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HYBRID: In the classroom and online. A Zoom link will be sent to all one day before class.
Some of the most majestic scenery in North America can be found in the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. Starting in Seattle, this travelogue includes a visit to the world-class flower show at Minter Gardens in British Columbia, river rafting for rookies on the Athabasca River near Jasper, and a thrilling helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies at Banff. This is followed by scenes from a 7-day cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage, with stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Glacier Bay. The itinerary ends at Denali National Park and Preserve, with spectacular views of Mt. McKinley. We do not need to go to the distant ends of the earth to experience beautiful landscapes and the rewards of travel. They exist abundantly on our very own continent. George Jabol received his B.A. degree from Muskingum College in Ohio, and a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. Fully retired now from a career with the federal government, George creates photographic slide shows as a way to remember his travels and share them with others.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): George Jabol
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Dates: 4/8/2026 - 4/8/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: W
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Building: Hybrid: In-Person and Online
Room: In the 2275 Platt Road Classroom and on Zoom
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
The Michigan Parks and Recreation Division’s mission is to acquire, protect, and preserve the natural and cultural features of Michigan’s unique resources, and to provide access to land and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities. This presentation will cover the many stewardships and partnerships Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is engaged with. We will learn about infrastructure needs, accessibility, and the DNR’s parks budget. Come join us and learn more about our state parks, which include 104 diverse state parks and recreation areas, 140 state forest campgrounds, over 300,000 acres of land, and hosts nearly 35 million visitors annually, including 5 million at Belle Isle Park. Ronald A. Olson served as Chief of the Michigan Parks and Recreation Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, from 2005 to 2025. He earned a B.A, in recreation and park administration at the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree from Indiana University. He is active in the National Recreation and Park Association, the National Association of State Park Directors, and is a member of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Professionals. Ron served as President of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) and is past president and one of the founders of the MRPA Foundation. He enjoys competing in triathlons, fishing, and spending time with his granddaughters.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Ronald Olson
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Dates: 4/15/2026 - 4/15/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: W
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before each class session begins.
Session One: Human, Four Interviews; Sir David Attenborough and Prince William
Session Two: Heroes, Making of Planet Earth III
Join us for the final episodes of Planet Earth III, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, where animal life in natural habitats and wilderness extremes is viewed up close from within our homes. In the first session, Sir David Attenborough takes us for a close look at how animals are adapting to the human-dominated world. Can they adapt quickly enough to survive? We will also watch four interviews ranging from 3 to 39 minutes long with Sir Attenborough and/or Prince William, who is the founder of The Earthshot Prize. In these interviews, urgent questions are discussed about the future of this planet, and we receive a brief introduction to what is referred to in climate science as ‘the tipping point.’ The second session provides the final episode with a hopeful look at conservation heroes fighting to save wildlife. This will be followed by a behind-the-scenes look at the final chapter of the Planet Earth Trilogy. Linda Gintowt holds an M.A. in drama from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for history and the preservation of art, culture, and the natural world. Linda previously served as the Elderwise Program Coordinator, and is pleased to share her interests with Elderwise friends.
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Fee: $40.00
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Instructor(s): Linda Gintowt
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Dates: 4/20/2026 - 5/4/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 2
Days: M
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Building: Online Course
Room: Online via Zoom
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1st session: April 20;
2nd session: May 4
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OFFSITE TOUR: Tour site location TBA
This tour is one of two identical wildflower walks – please register for only one.
