OLLI – Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI At UVM

Welcome to OLLI at UVM Campus Program!

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OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at UVM is a community of adult learners who enjoy year-round programs and events that are diverse, interesting, fun, and affordable. OLLI at UVM joins 125 colleges and universities in the United States that provide lifelong learning opportunities to 50+ adults. Go to the Osher Foundation website for more information.

Membership

Become a member of OLLI at UVM and receive a 50% discount on all courses, access to members-only seminars with engaging speakers, and exclusive benefits. OLLI at UVM is a self-sustaining organization supported by membership and course fees and a volunteer advisory board. It’s easy to become a member/renew your membership each semester!

• Become a member when you sign up for classes each semester
• Already registered for a class this semester and want to add another, No problem! Give us a call– 802-656-5817.

UVM Campus Semester Membership Rates (Statewide rates on individual site pages):

• $15 Fall membership; ($12 for AARP/UVM affiliates)
• $15 Spring membership; ($12 for AARP/UVM affiliates)
• $12 Summer membership ($10 for AARP/UVM affiliates)

Policies, Terms and Conditions:

• OLLI at UVM Course Terms and Conditions (PDF, opens in a new window)
• Consent for Use Policy (PDF, opens in a new window)
• General Risk and Waiver Policy (PDF, opens in a new window)

Online Classes

OLLI online programs will be offered over ZOOM. Live auto-captioning available. All ZOOM links are included in your class confirmation email and will also be sent to your email on the morning of your class start date. Helpful ZOOM Guidelines. (PDF, opens in a new window)

Health/Safety Guidelines:

UVM sponsored non-credit functions/activities/offerings, whether held at UVM or at a non-UVM facility or location, are governed by the same health and safety policies. As such, UVM expects event participants, visitors and guests will be vaccinated. Masks are optional and welcomed. If the event is taking place at a non-UVM venue, consideration must be given to the requirements of the host site and the more stringent requirements will apply.

Should you have any questions please contact Customer Relations at 802-656-5817 or uvmolli@uvm.edu. We would be happy to assist you.

Current OLLI Campus Program Listing (subject to change)

PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes one day before the start date.

Winter/Spring Registration Opens December 12

Winter/Spring 2023 Class listing

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 1

with Amanda McIntire
Wednesdays, January 4-25, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this online class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat.

REGISTER

The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming

with New York Historical Society – Docent Miryam Wasserman
Thursday, January 19, 10:30-11:30 am
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Even after 300 years, Salem’s witch trials remain a defining example of intolerance and injustice in American history. The extraordinary events of 1692-3 led to the deaths of 25 innocent people, the vast majority of whom were women. This online exhibition includes tangible fragments from the past that illuminate the real lives of Salem’s residents: those accused of witchcraft, their accusers, and those who defended them against legal charges, risking their own lives and reputations in the process. The exhibition and virtual presentation seeks to ask: In moments of injustice, what role do we play?

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Intro to Ukulele, Level 1

with Clare Innes
Mondays, January 23-February 13, 6-7 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this online class learn chords, strums, and techniques to begin your ukulele journey and gain confidence playing with others. No uke? No worries! Find one here: www.ukuleleclare.com/post/how-to-choose-a-ukulele. Designed for ukuleles in the common high-G (“re-entrant”) tuning.

REGISTER

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 2

with Amanda McIntire
Wednesdays, February 1-22, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this online class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat.

REGISTER

Dark History of Russia and Ukraine, Session 1

with James L. West
Wednesdays, February 1-22, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
This online course will investigate the troubled history of both Ukraine and Russia, and examine the historical factors that led to the on-going conflict between these two countries. Sign up for one or both sessions of this course offered this semester.

REGISTER

Short Fiction About Aging

with Robert Weibezahl
Thursdays, February 2-23, 1:30-3 pm
Member: $60     Non-Member: $90
Great writers have long explored the double-edged sword of aging with all its attendant joys and sorrows—as wisdom battles regret, loss brings reassessment, and youthful aspirations give way to acceptance. In this online seminar we will read and discuss short stories by an array of international writers, exploring how they tackle many aspects of aging, both personal and societal, with insight, pathos, and even humor. Students will be sent stories to read in advance of class sessions, then engage in lively discussions about their themes and interconnections.

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Brain & Memory Enhancement

with Katherine Robinson
Saturdays, February 4-25, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $60     Non-Member: $90
Have you been feeling brain fog, fatigue, memory loss or overwhelm? Scientists used to think that the brain naturally deteriorates as we age but the newest research has coined a wonderful term called “neuroplasticity”, which is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization even as we age. In this online class, we will utilize brain stimulating exercises with the intention of building an empowered perspective about our brains. Learn about the latest cutting edge research and techniques that involves the blending of Western and Eastern philosophy and practices.

