In-person Courses   

This seven-week course for the novice as well as for seasoned meditators is designed to be user-friendly, devoid of any ideological framework and meant to make the practice of meditation accessible. For some, this may entail “un-learning” rigid doctrines and expectations. For others, it’s an invitation to quiet, to better regulate your nervous system, release tension 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. No meditation experience is required, only a curiosity around how you put your world together.

Many people use AI simply as a tool, but individuals who think in images, metaphors or other nonlinear ways often experience something different. They feel “seen” by AI, finding that it helps them clarify ideas, translate intuition into language, follow metaphor or make sense of complex thoughts in ways the linear world hasn’t supported. This course will explore why AI resonates so deeply for nonlinear minds. Through examples, discussion and simple guided activities, we’ll examine right-hemisphere modes of knowing — imagery, intuition, metaphor, spaciousness and “felt” sense — and how these ways of knowing are supported by AI.

NOTE: Participants are invited to bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone with access to the free version of ChatGPT. No purchase is required. No technical background is needed. Those without a device or account may pair up or observe.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, write and learn. This hands-on course explores how tools like ChatGPT can serve as a tutor, guide and personal learning companion. Participants will experiment with prompts, compare AI and Google searches, co-write short pieces, explore multiple perspectives and design a personal learning plan. Each session combines short presentations, live demonstrations, small-group activities and reflection. Topics include how AI “learns,” effective prompt writing, creativity, research and ethics. No experience with AI or technology is required — just curiosity and a willingness to explore how intelligent tools can extend lifelong learning.

NOTE: Students must bring a laptop or tablet computer to use during class.

Dowsing has been referred to as witching for water, divining, pendulum use and doodlebugging. It taps into an intuitive side of our consciousness and structures the response to make it usable. The course will cover its history, its development and the practical use of dowsing in everyday life. You will learn to access your intuition in a structured format and practice using different instruments that amplify the slight subconscious movements you make. In order to progress in dowsing ability, practice is essential, and proving our results will be part of the exploration process. This is a science-based inquiry and practice. There are no prerequisites except for an open, inquiring mind and the confidence to try something new that may challenge conventional understanding.

NOTE: Liability waiver required to participate.

What does it take to be an actor? Most of it is commitment — to the emotional life of the character you are bringing to life. It takes painstaking line-by-line analysis of the text, historical research and, more than anything, a courageous willingness to expose a bit of yourself while acting. The course will follow the belief of the famous acting instructor Stella Adler in the power of the imagination. We will also explore techniques actors use when they prepare for a role and learn some of the vocabulary with which most directors expect you to be familiar. Although this is not a class in how to act verse, we will talk about strategy when approaching verse. We will discuss what it takes to be committed and ways to manage stress when you are fully involved.

NOTE: No prior experience is needed. Each participant will know how much they can do in class, and no one will be pushed. Those with more experience can take on bigger challenges in terms of text and emotional commitment. Liability waiver required to participate.

Discover the remarkable world of pollinators, including native bees and honeybees and the vital roles they play in our ecosystems. Learn the basics of bee biology, behavior, habitat needs and the challenges pollinators face in the Pacific Northwest. The course also offers an overview of beginning beekeeping for those considering keeping bees. Participants will learn how to support pollinators in their home gardens and landscapes. The course will combine illustrated lectures, guided discussions, short film clips and optional hands-on demonstrations. The course presents a practical and ecological perspective, emphasizing science-based information about bees and pollinator health. An optional field trip is possible.

NOTE: Liability waiver required to participate in field trip.

Do you feel frustrated and ready to give up learning how to use your computer? Then this course is for you. The course will start with the basics, exploring the parts of a computer, including ports, the keyboard, the screen and the mouse. Students will learn to use and personalize the Windows desktop, icons and taskbar; to move and resize windows; and how various keys on the keyboard (such as home, end, backspace, delete, shift and tab) function. They will learn to download and save files, organize files into folders and subfolders, find lost files using Search and File Explorer, use Task Manager and safely access the internet. Students will be introduced to word processing and spreadsheet programs. There will be time for practice during class and optional assignments for review at home. 

NOTE: Students must have a PC-based laptop with MS Windows and bring it to class. Students will use a mouse while in class. If they do not have a mouse, one will be provided by the instructor. 

Enjoy a deep dive into some of the finest short stories published last year. Contributing authors include Elizabeth McCracken and Sarah Braunstein. Before each session, students will read three designated submissions from the book “The Best American Short Stories 2025: An Anthology of Award-Winning Literature,” which will then be discussed in warm, comfortable and inclusive surroundings. This collection explores a wide variety of settings, characters, styles and intentions — all stunningly contemporary. This is a highly interactive class. Be ready to speak up and engage in dialogue about all the stories so that everyone can enjoy and learn from the text and from each other. 

