Health & Wellness   

Stay active and strong during your golden years with guidance from a certified personal trainer. This program blends education and exercise, focusing on functional fitness, cardio, strength, flexibility, balance, and core training. All activities can be modified to meet individual needs, and take-home workout copies are provided. Wear comfortable workout clothes and tennis shoes. Participants must complete a health questionnaire and UNL Rec Center waiver, which will be emailed for electronic signature before the first session.

What’s new in cancer research and care right here in Nebraska? Learn how the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is working with public health leaders throughout the state to reduce cancer incidence. Obtain updates about screening strategies that can detect cancer early and how survivors can deal successfully with post-cancer treatment challenges. Find out how UNMC researchers are developing new ways to detect pancreatic cancers and to target gastrointestinal tumor cells while limiting side effects. Explore new multidisciplinary care strategies specifically designed for older adults who have cancer. Surprising discoveries will be revealed about how bacteria that live in our intestines influence both the onset of cancer and the effectiveness of treatments for it. Innovative findings about prostate cancer will be covered. Capping off the course, you will hear how foundational cancer research can lead the way toward the treatments of tomorrow.

Click here Course Syllabus to learn what will be discussed at each of these six amazing class sessions:

What’s new in cancer research and care right here in Nebraska? Learn how the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is working with public health leaders throughout the state to reduce cancer incidence. Obtain updates about screening strategies that can detect cancer early and how survivors can deal successfully with post-cancer treatment challenges. Find out how UNMC researchers are developing new ways to detect pancreatic cancers and to target gastrointestinal tumor cells while limiting side effects. Explore new multidisciplinary care strategies specifically designed for older adults who have cancer. Surprising discoveries will be revealed about how bacteria that live in our intestines influence both the onset of cancer and the effectiveness of treatments for it. Innovative findings about prostate cancer will be covered. Capping off the course, you will hear how foundational cancer research can lead the way toward the treatments of tomorrow.

Click here Course Syllabus to learn what will be discussed at each of these six amazing class sessions:

The following video programs are previously recorded OLLI courses. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. Over 40 hours of programming is available for a single cost of $30. After registration, you will receive an email with a “Join Code” and instructions on how to access programming.

All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.

Fly Girls

Instructor: Lynn Roper (5 sessions)

In 1929, at the dawn of aviation when every flight was a test of courage, 20 gutsy and passionate female pilots in propeller-driven planes raced from California to Ohio in the first female cross-country air race, making 18 stops in nine days. During World War II, the 1,034 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) ferried and flight-tested aircraft bombers in the U.S. and taught men how to fly. When the war ended, Congress clipped their wings and sent the WASPs home; they did not receive military status until 1977. In 1961, 13 remarkable women pilots underwent secret testing to become America’s first female astronauts. The Mercury 13 were ignored by NASA and on Capitol Hill while the USSR sent its first woman into space in 1963. Lynn Roper and other experts of women aviators share this fascinating series of lectures.

Keep the Memories, Not the Stuff

Instructor: Jeannine Bryant (3 sessions)

Our attachment to “stuff” is real. Letting go can be difficult. Yet, holding onto too much stuff can be suffocating or immobilizing, preventing us from living our best life because we are too weighed down by our possessions. Learn the problem of “inherited stuff” as well as our own “keepsake clutter.” Get a new perspective on memories, life, and love – and how none of it is tied to STUFF. Learn hands-on tips and practical advice for choosing which possessions to keep, to get rid of, and what it really means to leave a legacy for your loved ones.

The Politics and History of American Civil Religion

Instructor: Jonathan Redding (4 sessions)

Americans love to talk about having a “separation of church and state” to justify certain ends. On the surface, separation exists; there is no official national religion, and religious discrimination is forbidden by the 1st Amendment. The reality is quite different, as what scholars call American Civil Religion weighs heavily on issues like American morality, legality, justice, and equality. Topics covered include religious freedom, religious choice, and whether this hypothetical separation of Church and State is real or a pipe dream. Consider theologies behind the dominant streams of American Christianity to understand how political and religious leaders use their understanding of theology for political, social, and economic gain.

The Early Days of Nebraska Volleyball

Instructors: John Mabry, Vicki Highstreet (4 sessions)

Volleyball has been a part of the UNL athletic landscape for more than a century, but the sport didn’t gain much notoriety until the early 1970s, when the Huskers began to put together a program that is now known worldwide. Learn how its reputation grew from its humble beginnings, reaching a pinnacle in August, 2023, when Volleyball Day put 92,003 in Memorial Stadium stands. Meet the players who made it possible from those early Title IX days at Mabel Lee Hall and the Coliseum.