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Gallery Talk for Welcome Blanket Exhibit

with Miriam Block
Thursday, February 16, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Heritage Winooksi Mill Museum invites you to this special talk by Museum Director Miriam Block. View Welcome Blanket, the museum’s latest exhibition, and discuss how the Welcome Blanket project is a nation-wide movement that transforms the abstract concept of immigration into a tangible crowd-sourced artistic action. Meet at the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, 20 Winooski Falls Way Suite 301.

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Understanding & Preparing to Be a Medical Decision Maker for your Loved One

with Zail S. Berry, MD, MPH
Thursday, February 16, 5:30-7 pm
Member: $20     Non-Member: $35
In this online presentation, increase your comfort and confidence in acting as a health care agent (representative) for your loved one. Discuss the role of the health care agent in medical decisions and the range of circumstances that the health care agent might face when called to act. Receive guidance and specific steps you might consider to prepare for medical decision involvement, both for your loved ones and your own medical care.

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Late Winter Birding In & Around Burlington

with Maeve Kim
Tuesday, February 21, 5:30-7 pm
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
In this online class, spend the evening with VT winter birds – owls, ducks, ravens, hawks and more. Learn about the local places to see each species right now. Consider registering for our leisurely field walk along Burlington’s Waterfront with binoculars and spotting scopes on February 23rd (see information below for the 2/23 field walk).

REGISTER

Studies in Film History: Bob Fosse

with Travis Weedon
Tuesdays, February 21 – March 14, 5:30-8 pm
Member: $65     Non-Member: $95
Choreographer-turned-film-director Bob Fosse brought the stage to the screen in wild, spectacular fashion. This online survey of four of his signature films—SWEET CHARITY (1969), CABARET (1972), LENNY (1975), and ALL THAT JAZZ (1979)—explores the man behind some of Hollywood’s most innovative, spellbinding, and decadent movie musicals.

The online class will meet each session on Zoom for a pre-film lecture. Students will then be given a link so that they can view that evening’s film individually online. Once the film is complete, the students and teacher will reconvene on Zoom for a post-screening discussion. The class period will vary in length depending on the runtime of each film.

REGISTER

Intro to Ukulele, Level 2

with Clare Innes
Mondays, February 27-March 20, 6-7 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60

Take your ukulele to the next level. Become more fluid with chord changes, strumming, and learning new songs. Explore fingerpicking and an easy music theory tool and, of course, play lots of songs! Please be able to move with relative ease among these chords: Am, C, D, Em, F, G, G7. This class is designed for ukuleles in the common high-G (“re-entrant”) tuning. This online class is designed for adults.

REGISTER

Dark History of Russia and Ukraine, Session 2

with James L. West
Wednesdays, March 1-22, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
This online course will investigate the troubled history of both Ukraine and Russia, and examine the historical factors that led to the on-going conflict between these two countries. Sign up for one or both sessions of this course offered this semester. This is a continuation of Session 1 and not a repetition of Session 1.

REGISTER

“I’ll Have What She’s Having”: The Jewish Deli

with New York Historical Society – Docent Kyle Einhorn
Wednesday, March 1, 10:30-11:30 am
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Discover how Jewish immigrants, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe, imported and adapted traditions to create a uniquely American restaurant and learn how Jewish delicatessens became a cornerstone of American food culture. The exhibition and virtual presentation explores the food of immigration, the heyday of the deli in the interwar period, delis and Broadway, stories of Holocaust survivors and war refugees who worked in delis, the shifting and shrinking landscapes of delis across the country, and delis in popular culture.

REGISTER

Winter Birds Field Walk on Burlington’s Waterfront OFFERING IS FULL

with Maeve Kim
Thursday, March 2, 9:30 am – noon
Member: $25     Non-Member: $40
Many species of birds can be seen and enjoyed along Burlington’s waterfront and bike path during the winter. We’ll take a leisurely walk south along the lake from ECHO, scanning the water, ice and nearby trees. The field trip is open to people who took the Tuesday evening program and those who didn’t. (Dress warmly! The wind off the lake can be icy!) Participants should bring binoculars if they have them, but there will be a few extra pairs if needed. If anyone has a spotting scope, bring it along. The most important gear is lots of warm clothing. Meet at Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College Street, Burlington

REGISTER

Writing a Legacy Letter

with Jay Sherwin
Thursdays, March 2-9, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $30     Non-Member: $45
A legacy letter, also called an ethical will, is a brief written document that allows you to share your life lessons, express your values, and offer your blessings to future generations. This two-session online workshop offers a model structure, discussion and reflective writing exercises to help you complete your own legacy letter.

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Finding the Light When We Are Surrounded by Darkness

with Katherine Robinson
Saturdays, March 4-25, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $60     Non-Member: $90
Every time we turn on the news these days, we are faced with fear, darkness and chaos. How can we find the Light within ourselves and the world during such lonely and dark times? After almost three years of a pandemic, many of us are feeling lonely , lost and disconnected – unsure how to reconnect out to friends, family and our current world. In this course, we will rediscover the Light that lives within through discussion questions, breathing and meditation techniques. Our true selves that are filled with the Light, are hardwired to navigate these difficult times. Come join us online to find community, practices and new concepts that will help you rise above the chaos.