NOTE: A copy of “The Best American Short Stories 2025: An Anthology of Award-Winning Literature,” edited by Celest Ng, is required.  

This is the fourth class in a series describing events that help to explain today’s America. Learn how the Democratic Party turned to activism and civil rights advocacy. Witness the complete reversal of the Republican Party from its founding principles of equality to one that realigns itself geographically with the South and ideologically with states’ rights and white, male supremacy. Explore how both parties embrace neoliberal ideology to diminish New Deal policies and culture. Two historically reminiscent movements conflict: The Civil Rights movement (called the Second Reconstruction) and a neoliberal movement fueled by anti-communism, white, male supremacy and unlimited accumulation of wealth for the few. We will understand what MAGA is and how to address the issues it poses. 

NOTE: Attendance at prior courses in the series is not necessary. The course will have recommended readings from “Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past,” edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer, Basic Books (2022).

Come make a crumb quilt into something useful! A crumb quilt is a patchwork made by sewing together tiny fabric scraps into blocks that in turn are pieced together to create new fabric. We’ll spend two weeks making a crumb quilt large enough to cut a pattern for a pouch, wallet, pencil case, eyeglass holder or something else you choose. During the third class, we’ll assemble our creations. This is a fun process, at the end of which you’ll have something functional to use.

NOTE: Students should bring their own sewing machines to class. You should be able to wind a bobbin and sew a curved line. You will need about $20 worth of fabric and supplies, but the scraps for your crumb quilts will be supplied. A list of supplies will be sent to registered students.

During this course, students will learn and practice dances from the Renaissance, Baroque and Regency eras. At each class, participants will actively engage in a physical warm-up and targeted dance techniques, and have ample time to practice the dance movements as they are taught. The warm-up is to prepare the body to move and dance. The techniques taught will cover basic Baroque dance steps that form the basis for 17th- and 18th-century dances. The course will begin with Renaissance dances from England, France and Italy and progress into the 17th and 18th centuries. The course will finish with early 19th-century waltz and quadrille dances. Previous students will find some old favorites as well as new dances to enjoy. A partner or prior dance background is not required to participate.  

NOTE: This is an active, physical class. We will be on our feet for the duration of the 1½-hour class. Know your own limitations. Liability waiver required to participate.

Does a lot of what you hear or read about the world concern you? Do you wish you could share these concerns with others and hear their perspectives as well? In this interactive class, we’ll discuss eight topics over 10 weeks. Each topic is from a chapter in the Foreign Policy Association’s “Great Decisions 2026” booklet. This year’s topics are: 1) overview; 2) America and the world; 3) the future of the world economy; 4) U.S.-China relations; 5) the future of European security; 6) nuclear proliferation; 7) changing world order; 8) the future of international law; 9) the U.S. and Africa; 10) wrap-up. Pre-reading for each class will be assigned. Each class begins with a brief overview of the topic, followed by discussion. Diverse viewpoints across the political spectrum are encouraged. 

NOTE: The “Great Decisions 2026” booklet is required reading and will be distributed at the first class. Cost: $35. Also required is a commitment to be respectful of points of view different from your own. 

Ready to plant a seed for natural dyeing and sewing? Join us as we plant our community dye garden, fix living color from indigo and dyestuff into natural fibers and sew it all up into something wonderful! During this eight-week course, you’ll learn about different fibers, how to scour fiber for dyeing and dye fibers using indigo and dye pots. Once you’ve successfully dyed your fibers, you’ll use those fabrics to sew napkins, drawstring pouches and silk eye masks.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $200 ($25 per session). Liability waiver required to participate.

From lyrical to lively, silly to sublime, English country dance dates from the 1600s. Discover dances of Jane Austen’s time as well as newly composed dances. Learn about the cultural aspects and history of this joyful living tradition as you enjoy moving to beautiful music. This is an “on-your-feet” and social class. No partner is necessary.

NOTE: Liability waiver required to participate.

The Enneagram (“nine points or letters”) is a sacred nine-pointed symbol that describes nine distinct and universal personality types, their interrelationships and different paths of spiritual development. Study and practice of this profound and powerful system helps one to identify and move beyond nonproductive habits of body and mind, increases compassion for self and others and effectively integrates psychological and spiritual life. The first class includes an overview of the Enneagram. The following classes include a short, guided meditation, teachings, video clips and a Type Panel that demonstrates and explores the personality type of the week. There are handouts and optional homework assignments.  

NOTE: Required book: “The Essential Enneagram,” by David Daniels, MD, and Virginia Price. $9 on Amazon. There is no class on Monday, May 25.

