History   

What have men, women, and children worn for swimming? We will look at the history of swimwear. Whether you prefer to swim, stay on the sand, or at the pool you have likely worn a bathing suit. Changes in society, fashion, and technology have led to changes in swim options. Sessions: 1

The Commonwealth of Virginia sent several Presidents and First Ladies to the White House. We will look closely at those couples, with a special focus on the First Ladies and the other women who empowered and supported those Presidents. While we’re at it, we’ll check out their Virginia homes, too. There are seven in all: the Founders, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe; the 30-day President, Harrison, and his successor the Traitor, Tyler; and the only 20th Century Virginia President, Wilson. Sessions: 5 

In this 3 week film class we will watch and discuss three films dedicated to summer of year's past - Gidget (1959); Dirty Dancing (1987); The Parent Trap (1961). Remembering time we spent on Family road trips, vacations, swimming, surfing (if you were lucky), first love, teenage angst, learning to dance, camping and more. Sessions: 3

This session will look at four of the most brilliant minds of recent world history – Henry Ford, Frank Lloyd Wright, William Shockley, and Steve Jobs. There is scant disagreement that these men changed not only millions of lives of their time but of present and future lives in small ways and large. We will closely examine what shaped them to become brilliant innovators, strategists, politicians, and ultimately, salesmen while failing significantly and tragically as husbands, fathers, and in Ford's case, a patriot. Sessions: 4

Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” was actually written about the 1896 Presidential contest between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. Yes, I know, you are shocked. Come find out who the tin man, lion, wizard, flying monkeys , Oz, scarecrow, munchkins and the witches represent. And you thought it was a classic children’s story. Wrong! Sessions: 1

Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” was actually written about the 1896 Presidential contest between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. Yes, I know, you are shocked. Come find out who the tin man, lion, wizard, flying monkeys , Oz, scarecrow, munchkins and the witches represent. And you thought it was a classic children’s story. Wrong! Sessions: 1

Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” was actually written about the 1896 Presidential contest between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. Yes, I know, you are shocked. Come find out who the tin man, lion, wizard, flying monkeys , Oz, scarecrow, munchkins and the witches represent. And you thought it was a classic children’s story. Wrong! Sessions: 1

Across recorded history, countless brilliant women have been WW2 heroines, fearless patriots, innovators, inventors, and investigative journalists. Some were acknowledged, even honored, many forgotten, but history moves on, and these women too often become lost in the male-dominated march of time. We will look at four remarkable women – Nellie Bly, Madam C. J. Walker, Julia Morgan, and Hedy Lamarr. Sessions: 4