Top Ten Mistakes Made in Estate Planning

Instructor: Andrew Loudon (1 session)

Andrew Loudon, a Lincoln attorney, takes you through the top ten mistakes people make when estate planning. Have you prepared your estate or are you waiting until the last minute? What other mistakes make this list?

Sport in American Culture

Instructor: John Shrader (4 sessions)

Sport has been an important part of the American cultural landscape from the very popular blood sports of the 18th century through the development of the boxing and horse racing industries in the 19th century and the explosion of baseball, football, and basketball in the 20th century. Our society seldom sees the confluence of income, class, race, gender, identity, and celebrity the way we do in sports. Examine the role of sport in our society and how the media have been both partners and observers. Take a deep dive into sport and how it fits into American life; it’s not just about slam dunks, big contracts, SportsCenter and social media.

The Bible as Literature

Instructor: Jonathan Redding (6 sessions)

Study the growth and development of the collection of religious texts known as “the Bible.” There will be an emphasis on historical events that influence both content and context. Religion, literature, social, and political institutions are integral elements in the historical process.

The 6888th All-Black Female WWII Battalion

Instructor: Lynn Roper (5 sessions)

In February 1945, 800 Women’s Army Corps recruits in the segregated U.S. Army sailed to Europe to do something crucial to the war effort: clear a massive two-year backlog of undelivered mail to troops whose morale was low, due to having no contact from home and family. Though they experienced constant credential challenges and discrimination, the 6888th worked around the clock, 7 days a week, processing 65,000 pieces of mail each day.

Fascism: A Warning from History

Instructor: Anthony Foreman (4 sessions)

The word "fascism" has been increasingly used to describe some modern political movements across the world. Fascism is a loose, incoherent, and conflicted collection of ideologies, myths and hatreds that is difficult to define. Explore its origins in Benito Mussolini's Italy, its zenith in Nazi Germany, its continued influence in Cold War-era Spain and other manifestations throughout history. The course concludes with discussions surrounding today’s political movements and assistance in helping to identify and confront any possible fascist threats - before it is too late.

When lions hunt, the females hide in the grass while the males sit on a hill and roar. Unsuspecting gazelles then hear the roar, and naturally run away from it, right into the clutches of the waiting females. So, if you are ever in the Serengeti and hear a roar, you are better off running toward it, not away from it. We often hear the internal roar of emotional lions such as shame, depression, grief, anger and anxiety. When we do, our instincts are to run the other way. Learn the techniques and benefits of radical acceptance that encourage us to embrace difficult emotions to stay focused on what really matters in our lives. Participate in a positive atmosphere filled with humanizing metaphors, teaching stories, and the charming language of poetry.

When lions hunt, the females hide in the grass while the males sit on a hill and roar. Unsuspecting gazelles then hear the roar, and naturally run away from it, right into the clutches of the waiting females. So, if you are ever in the Serengeti and hear a roar, you are better off running toward it, not away from it. We often hear the internal roar of emotional lions such as shame, depression, grief, anger and anxiety. When we do, our instincts are to run the other way. Learn the techniques and benefits of radical acceptance that encourage us to embrace difficult emotions to stay focused on what really matters in our lives. Participate in a positive atmosphere filled with humanizing metaphors, teaching stories, and the charming language of poetry.

Enhance overall physical fitness and improve the ability to perform daily activities with confidence. Focusing on muscular strength, flexibility, mobility and balance, we will engage in exercises tailored to support functional movement and reduce the risk of injury. Using just a chair, through guided workouts and movement strategies, you will build confidence in your physical abilities, fostering greater independence and overall well-being.

Join in meditation, breath-work, balance, and mindful movements to reconnect your mind, body, and spirit. Class is for all levels, but poses will include a variety of positions requiring students to get on/off the floor. Instructor will provide modifications as needed. Learn some yoga tidbits to use in your future practice both on and off your mat. No equipment is needed but a yoga mat is encouraged. Consult with your physician prior to participating.

Electric Bikes are a great and accessible way to explore Lincoln’s trail system. There are many health benefits from cycling, from being low impact on your joints to strengthening your cardiovascular system. Having an electric assist on your bike can help you go further and longer. Learn the fundamentals of how to use an E-Bike, the pros and cons and "test ride" one to see if it is right for you.