Wednesday   

Who doesn't love chocolate? Explore the history of chocolate, where it is grown and how it is produced. We will discuss why chocolate is good to eat and good for you. Learn what is bad about chocolate, including child exploitation and the difficulty of addressing child labor. Taste chocolates from several different countries. Please bring a bottle of water to cleanse your palate between samples.

“Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)” is an opera buffa in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. Rossini’s Barber of Seville is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music and has been described as the opera buffa of all “opere buffe.” After two centuries, it remains a popular work. We will listen to and discuss the history of this opera; its structure, information about the composer’s sources, and different musical elements which are characteristic of this opera. Other information will be shared to define additional contributions to the opera genre.

Join us on an enlightening journey through the intricacies of cancer, exploring its scientific underpinnings, contemporary treatment modalities and the holistic support systems available. This course, tailored for OLLI, will include a tour of the state-of-the-art April Sampson Cancer Center. Participants will engage with leading oncologists, researchers, and other health care professionals, gaining insights into innovative therapies, precision medicine and the pivotal role of technology in cancer diagnosis and treatment. View cutting- edge medical equipment, observe the healing arts throughout the center and see firsthand the incredible offerings the center has for Nebraska’s cancer patients. Meet us at the intersection of science, medicine and human compassion in the fight against cancer.

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of birding in Nebraska's parks. Discover the diverse bird species that call these parks home and the best times and places to spot them. Learn about bird identification techniques, Nebraska’s Important Bird Areas designated by the National Audubon Society, and the importance of habitat conservation. Enhance your birding skills and learn how Nebraska's parks provide vital resources for both residents and migratory birds, making them prime locations for bird enthusiasts.

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of birding in Nebraska's parks. Discover the diverse bird species that call these parks home and the best times and places to spot them. Learn about bird identification techniques, Nebraska’s Important Bird Areas designated by the National Audubon Society, and the importance of habitat conservation. Enhance your birding skills and learn how Nebraska's parks provide vital resources for both residents and migratory birds, making them prime locations for bird enthusiasts.

Learn through this hands-on course how to gather information from family members and check facts using trustworthy sources. Explore places to research, like libraries and online databases, and learn how to find information in newspapers and census data. Discover how to document and organize your findings and understand your ancestors’ lives in the social context of their lives. Find ways to tackle research challenges and connect with local and online genealogy groups for support. Confidently begin the journey that preserves your family’s story for future generations.

Learn through this hands-on course how to gather information from family members and check facts using trustworthy sources. Explore places to research, like libraries and online databases, and learn how to find information in newspapers and census data. Discover how to document and organize your findings and understand your ancestors’ lives in the social context of their lives. Find ways to tackle research challenges and connect with local and online genealogy groups for support. Confidently begin the journey that preserves your family’s story for future generations.

This course is a continuation of the Introduction to Bridge I course. It is structured for the student with very limited prior knowledge of the game of bridge. We will cover how the game is played, bridge vocabulary, basic Standard American bidding, and basic card play. Each week, learn new content which builds on the previous week's concepts. There will be ample opportunities to play hands that will illustrate what has been taught in class. The students will dictate the pace of the course so all can grasp the basics of the game. 

Award-winning Wright Morris brought a Nebraskan’s perspective to his showing and telling of the “American dream.” His childhood as “half an orphan,” beginning in Central City, provided a basis for his extended re- examination of our individual, local, regional and national experiences. His works of fiction, photography and commentary, published between 1942 and 1993, provide deceptively simple, yet challenging perspectives on our personal and collective construction of our lives, blending where we have come from, our current scene, and where we may be headed. We will examine multiple aspects and themes of his work, based on specific photos and passages, and questions they raise.

Open your horizons to a new way to energize your inner self with a certified experienced teacher. The base of this class is "Tai Chi for Better Balance," a nation- wide program for beginners. It is a non-traditional form of exercise used to help participants improve strength and balance. Gain all the benefits of good health for your body, mind and spirit. Participants will learn a modified 8-form of Tai Chi (the most basic movements) and are encouraged to purchase a light Thera band (such as a Scheels or Target) for some of the stretching exercises at the beginning of each class.