This course will focus on the complex ethical questions posed by certain immediate and long-term existential threats to individuals and society. Among these are the growing use of AI, the politicalization of government institutions, the effect of mass media, genetic manipulation of embryos, global climate change and pandemics. The course will be taught seminar style. Students working in small groups will be responsible for researching a topic of their choice, writing a one-page paper and making a 10-minute presentation in class. Discussion will focus on the nature of specific threats, their ethical ramifications, and the influence of philosophy, religion and science on these issues. We will inquire into whether our current value system is adequate or if a new set of values is required. 

NOTE: This course is open to all students, including those who have taken it previously, since the discussion will be different.  

There are multiple hormonal changes that occur with menopause and with aging that affect a woman’s well-being and bedroom life. Some of these changes become obstacles around which women need to navigate. Women’s hormonal symptoms have often not been given focused medical attention, and many women do not know about available options. The good news is that there is no better time in history than today to be a postmenopausal woman who wants to have great intimacy. We will use PowerPoint as the backdrop support for discussing all the options for dealing with menopausal changes. This will include tips to increase the power in your day-to-day connection with your partner.

This course is designed for those with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. You’ll learn how water, gas and electricity enter a home and how to shut them off; how to change the filter in your furnace; and how to clean the coils on your refrigerator. We’ll talk about how to replace a light switch and outlet, fix door problems, plumbing and electricity, and what tools to have. You’ll learn what to watch for outside the home, such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage and invasive vegetation. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big-box stores versus independent merchants, how to choose a contractor and not get cheated, and much more. We’ll talk about what class members want to know about maintenance and repairs at home. 

This course is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news from Oregon and around the globe each week. All differing views and opinions are not only welcome but essential to create lively discussion in the group. We cover a wide range of topics, including politics, climate change, technology and medicine. An agenda with articles will be sent to you before each class. Students are also 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 in 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 the class again because it’s better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!

Your brain is the most complex object in the known universe. Fortunately, caring for your brain is not that complicated! We are getting older but our brains age at different rates. Let’s explore what the latest science says about this range of function, from subjective cognitive decline to mild cognitive impairment and on to Alzheimer’s. After reviewing basic brain function and defining terms, we’ll look at myths, realities and breakthroughs in brain health. We will then consider the therapeutic lifestyle choices (TLC) that prevent or slow cognitive loss, including exercise; nutrition; mental, emotional and social connection; sleep; and stress resilience. Finally, we’ll look at happiness and beyond: wisdom and self-transcendence. We will use full-color slides, lecture, discussion and Q&A. 

NOTE: The instructor’s book “Keep Your Marbles: Your Game Plan for a Healthy Brain” is recommended for this course. It is available on Amazon but will be available at a discount at the first class meeting. 

If you are experiencing serious problems in your manufactured home community, read on. This course is designed for residents of manufactured and floating homes in Oregon, especially those age 55-plus. Using lecture discussions, videos and interviews, the instructor will provide the 10 steps to form a tenants’ association and familiarize students with Oregon Rental Statutes (ORS). Mediation and small claims information will also be provided. The instructor is not a lawyer, and this class is not intended to replace legal advice. The material will be presented in everyday language. Students are expected to come prepared to work.

NOTE: A PDF of ORS, Oregon Rental Statutes (Chapter 90) and the organizing forms discussed in class will be provided. Students must have the necessary software to use these items. No OSTA (Oregon State Tenants Association) membership is required for this class.

This course introduces participants to the core principles and practices of improvisational theater. Designed for beginners, it emphasizes creativity, cognitive flexibility, collaborative communication and low-stakes play. Through a series of structured improv exercises, students explore “yes, and” thinking, character creation, spontaneous storytelling and social connection in a supportive, humorous environment. No prior improv or performance experience is needed. There are no required texts. Many exercises can be done seated, standing or adapted for mobility or comfort needs.

NOTE: Liability waiver required to participate.

This is a beginning course in 3D printing. Students will learn about the history of 3D printing, its uses and how it works. The many types of 3D printers and the wide range of materials that can be used for printing will be discussed. As part of the actual printing process, students will use 3D modeling software to access existing files of 3D models for printing 3D objects. Students will print objects and learn to decorate and modify them. Additional topics will include an introduction to high-tech 3D printing in space travel and other applications. No prior experience with 3D printing is required; however, participants should be comfortable following directions to navigate computer software.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $100 ($25 per session). Liability waiver required to participate.

Discover the art of creating with clay in this hands-on, beginner-friendly ceramics course. Over eight weeks, students will explore the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques, including pinch, coil and slab construction, while learning how to shape, texture and join clay. The course will also cover surface decoration methods, glazing and an introduction to the firing process. Each week builds on core skills, guiding students from simple functional forms to more creative, sculptural projects. By the end of the course, participants will have completed a collection of unique ceramic pieces and gained a strong foundation in working with clay. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to get a little messy and experiment! 

