Community Engagement   

This will be an opportunity to tour the Chico State greenhouse and see how it functions, what it does, and the different habitats that it supports to grow plants from many parts of the world. You'll also see some unique plants. This will be a walking tour lasting about 1 to 2 hours at the greenhouse and surrounding gardens.

Substance use disorders are often confusing and frustrating for family, friends, and communities. Learn about the science of addiction, the treatment realities, and the psychopharmacology of common drugs in the North State. This presentation will leave your head spinning with data and brain scans that explain what we know about this complex disease of the brain.

This class offers a look at current anthropological research by screening a variety of short films about topics that have been explored by anthropologists at Chico State. Each film will be introduced by the instructor's remarks about its relevance to the broader context of contemporary anthropological discourse. All screenings will be followed by time for questions.

Join Butte County Fire Safe Council staff to learn about backyard stewardship at the intersection of wildfire resilience, responsibility, and ecosystem health. The first class session will be in the classroom discussing the Firesafe Council's new guide at backyard scale. The second class session will be outdoors discussing the topics in application to a local backyard.

This class includes short presentations (talks, slides, videos) followed by discussions on all sorts of current US and world topics involving history, government, policy, science, technology, literature, education, culture, and many more. Participants are welcome to make presentations, suggest topics, discuss, or just listen. Special guests are also welcome to present.

There are fundamental principles and institutions that uphold democratic governance and serve as essential support for a democracy's associated freedoms and rights. We'll introduce these pillars and how we relate to them. What is their interaction with our own values, our community, and civil society? How can we influence change through them? This topic is relevant for all sociopolitical leanings, and can help empower us to apply effective actions in the civic space.

California's temperate climate allows an amazing array of plants to be grown locally. Edible gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens, contemplative gardens, and demonstration gardens are some of the many varieties to tour. Inspired by the successful model of the "Arts & Eats" OLLI class, "Garden Gourmands" will focus on touring the art of garden landscapes combined with eating locally. Join Master Gardeners as we explore different area gardens followed by a no-host lunch at various local eateries to enjoy the bounty of Butte County.

Join us for a half-day adventure to Clotilde Merlo Park in Stirling City. This privately owned garden park with an abundance of plants, trees, and pollinating insects along with a fish-filled pond, is a lovely 20-acre gem situated at 3500' elevation. Bronze statues dot the landscape with numerous references to the historic activities in and around Stirling City. Opportunities for photos abound and depending on the weather, we may see the start of fall colors. After touring the Park, we will enjoy our bring-your-own picnic lunches.

Golden Beaver Distillery is one of only a few distilleries in the country that use primarily rice. Learn about the unique process distiller Kris Koenig uses and how it sets Golden Beaver apart from other distilleries. You will also have the opportunity to taste whiskey, with surprising flavors of the season.

History. Art. Bees. Orland has plenty of each. Spend a couple of hours exploring all three in one afternoon. The Alta Schmidt House Museum houses many historical artifacts, documents, and photos. The Orland Arts Center and Gallery has a new exhibit every three months, plus other events almost monthly. The Honeybee Discovery Center is a great learning experience for schoolchildren, but also for all other age groups. Check out the Story Walk in Library Park when walking between the venues.

Join a friendly, sociable and helpful group to play games in a fun environment. We have a literal wagon full of games, from the well-known to the obscure, and if you don't know the game, we'll teach you! You can also bring your own game to share.

Join a friendly, sociable, and helpful group to play games in a fun environment. We have a literal wagon full of games, from the well-known to the obscure, and if you don't know the game, we'll teach you! You can also bring your own game to share.

Improv is all about being spontaneous and not overthinking, so it's a great exercise for the brain. Plus, it's a lot more interactive than doing crosswords or sudoku, because we play it together. Come stretch your brain and have a lot of fun doing it!

California Master Gardeners provide educational outreach from University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices throughout the state. The mission of the Butte County Master Gardeners is to extend research-based education and technical assistance throughout the non-commercial gardening community and to foster successful gardening practices by helping individuals make informed decisions about plants, pests, and the environment, with an emphasis on sustainability. Join us as we address a wide range of fascinating subjects.

If you haven't visited the Butte College Health, Kinesiology and Athletics Department recently, here is your chance to join us on a wonderful tour! Various department staff and faculty will help us explore multiple facilities, educational opportunities, and athletic programs. You will have the opportunity to interact with the department dean, coaches, athletic trainers, and various student athletes. Participants must be comfortable navigating steps and walking or standing for up to 2 hours. All walking paths are paved.

