OLLI at Colorado State University

08/21/2026

🌲✨ Did you know Rocky Mountain National Park owes its beginnings to a chance discovery? What started with Joel Estes finding a hidden valley beneath towering peaks soon became Estes Park, thanks to newspaper editor William Newton Byers. As visitors flocked to experience its beauty, visionaries like Lord Dunraven and Freelan Stanley helped put the region on the map.

But growth came at a cost. Logging, ranching, and overhunting threatened the area's wildlife and natural beauty. Thankfully, naturalist Enos Mills fought tirelessly to protect this remarkable landscape, leading to the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915. Today, visitors can experience its rich history, breathtaking scenery, and iconic Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved highway in the United States.

Want to dive deeper into this fascinating story? Join Colorado historian Kenneth Jessen, author of 23 books and more than 2,300 published stories on Colorado history, as he brings the past of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park to life! Register for OSHR 6187 Colorado's Most Visited National Park - RMNP. www.osher.colostate.edu .🏔️📖

08/20/2026

Join Us for OLLI's Fall Open House! 🎉

Celebrate 20 years of lifelong learning with OLLI at Colorado State University! We invite you to our Fall Open House on Wednesday, August 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at our new location, the Drake Centre.

Meet our outstanding Drake Hall instructors, learn about upcoming courses and programs, enjoy light refreshments, and enter our raffle. Whether you're a longtime member or curious about OLLI for the first time, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate with us.

📍 Drake Centre
📅 August 27 | 2:00-4:00 PM
🎟️ Free and open to the public

We look forward to welcoming you as we kick off another exciting season of lifelong learning! 🍂📚

08/19/2026

📚✨ A Special Opportunity for Poetry Lovers This Fall ✨📚

Join acclaimed poet Veronica Patterson for OSHR 4117: What Poetry Is and Is Not: How Poetry Develops! in what will be her final semester teaching poetry at OLLI at CSU.

Together, you'll explore how poetry takes shape through the voices of contemporary writers, including Melissa Huff's To Speak to Each Day in Its Own Language and Silas House's All These Ghosts. House, a celebrated novelist, essayist, and former Kentucky Poet Laureate, brings a rich perspective on storytelling, memory, and place. The course will also feature essays by Margaret Renkl, including Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss and Graceland, at Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache from the American South.

Veronica, Loveland's first Poet Laureate and the author of numerous acclaimed poetry collections, has inspired OLLI students for years with her thoughtful, engaging approach to reading and writing poetry. This fall offers a unique chance to learn from one of Colorado's most respected literary voices before she concludes her OLLI teaching journey.

🌟 And there's more to celebrate! Veronica's brand-new poetry collection, Glint & Swerve, has just been released and is available through Amazon.

Whether you're a longtime poetry enthusiast or simply curious about how poems come to life, this promises to be a memorable and enriching class. Don't miss the chance to be part of Veronica's final OLLI poetry course! 📖🍂✨ www.osher.colostate.edu

08/18/2026

OLLI Fall 2026 Registration and Open House

As we look ahead to another exciting season of learning, we're pleased to share important dates and details for Fall 2026 registration and our annual Open House.

Registration Dates

Art & Design Classes
📅 September 1, 2026
🕘 9:00 a.m.

All Other Classes
📅 September 2, 2026
🕘 9:00 a.m.

New this year: Fall registration will open after the Open House, giving members an opportunity to meet instructors and learn more about classes before registering.

Fall Open House – New Location

This year, the OLLI Open House will be held at a new location:

Where

Drake Centre
802 West Drake Road
Fort Collins, CO 80526

When

Thursday, August 27, 2026
2:00–4:00 p.m.

What to Expect
Free and open to the public
Door prizes
Light refreshments
Inspiring instructors
A welcoming community of lifelong learners

Whether you're a returning member or exploring OLLI for the first time, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover what's planned for the fall term, connect with instructors, and meet fellow lifelong learners.

Celebrating 20 Years of Lifelong Learning

This fall marks our 20th season of lifelong learning at OLLI—a milestone we are excited to celebrate with our community. We are grateful to all who have contributed to two decades of curiosity, connection, and learning, and we look forward to celebrating this special anniversary together throughout the season.

We hope to see you at the Open House and in class this fall!

08/17/2026

OLLI's Fall Open House!

Join us for a special and exciting Fall Open House as OLLI celebrates 20 amazing years of lifelong learning—and welcomes you to a brand-new Open House location, Drake Centre at 802 Drake Road, just down the street from Drake Hall! There is ample parking and expansive space to meet the instructors, greet new friends, and reconnect with old ones.

Thursday, August 27
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Drake Centre
802 Drake Road

This year, you'll have the unique opportunity to meet many of our Drake Hall instructors before registration opens on September 1 and 2, giving you an inside look at some of the outstanding classes being offered.

The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Whether you're a longtime member or curious about joining OLLI for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to bring a friend, mingle with our vibrant learning community, and learn more about the enriching experiences that await you this fall.

Don't miss this celebratory event as we honor 20 years of learning, connection, and discovery—and look ahead to the next 20 years!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

08/14/2026

Subject: The Fall Catalog Is Here! 🍂
The wait is over. Our new Fall Catalog is now available! Explore a fabulous lineup of courses designed to inspire, engage, and satisfy your curiosity.
👉 Click here to view the catalog: LINK
And be sure to join us for our Fall Open House on August 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at our exciting new location:
Drake Centre
802 W Drake Road
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(Just west of Drake Hall)
Meet our instructors, enjoy refreshments, connect with fellow lifelong learners, and help us celebrate the launch of OLLI's 20th season of Lifelong Learning.
This event is free and open to the public, so bring a friend and discover the many ways OLLI can enrich your fall.
We look forward to learning with you! 🍁📚

Fall 2026 Catalog | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Colorado State University Curiosity never retires! OLLI offers the very best in learning with no prerequisites, no tests, no stress, and no d

08/12/2026

📚 Meet New OLLI Instructor Greg Russi!