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $200 ($25 per session). Liability waiver required to participate.

This course will teach knitters how to work more than one color in a row in their knitting. At the end of the course students will have made a multicolor hat and have learned how to knit in the round with more than one color, fix mistakes, read a pattern, follow a chart and finish a project. Students will learn tips, techniques and resources for knitting the hat that are applicable to other knitting projects. Students should already know how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off and decrease in knitting. This course is not suitable for those who do not know how to knit comfortably.

NOTE: Beginning knitting will not be taught. Students will need to purchase yarn, needles and stitch markers. Students will be given a pattern and instructions for purchasing yarn and needles prior to the first class.

This introductory course, taught by four instructors at the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society Library, is designed to give a solid foundation for pursuing genealogy and researching your family and ancestors. The classes will cover: conducting research online and in libraries, organizing research, the U.S. census and researching digitized newspapers as well as how to use Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. There will be two assignments: filling out an Ancestor Chart for personal use and preregistering for a free FamilySearch.org account before class 4. Instruction will be 1½ hours, including a 30-minute break, followed by a one-hour hands-on practice session. RVGS has computers available for the practice sessions, but students are encouraged to bring their personal laptop. 

NOTE: The Rogue Valley Genealogical Society Library has a kitchen, and students are encouraged to bring their own lunch or snack to eat during the half-hour break.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to teach an OLLI course? This three-session course is designed to answer that question and to help you prepare that course. We’ll talk about OLLI demographics and the OLLI learner; hear from experienced instructors about teaching skills, course design, venues and online versus classroom teaching; the elements of a successful course and how to avoid pitfalls. Participants will also be introduced to the course proposal form and have the opportunity to work on their course with committee members. Join us to see how your dedication to lifelong learning can include the creative endeavor of course design and teaching.

NOTE: Membership not required for this course. To register as a non-member contact the OLLI office. 

Discover the joy of shaping wood on the lathe in this hands-on introductory course. Students will learn the fundamentals of safe lathe operation, tool selection, principles of spindle and face plate turning and essential turning techniques while practicing on a variety of small projects. This is a project-directed class. Students will leave with projects reflecting their learned skills. No prior experience is required — just curiosity and a willingness to try something new. Join us to explore the creative possibilities of woodturning.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $100 ($25 per session). Liability waiver required to participate.

Students taking this course will make a child’s sweater and, by doing so, will learn how to read a pattern, ensure that a sweater will fit, select appropriate yarn, increase and decrease invisibly and fix mistakes. Students will also learn about key knitting resources. This course is for advanced beginners: Students should know how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off in knitting. If you want to take your knitting to the next level and learn how to make a sweater that fits, this course is for you!

NOTE: This course is designed for someone who knows how to knit but wants to learn how to knit a sweater. Students will be given a pattern and instructions for purchasing yarn and needles prior to the first class.

If you can hold a pencil, you can do this. Zentangle comes from the words “Zen” and “tangle” (entangled, interwoven) and combines creativity with meditation. Zentangle is an easy method to learn because it consists of structured patterns. Stroke by stroke, simple lines are repeated onto paper. With every line, you can dive further into the world of tangles. In a short time, tangles turn into amazing 3D, graphic, elaborate and beautiful tiles. They are unplanned, abstract, black and white. The practice calms, relaxes and is fun. 

NOTE: Students should be prepared with pens, other drawing supplies and Zentangle tiles. A complete materials list will be sent to registered students. Depending on personal preferences and supplies already owned, the cost could range from $20 to $45. 

Transform nature into sparkling silver! Discover the magic of turning leaves, flowers and found treasures into stunning fine silver jewelry. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to capture botanical textures and natural forms using art clay silver — a versatile fine silver clay. Create a one-of-a-kind pendant inspired by the beauty of the world around you. No prior experience is needed — just your curiosity and a love of nature. Let your creativity take root and blossom into timeless silver pieces you’ll be proud to wear or give as a gift.

NOTE: The total cost to participate is $120 ($30 per session).

If you are in retirement or getting ready for retirement, you must manage your income, investments and expenses to ensure that your money will last throughout your life. This course will help with identifying your sources of income (Social Security, pensions, investments and personal real estate) and coordinating your investments and retirement savings to cover expenses over time. Instruction will help you identify future cash flow needs and learn how to best supplement income with portfolio withdrawals. 

NOTE: Having taken the OLLI course Retirement and Your Money: What You Should Know, is recommended, though not required. 

