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This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn the first third of the forms, or about 36 moves, in a workshop environment.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class we will review the first 36 forms in a workshop environment. Additional forms will be taught as the group is ready.

Come along on a trip along the Silk Road, starting in southeastern Kazakhstan and traveling through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and ending in Turkmenistan. We'll visit the ancient cities of Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, and learn about the exploits of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. We'll explore the madrasas of these cities and the deserts of Uzbekistan; we'll witness the game of Ulak Tartysh, a sort of polo played with a goat carcass in Kyrgyzstan. We'll visit many markets, with exotic foods for sale, and much, much more. The presentation will incorporate many photographs and videos from the class leader's recent travels to this part of the world.

Inner peace is a lifetime journey done with discernment but not judgment. The only requirement is a willingness to be aware of how much one ruminates about the past or tries to predict the future. This happens while missing what is happening in the present time. In this discussion class we will be aware of a possible runaway ego. The ego can be a good thing or a destructive thing. Awareness can end the destructive ego cycle.

Join us on a walk along the Paradise Bike Path or Yellowstone Kelly Trailway. We will learn about the history of Paradise through the informational placards placed along a section of the path. After walking for about an hour, we will visit the Depot Museum where a docent will share some local history. Next we will cross the street and go to Joy Lyn's Candies for a short tour and shopping.

Everyone knows poems are full of metaphor, but did you know metaphor is fundamental in language as a whole? This class follows metaphor wherever it goes: into poetry, of course, but also slang, riddles, dreams, advertising, parables, jokes, curses, arguments, and sermons. The class is made up of short lectures with opportunities to ask questions and put in comments.

We enjoy that treasured moment when a solution we've been seeking breaks through with an aha! As much as we enjoy these moments, we can't command their appearance. In this class we use an aha tool box to blow out barriers that block solutions, review bumps and breakdowns as gasoline for new discoveries, use chaotic creation to broaden possibilities, and explore the unknown for additional answers. Come and play with us as we explore ways to accelerate aha's and make our lives richer.

See the diverse ecosystem of the Sacramento River by kayak. You will have the chance to see how water has influenced this valley landscape. A brief safety review and boat handling skills will start in the estuary of Pine Creek. We will paddle up Pine creek to see the river otter nursery and the historic river bed. Heading downriver, participants will be taught some moving water skills. The trip will conclude by paddling up Chico Creek.

Will AI continue on its exponential growth trajectory, or will there be a slowdown? Has AGI already been achieved and if not, is it distant or imminent? This three-session study group chronicles the ongoing saga of AI as it pulls us all into the future.

We will discuss the invention and evolution of paper as well as the techniques, materials, and uses of this valuable resource.

In this one-day class, participants will learn how to use four ingredients (flour, yeast, salt, and water) to make many kinds of bread, just like those lovely French baguettes. This class is based on the book The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

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.

This abbreviated look at the Australian continent's artistic history will consider its creative efforts since its colonization by the British in 1788. Topics include expeditionary artists, Australian Impressionism, women artists 1880-1960, Australian and Californian aesthetic connections, and what Robert Hughes called "the last great art movement of the 20th century": Aboriginal art. It isn't all beaches, didgeridoos, and shrimp on the barbie!

As WWII enters its fourth year, American airpower begins to achieve air supremacy over the Axis powers. Rapid technical advances and superior training overcome German secret weapons and Japanese suicide attacks. This class will describe the airplanes and personalities during this time period.

What is beauty? Is it only in the eye of the beholder? Is there some concept that can capture it, or is it just what pleases? Should we distinguish natural beauty from art works? Using George Santayana's book, we will explore aesthetics. This is not intended as a history of art, nor as art appreciation. We may end with more questions than answers.

This class is for people who know how to play the basic A to G chords on guitar, although class members may bring other stringed instruments to play, e.g. mandolin, bass, ukulele, banjo, harmonica, or squeeze box. Or sing along without an instrument! Songs and lyrics will be emailed each week, featuring artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, The Drifters, and other favorites from the 1950s and 1960s.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein.

