Thursday   

This class is for students who have taken the "Birding in the Chico Area" 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.

Join us for a leisurely walk of up to four miles along the tree-lined shore of Paradise Lake. Let's connect with nature in a way that stimulates our senses and unclutters our minds while enlivening our bodies with easy walking. Let your to-do list take a back seat for a while and allow the nurturing energy of Mother Nature to slow you down as you appreciate the tranquility of your surroundings.

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.

In this class, we will explore key ideas from five prominent thought leaders in finance. Registered participants will receive links to video lectures presented by these distinguished scholars, which lectures will serve as the foundation for our class discussions.

This learning through conversation seminar will examine the Preamble and Article 1 of the US Constitution. In The Federalist Papers, how did Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay explain the bicameral legislature, elections, legislative procedures, powers, and restrictions on the Senate and House of Representatives? How did they explain the relationship between Congress and the executive and judicial branches?

"Don't let the devil keep all the good tunes." Gospel music hit the airways in 1925 and remained a driving force through the 1950s. The nascent recording industry documented African American spirituals, camp meeting shouts, and country gospel harmonies. This American roots music would go on to influence the development of the rhythm and blues, rock, and soul music that followed. We will explore background history, then sing and play gospel songs from that era. Come ready to have a good time!

This class will provide an overview of Passages and the programs it offers to family caregivers and older adults. Passages is one of 33 Area Agencies on Aging across the state offering guidance, support, resources, and education to communities in a five-county radius. Join us to learn more about the services and local resources available to you.

Improv, or improvisational comedy, is like acting, only there's no script. The motto of improv is "yes, and." It's about being spontaneous and listening. You're given a scenario, and you make it up as you go. Join us to build more self-confidence, use your imagination more, and have a lot of fun.

"Great Decisions" is the Foreign Policy Association's public education program about US foreign policy and global affairs issues. We will cover four of the Foreign Policy Association's topics and add some additional topics that are of interest to the class.

This class examines the precepts of Buddhism in general and of the Chan/Zen branch of Buddhism specifically. We will explore major examples of art and architecture related to Zen. A primary goal of the class is to examine the historical context for the development of the Zen arts; therefore, an examination of the social, religious, political, and cultural influences on the production of art and architecture will be important. In addition, we will consider the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and meditation as a means for developing thoughtful and humane interactions in contemporary life.

Learn to write a short 10- to 20-minute play. We will cover the basics of playwriting, including format, structure, character, conflict, and dialogue. This is a workshop-style class in which we discuss concepts and techniques, share what we have written, and write short exercises to develop skills. Prompts will be offered to stimulate your ideas. There will be an opportunity for some of the plays to be performed in the annual OLLI Play Festival.

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.

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.

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.