Wednesday Courses   

This course is a one-week introductory “boot camp” for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American mah-jongg (AMJ). This five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities is limited to two tables of four or five students each. 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 this boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginner players to continue their AMJ play. Each variation of mah jongg (American, Chinese and Japanese Riichi) has a unique play style and set of rules.

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. Text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only, please. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. Class will meet in Room C on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

This course is a one-week introductory “boot camp” for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American mah-jongg (AMJ). This five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities is limited to two tables of four or five students each. 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 this boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginner players to continue their AMJ play. Each variation of mah jongg (American, Chinese and Japanese Riichi) has a unique play style and set of rules.

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. Text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only, please. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. Class will meet in Room C on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Transform a memory into a meaningful short story in this eight-week course for photographer-storytellers. For those who have decades of rich experiences (and the photos to prove it) but struggle to share them meaningfully, this course will explore how to use multimedia e-books to accomplish that. Unlike traditional memoir writing, this course will focus on telling a single story as a relationship-building tool. Learn to select a personal experience that inspires, craft a short story that invites reflection, use personal photos and maybe short voice clips to enhance your text and host a follow-up conversation with readers. Come develop these essential skills for your third act. Leave a legacy of shared wisdom and connection that inspires long after your story has been told.  

NOTE: Participants need their own late-model laptop (Mac preferred but Windows or Android also work with BookCreator). Participants need to know how to copy and paste between documents, use the audio and video tools built into their laptops and how to access their digital photos. To use the AI prompts from the instructor, participants also need their own Claude AI account (the free version is fine). 

Per Ernest Hemingway, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Between the end of World War I and the 1929 stock market crash, Paris was a magnet for aspiring U.S. writers, artists and musicians. We will explore the reasons why they became expats for varying lengths of time, who they were, how they lived and what they accomplished. We will try to get some feel of the Paris scene, both in “Black Montmartre” on the Right Bank and in bohemian Montparnasse on the Left Bank. In addition to well-known figures such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Man Ray, Josephine Baker and Aaron Copland, we will get to know many lesser but fascinating ones. The course combines lecture and discussion.

NOTE: Malcolm Cowley’s “Exile’s Return” is a required text. Assigned shorter texts, musical pieces and documentary films will be accessible online at no cost.

As artificial intelligence continues its rapid development, it is important that those interested in AI continue experimenting with current AI implementations. This seminar will include perspectives on pay-for-service products, including those produced by OpenAI (ChatGPT, DALL-E), Anthropic (Claude.AI), Google (Gemini, Gemma) and Microsoft (Copilot). The historical development of AI will be discussed. The primary focus will be on the use of AI in professional services, individual utilization, and will emphasize establishing personal and professional skills. The seminar is a continuation of the instructor’s prior OLLI offerings on AI. This is a Level II seminar. Participants must have some familiarity with artificial intelligence. 

NOTE: Participants should be familiar with regular computer operations, including installing new programs and apps on computers and mobile devices.

Exploring the nearby winter trails on cross-country skis will provide a forum for 10 students to get together at a snow park close to Ashland. The first class will be held at Campbell Center, where we meet in person and begin to form community while assessing everyone’s understanding and abilities, check all gear, and get logistics for the next classes when we meet on the mountain. We’ll use the buddy system for safety on the snow and practice getting up and down from the ground. Slowing down will be promoted, as well as enjoying the scenery, breathing, releasing ambition and always reducing the effort. It’s a way to feel your whole self in a new way while breathing the fresh, cool mountain air, learning from fellow students and seeing Mount McLoughlin in the distance.

NOTE: This is not an introduction to cross-country skiing. Students must be familiar, although not expert with the activity and know their physical abilities. Students must have their own gear or secure rentals. If snow or weather conditions are unfavorable, we’ll hike the ski trail or reschedule. A seasonal Sno-Park pass ($25), valid from April through November, is required to leave vehicles at snow parks. The first class session on Jan. 14 will be held at the Campbell Center in Room D. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Experience gentle yoga poses with moving meditation practices to release tension and improve overall strength. Yoga can improve well-being and relieve stress. Learn how yoga makes your body feel better and brings peace and clarity to your mind. Simple breathing exercises and gentle yoga poses help you relieve stress and discomfort. Each session will be different, targeting alternating areas of the body. The entire course is filled with love, inspiration and creativity through soothing music, flowing movement and thoughtful readings shared in class. Yoga tune-up balls or two tennis balls will be used for the last 10 minutes in restorative postures finishing with the head, neck, shoulders and lower back. An ability to sit comfortably on a cushion or the floor is necessary.

NOTE: Signed liability waiver required to participate.