This class is for students who have taken the "Birding in the Chico Area: All Levels" class more than once. We will not cover birding basics and will spend more time in the field. We will meet once a month at different locations for field trips that may involve 2-3 miles of walking.

This class is for both beginning and experienced birders. Through observation and the use of binoculars, field guides, and birding apps, class participants learn to identify birds in their natural habitat. We will meet once a month at different birding locations for field trips that may involve 1-2 miles of walking.

We continue to talk about brain development and now there's more! Things keep changing. Join us as we talk about your brain development from early development on. It's not too late to change your brain. Even if you have been through trauma, there is still neuroplasticity and the option to change your brain.

No previous Tai Chi experience is necessary. All the movements are slow and gentle, and no martial arts applications will be taught or practiced in this study group. These methods may help lessen body pain, correct spinal misalignment, cultivate a sense of internal energy, and rest the mind. Participants can wear comfortable roomy or stretchy clothing and some soft tai chi shoes or socks to wear on their feet.

Does your life spark joy? If not, decluttering with feng shui can help. Clutter is not bad, but it is a great teacher. Feng shui teaches that where you have clutter in your spaces reflects where you're stuck in your life. Without this level of understanding, you can declutter but it may return. This will be a fun and interactive class, and you will learn a bit about yourself in the process!

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.

Learn simple, effective, and sustainable tools for having more meaningful and satisfying conversations with your spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, and acquaintances. Participants will also learn how to build traditions that allow for and create an environment that supports connections and a sense of community. This workshop is highly interactive and fun!

In his legendary career as a director, Alfred Hitchcock created dense, suspenseful films filled with flawed heroes, charming villains, and moral ambiguity. In this four-week online class, we'll consider some of Hitchcock's very best films, focusing on two films each week that share a common theme. Students should watch the films on their own; in class, we'll look at brief film clips and discuss key elements. Whether you've enjoyed Hitchcock films for many years or you're just discovering them, this is a chance to go deeper into the mind of a brilliant, complicated man and the surprising, confounding, entertaining world he created on film.

Want to watch some great and interesting movies? In this class we'll watch and discuss some of our favorites. Each meeting will feature a representative movie from a different genre.

Everyone can have better balance! Balance improves with practice under safe and friendly conditions. In this class for those who have not yet taken this class or are having more difficulty with balance, we will explore balance in sitting and standing positions and find improved equilibrium while moving from one position to another. You will learn how various factors affect balance, including muscle strength, flexibility, vision, vestibular sense, proprioception, coordination, and cognition. Come experience the art, science, and joy of re-establishing your body's stability and mobility.

Everyone can have better balance! Balance improves with practice under safe and friendly conditions. In this class for those who have taken the class before or have fair balance and want to improve further, we will explore balance in sitting and standing positions and find improved equilibrium while moving from one position to another. You will learn how various factors affect balance, including muscle strength, flexibility, vision, vestibular sense, proprioception, coordination, and cognition. Come experience the art, science, and joy of re-establishing your body's stability and mobility.

Humans appear quite open to modifying themselves. Modifications may be temporary, as occurs when an athlete consumes performance-enhancing drugs, or permanent, such as the surgical alteration of a person's appearance. We have a growing ability to meld our bodies with machines and to alter ourselves genetically. As our ability to alter our biology expands, so too does the potential for our "enhanced" versions to pose serious challenges to cultural norms, long-established social structures, and basic assumptions about what it means to be human. Let's discuss!

If you've studied French in the past – even as long ago as high school – and can construct a basic sentence in French, join us in improving our abilities to communicate orally and in writing. The class uses a text, but doesn't always follow its sequence. If you are completely new to French, this is not the class for you.

This class will focus on grammar, usage, creating French sentences, and improving listening skills, plus reading French stories.

On parle français dans cette classe, sans traduction (si nous avons de la chance). On doit avoir l'envie d'entendre et de parler mieux le français, et peut-être un jour le parler couramment. Il n’y a pas de textes.

