Learn about 19th century early American history from someone who enjoys studying it and telling it with purpose. OLLI Facilitator Marcy Stoddard’s love for American history came at a young age through her parents. The former teacher of 41 years studies to learn the intricacies of stories and uses her voice as a tool for excitement and interest. If you didn’t appreciate history or find it engaging before, don’t miss this presentation—you’ll be glad you came! ADULTS. REGISTER NOW. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was once called the most polluted land in America, but today it’s one of the country’s most visited urban wildlife refuges. Join OLLI Facilitator John Lanning, a former U.S. Army chemical corps officer and retired chemistry professor, for a discussion of the history of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal as a military chemical arsenal, agricultural pesticide and herbicide producer, and example of Superfund mitigation of toxic waste. We’ll also cover hiking, biking, and touring options available at the Wildlife Refuge. ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

Not long ago the term “bird-brain” was meant as an insult. Today, scientists are discovering the marvelous cognitive complexity of a variety of different birds. Despite their tiny brains (does size matter?), many bird species exhibit intricate problem-solving skills, astonishing memories, and unique methods of communicating. Join OLLI Facilitator Peggy Winn for a fascinating discussion that will explain and demonstrate via short videos why the term “bird-brain” should indeed be a compliment. ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

ADULTS. REGISTER NOW. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver. Couldn’t we all use more joy in our lives right now?  Ingrid Fetell Lee wrote a book entitled Joyful in which she details “The surprising power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness.”   She divides joy into ten aesthetics such as energy (often provided through color), renewal (think baby chicks and spring flowers), freedom (riding in a convertible or the last day of school before summer vacation), or transcendence (kites, clouds, tree houses).  This class will have fun spending two hours each week delving into those aesthetics plus a few other ways of looking at joy with slides, videos, music, and discussion. We will try to determine what gives each one of us the most joy and then concentrate on how to get more of those joyful moments into our lives.  Joy isn’t just something we find.  It’s also something we can make, for ourselves and for those around us.  This class helps us to be intentional about building joy and looking for joy. Janet Kester has lived a relatively joyful life and wants to share that joy with others.  She is a retired special education teacher who tried to bring as much joy as possible to her students as they struggled with the academic world.  She thinks she is quite clever to have integrated her greatest joy, gardening, into her work as a teacher as she developed a thriving and educational gardening program both inside and outside the classroom.  For her, joy jumps out everywhere on a daily basis in the form of grandchildren, flowers, pretty colors and friendships. 

Joy isn’t just something we find, it’s also something we can make—for ourselves and those around us. Join OLLI Facilitator Janet Kester to delve into the aesthetics of joy, gleaned from the Ingrid Fetell Lee book entitled “Joyful.” She’ll detail specific aesthetics and other ways of looking at joy with slides, videos, music, and discussion. Then, we’ll try to determine what gives each of us the most joy and concentrate on how to be intentional about getting more of those joyful moments into our lives. ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

ADULTS. REGISTER NOW. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver. Couldn’t we all use more joy in our lives right now?  Ingrid Fetell Lee wrote a book entitled Joyful in which she details “The surprising power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness.”   She divides joy into ten aesthetics such as energy (often provided through color), renewal (think baby chicks and spring flowers), freedom (riding in a convertible or the last day of school before summer vacation), or transcendence (kites, clouds, tree houses).  This class will have fun spending two hours each week delving into those aesthetics plus a few other ways of looking at joy with slides, videos, music, and discussion. We will try to determine what gives each one of us the most joy and then concentrate on how to get more of those joyful moments into our lives.  Joy isn’t just something we find.  It’s also something we can make, for ourselves and for those around us.  This class helps us to be intentional about building joy and looking for joy. Janet Kester has lived a relatively joyful life and wants to share that joy with others.  She is a retired special education teacher who tried to bring as much joy as possible to her students as they struggled with the academic world.  She thinks she is quite clever to have integrated her greatest joy, gardening, into her work as a teacher as she developed a thriving and educational gardening program both inside and outside the classroom.  For her, joy jumps out everywhere on a daily basis in the form of grandchildren, flowers, pretty colors and friendships. 

Life in Denver is anything but ordinary—oddities abound! Join travel writer and OLLI Facilitator Bruce Caughey and delve into Denver’s past and present, with a focus on the people and places that have made this city what it is today. We’ll discuss the Native Americans; the influx of miners, cowboys, and cattle ranchers; jazz legends and Beat poets; railroad barons; activists; and craft brewers. We’ll also explore unusual locales, odd stories, and offbeat places and things to do. Spark your curiosity of the unusual and see Denver in a new way. ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver. Bruce Caughey has a compelling interest in travel, especially in his lifelong home of Colorado. He co-authored The Colorado Guide, a bestseller with five editions and more than 250,000 copies in print.

ADULTS. REGISTER NOW. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver. Couldn’t we all use more joy in our lives right now?  Ingrid Fetell Lee wrote a book entitled Joyful in which she details “The surprising power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness.”   She divides joy into ten aesthetics such as energy (often provided through color), renewal (think baby chicks and spring flowers), freedom (riding in a convertible or the last day of school before summer vacation), or transcendence (kites, clouds, tree houses).  This class will have fun spending two hours each week delving into those aesthetics plus a few other ways of looking at joy with slides, videos, music, and discussion. We will try to determine what gives each one of us the most joy and then concentrate on how to get more of those joyful moments into our lives.  Joy isn’t just something we find.  It’s also something we can make, for ourselves and for those around us.  This class helps us to be intentional about building joy and looking for joy. Janet Kester has lived a relatively joyful life and wants to share that joy with others.  She is a retired special education teacher who tried to bring as much joy as possible to her students as they struggled with the academic world.  She thinks she is quite clever to have integrated her greatest joy, gardening, into her work as a teacher as she developed a thriving and educational gardening program both inside and outside the classroom.  For her, joy jumps out everywhere on a daily basis in the form of grandchildren, flowers, pretty colors and friendships. 

Composed by Georges Bizet with the libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, Carmen premiered in 1875 and scandalized its audience. Why? And why did it go on to be one of the most performed operas worldwide for over a hundred years? It's the story of a naïve soldier and a free-spirited Gypsy who fall in love. What could possibly go wrong? Join OLLI Master Facilitator Jan Friedlander for this educational and fun presentation and discussion of Carmen, a masterpiece of French Grand Opera, set in our time. With a background in classical music and opera, Jan loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for this art form! Carmen is widely recommended as one of the best operas for beginners, but be careful–opera can be addictive! ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration list will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

Join us for a discussion that includes China's strengths and weaknesses; the breadth and depth of the U.S. economy, and the limitations of China's; the inextricably interrelated interests of both countries; the system of U.S. allies in Asia, both political and military, including Japan and South Korea; and a look at the last 75 years of Beijing's hostility and threats toward Taiwan's Republic of China. OLLI Facilitator Dan Strammiello was a China analyst with the U.S. government and a regular contributor to the President’s daily brief while there. He is also associated with the Institute for International Economic Policy. ADULTS. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Registration will be shared with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.