By Susan Brandenburg
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) – a program for “curious knowledge seekers” aged 50 and over – will host a free “Discover OLLI” open house from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center.
Attendees will have an opportunity to watch a video on the program, try a sample mini-class and talk to instructors and students.
What is OLLI?
Designed for adults who wish to continue learning, share their knowledge and experiences and who enjoy making friends and socializing, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute was the concept of philanthropist Bernard Osher, a man with an unwavering belief in the value of the “age 50 and better” community. The Bernard Osher Foundation currently funds 124 such programs across the United States – from Florida and Maine to Alaska and Hawaii.
Jacksonville’s OLLI, founded as a learning in retirement program in 2006, is located at the University of North Florida (UNF). A volunteer organization with more than 180 instructors and a current enrollment of 1,000 adult learners, OLLI offers a myriad of classes from A (ancestry, arts) to Z (zoology) – covering languages, history, current events, world affairs, science and technology, health and wellness, knitting, bridge, ukelele and guitar and others.
In addition to on-campus classes at the Herbert Center, OLLI offers Zoom classes and hybrid on-campus/Zoom classes, all of which occur between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Instructors come from all backgrounds and volunteer their time and talent to share their knowledge and experience.
Two much-loved offerings at OLLI are ED-ventures and the Explore More courses. ED-ventures take OLLI members to places they might not otherwise get to see, including behind-the-scenes tours of Jacksonville International Airport, THE PLAYERS Championship, the Bacardi bottling plant and many others over the years. Recently, ED-venturers spent three days in St. Petersburg, where they toured several museums, took an eco-tour of Tampa Bay and dined at numerous restaurants.
Explore More courses combine classroom time with outside experiences: Recent offerings include “Amazing Monarch Butterflies,” “Jacksonville’s Dynamic Future Downtown” and “Wetland Preserve: Conservation-Compatible Forestry You Should Know.”
Attendance at the Discover OLLI open house is free, but registration is required. To register, call 904-620-4200.