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.

Let go of stress and come home to yourself. Over millennia, the sages of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition developed highly effective methods of movement, relaxation, and meditation. In this study group you will learn foundational practices from the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. Each session will have three phases: gentle movement and breathing, deep relaxation, and meditation. Members can expect to leave this class refreshed. Please note that the movements taught in this study group are not acrobatics. They are suitable for people with no yoga experience. If you've attended yoga classes and found them to be too strenuous or otherwise challenging, this study group is for you.

For those who are already on a path of being grateful, this class will take a deeper look at more mind and body techniques to strengthen our gratitude skills. The goal is to increase our creativity at being grateful for a broader range of everyday experiences. The added benefit is that gratitude is a skill that can increase our resilience, strengthening our ability to notice opportunities for happiness and fulfillment we previously did not see.

The Celtic fringe is composed of six nations: Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales. Through their ancient language and culture, they are the inheritors of nearly three thousand years of unbroken cultural tradition. Welsh author Emyr Humphreys said, "At any time since the eleventh century, it could have disappeared, but for the determination of one generation or another that it should not." This class will trace the history of the Celts and their culture.

The New England region played an important role in the development of American culture. This class will cover the history of the New England region from the first European voyages of exploration to the events leading up to the American Revolution.

The trail is our classroom. The focus of this class will be on sharpening our navigational skills using maps and compasses, practical trail safety, evaluating key items critical to include in your backpack, sharing our love and knowledge of regional trails, aligning individual expectations when planning hikes, and building our HOOFers community of informed, like-minded women hikers. Prerequisite: completion of a previous HOOFers class. Questions about your eligibility? Contact Cynthia (tomkevin11@yahoo.com), Laura (lukes76@gmail.com), or Lois (7ljoto@live.com).

A basic knowledge of at least one of the following instruments is needed to participate: fiddle, Irish tenor banjo, mandolin, flute, penny whistle, concertina, button or piano accordion, bodhran, guitar, hammered dulcimer, uillean pipes, or piano. This class will teach the tunes and the style that inspire the dancers as well as session etiquette. The tunes are learned by ear but sheet music will be available upon request.

If you can't draw, know that it's not your fault. You weren't taught properly. First published in 1979, Betty Edwards' Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain applied brain science to drawing instruction. Using her teaching techniques to bypass our internal barriers and connect us to our innate ability to draw, we learn we can do more than we believed. If you want to start exploring art classes but still draw like a child, start here. Stick-figure level drawing skill is perfect and welcome.

Knitting with others is a wonderful learning environment. This class is designed to give knitters who have mastered the basic stitches of knit and purl a chance to work on a project of their choosing while we chat and share ideas online with other knitters. All levels of ability are welcome! Gale contributes to the class by offering tips and suggestions for patterns, yarn, and tools based on her years of knitting experience.

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.

The best way to stay healthy is to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease by exercising, eating well, and not smoking. Medicare can help. Medicare pays for many preventive services to keep you healthy. Preventive services can find health problems early, when treatment works best, and can help you avoid certain diseases. Learn how to use your Medicare preventive benefits to stay happy and healthy in 2024.

Each week we'll view a feature-length documentary or two shorter films. The films will generally feature a performer or composer, the impact of their environment on their music, and the impact of their music on other musicians and on society. Or the focus might be on a style of music from swing to country, jazz to rock. This is a class for the open-minded and intellectually curious because, paraphrasing Mick Jagger, you might not always hear what you like, but sometimes you just might like what you hear.

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.

This class will allow us as pedestrians to feel safer walking everywhere at any time of day. Most of the built environment that surrounds us in the United States has been created for the use of cars, and often pedestrians and cyclists are an afterthought. This class will teach you to be aware of any dangers and how to safely navigate a car-centered world as a pedestrian. Each walk will be around 2 miles in length.