Using a combination of lecture, discussion, demonstration and participation, students will study the fundamentals of music theory, beginning with the notes, intervals and chords of the C-major scale. Each week we will work through exercises in the assigned workbook, progressing through major and minor scales, and chords and intervals. Students are invited to bring their own instruments to class. Participants will learn the basic blues chord progression, which is the foundation of American folk and popular music. The class will be relaxed and fun, and students will be encouraged to create their own songs and share them with the class.

NOTE: Required workbook: “Music Theory Workbook for all Musicians” by Chris Bowman, $16.99, available on Amazon.

Tuning a musical instrument to the Western 12-note scale requires compromises in the “distance” between notes. Temperaments are tuning systems that incorporate these compromises by “tempering” (adjusting) the pitches to meet different musical needs. Various tuning systems achieve these compromises in different ways, resulting in different sounding chords. This course will demonstrate why the compromises are necessary, how they are achieved and how we perceive them. The course will present and demonstrate the physical properties of sound, the origin of the 12-note scale and a history of various temperaments that arose to tune those 12 notes, including Pythagorean, just, meantone, well and equal. What have we lost by using equal temperament since the 20th century, and what have we gained?

NOTE: The instructors will use PowerPoint, demonstrations and audio examples live and from the internet. Some knowledge of music will be useful for a full understanding of temperament. 

This course is designed for a deepening of our innate connection with nature. Being in nature has been shown to help humans increase their well-being. Time will be given to participants to be in silence. They also will be asked to contemplate various aspects of the natural community around them. They will be given time to write if they choose and then gather again to share their thoughts and ideas. All classes will be at a local park where, depending on weather, a shelter is near. Participants will be expected to dress appropriately for the weather and be able to walk on mostly level ground. There could be slight inclines, but no steep hills. Participants may bring a notebook and pen, but it’s not required. 

NOTE: This course will take place at North Mountain Park, 620 N. Mountain Ave, Ashland. Liability waiver required to participate. This class and its activities will be based on the book “The Healing Magic of Forest Bathing” by Julie Plevin Oliansky, a local who started Forest Bathing Clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

Slow down, tune in and 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’re art-phobic or you’re a plein-air painter, whether you’re a scientist or a poet or both or neither, this course is for you — this approach to journaling is accessible to everyone! The course includes three two-hour sessions. The first session will be indoors on the Rogue Valley Manor campus, with a short trip outside. The second and third sessions will be primarily outdoors on the RVM campus, with gentle walks to find journaling subjects. Each session will include a mix of interactive lecturing, instruction, “follow-along” demonstrations, journaling time and group discussion. 

NOTE: This course will include walking outdoors on the RVM campus. Participants will need to be able to dress comfortably for outdoor conditions and sit on benches or in a camping chair while journaling. Liability waiver required to participate.

This course will be an introduction to astronomy, specifically observational astronomy. Students will learn how to look in the night sky without a telescope to see constellations, identify planets and discern lunar phases. This class will specifically focus on our Southern Oregon skies in spring. Students will get a chance to practice their knowledge by observing in the North Medford High School Planetarium. The planetarium features a Digistar 7 system, a fully digital system capable of manipulating space and time with real-time data and stellar computer graphics. The course will be half online lecture, half lab-based in the planetarium. There is no background knowledge necessary; all levels of learners are welcome.  

NOTE: The course will alternate between online instruction using Zoom one week followed by lab-based practice of concepts at the North Medford High School Planetarium the next week. Weeks 1, 3 and 5 will be online and weeks 2, 4 and 6 will be at the planetarium. Liability waiver required to participate.

Using research-backed strategies, the AARP Smart Driver course has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of accidents, help you become more proficient in the current rules of the road, improve your defensive driving techniques and help you with safe vehicle operation in today’s demanding driving environment. This course will focus on the vital relationship between the driver, vehicle and road, and look at how factors such as aging, medications and alcohol can impact driving. You’ll also learn about the latest vehicle safety features and technological advancements. Importantly, you will learn how to identify when it’s no longer safe to drive and how to find alternative travel options. This course may qualify you for a multiyear discount on your auto insurance. 

NOTE: A required materials fee of $20 to $25 (discount for AARP members) includes a comprehensive 120-page Participant Guide. Both days are required for course completion and the insurance discount. The fee will be collected on the first day by cash or check made out to AARP. Credit cards will not be accepted.  

The 2026 Ashland Independent Film Festival returns to the Varsity Theatre April 23-26 with another outstanding slate of fine films from international and domestic filmmakers. OLLI members will view six preselected films over the four-day festival weekend. During the week following the festival, OLLI members will meet three times to discuss the films. The films are a mix of documentary and narrative films that have recently premiered at U.S. and international film festivals. The discussions will focus on the cinematic qualities of the films, with emphasis on the choices made by the filmmaker; the effectiveness of those choices; and the cultural, sociological and artistic content of the films.  

