 2) fundamental physics of radioactivity, fission and fusion; 3) how nuclear reactors work; 4) safety, risk and licensing; 5) recycling and radioactive waste disposal; 6) current developments for advanced fission and fusion systems; 7) sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues; and 8) resource and supply chain issues.

NOTE: A scientific or technical background is not required for this course. All are welcome! 

This course is designed for those who want to learn the fundamentals of the fastest growing sport in America. It is played by all age groups and physical abilities in recreational or tournament play. Join the fun, led by experienced instructors from the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club. We will meet for 1½ hours for five consecutive afternoons. Beginning players will learn the basics: choosing a paddle, paddle position, serving, return of serve, dinking, drills, scoring and calling “out balls.” You might meet “Nasty Nelson!” An emphasis will be placed on safety, court etiquette and sportsmanship. AOPC will provide paddles, balls and instruction. Information on courts in the Rogue Valley will be included. 

NOTE: Please wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Protective eyewear is recommended. In the event of inclement weather, the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball course or have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who are experienced players and members of the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet at Lithia Park pickleball courts for 1½ hours a day for five consecutive days. The emphasis will be on safety, playing by USA pickleball rules and sportsmanship. This skills-building course will focus on serves, third-shot drops (drop shots), drives, lobs, partner communication and types of scoring, and on understanding Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson. The last day will be a fun and fast-paced round-robin, in which all players will rotate. 

NOTE: Please bring your favorite paddle, wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. If we have inclement weather, the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

"I'm worried about running out of money.” “I need to get my finances organized.” “I want to make sure I’m making good financial decisions.” If you have made any of these statements recently, this class may help you feel more secure. We will cover the basics in each of the six main areas of financial planning including: financial position (preparing a net worth statement); insurance (including long-term care); taxes (how to minimize them); retirement planning (Social Security, taking withdrawals and how to know how long your money will last); investments (basics of asset allocation) and estate planning (wills, trusts, etc.). 

DISCLAIMER AND LIABILITY WAIVER: This course is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. By enrolling, you assume all investment risks and agree to hold Southern Oregon University and its representatives harmless from any financial losses, damages or claims. 

This course is the first of a two-part account of the civilization of ancient Rome. We will begin by viewing Rome within the context of the Mediterranean world and explore how and why the Romans became dominant on the Italian peninsula. We will consider the daily life of the Romans at work and play and how Rome functioned as a city. Next, we will examine the structure of Roman politics and the forces that led to the destruction of the Roman Republic and the rise of the autocracy that ruled Rome for 500 years. We will consider the Romans’ accomplishments in building projects, from temples to aqueducts to the road network that spanned the empire. We will conclude with an understanding of how Rome conquered the Mediterranean world and beyond.

For one of Shakespeare’s closest friends and rivals Ben Jonson, most men were basically crooks, con men or cuckolds; and most women were bawds, backbiters or social climbers. He knew of what he wrote. He was a jailbird. He was a convicted murderer and a suspected traitor. Unlike Shakespeare, Jonson believed the purpose of comedy was to “make men better.” So Jonson, to shame Londoners, reveled in rubbing their noses in the iniquities of their contemporary life. And they enjoyed this rubbing no less! From 1598 to 1616, he regaled London with some of the greatest comedies ever written in English: “Volpone,” “The Alchemist,” “The Silent Woman” and “Bartholomew Fair,” among others. If you believe that scoundrels rule our world, you already have a leg up to appreciate Jonson.

NOTE: No text is required, but there will be a field trip to Hannon Library to view the first editions of Jonson’s two collected “workes” (1616 and 1641). Signed liability waiver required to participate.

If making modest changes to your home could prevent a life-altering fall, would you do it? Nearly 90% of older adults want to age in place, yet most houses aren’t built to support that. Falling is the primary reason people lose their independence. This two-part course bridges the gaps between your personal health, your preferences and your home’s design. Session 1 explores clinical and personal realities: how medications, vision changes and chronic conditions can increase fall risk. Session 2 focuses on the physical environment: identifying safety hazards and implementing a range of solutions. Co-taught by a certified aging life-care manager and a certified aging-in-place engineer, this class provides a practical road map to help you “stay vertical” and age in place safely.

