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All times listed are Central Daylight Time.

EACH COURSE is identified by one of the following terms:

  • ONLINE ONLY: Both the instructor and students will meet online for the class, live via Zoom, in the designated weekly time slot. Sessions will be recorded for review, if desired.
  • HYBRID: The instructor teaches live from the Moss Building. Some students are in the classroom (limited availability), while others Zoom in. When registering, you may select either the IN PERSON or ONLINE version of the class – both options allow students to interact with the instructor.
  • IN PERSON ONLY: The class will take place at the Moss Building. These sessions will not offer online viewing and will not be recorded.

Monday Courses

  • What Tree Is That? (9:30 – 11:00 a.m.)
  • A Brief Introduction to the Arts of Japan (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.)

What Tree Is That?

Mondays: June 5 & 12 (2 sessions)
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Nature, Science & Technology

First two weeks of the semester; Limit of 25 students

How well do you know the native woody plants in your yard, community or state? It is estimated that there are nearly 300 native woody species in Missouri. To learn to identify that much material can be a life’s work. Knowing key characteristics when learning about trees and shrubs can make the process more efficient and rewarding. What do you do when you come across a plant you don’t know? Pull out a book? Ask a neighbor? Visit the local nursery? Google it? In this course, retired forest ecologist Doug Wallace will help you learn descriptive traits and several key features that will give you a good start towards the correct identification of native trees and shrubs. This will be accomplished through an in-class session on June 5, followed by an outside field trip on June 12 in Columbia, covering how to identify some of the more common woody plants by using key characteristics, such as leaves, bark, twigs, fruit and tree form.

Note: First session is an in-person lecture at the Moss Building; second session is an outside field trip. All participants are required to sign an MU Extension waiver before
attending the field trip.

Instructor: Doug Wallace Instructor: Doug Wallace has B.S. and M.S. degrees in forestry from the University of Illinois. After graduation, Wallace was a field ecologist for the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. Upon completion of the inventory, he began working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and served in several locations and positions throughout Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska, including as state staff forester in Columbia, Mo., and NRCS national agroforester in Lincoln, Neb. He is currently retired.

A Brief Introduction to the Arts of Japan

Mondays: June 5 & 12 (2 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Art & Design

First two weeks of the semester

In this short course, we will survey the arts of Japan from prehistoric times to the 20th century. We will explore calligraphy, ceramics, ink painting, garden design, lacquerware, joined-wood sculpture, woodblock prints and the kimono.

Instructor: James Terry is an archaeologist and art historian. He has worked on excavations in Israel, Cyprus, Jordan and Tunisia and has led study abroad tours in southern France and Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has taught art history at Stephens College for 25 years.

Tuesday Courses

  • The Novels of Cormac McCarthy: The Road (9:30 – 11:00 a.m.)
  • Technology in the Movies (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)
  • The Leaders Who Built Boone County – Part One (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.)
  • Islam: Stories of the Prophets of God (3:00 – 4:30 p.m.)
  • The United States in the 20th Century (3:00 – 4:30 p.m.)

The Novels of Cormac McCarthy: The Road

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions)
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Literature & Film

This class will focus on Cormac McCarthy’s 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning The Road. The novel imagines a post-apocalyptic world following the journey of a father and son through a perilous landscape. Since McCarthy is writing in the science-fiction vein of post-apocalypse speculation, the class will be concerned with his use of the conventions of such novels. It will also consider the novel’s place in McCarthy’s career.

Instructor: Clarence Wolfshohl is a professor emeritus of English at William Woods University. His creative and scholarly writing have appeared in many small press and literary journals, both in print and online. He has published several chapbooks and small collections of poetry, most recently Armadillos & Groundhogs (2019). He has been active in Osher as a student and teacher for several years.

Technology in the Movies

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topics: Nature, Science & Technology and Literature & Film

Cybercrime, artificial intelligence, the Metaverse and space travel all make great plot devices, but how much of the technology in the movies is possible or available today? And what might be coming? Each week we’ll watch a film before class, and then Prof C will lead a discussion about the technology used by the characters in the movie and discuss related films, TV shows and other pop culture references.