NOTE: Students will purchase their tickets on the Ashland Independent Film website. It is expected the price will be $12 per film.  

Develop a passion for printing in this hands-on class that includes art, design and printmaking. We will focus on a variety of media, including cyanotype, jelly prints and screen printing. Each week, students will learn different aspects of what makes a good design based on composition principles such as the golden ratio, the rule of thirds and the use of positive and negative shapes. Students will learn how to digitize and edit designs for screen printing using an iPad (provided on site by Talent Maker City). Additional printing methods will be introduced.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $200 ($25 per session). Liability waiver required to participate.

Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning three “The Lord of the Rings” films are a great, though not flawless, adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. Jackson and his team brought what had been considered an unfilmable story to screen as live-action movies, a monumental achievement, accomplished in part by Jackson’s innovative film technology. We will focus on one of Jackson’s films each week, discussing how Jackson’s team adapted the novels for the demands of film as a medium, the impact of Jackson’s changes on the story’s themes, and the filming techniques and their impact on audience experiences of the final film.

NOTE: Previous experience reading Tolkien’s novels is important, as much of our discussion will be a comparative analysis of the books and films. Participants will need to view the films on their own before class. The extended editions of the films are strongly recommended over the theatrical releases, though either version will serve for discussion.

The course will cover Newton’s laws of motion and Newton’s law of gravity including gravity, planetary motion and rotational motion. Learn the answers to important questions such as: Do you get anywhere at 60 mph if you drive for less than an hour? Why does your stomach get upset in an elevator? Do angels flap their wings to keep the planets in their orbits? (You know more about physics than you realize.) Take this course and connect your intuitive knowledge and learned behavior with the words of physics. Don’t be intimidated by the words; they are there only to keep the uninitiated … uninitiated. Become an initiate in Newton’s laws. Time will be devoted to your questions.   

NOTE: The course will be taught using PowerPoint presentations and other visual and audio material. Warning: We need to use some basic algebra. 

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. They are 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. There will be an emphasis on safety, playing by USA pickleball rules and sportsmanship. This skill-building course will focus on serves; third-shot drops or “drop shots;” drives; lobs; partner communication; types of scoring; and understanding Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson. The last day will be a fun, 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. Liability waiver required to participate.

This fun and active course is for pickleball players who understand and play the game and want to meet players through a rotation/competitive type of play. All levels of players are welcome. There will be three classes during the term, each with 3½ hours of play. Players will learn format, partnering, stacking, hand signals, types of scoring, byes, types of pickleballs and when to utilize them. Timing and numbering of rotations will be taught with an emphasis on safety. Six games will be played in each class, with frequent rest breaks. You will be an active participant and connect with your partner in strategizing your game plan. This course is taught by experienced local players from the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club.  

NOTE: This course will be at Lithia Park pickleball courts; courts 1 to 4 have been reserved for 8 a.m. to noon. Bring your favorite paddle and a hydrating drink, and wear court shoes and a hat or visor. Eye protection is recommended. In the event of inclement weather, we will cancel. There is a $3 fee for pickleballs payable to the instructor. Class dates are 4/23, 5/14 and 5/28. Liability waiver required to participate.

Think you don’t have artistic talent? We disagree! Surprise yourself with our fun, playful art exercises: Doodle, scribble, create Picasso-style animals and improve your eye-hand coordination with blind contour drawing. Enjoy the process and don’t take your efforts too seriously. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to explore and let your inner artist/child emerge. There will be no critiquing of your artwork. We provide ideas, suggestions and supplies. Students are encouraged to ask questions during class. A materials list and brief description of class content will be sent to registered students weekly. Watercolor brush pens, pencils, ink pens, card stock and watercolor paper will be provided.  

NOTE: A materials fee of $5 is due at the first class to offset supply costs. No acrylic or oil will be used in the classroom. No art experience is required. 

Radical loving is about being home with our wounded world. We will visit broken, abandoned or distressed places in our area, such as the Almeda fire corridor, Golden and Buncom ghost towns and clear cuts. During our visits we will listen deeply with our loving presence. We will share ideas about where other such places might be that are close by, accessible and of interest to us all. From those encounters we might want to create what our souls are calling us to bring forth: a piece of writing, painting, music, movement, sculpture or anything that moves our hearts. Our creation can become part of an altar at our homes honoring those areas and beyond. In essence, this course is about slowing down, being present with and, as you are moved, responding creatively to beauty, gratitude and love.

NOTE: Liability waiver required to participate.

This is the foundation course for four courses of history that describe how current America was shaped. Two key events are covered: the idealistic founding of the Republican Party and Reconstruction that it created. After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people, women, abolitionists and radical Republicans courageously fought to create an interracial, nonpatriarchal democracy. In the face of a hegemonic white and male supremist strategy of misrepresentation and terror, they succeeded in creating the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, the legal basis for citizenship, equality before the law, voting rights for all men regardless of race and abolishing slavery. This is their story and the consequences of their defeat. Required is an interest in how historical events shaped today’s America. 

