Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College
Fall 2026 Course Schedule
Registration Opens Tuesday, August 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Need help deciding what to sign up for?
- We encourage you to read the full descriptions for classes below!
- Come to our Ice Cream Social and Information Session on August 20 at 3:30 p.m. This program is free but registration is required. Register for the Fall Information Session!
Answers to some common questions:
- Our schedule includes courses held online and in-person. See listings below for locations.
- All indoor spaces are ADA accessible unless noted otherwise.
- If a course is full, you can join the waiting list by calling 413-236-2190
- Hiking courses have a separate registration page here.
- You need to be an OLLI at BCC member to register for courses. Membership information can be found here.
- Most
courses held online are recorded so if you miss one, or your schedule
doesn't work for a particular course, you can access the recordings and
watch the class sessions on your own time. Note: in-person classes are not recorded.
Course cost:
- $60 for one class
- $110 for 2 classes
- $150 for 3 or more classes
Also available this Fall:
Online courses through Osher Online. This program is offered through the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University. These classes are delivered by the Osher NRC via Zoom, with participants from all over the country. These courses are not recorded. Registration is separate from our fall courses.
We offer lectures and workshops in addition to courses, and more are added to the calendar all the time!
Learn more by looking at our event calendar.
Introduction to the Writings of Louise Erdich |
Instructor: Pat Kennedy | This course will offer an introduction to the works of Louise Erdrich, author of poetry, fiction, essays, and children’s literature, and enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Erdrich’s writing is inspired by and centered in her indigenous communities, spanning pre-contact history to the present moment. Erdrich’s work asks questions about traditional teachings, gender roles, child-rearing practices, and social justice, and the ways that individuals sometimes live between two worlds. Suggested Readings: We will read selections from Original Fire (poems), The Birchbark House (children’s literature), short stories, essays, and two novels, Love Medicine and The Night Watchman. Pat Kennedy taught English, including Native American Literature, at Holyoke Community College for over thirty years, and has recently taught a course for OLLI on Indigenous Literature of the Northeast (Fall 2025). |
Lords of the Middle Sea: The Rise and Fall of the Minoans |
Instructor: Richard Eason | This course will look at the oldest civilization in Europe, only rediscovered at the beginning of the last century. The Minoans were centered on the island of Crete, but developed a maritime trading empire throughout the eastern Mediterranean. They were, in a way, the Tiffany’s of their time, creating stunning naturalistic frescoes, beautiful pottery, tiny exquisite seal stones. They generated many myths, from the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, to the lost city of Atlantis. They were the victims of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history on the island of Santorini and their survivors likely joined the mysterious Sea Peoples invasions of the east at the end of the Bronze Age. Richard Eason is a retired US diplomat and graduate of the College of William and Mary. He also attended the US Naval War College, where he studied the Revolutionary War, and then earned a second MA from George Washington University. He served overseas in nine different countries. He served as Charge d’Affaires in Belgium among other senior posts. He speaks Arabic, French, and Spanish, and is now studying modern Greek, to help keep his brain healthy. |
Tai Chi Easy |
Instructor: Corey Chapman | Tai Chi easy is a Qigong infused easy to learn Tai Chi flowing class combining breath, slow fluid movement, meditation, and self applied massage. It can be done by anyone at any level standing or seated. No equipment is needed. Just your full attention. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, releasing the relaxation response, creating super healing powers for the body and mind leaving you feeling blissful. Corey Chapman has his Tai Chi Easy practice leader certification, Qigong level one certification and level 3 from the IIQTC under Dr. Roger Jahnke whom he learned from at Kripalu in Lenox, MA. Corey also has certification in Qigong infused Yoga from Lynne Nicole Smith. He has completed workshops with Qigong masters Robert Peng and Daisy Lee as well. Corey has been teaching in the Berkshires, Litchfield County, Conn., and Columbia County, New York, over the last year and a half. corey truly believes Qigong and Tai Chi will save the World. |
Today's Headlines |
Instructors: | Today's Headlines is a moderated discussion course that provides an opportunity to voice your opinions on national and international issues. Serving as a guide and provocateur, the moderator will introduce selected topics drawn from a variety of newspapers and the internet. Lively discussion is the centerpiece of this course. |
The American Revolution: The PBS Documentary |
Facilitator: Stacy Wallach | The Ken Burns/Sarah Botstein documentary which aired on PBS in the fall explored many issues raised by the events of the American Revolution that were not taught when most of us studied American history in high school and college. Stacy Wallach has been a frequent OLLI instructor for two decades. Stacy kicked off the Rev 250 Project in spring 2025 and finds a great deal in the years of the American Revolution that are still relevant today.
