The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Casper College provides educational courses for adults over 50. It began in 2007 with funding from grants and donations. Courses cover diverse topics and are taught by college faculty and experts. Membership has grown from 75 to over 500. Participants report benefits like social engagement and continued learning. The program offers field trips within the US and international travel opportunities through partnerships.

1. OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE

2. Mission statement: To promote lifelong learning and personal growth for adults over the age of 50. Short courses Relaxed atmosphere No entrance requirements No grades Must love to learn!!

3. Getting started: Casper College received grant notification in December of 2006 May 2007 held first open house to introduce the institute and courses First classes held June 18 through August 17, 2007 Taught by current & retired Casper College faculty as well as local experts in various fields

4. Sample courses Calling all YodelersAre you a fan of traditional cowboy music? We don’t mean the packaged pop crossover country music you hear played on the radio today, but that genuine old-time western music from the earlier and grittier days of the genre. If the plaintive and lively sounds of the yodeling of such classic country artists as Jimmie Rodgers, Patsy Montana, Wylie Gustafson, and Gene Autrey gives you a thrill, then this is the class for you. You will learn about where yodeling began and how it worked its way into the early western music repertoire to become a standard sound heard in early country music and in bluegrass music. Those of you who feel inspired may also learn a few yodeling tricks from your instructor to impress your friends and family at your next family gathering. The Age of Fighting Sail and the Novels of Patrick O’BrianDuring the two decades between 1794 and 1815 the world was at war. It was the time of the Napoleonic Era in Europe and the War of 1812 between Great Britain and America. In this class you will learn about the naval aspects of war and the most complex, deadly machines of the time, the fighting ships. Learn how they were built, armed, manned, navigated, and used in battle. The novels of Patrick O’Brian vividly bring this period of history to life. We will use examples of his writing to foster understanding of the life and times of those who went to sea and the loved ones that they left behind. Beyond Herbs: Introduction to Holistic Treatments and TherapiesPeople often associate holistic medicine with common treatments such as herbs, oils, and aromatherapy, and manual and body therapies such as massages and chiropractic care. However, a holistic approach can be much more comprehensive. The instructor will use historical and cultural perspectives of holistic medicine as a backdrop to this exploration into complementary and alternative medicine known as holistic treatments and therapies.

5. Sample courses Civilians in War: Two Americans Caught Up in the First Gulf WarOn August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and was condemned by the international community for his actions. A United Nations coalition force led by the United States and Great Britain retaliated and Operation Desert Storm began. Our instructors were just 100 miles away from the events of the First Gulf War when it started. They became staff members in an allied forces hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia and found themselves in the unique position of civilians in a war zone where they endured scud missile attacks and other wartime events. Hear their firsthand accounts and experience their audio and video recordings of the events they witnessed. Drama On the High SeasSome of Hollywood’s best films took place on the high seas. From romance to drama you’ll see four of the best made during the golden age of Hollywood featuring such stars as Bette Davis, William Powell, Kay Francis, Freddie Bartholomew, Franchot Tone, Charles Laughton, and others. Echoes of Ancient VoicesIn this class we will learn about traditional Sioux Indian culture, art, and spirituality on the Northern Plains. We will see examples of native style art, modern Native American painting, herbs, and objects used in ceremonies, such as the sweat lodge, vision quest, and Sun Dance. We will also listen to and discuss tapes of Native drumming and flute music. Olives to Olive OilCome learn how olives are farmed at the VlastosFarma in the Amari Valley on the Island of Crete with the same ancient trees planted in the 12th century. The Vlastos family grows the olives on Crete and sells the olive oil here in Casper, Wyoming. We will cook with olive oil in ways inspired by various Greek cooking techniques using low heat that is derived from the stick fires used in village cooking hearths. By the conclusion of the class everyone will understand the health benefits of olive oil and be able to shop for their own favorite type of olive oil to use for cooking.

7. Expenses Funds to pay instructors which start at $23.00/hour. Some instructors donate their time Equipment for classrooms, such as projectors and computers CPR training for the director of the OLLI program Salary for the director and part time assistant Mail Social events Food

8. Impact on adult learners Reported from OLLI director: OLLI participants love the classes. They report it gives them something to look forward to, an opportunity to meet new friends, and continue to learn new and interesting things Many report participation in OLLI classes has given them a new social life One recent widower stated to the director that after she lost her husband her classes gave her the desire to keep going, something to look forward to In the summer of 2007 there were 75 members and eight courses to choose from. Today there are 539 members and thirty-seven courses! One OLLI member has become an OLLI instructor Oldest OLLI member is 92 years young!!

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12. Knowmads We love the term “Knowmads” which was coined by one of our fellow OLLI’s who has a vibrant travel learning program at their learning institution. One thing that we know about OLLI’s all over the country is that they love to travel. Beginning in fall 2008 OLLI at Casper College will sign on withTravelearn, an educational learning travel organization that takes small groups of learners to destinations all over the world. Using the Travelearn link on OLLI at Casper College’s website you will be able to view trips that other OLLI Knowmad groups are putting on at their institutes as well as travel opportunities being offered through non-OLLI senior learning programs at other colleges and universities. You can sign up for any of the trips being offered and Travelearn will take care of all your travel needs and arrangements. Travelearn specializes in taking small travel/learning groups of 14 to 16 senior learners to locations in Africa, Asia, South/Central America, and Eastern Europe with faculty escorts and knowledgeable guides! It is a wonderful opportunity for OLLI’s to travel with like-minded individuals who want to learn more about a country than they would from just passing through on a tour bus. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and as our OLLI at Casper College program grows we hope to offer an OLLI sponsored trip of our own in the future. Pollock, V. (2008). Olli Newsletter. Volume 1 Issue 3.

13. Knowmad travels Central City Opera in Colorado Olli members just returned from Santa Fe where they saw two operas, Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

14. Knowmad travels OLLI Knowmads took part in two field trips to Castle Gardens near Moneta, Wyo. to learn about the Paleolithic petro glyphs that are in abundance there. Prior to the field trips the OLLIs attended two classes about the geography of the region, the climate, the migration patterns of the game animals, and how all of these factors combined to make this an important site to stone age humans. Pollock, V. (2008) Olli Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 1. Fall 2008.

15. References: Olli Newsletters: Summer Newsletter, 2009, Volume 3, Issue 2 Winter Newsletter, 2009, Volume 3, Issue 1 Summer Newsletter, 2009, Volume 2, Issue 3 Spring Newsletter, 2009, Volume 2, Issue 2 Fall Newsletter, 2008, Volume 2, Issue 1 Summer Newsletter, 2008, Volume 1, Issue 3 Winter Newsletter, 2007, Volume 1, Issue 2 Fall Newsletter, 2007, Volume 1, Issue 1 (V. Pollock, personal communication, March 15, 2011) http://www.caspercollege.edu/olli/index.html