Note: Please watch the films ahead of the class meeting days. We invite you (and all current members!) to view the movies in person — screening dates/times are listed below. If you prefer to watch at home, all are available at the Daniel Boone Regional Library as DVDs or on various streaming services.

Film Title (Date of Release)

Optional Screening Date, Time (Moss Building)

Class Mtg Date, Time  (Online Only)

The Imitation Game (2014)

Monday, June 5, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 6, 10 a.m.

The Martian (2015)

Monday, June 12, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 13, 10 a.m.

Minority Report (2002)

Friday, June 16, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 20, 10 a.m.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Monday, June 26, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 27, 10 a.m.

Instructor: J Scott Christianson (Prof C) is an associate teaching professor of management at the University of Missouri, where his interests are focused on the impact of emerging technology on society and geopolitics. He currently serves as the College's Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, helping students turn their ideas into profitable products and services.

The Leaders Who Built Boone County – Part One

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Local, U.S. & World History

This is the first half of a two-semester look at the leaders from 1820 until today who, in the opinion of the class leader, built Columbia and Boone County into the leading city it is today in the fields of entertainment, education, culture and medicine. This summer session will be devoted to male leadership; the second semester — likely in the fall — to female leadership.

Instructor: Bill Clark is a local columnist who wrote his first of some 5,000 columns in mid-Missouri in September of 1956. He has written a weekly history column since 2005, first in the Columbia Tribune, and for the past five and a half years online. He is co-chair of the Rocheport Hall of Fame Committee.

Islam: Stories of the Prophets of God

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Health, Wellness & Spirituality

The class is meant for Osher students interested in learning about the religion of Islam, going beyond the basics. Instructor Rashed Nizam will discuss the key Islamic prophets and messengers, a special group of human beings who were created by God to deliver the principal message of the oneness of God. The prophets performed miracles, but that does not mean they possessed divine powers.

Instructor: Rashed Nizam, a Brown University graduate, has been living in Columbia for more than 25 years. He’s a board certified ophthalmologist and is the founding director of Mid Missouri Eye Center in Moberly. He serves on the Religious Program Advisory Committee of the Missouri Department of Corrections, representing Muslims in the state of Missouri.

The United States in the 20th Century

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Local, U.S. & World History

Dr. Jay Ward continues his exploration of the United States in the 20th century. This summer, Dr. Ward will finish up the Truman era and begin with Eisenhower’s presidency, including the Korean War.

Instructor: Dr. Jay Ward was born in Springfield, Mo., and raised in Lexington, Mo. He was an undergraduate at Northwestern University and received a medical degree from the University of Missouri. Upon retiring from medicine after 30 years, he received a master’s degree and doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Missouri.

Wednesday Courses

  • Physical Activity: How Much Is Enough? (9:30 – 11:00 a.m.)
  • The Natural History of Chemical Communication (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)
  • SLR and DSLR Camera Settings: Managing Light and Focus (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.)
  • Haute Couture: Who Wears These Designs? Would You? (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.)
  • The First Ladies of the United States (3:00 – 4:30 p.m.)

Physical Activity: How Much Is Enough?

Wednesdays: June 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Health, Wellness & Spirituality

Limit of 40 students in person and 20 online

When you engage in regular physical activity, you reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and heart disease. But do you know how much and what type of physical activity you need to obtain health benefits? In this class you will learn the current recommendations to help you understand how much is enough. We will use the MyActivity Pyramid (based on the CDC’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans). These guidelines were developed by a group of experts utilizing years of physical activity research to help us set goals to improve health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The four components we will cover in class are lifestyle activities, aerobic exercise, strength exercises, and balance and flexibility.

For each class, the instructors will give an introductory presentation on one of the four components, followed by 30-40 minutes of guided exercise for participants (yes, you will move!) The instructors will then share some of the available training programs around Columbia to hopefully give you a better chance to meet those guidelines.