This class is part of OLLI's Rev250 Project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. |
Introduction to Opera |
Instructor: Christine Casey | Whether you're new to opera or a seasoned fan, this course is for you! In six sessions, the course will focus on one opera per week, which will include a brief description of the composer, librettist, and how they came to produce the opera. This will be followed by a synopsis of scenes with a slideshow and audio excerpts from an outstanding production. A native of the northern suburbs of Chicago, Christine Casey attended Northwestern University where she earned two degrees in Music Education. She retired from public school teaching, having taught at Fenton High School in Bensenville, where she was the choir director and department chair of Music and Art. As a soprano soloist, she has performed actively in the Chicago area. For the past twelve years, Christine has volunteered as a community and school lecturer, previously for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Opera Lovers’ Lecture Corps in Chicago, and recently in the Berkshire Community College OLLI program. She has taught the Introduction to Opera course for OLLI at BCC for the past three and a half years. |
The Anatomy of Upheaval: From the Bastille to the Modern Era |
Instructor: Phil Deely | To understand the nature of revolution, one must first dissect the French experience. It remains the most instructive case study, illustrating how the pursuit of liberty can rapidly devolve into the shadow of the guillotine and, eventually, the rise of the "Man on the Horse"—the strongman who restores order through absolute authority. This cycle found its 20th-century parallel in the Russian Revolution. What began as the destruction of Czarism shifted into the iron-fisted rule of Lenin and Stalin, ultimately leading to the collapse of the USSR and the emergence of modern kleptocracy under Vladimir Putin. These two models serve as foundational blueprints for studying how ideological fervor often transitions into bureaucratic oppression. Phil Deely grew up in Stockbridge Massachusetts and for his first eighteen years didn’t wander far from Route 7, attending Stockbridge Plain School, Berkshire Country Day School and Berkshire School. He grew more adventuresome, crossed the Hudson River to Geneva, New York, enrolled at Hobart College for a BA in European History and, then, continued westward to the University of Chicago for his MA. In the 1970’s and 1980’s Phil was a full time educator; Principal of Emma Willard School Troy, NY, Associate Head and Academic Dean Ethel Walker School Simsbury CT and History department chair Foxcroft School Middleburg, VA. In 1980 he was selected as a Klingenstein Fellow. Phil began teaching at Simon’s Rock Great Barrington MA and lectured at New York University. |
How To Write It So They Want To Read It |
Instructor: Elaine Taylor | At its most basic, a good story/novel/memoir involves a sympathetic character, engaged in a dramatic struggle (narrative arc), that results in the transformation of that character, be it subtle or significant (character arc). How difficult can it be to weave together the requisite elements? Damn difficult! Elaine Taylor is the author of Karma Deception and a Pair of Red Ferraris: A Memoir; and two suspense novels, Final Betrayal, and Final Consequence. Her short pieces and biz writing have been published in print and online media. She was interviewed — and Karma, reviewed—for various radio/podcasts, blogs, and book sites. In a more recent venture, her not-for-profit, The Grief Relief Project, offered Gutsy Guides to Grief for folks who struggle with the loss of their fave four-legged “kids”. And way back pre-Google, she was a tech headhunter for Fortune 500 companies in CA. |
The Trump Administration's Policy Toward Latin America: Never a Dull Moment in America |
Instructor: Martin Weinstein | Trump's tariff and immigration policies affect the whole world, but when you add his drug policy and use of the military, Latin America is in the bullseye. Venezuela is the most obvious example, but Cuba and Mexico will be under increasing pressure. Elections this year in Brazil, Colombia and Peru will be on Marco Rubio's to-do list. Martin Weinstein earned his Ph.D. at New York University and taught for many years in the Department of Political Science at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Weinstein, a frequent OLLI instructor, is the author of two volumes on Uruguay and numerous articles about Latin America. |
Patriotism: from Socrates to Springsteen |