Old tales are like hidden treasure chests. Most people have forgotten what is in them – or never knew about them in the first place. This class offers chances to experience (read, savor, discuss) these hidden treasures. The readings are all in the public domain (virtually on the internet or in hard copies in libraries and bookstores). The chosen readings permit us to look at social institutions, such as property, religion, and the state, and the efforts of individuals to accommodate, resist, or change their circumstances.

Who decides what makes it on the air or on the front page? Have you ever wondered which stories make the cut? You'll get a look inside morning newsroom meetings in this class, delving into the factors that influence news selection from community events to impactful stories. Join members of local media outlets for an insightful journey into the local news landscape and the narratives that dominate our headlines.

Four evenings of entertainment! Join us for a pre-show dinner to be followed by a play or movie. Whenever possible, someone from the production will join us for dinner to give us insight into what we're about to see. Assigned seats will be purchased in advance so we can sit together. Dinners are optional and will be scheduled closer to the dates of the performances. Come enjoy local talent and socialize with fellow show lovers.

An adventurous way to travel through Oroville! Wildlife abounds on this section of the Feather River. Numerous types of birds, waterfowl, raptors, and even otters can be observed while paddling downstream. You will learn some water safety signals and moving water boat handling skills. We will then travel downstream through the local riparian landscape in either a single or double inflatable kayak.

This low-impact, physically active kayak adventure is a great way to view the ecology of the area. There is abundant wildlife, including many species of waterfowl and raptors. We will be paddling on open flat water in either a single or tandem kayak. Our paddling trip will take us to an island in the Thermalito Afterbay.

This low-impact, physically active kayak adventure is a great way to view the ecology of the area. There is abundant wildlife, including many species of waterfowl and raptors. We will be paddling on open flat water in either a single or tandem kayak. Our paddling trip will take us to an island in the Thermalito Afterbay.

Although conquerors had looted art and cultural artifacts during previous wars, the Nazis took this activity to a whole new level during World War II. This six-week class will examine the factors that contributed to this massive theft, how some stolen materials were recovered, and what, some 80 years later, is still missing. Who were the important Nazis involved? How was some art protected? Who were the Monuments Men? What roles have museums played in the on-going attempts to reunite looted art with the heirs of its rightful owners? These are some of the questions this class will address.

Reading poetry helps you to know things more fully; it commands your attention; and it can sustain good conversation. In this class, participants select poetry from favorite sources to read aloud with fellow enthusiasts.

Join us as we learn to power the mind. We will discuss topics on ways to love your brain, prevent cognitive decline, and improve your overall mental health. This class will incorporate a few lighthearted and joyful activities, including crafting, mindfulness, and cooking sessions.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary, and we will discuss them from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

This class will discuss favorite science fiction authors, their books, and the human, political, and scientific issues they raise. The books and authors will be chosen by Sydney from suggestions by participants. This is a fun, free-flowing gathering of science fiction enthusiasts. Please join us and bring your ideas, insights, and suspension of disbelief.

Sing and/or play popular gospel songs. Bring your voice, guitar, violin, cello, harmonica, squeeze box, or other instrument and join a group of people singing and playing for fun. This is not meant to be religious. It's just a place to enjoy great music. Join us!

Join us for a collaborative read of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. You'll be encouraged, but not required, to join in the discussion. This class is for beginners and Shakespeare veterans alike. You will want your own copy of the play, but any good standard edition will do. E-mail Jack (jdayer@ucdavis.edu) for guidance.

Join other 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.

Located at the corner of Fifth and Salem Streets, the Stansbury Home was built by Dr. Oscar Stansbury, a local physician, in 1883. Owned by the City of Chico since 1976, it is operated by the Stansbury Home Preservation Association as a historic house museum. This tour will include Dr. Stansbury's office, with its display of the tools used in his practice, as well as rooms used by the Stansbury family with original interiors and furnishings intact.