Note: All participants are required to sign an MU Extension waiver before taking part in the class. Online registrants will be required to turn on their cameras during the Zoom meeting, so that the instructors and their team may monitor their progress.

Instructors: Marta Novaes Oliveira is a graduate assistant for the MU Extension Nutrition, Health, and Families unit at the University of Missouri. She holds a B.S. in Health Sciences, an M.S. in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and is continuing her studies for a Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation at the University of Missouri. Novaes Oliveira is responsible for some of Extension’s exercise programs, developing curricula, teaching classes, training instructors and conducting research.

Kelsey Weitzel is an assistant Extension professor and state specialist in the Health and Human Sciences unit within MU Extension. She holds a B.S degree from the University of Iowa in health and human physiology, an M.S. in kinesiology from the University of Georgia and is working to finish her Ph.D. at MU in educational psychology. Weitzel is passionate about helping individuals and communities improve their quality of life by connecting them to research-based programs and services.

The Natural History of Chemical Communication

Wednesdays: June 7 & 14 (2 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Nature, Science & Technology

First two weeks of the semester

Nature is a large, integrated entity. Communicators survive, and much of the language of communication is chemical. The chemical language structure can be subverted to turn a mate into prey or to attract an unwanted parasite. Chemical warfare reigns. Human intervention in natural chemical processes can have dire effects on the ecosystem, negatively affecting our own survival. The instructor will discuss two, perhaps three, cases and lay out the scenario in easy-to-understand terms. Love, seduction and betrayal work in large part by chemical signalling and cross-signalling.

Instructor: Joseph Polacco is an MU emeritus professor of Biochemistry. Since retiring, he has published a memoir, a novel and a collection of bilingual (Spanish-English) rhyming verse. A new book is approaching its release date, a tribute to his iconic Brooklyn neighborhood, Bensonhurst.

SLR and DSLR Camera Settings: Managing Light and Focus

Wednesdays: June 21 & 28 (2 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
IN PERSON ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $20
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Nature, Science & Technology

Last two weeks of the semester; Limit of 12 students

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO make up the primary elements of getting your photos lit and focused the way you want them. For these two sessions, you’ll be asked to bring your own camera to class. Together we will go over where these settings are and how to manipulate them on your camera as well as learn how the three functions work together. During the intervening week, you’ll be expected to play with these settings, take photos and bring them to class so we can tweak the process and help you master light and focus in your photographs.

Instructor: Deni Cary Phillips, a lifelong photographer and resident of Columbia, began showing her photos in galleries over a decade ago. The change to digital photography allowed her to shoot and process her shots. A lover of landscape, she uses the camera to capture the scenes she finds on quiet walks and leisurely drives through rural and wild places. From her first film camera to the digital version she uses today, she’s learned to use manual settings to help take good photos.

Haute Couture: Who Wears These Designs? Would You?

Wednesdays: June 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Art & Design

We will continue our study of fashion designers and the artistic follies and frivolities of the 21st century and compare these designs to what are still called the timeless fashion looks of the last century or earlier. Even if you were not online for the spring session, we welcome you to join the class, which features discussions and PowerPoint presentations

Instructor: Patti Doyle taught costume design in theater departments from Michigan to Utah to California before settling at Stephens College, where she taught and designed costumes in the Performing Arts Department for some 35 years. She also spent many summers designing costumes at Stephens’ Okoboji Summer Theatre.

The First Ladies of the United States

Wednesdays: June 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Local, U.S. & World History

Dr. Jay Ward will continue his course that considers the significant women in the lives of the U.S. presidents. In most cases, the official hostesses in the White House were the wives of the presidents. In some instances, however, that was not the case, and those stories are often fascinating as well. This third series will pick up where Dr. Ward left off, in the mid-19th century.

Instructor: Dr. Jay Ward was born in Springfield, Mo., and raised in Lexington, Mo. He was an undergraduate at Northwestern University and received a medical degree from the University of Missouri. Upon retiring from medicine after 30 years, he received a master’s degree and doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Missouri.