Instructor: Tom Hodgson Note: Start date in November | What is the nature and worth of patriotism in a democracy, whether in the Athens of Socrates 2500 years ago, in the thirteen British colonies along the coast of North America 250 years ago, in the United States of America today? Join us to explore a variety of ways patriotism been understood and debated in democratic societies over time. Tom Hodgson holds
an MA from Yale. He has taught a wide variety of courses at Phillips
(Andover) Academy, Williams College, and OLLIs at Dartmouth and BCC. He
has played and coached multiple sports and currently coaches
squash at Williams. Tom lives on Mount Greylock with Susan, his partner
for over 50 years, and their two dogs, Penny and Sunshine. |
Shakespeare's Sonnets |
Instructor: Heidi Spear | Shakespeare’s sonnets become more riveting the longer we sit with them. Due to their brevity and form, each encapsulates aspects of what makes the bard’s work relevant even 400 years after they were written. During this course, we will read selected sonnets, each multiple times, unrushed, so we can experience their depth, with attention paid to the power of specific word choice and imagery that uncover what Shakespeare says about love, ephemerality, and death. We will also notice similarities between the sonnets and some of Shakespeare’s most-loved plays. So, let’s get together this fall to indulge in the language of Shakespeare and discover something that speaks to you. Suggested Readings:Folger Shakespeare Sonnets online Heidi Spear is an author, teacher, and workshop leader. She has a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from New York University where she wrote her thesis on Shakespeare and Nietzsche. She also earned a master’s degree in comparative literature with an emphasis in drama from Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), where she won a teaching award for her course on comedy in theater and film throughout the ages. During her undergraduate years at WashU, Heidi interned at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London (1995 – 1997) and won two departmental awards for her thesis on audiences of Shakespeare’s Globe. She has presented at prestigious academic conferences in the United States and in England, and she has been a guest speaker at Shakespeare festivals and film screenings. Trained as a yoga and meditation teacher since 2008, Heidi is grateful to have studied and worked with renowned teachers in their fields. She has published books on wellness with Simon & Schuster that have sold over 100,000 copies. Currently, Heidi is writing her next book and leading workshops online and in person. Her favorite seasons are the cozy ones. www.HeidiSpear.com |
Predicting the 2026 Midterm Elections |
Instructor: John Griffith Note: Late Start Date | In this course, we will explore the methods used to generate estimated vote shares from polling data. Using publicly available polling and election data, we will develop a simple model to estimate baseline expected vote shares for selected 2026 U.S. Senate races. We will then weekly examine and compare several approaches for updating these estimates as new polling data become available. Tools will be available for students to create their own polling estimates. The course will emphasize practical applications of statistical reasoning and modeling. John L. Griffith, PhD, has taught mathematics and statistics to undergraduate and graduate students for more than 40 years. He founded and directed the Biostatistics Research Center at Tufts Medical Center and later served as a Portal Director for the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Associate Dean for Research at Northeastern University, Statistical Director for the Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center, Statistical Director for the Tufts General Clinical Research Center, and Biostatistics Core Leader for the University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Population Health. His research has focused on predictive modeling and clinical decision-making, and he was a member of the team that developed some of the earliest clinical prediction models. He also held a patent for a "Diagnostic Tool Using a Predictive Instrument." Dr. Griffith earned a Master of Science degree from Tufts University and a PhD in Mathematics from Boston University. |
Forbidden Literature: Exploring Contemporary Book Bans and Challenges |
