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This course offers a practical introduction to getting more organized at home and in daily life. You will be provided with basic suggestions on how to get started, explore why organization is important for reducing stress and improving well-being, and outline simple next steps to help you move forward. Whether you're looking to declutter, create better systems, or just gain motivation, this course will help you take meaningful action toward a more organized lifestyle.

We all have a poet inside us — a quiet observer who notices beauty in everyday moments, who remembers, reflects, and feels deeply. Awakening the Inner Poet is a gentle, four-week journey into the art of expression through poetry. Each week, we’ll explore a new theme designed to spark creativity and confidence. Through simple writing prompts, shared readings, and guided reflection, you’ll learn how to transform your memories, emotions, and observations into meaningful verse. Whether you’ve written for years or are putting pen to paper for the first time, this class offers a welcoming space to discover your unique poetic voice. 

No previous experience is needed — just an open heart, a curious mind, and a willingness to see the world through a poet’s eyes.

Required Materials: Notebook or journal or laptop/tablet (if you prefer), your favorite writing tool (pen or pencil), folder, & an open mind and a willingness to share.

This course will cover the basic science and skills needed to take an ecological and sustainable approach to home gardening and landscaping. This course is focused on the importance of native plants, the fascinating interactions between plants and wildlife, and practical actions that home gardeners can use to create healthy home habitats. Participants will learn about local ecosystems in the Grand Strand region, sustainable landscaping issues and how to address them, the fascinating science of plant-insect interactions, best practices for gardening with native plants, and ecological landscape design principles. This course is suited for anyone with an interest in local ecology, gardening, biodiversity and nature, or landscape design.

Please click here to see an example of ecological gardening!

Week 1: Introduction to Local Ecosystems of the Grand Strand and the Importance of Native Plants

Week 2: Native Plants for Coastal South Carolina and Plant-Insect Ecology

Week 3: Ecological Garden Design and Implementation

Week 4: Sustainable Landscape Issues and Further Resources

Take generous portions of geography, mix in a solid helping of history, and season with travel and culture to taste. Add a dash of humor and plenty of fun. That’s my recipe for an engaging and informative Geography class.

This “tried-and-true” formula has served me well in teaching OLLI students. Course topics evolve organically, shaped by both instructor and student interests as we explore the world together. And because this is a class in World Geography, our possibilities are limitless.

Have you always dreamed of publishing your own book? Whether it’s a memoir, novel, poetry collection, or passion project, this 4-week course will walk you step-by-step through the process of self-publishing using Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform—no tech expertise required.

In a supportive, easy-to-follow setting, you'll learn how to:

- Format and prepare your manuscript

- Design a professional-looking cover

- Set up your KDP account and upload your book

- Price, publish, and make your book available on Amazon

By the end of the course, you'll be ready to turn your pages into print and proudly share your work with the world. Perfect for aspiring authors who want a clear, guided path to becoming published.

Brain health refers to how well a person’s brain functions across many areas, like motor, emotional, and sensory functions. Importantly, it also includes cognitive health, or how well you think, remember, and learn. As we age, changes in the brain can affect cognitive health. Exercising your brain may help delay the cognitive decline that naturally comes with healthy aging. Finding ways to stimulate your brain can help it stay sharper for longer. Any activity that requires attention, focus and engagement challenges the brain.

We will engage in fun brain games each week to help stimulate your brain. Prepare to find your inner child and to have fun while engaging your brain.

During this 6-week course, we will start our travels in Rome and travel southward down the boot, until we reach the enchanted Isle of Capri. This class is an adventure in learning about things to do, see and avoid while touring throughout Italy, whether on a package tour or touring on your own. Watch fascinating sightseeing videos, and listen to interesting stories about the people, their towns and villages. This is a fun and relaxing way to hear about local food, beverage and pastry specialities. Learn how to express basic formal and informal greetings and essential phrases, from ordering food and beverages, to making reservations.

This is an interactive course, designed to encourage members to share their travel experiences and questions relating to Italy’s fascinating regions. This course is ideal for anyone planning to tour Italy, or simply curious to learn more about this romantic and majestic country. I hope you’ll join us as we discover what makes Italy “Un Angola di Paradiso” ( A slice of Paradise).

Special Note: This course picks up where the fall course left off. However, students do not need to have taken the class offered during the fall semester to participate in this class.