Thursday Courses

  • Health Topics That Matter (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)
  • “The White Meadows”—Viewing and Discussing the Award-winning Iranian Film (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.)
  • How to Read a Painting: Art Appreciation with Missouri Artists (3:00 – 4:30 p.m.)

Health Topics That Matter

Thursdays: June 8, 15, 22, 29 (4 sessions)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Health, Wellness & Spirituality

This four-week class will address important health topics that likely affect you or someone you care about. Each session will feature a different topic presented by a speaker with special knowledge and experience in that field.

June 8: Preventing Falls: Understanding the Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
Falls are a significant health concern for older adults, with one in four people aged 65 or older experiencing a fall annually. Falls can result in severe injuries and complications and reduce the quality of life. This session will examine the risk factors contributing to falls in older adults, such as environmental factors inside and outside the home, medical conditions such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease, and medication side effects. Attendees will also learn about strategies to reduce the risk of falling, including exercise to improve strength and balance, modifications to the home environment, medication management and more.

Instructor: Margie Sable is a retired professor of social work at MU. She has fallen four times since the onset of the pandemic and broken four bones. Although she is not a professional expert in fall prevention, she has developed a keen interest in how to stay on her feet.

June 15: Parkinson’s Disease: Would You Like to Know More?
This session will be an informational and practical exploration of the mysterious and sometimes frightening prospect of Parkinson’s disease. Have you ever wondered what happens physiologically, what are the symptoms, and most importantly, what treatment options are available? Come join in as we explore some of the reasons behind this disease process and the options for management.

Instructor: Kathy Morris is a retired physical therapist with 25 years of experience practicing at Rusk Rehabilitation Center. Her area of specialty was neuro recovery, and she worked with hundreds of patients with Parkinson’s disease over the years.

June 22: Coping with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Multiple chronic conditions are common in older adults and pose challenges both to physicians and patients. This presentation will discuss information on the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, problems arising from them and approaches for both patients and physicians to improve care. We will discuss a framework for deciding on what care is most appropriate based on patient preferences and an understanding of expected health trajectory (function and survival). Consideration of when it is appropriate to stop some health screenings will be included.

Instructor: David R. Mehr, MD, MS, is a professor emeritus of family and community medicine at the University of Missouri. Over 44 years, he has an extensive history of medical teaching, funded research and clinical practice in family medicine, geriatric medicine and palliative medicine. He has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple federal grants, has served on multiple grant review panels and has received awards for mentoring junior faculty. He has over 130 publications.

June 29: Epigenetics and Your Health: The Environment
Did you know that your diet and environment can affect how your genes are expressed in your body? The field of epigenetics studies how our environment and lifestyle can cause changes that affect how our genes work and when they turn “off” and “on.” Epigenetics refers to changes in the activity of genes that do not involve changes in their DNA sequence. This class will explore what epigenetics can do and how our epigenetics influences our health.

Instructor: Dr. Valerie Bader has been a nurse since 1984, with extensive experience in maternal child health and public health. She practiced for many years as a nurse midwife in a variety of settings. Dr. Bader has also taught undergraduate and graduate students about maternal child health at the Sinclair School of Nursing for a number of years.

“The White Meadows”—Viewing and Discussing the Award-winning Iranian Film

Thursdays: June 8, 15, 22, 29 (4 sessions)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
HYBRID
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Literature & Film

“The White Meadows” (2009) is the fourth of 10 feature films by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof. The movie won the Best Feature Film award at international festivals in Dubai (2009), Denver (2010), and Durban (2010). Rasoulof’s other films have also received broad international recognition with his most recent movie, “There Is No Evil,” winning the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival and the Sydney Film Prize in 2021.

“The White Meadows” has drawn the broadest interpretation by reviewers and scholars, so there remains a great deal of opportunity for examination. We will watch the film in its entirety, then discuss existential dilemmas in the film as imposed by various forces of society and religion. As a base for our discussion we will be guided by an outline of existential thought by Kevin Aho, prepared for inclusion in the Summer 2023 edition of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Repeatedly since 2010, Rasoulof, who wrote, directed and produced “The White Meadows,” has faced prison sentences and censure for filming without a permit and for “assembly and colluding with the intention to commit crimes against the country’s national security and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.”

