Stillwater Courses
Explore and learn with us!
Stillwater Fall 2024 Course Offerings
Course registration will open August 27, 2024
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SF24-0321 So, You Want to Write a Book … Now What?
Wednesday, 1wk, 9/25, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructors: Debra Williams, Quinn Baldwin, Dale Ingram, Writers
Location: Stillwater History Museum
À La Carte Price: $10Have you ever had an idea that would make a great book? Or perhaps you’re fascinated by someone’s life and feel it’s worth telling for others to hear. How do you start? A panel of three local authors will share their experiences in conceiving, creating and writing their books. The genres covered will include cozy mysteries, biographies and novels for young adults. In addition to the story behind the story, each writer will discuss their journey in getting their work published and what’s involved in marketing their work.
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SF24-0322 Beer 101
Wednesday, 1wk, 9/25, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Participation
Instructor: Matt Sullins, General Manager, Stonecloud Stillwater Patio and Taproom
Location: Stone Cloud Brewery
À La Carte Price: $10
Note: Max 15 peopleThis course offers an introduction to the world of craft beer. We will discuss everything from the brewing process to the cultural and historical significance of this beverage we all enjoy so much. Topics will include brewing science, beer ingredients, the role women played in the rich history of beer, barrel-aging and more. This course does involve tasting beer as we discuss (tasting is, of course, optional but encouraged).
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SF24-0331 From Abandoned Swine Farm to Veggies: OSU Student Farm
Wednesday, 1wk, 10/2, 10a-12p
Format: Walking Tour
Instructor: Matt Beartrack
Location: OSU Student Farm
À La Carte Price: $10Discover the OSU Student Farm, where an abandoned swine farm has become a vegetable production farm bringing together service and sustainability. See firsthand how students provide healthier food options for low-income families by growing a variety of produce. See how the farm conserves water with an innovative buried irrigation system. Learn about future plans that include expanding fields, renovating old swine barns, building an on-site washstand and remodeling for office space.
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SF24-0411 Aquaponics
Thursday, 1wk, 9/19, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructor: Teal Hendrickson
Location: OSU Botanic Gardens Education Building
À La Carte Price: $10
Note: Max 12 peopleThe concept of aquaponics, a food production system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics, has been used for centuries in various ways. Today, researchers are looking for a sustainable method to grow proteins and plants together in one system. Join us for a lecture and field trip to learn a little about how aquaponics works, the ups and downs and to see some small-scale systems.
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SF24-0431 Tour of Turning Point Ranch
Thursday, 1wk, 10/3, 10a-12p
Format: Walking Tour
Instructor: Lisa Anderson
Location: Turning Point Ranch
À La Carte Price: FreeWhat is that place with all the white fences on Country Club Road? Find out for yourself when you tour Turning Point Ranch, a PATH Premier Accredited Therapeutic Horsemanship Center. See how the 21-acre property serves its unique purpose by using the magic of horses to build productive futures for those with physical, mental, emotional and socio-economic challenges. Meet the staff, both the human and the equine, including retired working quarter horses to mini horses with big personalities.
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SF24-0531 Tour of the OSU Botanic Garden
Friday, 1wk, 10/4, 10a-12p
Format: Walking Tour
Instructor: Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist, OSU
Location: OSU Botanic Garden
À La Carte Price: $10
Note: Max 25 peopleEnjoy the outdoors on this tour of The Botanic Garden, OSU’s 100-acre demonstration garden and arboretum. As a living, multidisciplinary laboratory, it is used by several departments within the university’s Division of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources. See firsthand how it is different from traditional botanic gardens and learn what practices and projects are underway.
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SF24-0572 Art Explorations: Interactive Museum Tour and Creative Writing
Friday, 1wk, 11/1, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Participation
Instructor: Museum Staff
Location: OSU Museum of Art
À La Carte Price: $10Join us for this immersive tour of the OSU Museum of Art, tailored for OLLI members. Explore current exhibitions with engaging, interactive experiences. Our knowledgeable docents will lead guided discussions, encouraging thoughtful reflection and group dialogue. Additionally, participants will enjoy a creative writing activity, composing short narratives or poems inspired by the artworks. This tour emphasizes active participation and creative exploration, deepening your connection to the art.