NOTE: Strongly recommended reading before the class: “The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South” by Bruce Levine (2013). 

This is a six-week reading and discussion course for adults who have lived long enough to know what matters, who feel the erosion of genuine connection in a device-driven world, and who want their voices heard again in honest dialogue with the people they love. The text and in-class discussions will help participants better understand the ways that digital communication has been eroding the connective tissue between us and help us explore new ways we can change that dynamic. There will be weekly readings, journaling prompts and in-class invitations to share personal experiences as we look into the ways we seniors can give and receive more substantive contributions with our loved ones.

NOTE: Required reading: “Reclaiming Conversation” by Sherry Turkle. Any edition is acceptable. No previous knowledge is required except for participants’ regular use of basic digital communication tools and devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers, and familiarity with social media like Facebook and Instagram.

Why is the Rogue Valley a low area and why are the adjacent mountains so high? This course aims to help students interpret the landscape where they live. Using the local area as our laboratory, we’ll explore the factors that create diverse landscapes. Via interactive lectures, the course will review the regional geology with a focus on local details and explain the basic principles needed to understand how Earth works and changes through time.

NOTE: The in-person section will include a field trip to local sites; students may choose either Saturday, May 9 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or Tuesday, May 12 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The trip will require students to carpool and sign the SOU liability waiver. Walking distances will be short. No prior geologic experience is needed. This course was offered before, most recently in Spring 2023.

You’ve studied Spanish for longer than you care to admit and have some basic vocabulary and understanding of mostly present-tense verbs. You can create very simple sentences. You can get around and converse hesitantly, asking only critical questions. Yet, you wish you were more comfortable, confident and fluent. Take this class! Here we’ll build stories together, one sentence at a time, with lots of interesting, comprehensible input, repetition and questions. We will speak in manageable chunks of language wherein students become part of the story. Students’ additions may enhance the story we create, one that each person will retell. We also write the story and read it. We emphasize high-frequency language. Active participation is required and absences are discouraged.  

NOTE: New students as well as those from the Fall 2025 class are welcome. The format will be similar, but the stories are always new. Students should have a basic understanding (like Spanish 1 or 2) of elements of grammar, present-tense verbs, a bit of past tenses and vocabulary of common everyday situations. Strong intermediate or advanced students are encouraged to continue their studies elsewhere.  

The physical benefits to one’s health, which the practice of t’ai chi ch’uan affords, are well documented. It improves flexibility, concentration, confidence and builds muscle strength gradually. Tai chi takes the joints gently through their range of motion, while the emphasis on breathing and inner stillness relieves stress and anxiety. Yang Short Form 36 will introduce new ways to organize yourself to move with ease and comfort. Given its low impact and evidence that it improves balance and reduces pain, tai chi is gentle enough for all abilities, ages and body types. The moves in this form are more involved than in the Introduction to Tai Chi course. In this course, you will learn a Yang Short Form 36, specifically, Ch’ang Style T’ai-Chi-Ch’uan Modified Short Form by Chi-Hsiu D. Weng,1987. 

NOTE: If you have taken Introduction to Tai Chi, you will already have parts of the moves in your repertoire to build on. In Yang Short Form, different from Intro to Tai Chi, one must be able to move hands and feet separately and be comfortable with learning new complex sequences of moving. It is important to take this class more than once to deepen understanding of each movement and the entire form. Liability waiver required to participate.

So you think you know how to play poker? Your skills will be displayed in this advanced poker class focusing on No Limit Texas Hold’em. Students must have a good understanding of poker rules and etiquette to take this course. You will learn all the following: basic betting strategies, fold equity, bluff tactics, bluff equity, bluff catching, game theory and game theory optimal, exploitive theory, poker math and, finally, luck and how it affects the game. There will be an in-class poker tournament using chips (no money) to exercise students’ poker skills.

NOTE: Students must have a good understanding of poker rules and etiquette. Students who have taken Bon Stewart’s Beginning and Winning Poker class should have this knowledge base as would those who play poker for real money outside OLLI.

The American war of choice on Vietnam remains the most divisive conflict of the 20th century. This course will repeat in lecture and guided discussion the 1974 documentary “Hearts and Minds” by Peter Davis, taught at OLLI in Fall 2025. The course will also include new material from the 2017 PBS production of the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick film “The Vietnam War,” as well as poetry by Vietnam veteran W.D. Ehrhart from his website, wdehrhart.com. The course will include a discussion of the two equally disastrous 21st-century American wars on Afghanistan and Iraq and conclude with a speculative look at the still looming specter of war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

NOTE: Course materials will include disturbing subject matter: violence, racism and some brief sexual content. Member discretion is strongly advised. 