Join us for an outdoor adventure exploring interesting places in our community. In this class we will be walking from the Chico History Museum up the Esplanade exploring one of the first neighborhoods of Chico, called the Vecino. Dave Nopel will be sharing the history and development of this unique area of Chico.

Join us in visiting the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville to learn about Chinook salmon returning to the Feather River at the height of fall spawning season. We will visit both sections of the Feather River Fish Hatchery: the spawning room, hatchery, and rearing ponds on the west side of Table Mountain Boulevard; and the fish barrier dam, observation platform, and underwater viewing on the east side of Table Mountain Boulevard. We will walk about 3.5 miles.

Join us for an easy, approximately 90-minute docent-led tour of the vineyard grounds and Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux in Vina. The unique soils of this land have led to its cultivation as a vineyard for many years. In 1955 much of the land was purchased by Trappist-Cistercian monks, an order known for their winemaking skills, who established a winery and monastery. A gift shop, informational displays, chapel, and an optional wine tasting are possible extensions to the tour.

Join us for an outdoor adventure exploring an interesting, historic neighborhood in Chico. Our meander will be 2 miles on relatively flat, though uneven, surfaces and include walking up two separate flights of stairs. It will include a visit to Chico State's Albert E. Warrens Center, also known as the Julia Morgan House, which serves as the residence for the university president and his wife. Participants must be comfortable walking and standing for up to three hours. Our guides will be Dave Nopel, Chico History Museum board member, and Tanya Perez, wife to Chico State President Steve Perez.

Play pickleball with other members. In this class, you will receive paddles and balls, enjoy light instruction for beginners, and have plenty of time to practice skills and play games with fellow OLLI members. Whether you're brand new to pickleball or looking to sharpen your game, this fun, social class is a great way to get active and learn one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Enjoy Northern California beauty and history with 30-45 minutes to explore, observe, and take short walks in each location. A fifth-generation historian will tell us about Delta in the Sacramento Canyon and the historic significance of the Siskiyou Trail, a famous Native American Battle, gold, and railroads. We will see the stratovolcano and community in Mount Shasta. In the old logging town of McCloud we will visit a community park and learn about the Klamath Tribes, the Modoc War, and Modoc displacement to Oklahoma.

To hear Rian Farley speak about Durham Cemetery is to see it as a living, breathing chronicle of community life. In this engaging class, Rian explores the broader history of cemeteries, the symbolism of headstones and footstones, and the personal stories etched in stone. Discover how cemeteries preserve memory, meaning, and local heritage.

Play table tennis with other members. You will receive paddles and balls, get basic instruction on strokes and footwork, and enjoy friendly games with fellow OLLI members. Whether you're completely new to table tennis or returning to a favorite pastime, this fast, fun, low-impact activity is a great way to sharpen your reflexes, stay active, and enjoy time with friends.

Want to hear some interesting stories? Each class session will feature someone telling their life story. Through listening and honoring each other's journeys, we can connect profoundly. Plus it's just fun to share and learn about one another. There is an option to be recorded and receive a flash drive to pass onto your family or friends. You will be supplied with a list of possible topics to address when giving your talk. Everyone has a story to tell. Come and share yours!

The class will present a brief history of the disposal of trash through time, regulations affecting the disposal of trash, and the history of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (landfill). Learn about the recycling and diversion of wastes from the landfill, landfill operations, monitoring, amounts of waste disposed, as well as effects of disasters, electrical power generation, equipment used, and the future of landfill and related topics.

Join us to learn more about the various services B-Line, Butte County's public transit provider, offers for older adults and people with disabilities.

Come enjoy Paradise and walk the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail with us! We will walk the trail from the top to the bottom, a little over 5 miles downhill, and experience elevations from 2800-1800 feet. The trail is paved and will provide an opportunity to see the rebuild progress and the changing landscape. We will visit the Depot Museum and stop at Joy Lyn's Candy Shop. The last section of the path includes an art installation by muralist Shane Grammer.

Join us for our Wednesday morning park walks! If you want to start a walking habit, add to your daily step count, spend a morning with old and new friends, or just enjoy beautiful Lower Park, lace up your shoes and join us. Each week, you have the opportunity to choose a 1-mile route looping at Hwy 99 or a 2.8-mile route looping at the 2nd bridge (Cedar Grove).

Join us for our Wednesday morning park walks! If you want to start a walking habit, add to your daily step count, spend a morning with old and new friends, or just enjoy beautiful Lower Park, lace up your shoes and join us. Each week, you have the opportunity to choose a 1-mile route looping at Hwy 99 or a 2.8-mile route looping at the 2nd bridge (Cedar Grove).