The four play sequence known as the Henriad is considered by many to be the crown jewel of Shakespeare’s history cycle. In the Middle Ages having no royal male heir led to awkward moments but having too many heirs meant disaster: The five sons of Edward III brought England 100 years of usurpations, murders and civil war, ending only in 1485 with the new Tudor dynasty. The familial and national tragedies portrayed in the plays based on this era continue to rivet audiences—from Richard II’s fecklessness through Henry V’s fleeting moments of martial glory to Richard III’s melodramatic villainy. This course will examine the play “Henry IV, Part One” (in the OSF ’26 season) in the context of the BBC series “The Hollow Crown.”

NOTE: Students should have access to a copy of the play and “The Hollow Crown” video series. As an option to private viewing, the four plays in the video series will be shown at Campbell Center on successive Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 6-27.

This course will focus on bringing beginning learners to the exciting world of drone operation. Over the span of the course, participants will learn how to safely and confidently operate beginner-friendly drones and gain insight into drone regulations and safety procedures. The course will also feature guest speakers from the fields of environmental science and military/defense, who will share how drones are used for conservation, disaster response, surveillance and strategic operations. No prior experience with drones or technology is required.

NOTE: Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Jin shin jyutsu is an ancient, energetic healing art from Japan brought to the West in the 20th century. Similar to acupressure, it uses simple and deeply effective hands-on techniques to stimulate “energy flows” within the body to restore balance in one’s system. Releasing accumulated tensions and stress allows the body to heal and rejuvenate naturally. In this self-care version, one gains a new awareness and sensitivity for listening closely to what one’s body is saying energetically, while one learns to treat and rebalance. As a daily practice, jin shin jyutsu is known as a powerful tool for correcting emotional and physical imbalances as one’s skill grows.   

NOTE: The three-book set of manuals, “Introducing Jin Shin Jyutsu Is” by Mary Burmeister from jsjinc.net ($42), is required for this course. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

You have learned basic kumihimo or Japanese braiding; now let’s try it with beads! By adding beads, you can create a new dimension to the art of kumihimo braiding and transform a simple braid into an elegant piece of jewelry. We will use varying combinations of beads, resulting in a unique, distinctive look for each bracelet. We will explore different finishing methods for enhancing your bracelet. By the end of the class each student will have completed a beaded kumihimo bracelet. This is not a beginning kumihimo course. Knowledge of basic eight-cord round kumihimo is needed for this course.

NOTE: Cost for supplies is $15 to $40. A supply list will be provided prior to the first class.

What is kumihimo? The word means “gathered threads” and involves using a multistrand cord or string known as the “koma.” Originally used for practical purposes such as securing armor and clothing, kumihimo now serves many decorative functions, including jewelry making and home decor. Participants will learn the craft by starting out making a friendship bracelet. After that is mastered, they will move on to more advanced design and projects. Both new and returning students are welcome. We will try simple and advanced designs to keep everyone engaged. 

NOTE: This is round, not square, kumihimo. A supply list will be sent to registered students prior to the first class. The cost of supplies may range from $15 to $40, depending on the project. 

This course is designed for the person who wants 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 a day 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 the paddles, balls and instruction. Use of the Playtime scheduler will be covered as well as courts available in our area. 

NOTE: If you have a mobility issue, this may not be the course for you. Please wear court shoes, bring a hat/visor and a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. If we have 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. 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 and sportsmanship. This skills-building class will focus on different types of serves; lobs; third shot drops or “drop shots” drives; partner communication; stacking; types of scoring; and identifying Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson. The last day will be a FUN round-robin in which each player will rotate play with all others. An instructor will be on each court to provide feedback.  

NOTE: Please bring a paddle, court shoes, a hat or visor, snacks and a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. Students must know the basic game, such as rules/usapickleball.org, court position, basic serve, return of serve, NVZ, calling “out” balls, safety and sportsmanship. If we have inclement weather the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate. 

Transitions can be difficult, long and unsettling. Where we are now in life took time to develop, and we keep adjusting over the span of a working and parenting life. Many of us had to put aside deeper life issues to successfully function with a career and family. The major theme in William Bridges’ book “Transitions” is that we will, almost universally, need to spend some time in “the neutral zone,” waiting until a new direction becomes apparent. This is challenging but necessary if one wants to take on a durable new direction and attitude toward the future. How one adapts to this neutral zone will affect the success of the new direction.

NOTE: Required reading: “Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes” by William Bridges. Read the first two chapters before class and continue reading throughout the course to facilitate awareness and maximize time in class.

This term’s course will introduce six new wine regions not covered in previous “Wines of the World” offerings. Lectures using PowerPoint and multimedia will cover the geography, climate, soils, history, varietals, labeling and regulatory structure of each region. We will taste four quality wines from that region and discuss our perceptions. No special knowledge is required but a passion for wine is recommended.

NOTE: A class fee will be charged to cover the cost of the premium wines we taste. The fee will be based on the cost of the wines but will not exceed $120 per student. Students are required to pay the full fee, even if they expect to miss some classes. Signed liability waiver required to participate.