This class will explore the war in Asia, the Burma Road, FDR, Truman, Chiang Kai-shek and his missionary-surgeon wife, Dr. Seagraves, the Japanese Empire — and why the China Burma India theater was created. All these people, places and events will be woven into a story that will deepen your knowledge and interest in this part of the world and in this time in history. Several love stories of real people who witnessed and lived through this chaotic era will be told. A newly published book brings many of these events to life. Old newsreels and newly found photographs will enhance the telling of these stories and show the sacrifice these people made to make the world a better place. Drama and questioning are also useful tools to keep one’s attention. All will be used in this class, along with audiovisual presentations.

If you’ve been wanting to dive into a rainbow of color, this class is for you! No prior art experience is necessary. We will work with tempera/gouache paint on large-scale art paper in a welcoming studio environment, one that is free of judgment and critique. Process painting invites artists and nonartists alike to step toward the blank canvas and discover the richness that emerges from within. Imagination, intuition and creativity flow as we follow the energy of the creative process.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate. There is no class on Nov. 3. 

Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was a leading composer of the first half of the 20th century whose symphonic and chamber music is still widely performed. A convinced modernist, his musical inspiration nonetheless stems equally from the vanishing world of traditional Balkan folk music, which he was among the first to document for the wider world. In the five sessions of this course, we’ll explore his lyrical and original voice as expressed in works such as Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, his piano concertos and his six masterful string quartets. In addition, as Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra is to be performed by the Rogue Valley Symphony in October, we’ll devote particular attention to this piece, one of his best known and best liked works.

Share ideas, make new friends and celebrate women in an updated answer to the salons of the French Enlightenment. Find common ground and camaraderie with other women via conversation and intellectual stimulation using modern pop culture as the catalyst for discussion— like a book club, but with films. At the first meeting, students will jointly select themes, which can range from angels to zeitgeist, diving deep into topics that touch women across ages, cultures, communities and circumstances. Weekly emails will include film titles and links to quotes, articles, visual artistic works and music that will become touchstones to recall personal stories and insights to share in discussions at the following sessions. Classes may include a short meditation. 

NOTE: Students will watch one to two films weekly at home before class, chosen from current selections on Netflix, Amazon Prime and/or other popular streaming services available via free trials. 

This course presents three mini-histories of science, each centering on a question that has intrigued humanity for millennia: 1) How old is the Earth? 2) Are there beings on the heavenly bodies? 3) How do we find our way? (Mapmaking and direction-finding.) In each session we trace the history of answers to one of these questions from the Classical period to our present-day understandings. The trail leads to some fascinating nooks and crannies of both science and history. (Thomas Jefferson’s obsession with mammoths, for one.) We also explore how scientific thought was shaped by nonscientific beliefs that answered these questions with radically different assumptions and logic. Class sessions will consist of lectures with PowerPoint presentations and time for discussion and Q&A. 

NOTE: The online section of this course will not meet on Nov. 11.

The ballet barre is how professional dancers start their day. Often referred to as a “warm-up,” it brings blood flow to the small and large muscles of the body. A simple ballet barre, including stretches, will bring students to a new level of wellness, body awareness and confidence. During the four sessions, participants will learn about the eight progressive elements of barre work, including ballet stretches focusing on posture, strength, flexibility and artistry using household items as a ballet barre. While we are practicing the ballet stretches, the instructor will share notions specific to ballet, including those of French ballet from the Opéra de Paris, discuss ballet history of the Romantic ballet era (1830-1850) and share techniques in the art of ballet from around the world. 

NOTE: Participants should be able to stand on their feet for one hour. Bring a mat or blanket for floor stretches. All students are encouraged to practice at their own pace. No prior experience is necessary. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Each of us goes through important major changes in our lives, requiring us to adapt and accept the new realities that life presents. Because of the nature of our individual lives, no blueprint is available. Instead, we need to see what we are facing and make the necessary adaptations to what life presents to us. Each class will start with watching a short video to set the theme, after which there will be questions and discussion. The purpose is to encourage attendees to ask their own questions of themselves and direct their own ongoing resolutions. 