This tour is limited to 12 attendees. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
This excursion will take us to both upland oak-hickory forests and a river floodplain dominated by silver maple. The pink flowers of wild geranium will be easily seen. Lower to the ground, both white and purple violets abound, along with some less-obvious botanical rarities. An impressively large honey locust with dangerous looking spines has found refuge in this protected river valley, along with the uncommon rough-leaved dogwood. The old fields of this family farm have been successfully planted in prairie forbs, and the property owners have seen the ongoing restoration work in the forests improve the ecological health of these natural areas as well. The walk will be less than one mile and is mostly level, but occasionally uneven with tree roots, and it may be muddy in places. Beverly Walters has experience both as a field botanist and a Museum Collections Manager at the University of Michigan Herbarium. Now retired, she helps maintain and improve the Herbarium's Michigan Flora Online website (https://michiganflora.net), a popular resource for plant identification. Bev pursued her botanical studies at Michigan State University. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Beverly Walters
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Dates: 5/11/2026 - 5/11/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: M
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Building: Offsite
Room: Saline River Valley
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OFFSITE TOUR: Park Lyndon North, 18801 N. Territorial Road, Chelsea
This class has an enrollment limit of 15. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
Park Lyndon North is one of southern Michigan’s finest natural areas, an area of high relief that is home to 500 species of plants. It boasts wetland and upland nature trails dominated by glacially sculpted hillsides. The steep rolling terrain features oaks, hickories, poplar, beech, maples, tulip trees (and many more), with the upland trail winding over the Ice Age stream deposits of a prominent esker. In addition, the lowland portion traverses a beautiful tamarack swamp. Tom Friedlander is a retired University of Michigan trained tree-and-shrub taxonomist who spent 38 years teaching and coaching at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Tom Friedlander
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Dates: 5/15/2026 - 5/15/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: F
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Building: Offsite
Room: Park Lyndon North, Chelsea
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OFFSITE TOUR: Tour site location TBA
This tour is one of two identical wildflower walks – please register for only one.
This tour is limited to 12 attendees. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
This excursion will take us to both upland oak-hickory forests and a river floodplain dominated by silver maple. The pink flowers of wild geranium will be easily seen. Lower to the ground, both white and purple violets abound, along with some less-obvious botanical rarities. An impressively large honey locust with dangerous looking spines has found refuge in this protected river valley, along with the uncommon rough-leaved dogwood. The old fields of this family farm have been successfully planted in prairie forbs, and the property owners have seen the ongoing restoration work in the forests improve the ecological health of these natural areas as well. The walk will be less than one mile and is mostly level, but occasionally uneven with tree roots, and it may be muddy in places. Beverly Walters has experience both as a field botanist and a Museum Collections Manager at the University of Michigan Herbarium. Now retired, she helps maintain and improve the Herbarium's Michigan Flora Online website (https://michiganflora.net), a popular resource for plant identification. Bev pursued her botanical studies at Michigan State University. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Beverly Walters
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Dates: 5/18/2026 - 5/18/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: M
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Building: Offsite
Room: Saline River Valley
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
Come join long-time presenter Don Chalfant as he ventures into the wilderness of Northwest Canada on an eleven-day expedition. This trip promised opportunities to see and photograph species of birds and mammals Don had never had a chance to see before. The tour did not disappoint, as it provided sightings of many bird species usually seen in the winter, when their plumage is not at its most beautiful. Instead, Don was able to witness birds in their nesting range and enjoy their beautiful plumage. In addition to birds, Don saw 20 mammal species ranging in size from a tiny chipmunk to a great grizzly bear. And the scenery and wildflowers were magnificent! Don Chalfant has been entertaining and enlightening the Elderwise community for many years with his profound knowledge and stunning photographs of North America’s natural world. Don received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan. Since retiring from teaching in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Don is eager to share his passion for birds and other flora and fauna through his photos.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Don Chalfant
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Dates: 5/21/2026 - 5/21/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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- This class has reached the enrollment limit. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
OFFSITE TOUR: Saginaw Forest, 3900 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor
This class has an enrollment limit of 12. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
The 80-acre Saginaw Forest was established in 1903, and is managed by the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. It includes a 55-acre tree plantation originally intended to determine which species of trees can be used to replant the worn-out farmlands of Michigan. We will see some remaining specimens of the 40 planted species, which included 28 trees not native to Michigan and 10 not native to the United States. We will also explore areas of significant forest regrowth, with scattered silver maples, white pine, oaks, Norway maples, elm, ash, aspen, willow, hackberry, red and silver maples, and possibly the rare Murray birch. Tom Friedlander is a retired University of Michigan trained tree-and-shrub taxonomist who spent 38 years teaching and coaching at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor: Tom Friedlander