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SF24-0582 OSU Public Art Tour
Friday, 1wk, 11/8, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Participation
Instructor: Museum Staff
Location: Stillwater Campus
À La Carte Price: $10The OSU Museum of Art will host a walking tour discussing the outdoor, public artworks on the OSU Stillwater campus. Part of an ongoing series, this tour will feature a different selection of sculptures than previous tours. We will follow a one-mile loop that is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and footwear and bring mobility aids or hearing devices if needed.
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SF24-131 Art History Sampler
Mondays, 4wks, 9/30 -10/21, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructors: Dr. Rebecca Brienen, Dr. Jenny Ramirez and Dr. Shaoqian Zhang, OSU Art History
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: $25
Note: Max 40 peopleJoin us as we explore visual expression within historical context in this engaging art history sampler course. Over four sessions, we’ll investigate Dutch Art, the History of Photography, Asian Art, and delve into Doel Reed’s impact on Modern Art in New Mexico. From the Golden Age of Dutch painting to the evolution of photography, from the richness of Asian traditions to the vibrant art scene of New Mexico, each session offers a unique perspective from a team of OSU art historians.
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SF24-132 Shinrin-yoku at the OSU Botanical Garden
Mondays, 2wks, 9/30 and 10/7, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Participation
Instructor: Sharon Bennett
Location: OSU Botanic Gardens
À La Carte Price: $10
Notes: Max 12 people. Wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather.Shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing, is a Japanese healing technique with a wide variety of health benefits, including decreased stress, improved concentration, boosted immunity and lowered blood pressure. We will adapt this technique to the grounds of the OSU Botanical Garden. Individuals will focus on connecting with nature and being mindful of their experiences, with time to wander in the garden and then gather to share our experiences. Attendees will also be guided in a brief breath meditation.
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SF24-162 It’s Always the Bugs: The World of Microbiomes - DATE UPDATED
Monday, 1wk, 10/21, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Lecture
Instructor: Udaya DeSilva, OSU Associate Professor, Animal Molecular Genetics
Location: OSU Botanical Garden Education Bldg
À La Carte Price: $10Did you know humans and animals host 10 times more bacteria than cells, with bacterial genes outnumbering human genes 500 to 1? Let’s look at the hidden universe of microbiomes. We’ll explore the significance of the five pounds of bacteria we each carry and the evolving paradigm shift from unwelcome guests to vital contributors to our health. We’ll delve into the profound impact of microbiomes on our wellbeing through compelling case studies and shed light on their critical roles in health and disease.
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SF24-181 The Trench Poets of World War I
Monday, 1wk, 11/4, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructor: Bob Graalman
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: $10World War I was marked by the misery of trench warfare with combatants trapped cruelly in long lines of tunnels and ditches in Europe. Many of the best young writers of the times were sent into this conflict, and some of them, now known as “trench poets,” did not survive. One British writer, Robert Graves, emerged from WWI to have a prolific career as a poet, novelist, anthropologist, critic and essayist. We will explore Graves’ impact on 20th-century life and wonder what was lost when so many talented souls died so young.
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SF24-231 Stillwater Town Hall
Tuesdays, 6wks, 10/1-11/5, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructor: Various
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: Free. Guests welcome. Registration required.Join us for an eclectic mix of weekly speakers who will present information such as the history of OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the inspiring reach of veterinary medical research around the globe, gardening in Oklahoma, the relevance of the Chamber of Commerce, Highway 51/6th avenue expansion project, YMCA, engineering methods, project-based learning and more. Click here for a full list of presenter bios and topics.
Scheduled Speakers
10/1 History of CVM & Go Go Gadget Arms! Jennifer Rudd & Michael Lorenz 10/8 Oklahoma Gardening Bailey Singleton 10/15 Engineering Method Larry Hoberock 10/22 Relevance of the Chamber of Commerce in Your Community Alane Zannotti 10/29 Project Based Learning Debbie Short 11/5 HW51/6th Avenue Expansion Project Brady Moore -
SF24-232 Threads of Mexico: Learning through Textiles
Tuesdays, 4wks, 10/1-10/22, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Lecture
Instructor: Helen Clements, Scholar and Educator
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: $25
Note: Max 20 peopleDiscover how immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of a culture’s textiles will enlarge your knowledge of a society and sense of history. We will look at the art of handweaving, focusing on indigenous traditions in the central and southern regions of Mexico. We will explore the intricacies of different looms, materials and techniques, as well as the changes brought by the modern world and tourism. Dr. Clements will share samples from her own vibrant and unique textile collection, including vintage and current pieces.