REGISTER

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 3

with Amanda McIntire
Mondays, March 6-27, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this in-person class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat. Meet in Mann Hall Gym, 005, UVM campus, Burlington.

REGISTER

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 4

with Amanda McIntire
Wednesdays, March 8-29, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this online class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat.

REGISTER

Contemporary Economic Policy Issues

with Jon Haveman
Thursdays, March 9-30, 5:30-7 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
This online course will address a set of prominent economic policy issues. Students can expect to learn about the data surrounding the issue, how economists think about the issue and what policy options are available to deal with it.

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Welcome (Back) to Your Kitchen: How to Make Cooking from Scratch Simple, Affordable, and Practical

with Liza Baker
Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Whether you are familiar with your kitchen or it’s a scary place you generally avoid, learning how to meal plan can shift your relationship with your kitchen, your food, your family, and your nutritional status. In this 1.5-hour online session, we’ll explore how to meal plan efficiently, effectively, and affordably—whatever your household size, food preferences/requirements, and budget!

REGISTER

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 5

with Amanda McIntire
Mondays, April 3-24, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this in-person class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat. Meet in Mann Hall Gym, 005, UVM campus, Burlington.

REGISTER

Beginning Yoga 1, Session 6

with Amanda McIntire
Wednesdays, April 5-26, 5:30-6:30 pm
Member: $40     Non-Member: $60
In this online class, learn the basics of yoga, including the physical practice (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation in this introductory course. Required equipment: Yoga or exercise mat.

REGISTER

Introduction to Meditation & Mindfulness

with Katherine Robinson
Saturdays, April 8-29, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $60     Non-Member: $90
In this online class, take a meditative journey to stimulate your brain and learn a variety of meditative, mindfulness and breathing techniques. Explore the benefits of meditation and create a practice that fits your lifestyle.

REGISTER

Herbal Support for Spring Rejuvenation & Balanced Immunity

with Katherine Elmer
Friday, April 14, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
April is a great time of year to tune into the awakening energy of spring for thawing, revitalizing and detoxifying the body, mind and spirit. Join herbalist Katherine Elmer from Spoonful Herbals (and cofounder of Railyard Apothecary) for this experiential class to explore the benefits of local spring tonic herbs to awaken and support the body’s intrinsic vitality and “spark” while also preventing spring allergy symptoms. Meet at Railyard Apothecary, 270 Battery St, Burlington.

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Tour of Josef Albers’ Color Studies at the Fleming Museum OFFERING IS FULL

with Alice Boone – Fleming Museum
Saturday, April 15, 12:30-2 pm
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Everyone perceives color differently, and the noted artist, educator, and designer Josef Albers set out to teach people how to see the most compelling interactions of color with specially made prints of color interactions. Visit the Fleming Museum’s exhibition of Albers’ work and you may find yourself seeing color in new ways. Meet at 61 Colchester Avenue, Burlington.

 

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum Collections Tour

with Angie Grove
Thursday, April 20, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Participants will get a behind-the-scenes and hands-on experience with the artifact, document, and photographic collections held by this small non-profit museum. The Homestead was the site of Native occupation for thousands of years, followed by over 200 years of continuous Euro-American farming, and multiple archaeological digs in the 1970s-1990s found evidence of these various peoples and uses of the land. While exploring the EAHM collection, participants will explore this heritage of Vermont and the stories of the people who lived and worked this land, from Native arrowheads to 20th century heart lockets. This event will take place indoors. Meet at 1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington.

REGISTER

Orphan Train Riders to Vermont

with Daniel Bean
Tuesday, April 25, 10:30 am – noon
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Discuss the origin of Orphan Trains, their history and the saga and family history of one of the riders to a small town in Franklin County. Meet at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Hall, 72 Church St, Shelburne.

REGISTER

Slow Birding Outing OFFERING IS FULL

with Bridget Butler
Thursday, April 27, 9 – 11 am
Member: $30     Non-Member: $50
Bird Diva Bridget Butler will lead an outing that uses her Slow Birding practice to be more mindful & aware of how we move on the landscape and how we connect with birds in the moment. Slow Birding is a more mindful approach that will strengthen your connection with the land, the birds, and yourself. Please bring a portable comfortable chair as we’ll be doing sit spots together! Meet at Macrae Farm Park, on 1136 Macrae Rd, Colchester. Binoculars and chairs are available to borrow. For more information: https://wvpd.org/macrae-farm-park/

Gardening for Beginners

with Sarah Salatino/ Full Circle Gardens
Friday, April 28, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Member: $15     Non-Member: $30
Learn to garden. Everyone can grow plants! If you’ve never gardened before or want to fill some holes in your skill set, this is the class for you! You will learn how plants work, how and when to water, proper soils, simple pest and disease ID and how to treat them. You will receive a resource handout/cheat sheet for guidance when you start gardening. Participants will plant seeds to take home. Meet at Full Circle Gardens, 68 Brigham Hill Road, Essex Junction.

REGISTER