OLLI is pleased to welcome Greg Russi, who brings a wealth of experience and a passion for constitutional education to our Fall semester.

A trial attorney for 34 years in Denver and Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Greg also worked as a policymaker on Colorado's West Slope. He has taught constitutional studies in both Colorado and Washington and developed a curriculum designed to help learners better understand our nation's foundational document and build constitutional literacy.

This fall, Greg will teach two timely and thought-provoking courses:

🔹 OSHR 3369 – The Constitutional Right of Privacy at 100: A Century of Debating the Shadows of Fundamental Liberty
Explore the fascinating evolution of privacy rights in America—from the surprising origins of the debate in early 20th-century education cases to modern questions involving marriage, reproductive rights, confidential communications, and personal liberty. This lecture examines how constitutional interpretation has shaped privacy rights and continues to influence contemporary cultural and legal discussions.

🔹 OSHR 6176 – The U.S. Constitution for Lifelong Learners: Part One
The Constitution isn't just for judges and lawyers—it belongs to all of us. In this three-week, nonpartisan course, participants will explore the history and ideas behind the Constitution, the protections of the First Amendment, and the far-reaching impact of the Fourteenth Amendment. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of the Constitution's structure, meaning, and relevance to everyday life.

Whether you're a constitutional enthusiast or simply curious about how these issues affect our society, Greg's courses offer an engaging opportunity to learn, discuss, and think critically about the principles that shape our nation.

🍂 Join us this fall and help us welcome Greg Russi to OLLI!

08/10/2026

🌟 The Power of Lifelong Learning: 5 Science-Backed Benefits 🌟

Learning doesn't stop at graduation—and research shows that's a very good thing! Here are five scientifically proven benefits of lifelong learning:

🧠 1. Keeps Your Brain Sharp
Engaging in intellectually stimulating activities helps maintain cognitive function and may reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline.

💪 2. Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem
Mastering new skills and gaining knowledge fosters a sense of accomplishment and personal growth.

🤝 3. Strengthens Social Connections
Learning with others creates opportunities to build friendships, expand networks, and reduce feelings of isolation.

😊 4. Enhances Well-Being and Life Satisfaction
Studies show that lifelong learners often report greater happiness, purpose, and overall quality of life.

💡 5. Encourages Adaptability and Resilience
Learning helps us stay curious, embrace change, and develop the flexibility needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

At OLLI, learning is about more than gaining knowledge—it's about staying engaged, connected, and inspired throughout life's journey.

📚 Never stop asking questions.
🌱 Never stop growing.
✨ Never stop learning.

08/06/2026

🥖 Pull up a chair and savor Provence with two new OLLI instructors!

This fall, join Lee Needham and Randy Wall for OSHR 5109: Brie My Guest ~ Provence, a lively, hands-on exploration of one of France's most captivating regions.

What if a trip to Provence started at the table?

Together, we'll taste traditional Provençal favorites like tapenade, olive oil, aioli, vinaigrette, cheeses, and pastries while exploring the history, art, architecture, and vibrant market culture that make Provence unforgettable. From Roman influences to sun-drenched villages and bustling local markets, this course offers a delicious journey through food, culture, and everyday life.

We're especially excited to welcome two new OLLI instructors:

🚲 Lee Needham spent 30 years teaching social sciences in the Poudre School District and brings a lifelong passion for learning, travel, and cultural exploration. As co-owner of Let's Explore! cycling and walking tours, Lee has guided travelers through immersive experiences that connect people to the places they visit.

🇫🇷 Randy Wall holds a doctorate from CU Boulder and has devoted more than two decades to studying French language and culture. A dedicated Francophile and experienced tour leader, Randy has explored France extensively and considers Provence a true "moveable feast" filled with remarkable food, history, and traditions.

✨ More than a class, this is a shared experience of conversation, laughter, learning, and discovery.

OSHR 5109 – Brie My Guest ~ Provence

08/04/2026

Meet Raye Farr—Documentary Filmmaker, Museum Leader, and Visual Historian

OLLI at CSU is honored to welcome Raye Farr, a retired documentary filmmaker and former Exhibition Director at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. During her remarkable career, Raye helped lead the creation of the museum's landmark permanent exhibition, directed the museum's Steven Spielberg Film & Video Archive, and co-produced HBO's One Survivor Remembers, which earned both Academy and Emmy Awards.

This term, Raye brings her extraordinary expertise to two timely and thought-provoking OLLI courses:

📚 OSHR 5113 – Adventures in Making a History Museum: Memory, Truth & Politics
Explore the challenges, controversies, and decisions involved in creating the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Drawing on her firsthand experiences, Raye will discuss the power of artifacts, memory, and storytelling, while reflecting on the ongoing debates surrounding how history is presented in museums, national parks, and public institutions.

📚 OSHR 3396 – The Erosion of Democracy in 1930s Germany: A Visual History
As democracy receives renewed public attention, this course examines how Germany's democracy after World War I gradually gave way to the Third Reich. The class includes a screening of The Path to N**i Genocide, a documentary directed by Raye for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and distributed worldwide for educational use. Through visual history and discussion, participants will gain deeper insight into the political, social, and cultural forces that shaped this pivotal period.

Join us for two fascinating opportunities to learn from a scholar and filmmaker whose work has helped millions better understand history, memory, and the human experience.

For more information about Raye Farr and her two fabulous courses, visit www.osher.colostate.edu.