Community Engagement   

When we hear someone is experiencing cancer or another difficult health challenge, it's normal to want to support them. In this class we'll use interactive exercises to create a slew of support ideas that are far more valuable than just "tell me how I can help you." Many of us are also concerned we are going to say or do the wrong thing. In this session we will look at basic cancer etiquette to ensure your interactions are comfortable and appreciated.

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.

The class will explore the varied styles of beer, from lager to bitter, gruit to porter. We will cover the style criteria, history, and brewing techniques of various styles. No background is necessary, just an inquiring and inquisitive mindset – and a love of beer, of course.

We will converse in Spanish on a variety of subjects. Emphasis will be given to the following verb tenses: simple past, commands, conditional past, and gerunds. This class is designed with an advanced beginner student in mind.

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.

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.

Enjoy fun and lively activities with other members! Talk about easy ways to make smart food choices and exercise more. Learn how you can eat smart and live strong.

Emergency situations can be painful and expensive in terms of human suffering, property loss, and emotional wear and tear. Some of these impacts can be lessened or avoided with careful preparation. This class is about reducing or avoiding the negative impacts of emergency events through planning and preparation. Participants will review their unique personal situations, then take steps to improve their resiliency and responsiveness to whatever comes their way.

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 Enloe Health caregivers for a four-part lecture series. Each class will cover a unique topic led by a local expert from Enloe Health with time for questions. The series is designed to support a healthier you.

This class is for women who have completed the initial HOOFers class and are now part of the ever-expanding women's hiking community of HOOFers. Skipping the required lecture component of the initial class, we will practically apply and expand our skills during our scheduled hikes. We will focus on problem-solving skills, expanding our navigation skills, and discussing and practicing safety and emergency skills.

This class will be a refresher or training on essential skills for instructors. We'll talk about pedagogy and best practices, and might do some (voluntary!) demonstrations of various skills and practices. You'll walk away with some practical tools to use in the classroom and some concrete training in the craft of leading an engaging class session. This class is for anyone who already teaches OLLI classes, who might want to teach in the future, or who just has an interest in the topic.

Join us to play games just to have fun: card games, board games, and games in between. Just show up or bring your own game to share with the group.

Representatives from various local news organizations will join us to discuss their processes and the challenges and opportunities for local news agencies. Bring your questions!

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 an outdoor adventure exploring an interesting place in our community. Our walk will be approximately 1-3 miles on relatively flat, even surfaces. We will meander at a leisurely pace. Participants should be comfortable walking and standing for up to two hours. We will be visiting the Mendocino National Forest Chico Seed Orchard where Vickie Stoll will lead us on a tour focusing on the flora, fauna, and history of the Chico Seed Orchard.

Join us for an outdoor adventure exploring an interesting place in our community. Our walk will be approximately 1-3 miles on relatively flat, even surfaces. We will meander at a leisurely pace. Participants should be comfortable walking and standing for up to two hours. Lynn Haskell will lead us on a tour to view and learn about a variety of Downtown Chico artworks, including sculptures, murals, tiled benches, and fountains.

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 through photographs from five years of weekly wanderings and the research they inspired. The first class meeting, For the Birds, will highlight interactions with our feathered friends. The second class meeting, More than Just Birding, will explore mammals, reptiles, insects, fascinating plants and fungi, and other treasures under our noses. Join the conversation with your own experiences and knowledge.

Join us for dinner and a show! We will enjoy a pre-show dinner followed by a play at a local theatre. Dinners are optional and will be scheduled closer to the dates of each performance. Come enjoy local talent and socialize with fellow show lovers.

We will engage in respectful, facilitated political conversations exploring the issues we care about and discover the humanity behind each other's perspectives. Each week we will discuss the "two sides" of a political topic, first evaluating who stands for what and why, then shifting to sharing our own personal experiences that have shaped our perspectives and beliefs. By cultivating curiosity we can slow down our conversations to strengthen communication and possibly learn, grow, and appreciate our differences.

Where safety meets socialization! Join Butte County Public Health for walks around Chico and learn 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.

This class will cover a brief history of OLLI sponsor California Water Service, its service areas, and the customers it serves. You'll learn how the water people drink is produced, and how it is sampled on a routine basis. We'll dive into how a water main is installed and tested and how it becomes part of our larger water distribution systems. We'll also talk about investing in infrastructure and Cal Water's Water Main Replacement Program.

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 to explore the many aspects of identity using Chico State's Book in Common, Héctor Tobar's Our Migrant Souls: Meditations on Our Race and the Meaning of "Latino," as the springboard. Each of the four sessions of this class will use Tobar's insights as a frame for discussions about what identity means to us as individuals, family members, residents of our communities, and citizens of the world. This class is for anyone from any recent or historical country of origin.