Community Engagement   

We'll visit museums, art galleries, and studios in the area and talk with curators and artists to learn more about the places and the work. Afterwards, we'll go to coffee houses or restaurants for no-host treats and conversation with group members.

Chico State's tradition of academic excellence goes back more than 130 years. With over 850 faculty members and 13,000 students, the University's teaching and learning community is thriving. Discover the imagination, cutting-edge research, and expertise that flourishes in our own backyard!

The purpose of this class is to engage in conversation in Spanish. The instructor will provide a topic from a list generated by participants and a brief instruction on vocabulary and sentence frames which will facilitate discussion. Participants will then converse in multi-level groups. Each class will also include a short pronunciation exercise to help the participants improve their Spanish fluency. Participants should have at least an advanced beginner knowledge of Spanish.

A scintillating review of current themes in the media will be discussed in each class. Class members present a topic, discuss it, then open the floor for discussion and debate. Poetry, literature, scientific discovery, and educational progress are examples of the issues addressed. Special guests are welcome to present.

Do you draw, write novels, knit, paint, collage, hook rugs, embroider, or make any other art or craft? Do you need an impulse to get you going? Instead of doing it alone, come to the OLLI Creation Zone. We will have tables (with plastic sheets covering them to allow for messiness) and chairs set up. You bring yourself, your ideas, and your materials. No instruction, no demands, just a group of people creating in comradery.

Cribbage is a great card game for two people: fast, unpredictable, and portable. Though the game has many rules, this class will take you through all facets of the game, step by step. By the time you have finished this class, you will not only know the game well, but you will also know how to teach the game to others. If you already know the game, come play with us. Been looking for someone to play with? Maybe you will find a new friend and opponent here!

Most women have a variety of casual friends with whom they socialize, yet many women feel they don't have deep emotional closeness with enough of those friends. They long for more intimate friendships where they feel truly known at a deeper, more personal level. This class will explore how to develop deeper meaningful friendships between women, as well as share our own experiences. Topics will include friendship myths, types of friendships, unhealthy friendships, steps in developing meaningful friendships, and mutual sharing and self-disclosure in friendships.

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.

Discuss, plan, and prepare a simple altar in memory and in honor of friends and family you have lost. Some people observe holidays like Day of the Dead and All Souls Day that specifically honor loved ones who have died; for others, the upcoming winter holiday season and dark winter days can be a time to think of those who have died. The altars we build will give us a concrete, personal way to celebrate our departed loved ones with art, photos, and writings.

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.

Join us for two outdoor adventures, each approximately 1-3 miles on flat, even surfaces, as we explore interesting spaces in our community. We'll meander at a leisurely pace learning about the flora, fauna, history, and other highlights in the areas we are visiting. Participants should be comfortable walking at least a mile and standing for about two hours.

The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) for Part D prescription drug plans and Part C Medicare Advantage plans begins October 15 and ends December 7. This Medicare FAQ class will offer beneficiaries options for their healthcare needs in the coming year. Passages HICAP Medicare counselors will be on site and ready to perform AEP Part D prescription drug plan comparisons and plan changes for attendees who wish to reevaluate their current plan.

My Neighbor's Voice (MNV) is committed to encouraging respectful conversations about the things that matter most. Using MNV Listening Cards, we focus on universal community questions ranging from American culture to civic rights and responsibilities, spiritual thought to health and environment, and more. During class, we have a moderated listening practice with our cards. Each participant takes turns answering questions and listening to their neighbor answer a related question. At the end of several listening rounds, we open the forum up for free discussion on the topic of the day.

Chico is known for its rich biodiversity and parks. Get to know Chico's non-human residents with highlights from four years of weekly wanderings and the research they inspired. Courtship displays, playful otters happily munching, a drinking fountain hawk bath, wildflower blooms, a rare mutant carpenter bee, and more surprises are captured on this photographic journey through parks and surrounding neighborhoods in the heart of Chico.

This workshop is for anyone who has volunteered to help a nonprofit or tried to start a nonprofit themselves, including the delights and dilemmas of service and leadership in the nonprofit context. Content includes nonprofit basics, board member roles and responsibilities, and challenges and opportunities for elders in the context of the nonprofit life cycle. There will also be opportunities to explore specific questions and concerns raised by participants. This class does not provide legal advice.

Where safety meets socialization! Join Butte County Public Health for walks around Chico and learn about how to be a safer pedestrian every time you leave your house. Pedestrian safety is an important topic, as everyone is a pedestrian! During this class we will go for social walks, identify how we can get around safer, and get to know each other all at the same time. Safety items will be provided to participants of the class and each walk is about 1.5 miles long.

Want to hear some interesting stories? Each class session will feature someone telling their life story. Students will have the option of being filmed and given a flash drive with the recording as a keepsake. This token of remembrance can be passed onto one's family or friends. A memoir book will be available to students and a list of possible topics to address when giving their 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.

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.

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 stop at Joy Lyn's Candy Shop. The last section of the path includes an art installation by muralist Shane Grammer.

Join other women spousal caregivers to give and receive support. Talking with others who are experiencing relatable situations can be cathartic and helpful. It can also provide a safe space where stories, tips, and humor make a positive difference.

Class members are expected to see at least one of three movies that have been selected in class each week, viewing them independently in local movie theaters or streaming on either Netflix or Prime Video. We rate each movie and then share our ratings (1-10) and viewpoints with the class. With a variety of opinions, lively discussion is guaranteed.