Instructor: Cindy Claycomb has graduate degrees in English and psychology. She has taught college/university honors and graduate courses in both fields and is a licensed psychologist retired from clinical practice.

How to Read a Painting: Art Appreciation with Missouri Artists

Thursdays: June 8, 15, 22, 29 (4 sessions)
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
ONLINE ONLY
Semester Course Fee: $40
Premium Members: Unlimited classes; no additional fees
Topic: Art & Design

Georgia O'Keeffe said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way––things I had no words for.” Art is a form of communication, a conversation between creator and viewer. This course offers an introduction to the elements of art and principles of design used by artists to create their work. Students will gain a better understanding of the visual arts in order to enjoy the images all around us, including the work of Missouri artists and artwork depicting Missouri subjects.

Instructor: Dr. Sarah S. Jones serves as historic site specialist and art historian at the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site and the Missouri State Museum. Her background includes work in art museums and historic houses in Missouri, Nebraska and New York. She is a 2023 Center for Missouri Studies fellow at the State Historical Society of Missouri for her study of Missouri’s Depression-era post office murals and an adjunct instructor at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

Friday Value-Added Courses

  • Potpourri of the Arts (9:30-11:00)
  • Brown Bag Seminar Series (11:30-1:00)

Friday sessions are free of charge to all current Osher members: Premium, Semester and Basic. Sessions marked as HYBRID will allow participants to choose whether they attend via Zoom or in person. Osher members may reserve a seat in Moss A for these sessions by emailing the Osher staff at [email protected] (opens in new window).

If you’re not a current member, but would like to attend one or more of these sessions, please consider joining at the Basic/Taste of Osher level (gives access to each semester’s Value-added Friday content and Osher clubs – for people who do not want to take a two-, four- or eight-week class).

Potpourri of the Arts

Fridays; 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Each semester, Osher invites the movers and shakers of mid-Missouri’s arts scene to discuss, display, perform and showcase their work. Join us for this grab bag of arts topics.

June 9: The Life and Music of Sergei Rachmaninov
HYBRID

2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sergei Rachmaninov. To celebrate his birthday, this program will include this composer’s biography, musical style, genres, instrumentation and forms, with a detailed study of several of his prominent works.

Instructor: Dr. Alison Robuck teaches oboe at Missouri State University and is board president for the Odyssey Chamber Music Series. She has performed as a member and soloist for the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Peoria Bach Festival and Baroque Artists of Champaign. As oboe faculty for Ameropa, a three-week summer chamber music festival in Prague, she has performed solo and chamber concerts in many locations around the city.

June 16: From the Page to the Stage: How to Create Theater in the Middle of the Cornfields
HYBRID

Quin Gresham, producing artistic director at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theater, will take you on an informative journey through the process of creating theater. From the written word to opening night, you will be introduced to the personnel (and personalities) involved in this collaborative art form. Using the upcoming Lyceum season as an example, you will learn about the casting process, the design process and the rehearsal process—and you’ll get an exclusive look into what to expect onstage at The Lyceum in 2023.

Instructor: Quin Gresham has been the producing artistic director at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theater since 2005. Prior to his leadership position, he worked as an actor at The Lyceum beginning in the summer of 1999. He has directed many Lyceum productions during his tenure, most recently, “Shrek,” “Elvis the Musical,” and “Murder on the Orient Express,” among others. Gresham is the 2020 recipient of the Missouri Arts Award for Leadership in the Arts.

June 23: Comparative Art
ONLINE ONLY

Throughout history, artists have portrayed the same subjects, stories or events in different ways. For example, the nativity and crucifixion of Jesus have been visually interpreted by countless artists. In this session, participants will be provided two images of the same or similar subject material for purposes of comparison, analysis and synthesis. In engaging with the images, participants will respond to a sequence of questions. This process will be similar to a session held during the spring semester but with different images. Images will involve a variety of themes, artists and historical periods.