The Joy Map is a gentle, creative and heart-centered four-week experience designed to help participants learn practical tools for emotional self-regulation, heart-coherence, stress reduction and cultivating everyday joy. Each session blends short instruction with experiential activities such as guided heart-coherence practices, reflective writing, music appreciation, nature connection, movement, expressive art and meaningful group conversation. This program weaves all of these elements into an accessible, uplifting experience — the kind that nourishes the heart, mind and spirit. No prior artistic or mindfulness experience is required; all levels are welcome. Each participant will create a personal Joy Map, a living document and visual guide for purposeful, joyful living.

NOTE: Participants will need a journal and various art supplies, including art paper, colored pencils, markers, glue and other supplies of their choosing. Be prepared to go outside for short movement and mindfulness activities. The cost will depend on supplies to which the participant already has access.

We all know the piano is a musical instrument. But what is going on inside the piano? How is a piano different from a harpsichord? What does it mean to say a piano is “in tune” and how do you tell? Through lecture, Q&A and hands-on exploration, we’ll see the evolution from harpsichords to fortepianos to pianos, how the “machine” parts work and how pianos are tuned. We will look at a harpsichord, an upright piano and a grand piano and take parts out to see how different they are. This course will appeal to people interested in music and to those who like to know how things work. A complementary course this term offers the theory and practical application (including demonstrations) of different tuning systems (temperaments). Take them both for twice the fun! 

NOTE: The second session of this course will be taught at the SOU Music Building. Liability waiver required to participate.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing! This adult play shop offers an opportunity to reawaken your inner child, reduce your stress level, exercise your body, sharpen your mental and physical reflexes and laugh a lot. Drawing on New Games and Playfair games as well as other movement game sources, this is an opportunity to have fun through interactive movement games; use your creativity, wit and voice; stimulate your brain with quick-thinking mind challenges; and sharpen your ability to respond quickly. All this helps keep our brains sharp! No competition, no judgment, no losers — just taking time out to laugh, play and have fun. Play and laughter are part of health and healing. Call out your playful child. It’s recess time again!

NOTE: Good health and the ability to move well and get up and down are requirements for this class, which will involve a lot of movement and some spurts of running. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to embrace the spirit of playfulness. Liability waiver required to participate.

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. Students will jointly select five themes, ranging from angels to zeitgeist, deep diving into topics that touch women across ages, cultures, communities and circumstances. Weekly emails with current film titles for home viewing (from Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), along with links to quotes, articles, visual artistic works and music will become touchstones to recall personal stories and insights to share in discussions. Classes may include a short meditation.

NOTE: Students will watch one or 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 will examine the enormous impact lesbian activists have had on women’s suffrage and voting, labor and working conditions, unionization, education, service to poor and immigrant communities, Social Security legislation and professional development from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Many lesbians either chaired or were part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Ladies Brain Trust” and helped Labor Secretary Frances Perkins draft essential human welfare legislation, including Social Security and the Fair Labor Standards Act, legislation that still serves us today. Lecture and discussion will be included.

NOTE: Required text: “To Believe in Women” by Lillian Faderman (1999).

The focus of this course will be on maintaining and improving spoken Italian. There will also be reviews of conjugations and vocabulary. Students should be conversant in the present tense and be able to express events in the past and future. Following Boccaccio’s model for the Decameron, we will tell a total of 10 stories, two per week. The topics will reinforce the tenses we are practicing, such as indicativo, introdurre se stesso and raccontare una barzelletta. The prompts will be provided in advance. A typical class will consist of a brief grammar refresher, taking turns reading aloud to loosen the tongue, and conversing in small groups and then as a class. After a break, there will be a second prompt for informal chat and sharing with the class.

NOTE: Dictionaries, phrase books and other aids are encouraged but not required. Mistakes in Italian are preferable to slipping into English.

The arts have always been integral to human cultural development. They are also integral to individual physical, cognitive and emotional development — an alternative language when words fail us. However, if we insist on thinking that art is only for a gifted few, we miss out. This class is designed to rediscover gifts that satisfy the urge to communicate visually. Each student will identify a meaningful theme that will provide focus and inspiration for four activities: a drawing, a painting, a collage and a mixed-media artwork. Eventually, students will make a handmade scrapbook to house their artworks. The instructor will be a guide-on-the-side, demonstrating techniques, making suggestions, answering questions and fostering a supportive environment.

NOTE: All are welcome; no prerequisite art experience is necessary. This course will build week by week. For optimal satisfaction, weekly attendance (especially Week 1) is recommended. There will be a $10 materials fee.