Instructor: Anne Stuart | Why do books get banned — and why does it matter? At a time where book challenges have reached record highs in the United States, this course explores the complex battle over access to published works. We’ll explore the history of literary censorship and the topics most likely to prompt challenges today. The instructor will provide a list of books to be discussed. Participants don’t need to read (or re-read) the books, but will find it helpful to know what each book is about and why it’s controversial. Some excerpts will be provided for class discussion. Suggested Readings:
Anne Stuart is a writer, editor, teacher, and storyteller. She recently retired after a long career as a journalist and communications professional, most recently at MIT. Previously, she was a senior editorial staffer for Inc. and Harvard Magazine, among others. Earlier, she was a reporter, feature writer, and columnist for several daily newspapers and The Associated Press. She’s an adjunct professor of communication at Regis College and taught in other Boston-area colleges and adult-ed programs. She received an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University and a double B.A. in American literature and journalism from Michigan State. |
United States Environmental Law: Its Historic Past, Its Uncertain Future |
Instructor: Phil McKnight | United States Environmental Law: Its Historic Past, Its Uncertain Future Taught from the perspective of an experienced trial attorney, this course will examine the role environmental law plays in the United States today in light of how that role has developed during the nearly sixty years since the modern era of environmental law began. We will also consider the reasons why the law's early application in the first half of the 20th century almost exclusively to the conservation and preservation of natural resources took on in the second half a markedly different approach, one emphasizing pollution control and all but ignoring resource conservation. Philip R. McKnight, Esq., J.D. (Williams '65, The University of Chicago Law School ’68), is a trial and appellate attorney. At Williams he completed the honors program for both American History and Literature and European History. He earned his law degree from The University of Chicago Law School and then practiced in the state and federal courts of New York and Connecticut, as well as in Europe. He is a frequent OLLI lecturer on the subjects of environmental law and environmental history, Shakespeare and the Law and The Role of the Law in American Democracy. |
Poems That Might Be Great |
Instructor: Don Barkin | We’ll read some of the most famous poems in English and take a stab at what “great” means. The idea is not to make a list or a set of criteria of greatness. Rather, it is to notice which poems make us call out, “That is great poem,” and to notice why. Our poets will include Milton, Shelley, Dickinson, Frost, Bishop, and Stevens. Don Barkin has degrees from Harvard College and Cambridge University. He has taught seminars for a number of years at Yale and Wesleyan and has published four books of poetry. He was a newspaper reporter and a schoolteacher. He’s taught a number of courses for OLLI. |
The Titans of Straight Ahead Jazz 1940's to 1960's |
Instructor: Peter Levine | Rather than concentrating on the music only, we will be discussing the primary exponents of the five sub genres, Bebop, Cool, Hard Bop, Post Bop and Soul Jazz. This is a course to learn about the primary players of these sub-genres, their cohort and their ground breaking contributions to this American art form. Peter Levine is currently the host of Thursday Morning Jazz on WWUH FM in West Hartford, CT, where he is also the station’s Program Director. He is also the host of Jazz Straight Up on WAPJ FM in Torrington, CT, producing a total of five hours weekly of jazz programming. His radio “career” started in 1966, first at Georgia State College and then at Georgia Tech where its station was in its building stage. |
AI Ethics |
Instructor: Larry Goldberg Location: In-person at BCC |
AI is taking over. Experts are divided over if AI is the best thing ever or if it will kill us all! Will the good AI does outweigh the evil it might do? Should it be regulated? Can history teach us anything? Plastics, pesticides and burning fossil fuels all seemed like good ideas at first... We will examine in this introductory class some AI trouble spots/ethical issues like bias against women, minorities and the old, self-driving cars and the tolly problem, transparency, and the question of if governments and big companies are just going to use AI to increase their control and power and profits.