Instructor: Robin Blake is a docent at the University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archeology who has provided many Osher presentations on art history.

June 30: Clothes’ Encounters: Civil War Uniforms
 IN PERSON ONLY

This presentation covers the historical setting for and foreign influences on American Civil War uniforms. We will see actual uniforms, headgear and accoutrements and discuss designs, patterns, irregularities and many variations, as well as errors in paintings, colorized photographs and other renderings of uniforms. Some post-Civil War items will be on display.

Instructor: Evan Smith grew up in Kansas, the son of an archaeologist and an artist. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics and B.A. degrees in linguistics and anthropology. Prior to retirement, Smith worked in teaching, administration or research at various midwestern universities, including MU and Indiana University. As a retiree, he is still interested in academic fields such as history, including the American Civil War.

Brown Bag “Lunch and Learn” Seminar Series

Fridays; 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Brown Bag seminars are open to all Osher Premium and Basic members throughout the academic year. Semester members may attend for the semester in which they enroll. Feel free to nosh on your lunchtime treats (with or without your camera on!) during this “lunch and learn.”

June 9: Bolder Not Older
HYBRID

Think it takes a lot of money to travel? Think again! Open your eyes, heart and mind wide and see what adventures are in store for you all over the world. Six years ago, the instructor traveled for three months through Europe with a budget of $30.00 per day. Join her, and let her guide you through an adventure worth waiting for.

Instructor: Tamara Oberbeck is a retired RN who has taught many courses to family members and to other nurses. She has a master’s in health education and lived overseas for 20 years, having worked in six countries as an embassy nurse and Peace Corps medical officer. Oberbeck has taken several classes at Osher in the past and now lives in Nashville.

June 16: Atlantis!
ONLINE ONLY

Troy was discovered using ancient writings as a guide. Let’s do the same thing with Atlantis to discover that it was much more than a myth and where it may have been located. Did you know that there are other lost contemporary civilizations? We will use the writings of Edgar Cayce to review the eclipse of Atlantis and the archaeological record to see what came next.

Instructor: Paul Stang, M.A., is an engineer, world traveler, international high school and college teacher, presenter and author of a uniquely inspired curriculum of art, physics and mathematics. His work is internationally recognized, and he has been invited to curriculum reform in Europe.

June 23: The Importance of the Give 5 Program
HYBRID

Join Heart of Missouri United Way’s volunteer coordinator to learn more about the power of volunteerism in retirement and how you can actively use your knowledge and skills to help in our community. Sarah Rigdon will provide an overview of five macro trends and how they intersect as well as information on United Way’s Give 5 program, an innovative, free, community-based program designed for Boone County residents, and how you can participate. The program matches participants with nonprofit organizations addressing our city’s primary areas of need and helps re-establish purpose and meaning in retirement.

Instructor: Sarah Rigdon is the Give 5 and Volunteer Coordinator for Heart of Missouri United Way. She is studying psychology and sociology at MU and is passionate about helping people use their skills and talents to have a positive impact in their community.

June 30: When Did Coffee Become a Thing? Ask a Goat

HYBRID

In its 600-year known history, coffee has become the second most traded commodity in the world, after oil. Its origins are legendary, and it is ubiquitous in daily life around the world. Instructor Dave Para recently took up roasting his own coffee, and like any good hobby, it has precipitated additional reading. Para will offer some highlights in the history and lore of this daily ritual. King Charles II of England, Murad IV of the Ottoman Empire and Henry Ford sought to banish it. Pope Clement VIII, Napoleon Bonaparte and President John Adams championed it. Earthlings consume one billion cups a day.

Instructor: Dave Para was a travelling folk musician for more than 40 years with his late wife, Cathy Barton, and the duo presented a number of Brown Bag presentations for Osher. He still directs the Big Muddy Folk Festival in Boonville. Neither a coffee expert nor a professional, he has drunk coffee his whole life and now considers it a full-fledged hobby.