Located at the corner of Fifth and Salem Streets, the Stansbury Home was built by Dr. Oscar Stansbury, a local physician, in 1883. Owned by the City of Chico since 1976, it is operated by the Stansbury Home Preservation Association as a historic house museum. This tour will include Dr. Stansbury's office, with its display of the tools used in his practice, as well as rooms used by the Stansbury family with original interiors and furnishings intact.

What happens when a VIP (very important person) becomes an FIP (formerly important person), a.k.a. retirement? How does a Type A (as in actively ambitious) become a Type E (as in energetic elder)? How might elders in the world of business, community, government, and nonprofit organizations engage with at least four younger generations? This class uses reflective practice to engage participants in exploring how a lifetime of leading and leadership might bridge into eldership.

This class will introduce learners to basic foundational skills in establishing a composition for a photo, using the rule of thirds, and considering the values in a photo. This content will be followed by an introduction to the many photo editing tools available on an iPhone and how to use them with the photos that you have taken. If you have taken this course previously, you are welcome to take it as a refresher.

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

Our eyes exhibit age-related changes in performance as we get older, particularly as we reach our 60s. Some of these changes are perfectly normal and don't signify any sort of disease process. And though cataracts can be considered an age-related disease, they are common in older adults and can be readily corrected with surgery. Dr. Gilbert explores these common changes, as well as more serious age-related eye diseases. Understanding more about our aging eyes and what we can do as we notice changes can help improve our eye health and overall quality of life.

This is one part of a three-term presentation of David Blight's online Yale University class. Four broad themes are closely examined: the crisis of union and disunion in an expanding republic; slavery, race, and emancipation as a national problem, personal experience, and social process; the experience of modern, total war for individuals and society; and the political and social challenges of Reconstruction.

We will continue to explore the future of our health and how the emerging technologies will shape how medicine will be practiced. We will cover topics like aging, reproduction, prevention of diseases, brain-machine interfaces, progress in detection and treatment of cancer and many other topics. Participation in previous parts of this class is not required.

Many writers want to be published; at the same time, we sometimes wonder if publication will really be worth the work and anxiety. This workshop will be a discussion where scribes who have not been published yet will share thoughts and feelings with others whose stories, articles, poems, or books appear in print. We will consider our reasons for wanting to be published, the steps we must take to reach this goal, and what happens after publication. Join us for some fun and lively talks.

Telescopes have provided astronomers the tools to observe the universe since the days of Galileo. If they are on the ground, they have limitations. Now that we are living in the Space Age, there are telescopes orbiting the Earth that have revolutionized our view of deep space. Several such telescopes (Hubble, James Webb, etc.) will be discussed along with the information they are providing to astronomers.

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

This course will introduce learners to the differences between watercolor pencils and ink pencils, basic techniques for applying these two types of pencils to watercolor paper and turning them into paintings, and how to then use these pencils in combination with watercolor paintings. If you have taken this class previously, you are welcome to take it again as a refresher or work on pieces you have in progress during class time.

This class is an introduction to watercolor painting. We will cover techniques, color blending, color mixing, and brush work. All materials provided.

This moderate hike follows a mostly shaded forest trail along Deer Creek to a scenic rock outcropping and pool. Climbs are gradual on this 5-mile hike, with only 400 feet elevation gain and one short, rocky, descent to our lunch spot. The trail crosses four small creeks, which might require minor rock-hopping. Our pace will be leisurely, with time to take photographs, observe and identify wildflowers and birds, and enjoy views along the way. Team up with other women to enjoy a fun day outdoors!

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Drawing as a form of relaxation and meditation? Yes! Drawing accesses parts of your brain that are not so active in our twenty-first-century life. This will give you a break from the constant input of modern life and instead put you into a relaxing, creative space. You will learn and practice several relaxing styles of abstract, non-representational drawing in which there is no wrong way to do it. No drawing experience or "talent" required. Stick-figure drawing level skill works.

This class is designed for women who regularly hike and walk but want a shorter, easier hike. Hikes will be limited to approximately 4 miles with limited elevation gain and loss. Our focus will be on having fun and getting to know other hikers.