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SF24-311 Soft Pastel
Wednesday & Monday, 2wks, 10/9 & 10/14, 10a-12p
Format: Hands-on
Instructor: Tandi Memmott, Artist
Location: Art on 6th
À La Carte Price: $35
Notes: Max 12 people. Supply list upon registration.Working on sanded paper, we will explore the wonderful world of soft pastels as we practice our drawing skills and experiment with painting, blending, and mark making techniques. We’ll also try underpainting with soft pastels using denatured alcohol. Subject matter may include still life and photo reference. Students may use their own reference photo or one will be supplied. No previous experience is necessary to enjoy this class.
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SF24-332 Play Ball: Baseball Movies
Wednesdays, 8wks, 9/18-11/6, 1:30-4p
Format: Presentation
Instructor: Vickie Sturgeon, Educator, Broadcasting and Motion Picture History
Location: Legacy Village
À La Carte Price: $25Let’s watch America’s pastime, starting with excerpts from The Pride of the Yankees (1942) with Gary Cooper; and The Stratton Story (1949) with Jimmy Stewart. Then, we’ll watch The Natural (1984) Robert Redford, Glen Close; Field of Dreams (1981) James Earl Jones, Kevin Costner; Bull Durham (1988) Costner, Susan Sarandon; 42 (2013), starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson; A League of Their Own (1992) Tom Hanks, Gina Davis; Eight Men Out (1988) about the 1919 Chicago Black Sox; and Moneyball (2011) for a take on modern baseball with Brad Pitt.
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SF24-351 Watercolors
Wednesdays, 4wks, 10/16-11/6, 10a-12p
Format: Hands-on
Instructor: Tandi Memmott, Artist
Location: Art on 6th
À La Carte Price: $35
Notes: Supply list provided upon registration. Max 12 people.This class will explore the basics of painting with watercolor. We’ll experiment with this beautiful medium while learning different techniques such as creating washes, working wet into wet, and wet on dry to create desired results. We’ll also experiment with masking fluid, salt and saran wrap to create different effects. Some basic drawing skills are helpful but not required.
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SF24-412 Manufacturing Magic: 3D Printing with Laser Etching - DATE CHANGED
Saturdays, 2wks, 10/12 and 10/19, 10a-12p
Format: Participation
Instructor: Wendy Hall, PTC Lab Coordinator
Location: OSU Campus/Endeavor Lab
À La Carte Price: $20Learn about the 3D printing processes at ENDEAVOR, OSU’s state-of-the-art, hands-on lab. You’ll experience a printer that extrudes thermoplastic filaments through a heated nozzle and layers them one by one. Another printer uses materials like carbon fiber and onyx to create stronger printed parts. Stereolithography printing uses a laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic. You will also learn the laser etcher/cutter as a bonus lesson.
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SF24-432 Ukulele for Beginners
Thursdays, 6wks, 10/3-11/7, 1:30-3:30p
Format: Hands-on
Instructor: Kami Koontz and Pam Brown, Musicians
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: $25
Note: Max 16 peoplePair your love of learning with the joy of music for a great combination. The ukulele is an easy instrument to learn, and this course will provide instant gratification of playing songs right away. You’ll use those basics to build what you need to continue learning. The ukulele is versatile, sounds great played solo or in a group, works across musical genres and is really beginner friendly. Don’t have a ukulele? Loaners will be available.
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SF24-441 Great Decisions
Thursdays, 5wks, 10/10-11/7, 10a-12p
Format: Presentation
Instructor: Various
Location: Stillwater Public Library
À La Carte Price: $25
Recommended text: 2024 Great Decisions Briefing Book, fpa.orgIn America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, we will address weekly topics such as energy geopolitics, war crimes, the U.S. relationship with China, economic warfare, politics in Latin America, global famine, Iran and climate migration. Topic experts will be on hand to give us more information and guide group discussion. A full list of topics is available on the OLLI course enrollment website.
Contact
Robbin Davis
OLLI Director
139 Nancy Randolph Davis
405-744-5868
olli@okstate.edu