NOTE: This course will be based on the book “Transitions” by William Bridges, which is required reading. Read the first two chapters before class and continue reading throughout the course to maximize the use of time in class. 

Travel sketching can be for your next trip to Rome or for looking out your kitchen window on a snowy winter’s day. Your sketches will give you immediate connection with scenes and everlasting memories. The course will teach members how to find hidden artistic selves and to apply knowledge gained to drawing and sketching scenes found while traveling or at home.  Students will learn basic art concepts and apply them using simple tools such as pencil, pen and watercolor. Instruction will focus on the importance of using a small array of colors to yield vast arrays of colorful paintings. No prior drawing experience is required. Each student should come to the first class ready to work and have fun! 

NOTE: Students will be provided with a materials list and suggested reference material. 

This course will inform students on the basics of Medicare as well as specific and locally relevant current Medicare topics. Through lecture and interactive discussion, the instructor, a highly trained Medicare counselor, will provide valuable information to ensure that attendees and their loved ones are getting the most out of their Medicare coverage. Topics include Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage versus Medigap, the prescription drug plan (Part D), annual reevaluation of plans, tips for finding a provider, coverage limitations or exclusions, and local resources for assistance. The course will help prepare soon-to-be eligible or current beneficiaries for the Medicare open-enrollment period that begins every Oct. 15. 

Explore the greatest mystery in science and philosophy: consciousness. Everything we know, love and experience — including our sense of self — depends on it. How does the physical brain, the most complex object in the known universe, create our inner world of subjective awareness? We’ll unravel the leading theories of consciousness (including quantum theories) and examine why it even exists. Additional topics include out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, psychedelics and free will. This science-based course, with excursions into metaphysics and Buddhist philosophy, uses full-color slides, lecture, discussion and Q&A. No prerequisites — just bring your curious, conscious mind! 

Students will explore the short-lived political and cultural flowering of Germany’s Weimar Republic, 1919-1933. View cinema masterpieces that inspired the best of Hollywood and the world for more than a century. From murder to horror, farseeing science fiction to steamy romance and tragedy — these films that straddle the silent-to-sound technology divide remain superbly entertaining. Do they have anything to teach us in still-troubled times? In the brief space between two devastating world wars, a fragile experiment in democracy that produced these treasures was crushed. Around the world in the 21st century, emerging and older democracies are threatened. Come simply for superb entertainment. Linger a little longer to discuss troubling questions, or not!

NOTE: There is no required text for this class, but “Weimar Cinema: An Essential Guide to Classic Films of the Era,” edited by Noah Issenberg, is highly recommended.

Storytelling is a form of justice. Using the WOW Woman and the “Inside Ukraine” series, this class will shine the spotlight on a broad spectrum of Ukrainian women’s lives, including the brave and defiant Ukrainian women defending their right to live and prosper on their own land and those doing what they must for liberation. This exploration will be framed within the larger context of Ukrainian history and women’s spirituality as a path of spiritual transformation. Classes will include readings from WOW Woman and “Inside Ukraine,” lecture, discussion and ritual circles. 

NOTE: Suggested homework: read “Women and War: Letters From Ukraine to the Free World” by Aurelie Bros and WOW Woman (wowwoman.com/ukraine). Reflective writing and/or journaling are also suggested. 

Do you have a person or topic you think children might be interested in reading about? Writing a book could be the way to share an interesting subject. In this course, we will explore the wonderful world of “faction” — a portmanteau of fact and fiction, a genre that uses real documented historical events or figures as a foundation for a fictional narrative. Books will be written with the 8- to 12-year-old age group in mind. Participants will conceive and develop their words into a manuscript for a 32-page picture book. Art will not be required. Our small writing community will encourage, support and provide feedback. Writing will be done outside class; class sessions will be spent collaborating. This class is appropriate for both experienced and inexperienced writers.