Capacity Remaining: -1
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Dates: 5/22/2026 - 5/22/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: F
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Building: Offsite
Room: Saginaw Forest, Ann Arbor
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OFFSITE TOUR: Burns-Stokes Preserve, 2905 Zeeb Road, Dexter
This class has an enrollment limit of 15. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
Dragonflies are over 300 million years old, yet have changed very little since they first appeared on Earth. Come take a deep dive into nature’s perfect predators, their life cycles, their unique features, and their mythology as represented in many different cultures. This field trip will be held at the Burns-Stokes Preserve, which is situated along the river, with consistent sightings of dragonflies and damselflies. Appropriate outerwear is recommended, including tall boots. Attendees should be prepared to go off trail, where the walking can be rough and root-y in places. Elle Bogle is a passionate outdoor educator and adventurer who takes pride in connecting people with the beauty of nature. She worked as a naturalist with WCPARC for seven years, and is currently an environmental specialist with the Ann Arbor Public Schools where she has been teaching for nine years, an educator with the Ecology Center, and offers freelance naturalist services through her Wild Wander business. Her specialties include amphibians, reptiles, dragonflies, and mindfulness in nature. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Elle Bogle
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Dates: 6/3/2026 - 6/3/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: W
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Building: Offsite
Room: Burns-Stokes Preserve, Dexter
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OFFSITE TOUR: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 North Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor
This class has an enrollment limit of 20. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
Fee: Member $10 Nonmember $20, plus an additional $10 entrance fee, added at checkout
Note: Parking is $4 for two hours, payable at desk or kiosk.
Water is life. It is everywhere, flowing in and out of different places, and it touches all we see. Water provides humans with numerous ecosystem benefits, provides habitat for a variety of plants and animals, and is an essential part of resilient ecosystems. Join us at Matthaei Botanical Gardens to explore the diversity of life in various water-related spots along the trail, and gain appreciation for their roles in nature and interconnectedness with the Great Lakes. Explore how healthy, resilient water travels. Discover various birds, animals, and plants that live with, and in, the Matthaei waterways. Walking shoes are recommended. The tour will be led by Matthaei-Nichols Professional Docent Staff. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Gardens Matthaei Botanical
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Dates: 6/4/2026 - 6/4/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: Offsite
Room: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor
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OFFSITE TOUR: 797 W. Textile Road, Ann Arbor
This class has an enrollment limit of 20. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
The Past IS Worth Preserving. Join us for a story of the Sutherlands and Wilsons. This tour of the Sutherland-Wilson farm includes a presentation on the history of Pittsfield Township, as well as the six generations who lived in this home. We will explore the house, barn, and outbuildings, and learn how they have been renovated over the years by the Pittsfield Township Historical Society. If you enjoy local history, you will enjoy this tour. Carol Pollack-Rundle, a retired ophthalmic technologist at Michigan Medicine, has been interested in history for years. She is a charter member of the Pittsfield Township Historical Society and has served as its treasurer for four years. She is also a house docent and owes her knowledge of the house to other members of the historical society, especially Ed and Mary Ellen Wall, the authors of many books on Pittsfield Township history. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Carol Pollack-Rundle
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Dates: 6/5/2026 - 6/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: F
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Building: Offsite
Room: Sutherland-Wilson Farmstead, Ann Arbor
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OFFSITE TOUR: 6480 S. State Road, Salline
Enrollment: This tour is limited to 30 attendees. A waitlist will be available.
Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.
Accessibility: PLEASE NOTE that the Park is not yet fully accessible.
Join us for an outdoor tour of Fellowfield Discovery Park, a 10-acre ecojustice park dedicated to restoring relationships between people, place, and planet. The program begins with a welcome and introduction to the park’s purpose and philosophy, followed by hands-on activities at the Park’s discovery stations. Together, we will reflect on how past decisions have shaped the land, and how healing and stewardship are taking root. Participants will also have time to explore the trails and gardens at their own pace, including an exclusive preview of future exhibits still in development. Please note that although this development continues, the park is not yet fully accessible. Katy Adams is Fellowfield’s founder, an experienced non-profit leader, educator, and ecologist with deep family roots in the area. She is passionate about creating thoughtful spaces where people can explore and imagine, safely question the systems that shape our lives, and practice the skills needed to thrive in diverse and interdependent communities. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Katy Adams
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Dates: 6/12/2026 - 6/12/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: F
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Building: Offsite
Room: Fellowfield Discovery Park, Saline
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