Science & Math   

This class will provide an overview of the history and methods used to search for extraterrestrial intelligence in the Milky Way galaxy. We will explore how and where we are searching, and what we have found. The Drake equation, the Rare Earth hypothesis, and the Fermi Paradox are among the topics discussed.

The natural world can be a very dangerous place, especially living in an evolving planet 66 to 220 million years ago. Over a period of nearly 160 million years, dinosaurs evolved from relatively small omnivores to fast carnivores with bigger, sharper teeth and claws and tremendous bite strength and to herbivores with defenses of more and bigger horns and spikes, thicker armor, and incredible size. Other survivor adaptations including behavior, camouflage coloration and intelligence are inferred from recent scientific discoveries. Other creatures which evolved and competed with the dinosaurs grew to incredible sizes and ornate skeletal features which are still topics of much discussion. This class will examine many of these evolutionary changes that may or may not have been beneficial.

This class is for both beginning and experienced birders. Through observation and the use of your 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.

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.

Chico State's tradition of academic excellence goes back more than 130 years. With over 800 faculty members and 14,000 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 University Farm is a "living laboratory" for agricultural education, literacy, and research in Northern California. Join us for a guided tour showcasing our fields, labs, and hands-on learning spaces, including the new Agricultural Education Center and Jay Gilbert Farm Store. This state-of-the-art facility features modern classrooms, collaboration areas, and a student-run retail space with farm-produced goods. Explore how the farm supports experiential learning, community engagement, and the next generation of leaders in sustainable agriculture.

Join us for a rare opportunity to visit the Dye Creek Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy, with a resident scientist. Melding ethnobotany, geology, birds, flora, and fauna in the Park Fire burn scar, this uneven, rugged at times, moderately challenging trail is rocky in spots yet gentle uphill with one small creek crossing. The hike is 5 miles round-trip with 725 feet of elevation change over two miles. With a steady pace, we will reach the welcoming destination of Campo Seco Ridge.

Join experts from River Partners for walking tours of the landscapes they've transformed from flood-prone farmland into native habitat for ecosystem, community, and economic wins at the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park and Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. You'll learn how restoring California's historic floodplains improves habitat and biodiversity for an array of imperiled species, boosts flood safety for vulnerable communities, supports clean and abundant water supplies, provides important outdoor recreation that improves public health, stores greenhouse gases naturally to improve California's climate resilience, and more.

Sutter Buttes State Park is one of the newer state parks in California and has no public access. We will meet with park staff for an exclusive tour of the beautiful Peace Valley where we will learn about the unique geology of the land, explore several historic and prehistoric cultural features, and observe and identify abundant wildflowers and birds. This is a 3-4 mile moderately difficult cross-country hike over uneven, rocky terrain with some short, steep hills and possible stream crossings.

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.

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.

A half-hour walk immersed in nature prepares us to sit with our sketchbook journals and observe, question, draw, paint, and write about what we see, hear, and feel – focusing on our senses, curiosity, and the observation process over perfecting an end product. We'll explore Upper and Lower Bidwell Park, Indian Fishery, and the Genetic Resource & Conservation Center (Chico Tree Farm). Participants provide their own art materials and choose their subjects. There is no official art instruction. Some basic techniques and many online supplemental materials are provided.

The Butterfly Valley Botanical Area is located just north of Quincy, elevation 3,800 feet. The area includes the California pitcher plant, a rare and unusual insect eating plant that only grows in scattered boggy areas from southern Oregon down through Northern California, as well as 4 other species of insectivorous plants, 12 species of orchids, and 9 species of ferns. Get an introduction to California native plants and basic botany in the field as we saunter in search of California native wildflowers.

Coutolenc Park sits on 340 acres off Coutolenc Road east of Magalia. Get an introduction to California native plants and basic botany in the field as we saunter in search of California native wildflowers.

The Doon Grade Trail is part of the old railroad bed that went from Chico, through Magalia, and all the way to Stirling City. We will be on the middle part east of Magalia. Get an introduction to California native plants and basic botany in the field as we saunter in search of California native wildflowers.

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 a leisurely hike of 3-6 miles with no elevation change at the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Rio Vista Unit. We will observe native and other vegetation and wildlife. The trail borders the Sacramento River so we may see some birds and otters in the river. There will be information about the history of this and other units, as well as the change from riparian habitat to cultivated land and back to riparian habitat.

Join us for this beginner's guide to navigating the heavens. We will consider an eclectic mix of mythology, historic viewpoints, and current events in meteorology, astronomy, and cosmology. Eyes to the sky!

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. Benjamin Gilbert and other doctors from OLLI sponsor Chico Eye Center explore 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.

We'll hike a moderate 4.5 miles with 450 feet of elevation gain along Colby Creek, on forest trails, and through meadows filled with wildflowers. The trailhead is at 4,750 feet, high enough to escape the valley heat. Our pace will be leisurely, with time to take photographs, observe and identify wildflowers and birds, enjoy the views, and make new friends. Team up with other women to enjoy a fun day outdoors!

Bring your binoculars and enjoy spring birding at the Red Bluff Recreation Area. The 2-mile loop trail takes us on paved paths through oak woodlands, flowering grasslands, and riparian areas along the Sacramento River. You'll see a variety of birds, wildflowers, and scenic views of snow-capped mountains. There's a botanical garden with a picnic area where we can eat lunch. Both beginning and experienced birders are welcome.

This 6.5-mile hike to Beatson Falls overlook offers a moderately challenging excursion across unique terrain, formed by ancient basalt lava flows, and boasts impressive geological features and diverse landscapes. The trail will lead us through spectacular wildflowers, alongside streams, down into ravines, and up to the top of mesas providing panoramic vistas of the surrounding area, ultimately leading to the stunning Beatson Falls overlook. Our pace will be leisurely, allowing time to take photographs and admire the abundant wildflowers.

Get an introduction to California native plants and basic botany in the field as we saunter in search of California native wildflowers.

Get an introduction to California native plants and basic botany in the field as we saunter in search of California native wildflowers.

Join us for an outdoor adventure exploring interesting places in our community. We will meander at a leisurely pace for 1-2 miles in the Horsehoe Lake area of Upper Bidwell Park to enjoy the wildflower bloom and birds of the area. Participants should be comfortable walking and standing for two hours. The trails are relatively flat and somewhat uneven in spots.

We will begin in the floodplain of Big Chico Creek and travel back in time across the older deposits of the creek and into the Cascade foothills. The first route, from Five Mile to the North Rim Trail, covers a condensed sequence of the major landforms that occur in the Sacramento Valley, as well as the transition to the Tuscan Formation in the Cascade foothills. In the second route, following the Lower Trail and Yahi Trail from Horseshoe Lake, we walk up the bottom of Big Chico Creek Canyon, applying what we observed on the first route and viewing the slot canyon in the Lovejoy basalt. There will be approximately 6 miles of moderate hiking with some rocky and uneven areas. The first route has a short, steep up-and-down.