Lifestyle and Wellness   

Op-eds are a powerful way to share your voice and advocate for the issues you care about. In this class, you’ll develop the skills you need to craft a compelling op-ed and get it published in mainstream news. This class will cover: why op-eds are effective tools for change, tips and tricks for compelling readers to take action, and how to pitch your op-ed to editors and increase your chances of getting published. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer, this class will help you get your ideas in front of a wider audience and make an impact.

As we move through life and all its challenges, it can be hard to not think about the future and what it may or may not hold. In doing so, it is common to experience anticipatory grief, in which we mourn the loss of loved ones while they are still here, grieve the future that is no longer available to us, and even have feelings of grief about our own end of life. In this interactive session, we will dig into this term, discuss how and when these feelings emerge for us, and how we can cope when they do.

This course provides an overview of how technological and social changes have shaped sports media with a focus on the present complicated digital environment. We will discuss the role of streaming services, the ethics of AI in sports journalism, the role of sports journalists in reporting on politics, and coverage of international events, as well as timely insights on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games and local Minnesota examples! The course will combine active participation from the audience with lectures based on industry data and the latest research.

This course gives you the clarity, confidence, and control to create your ideal retirement. This engaging course breaks down complex financial concepts into practical strategies—covering tax-smart planning, lifetime income, risk management, and legacy design. You’ll learn how to protect what you’ve built, reduce unnecessary taxes, and create a plan that reflects your goals and values. Designed for today’s unpredictable world, this class empowers you to make informed decisions and confidently move toward the financial future you envision.

Explore free digital resources for all Minnesotans through eLibrary MN (ELM) and the MN Digital Library (MDL). Access ebooks, digitized newspapers, articles, reference materials, and historical documents. Great for research, family history, or curious minds. Learn to navigate the platforms, search effectively, and get the most out of these trusted tools. No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and a device!

TV viewing is rapidly migrating from traditional satellite/cable TV services to an increasing reliance on internet TV streaming options. This two-session class will candidly overview the issues, opportunities, and best options for tailoring your personal TV streaming setup. Session 1 will overview streaming pros and cons, equipment and content options, costs, and specific decisions and actions required. Session 2 includes a demo of a typical streaming setup and will discuss several different best practice strategies to tailor your setup to your budget and viewing priorities.

Cutting the cable or satellite TV cord and adopting internet-based TV streaming can be frustrating and confusing. There are so many options related to Wi-Fi services, equipment options, and literally thousands of potential apps and services. This course discusses how to improve and tailor your existing TV streaming setup to better meet your personal viewing and budget preferences. For students still primarily dependent on cable or satellite TV services, consider first enrolling in OLLI's two-session introductory class, "Cutting the TV Cord Basics: Pros & Cons and Best Options."

In this course, we will explore the critical topic of how actions in our own backyards support clean water, migratory birds, pollinators, and resilient ecosystems. Great River Greening is Minnesota's leader in nature-based climate solutions through land restoration. In an engaging panel discussion focusing on native plants and gardening, our expert ecologists will connect your everyday actions to conservation efforts throughout Minnesota. No matter your experience level, you will learn tangible steps - both big and small – to make a positive impact on the environment in your community and beyond!  

Many Americans hold strong beliefs about nutrition, yet in a country facing an obesity epidemic and record levels of chronic disease, many of these beliefs are misguided. With advertisers constantly pushing fad diets and miracle supplements, how can you separate fact from fiction? This course uncovers common health myths—spanning nutrition, exercise, and beyond—so you can make informed choices and improve your well-being. It also delves into the physiology of select chronic diseases, helping you understand how to reduce your risk. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to submit your own questions for future classes through an interactive survey. Recommended reading: Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William Li, Balance Books, 2019; Miscellaneous Media by Dr. Andrea Love, a pseudoscience educator.

Forest bathing, originally known as Shinrin yoku (森林浴), is a Japanese public health practice developed in the early 1980s. Over two decades of medical research now show strong evidence that this practice helps reduce symptoms of physical and mental disease and improve wellbeing. Experience a session of this gentle, sensory-based practice for yourself in an urban park, and leave with tips for future practice on your own. Walks will occur rain or shine; please dress for the weather. Recommended reading: Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li, Penguin Life, 2018.

Merriam-Webster defines a letter as “a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization.” A legacy letter (or ethical will) is a written document that shares your values, life lessons, memories, wishes, and blessings with future generations. Shorter than a memoir, legacy letters are typically just a few pages comprising an enduring gift for those you love. Writing such a letter can be a profoundly rewarding experience, and in this course you’ll learn how to craft a legacy document, mine your life history and values, and capture your most important insights.

April 2: Where Science Meets The Sky: The Evolution of Raptor Care and Conservation at the World Renowned Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota

Lori Arent, M.S., is the Assistant Director of The Raptor Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

 

April 9: The Power of Ordinary Magic: How Do Children Overcome Adversity? 

Dr. Ann Masten is the Regents Professor Emerita at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development and author of Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development (2025, Guilford Press.)

 

April 16: Immunotherapy: A Game-Changer for Cancer Patients

Dr. Christopher Pennell is the Associate Director of Education for The Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology for the UMN Medical School. 

 

April: 23: Exploring Antarctica’s Future and World Sea Level Rise by Ice Coring into the Past

Dr. Peter Neff is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Soil, Water and Climate at the University of Minnesota

 

April 30: How Your Favorite Childhood Stories Came to Life

Dr. Lisa von Drasek is the Mirankanter Family Curatorial Chair of the Kerlin Collection, Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries. 

 

May 7:  The Internationally Recognized Institute of Community Integration, Celebrating 40 Years

Dr. Amy Hewitt is the Director of The Institute of Community Integration and Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. 

 

May 14: Encore Adulthood: Opportunities and Challenges 

Dr. Phyllis Moen is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota & Cornell University. She is also a McKnight Endowed Presidential Chair. 

Kate Schaefers, PhD, LP, is the Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and The Midlife Academy in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota.

All of us want to be happy and avoid suffering. Yet too often we make choices that sabotage us. Tibetan medicine, Tibet’s ancient science of whole person health, teaches that the purpose of life is to be happy, and that after our basic needs are met, happiness results primarily from our own thinking. During this course, we will learn how to make ethical, mindful, and informed choices to create a happier mind (Class 1), a healthier body (Class 2), live in harmony (Class 3), and heal fears about dying and death (Class 4). Tibetan medicine complements modern nursing and medicine. Recommended reading: Tibetan-Medicine and You: A Path to Wellbeing, Better Health, and Joy by M.E. Cameron & T.Namdul, Rowman and Littlefield, 2000/2004 (paperback).

Was your last bridge game in a dorm, in the student union, or in your thirties with friends? Get back into this great game, make new friends and grow those little gray cells! The course will teach the basics of play and a revised and improved bidding system based on what you’ve probably used before. This hands-on course will get you ready for kitchen table bridge or a newcomer’s game at a bridge club! 

Merriam-Webster defines a letter as “a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization.” A legacy letter (or ethical will) is a written document that shares your values, life lessons, memories, wishes, and blessings with future generations. Shorter than a memoir, legacy letters are typically just a few pages comprising an enduring gift for those you love. Writing such a letter can be a profoundly rewarding experience, and in this course you’ll learn how to craft a legacy document, mine your life history and values, and capture your most important insights.