Larry Goldberg has degrees from the University of Rochester, the University of Miami and he spent a year at the University of London King's College. He has taught philosophy at BCC, SVC and MCLA. He owned and operated a computer store in Williamstown and has programed and repaired computers. He designed and built one of the first solar houses in Berkshire County in 1981. For fun he paints, does photography, breeds African cichlids and plecos, grows orchids and bromeliads and plays pickleball. |
Writing A 'Legacy Letter' |
Instructor: Jay Sherwin Note:
| A legacy letter (also called an “ethical will”) is a written document that allows you to share your life lessons, express your values and transmit your blessings to future generations. A legacy letter is shorter than a memoir, typically just a few pages. Writing one is a rewarding experience that creates an enduring gift for family and friends. This four-session online course includes discussion and brief writing exercises to help you examine your life history, explore your values and capture important insights. It offers advice, encouragement and a model structure to help you draft and complete your own legacy letter. Jay Sherwin has practiced law, given away money for five different charitable foundations and served as a hospital chaplain. In 2019, he created the Life Reflections Project to educate people about legacy letters, ethical wills and other legacy documents. Jay has extensive experience facilitating online adult learning programs and he has taught this course for OLLI programs nationwide. |
From First to Final Draft
Instructor: Lou-Ellen Barkan Note:
|
We all have stories to share, including that one special story we've been meaning to get down on paper. The funny, poignant, clever story we love to tell our friends, families and colleagues. But what makes a great story?
Whether fiction or non-fiction, whether comedy or drama, we all love
great characters and a strong plot. In this workshop, participants will
use the art and craft of storytelling to write their special stories -- from first to final draft. They will share and gently critique each other's work and, at the last session, explore opportunities for publication. The world is waiting for our stories. Let's start here!
Lou-Ellen Barkan retired after careers on Wall Street, in NYC government and, most recently as a not-for-profit CEO. Today, she teaches creative writing, runs a writer's group, and writes for her own pleasure and, hopefully, for others. Her work has appeared in, among others, Lowestoft Chronicle, Clever Magazine, Penumbra, Round Table Magazine, The Stockholm Journal of Literature, Red Rose Thorns, and Defenestration. A sample of her work can be found at https://www.clippings.me/users/lebarkan |
Notable Supreme Court Decisions of 2026 |
Instructor: Doug Wilkins | This year, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed tariffs, birthright citizenship, presidential authority, voting rights, free speech, digital searches and gun rights. Did the justices honestly try to determine what the constitution, precedent and facts require? Or do their decisions just reflect the majority’s policy preferences or partisan behavior? As one justice says, to answer these questions, we must “read the decision.” Doug Wilkins recently retired as a judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he served from 2010 to 2023. In retirement, he has taught classes on the Supreme Court decisions of 2023, 2024 and 2025. From 1983 to 1999, he held various positions with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, where he argued more than 80 appeals at all levels of the state and federal courts, including numerous briefs and one argument in the U.S. Supreme Court. After receiving his J.D. in 1978, Wilkins clerked in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, was an associate in the Boston law firm of Palmer & Dodge and, in the 2000's, became a partner at the Cambridge law firm of Anderson & Kreiger LLP. |
Indigenous Movie Making |
Instructor: Nancy Bonvillain | This course focuses on the ways that Indigenous filmmakers (directors and writers) explore Indigenous lives, voices, and narratives. We will consider questions such as: How are Indigenous peoples portrayed? From whose points of view are the stories told? Whose voices dominate the film's narrative and perspective? We will view films from Indigenous filmmakers from many countries and continents, including Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Native North and South America, India, and Asia. Nancy Bonvillain is Professor Emerita in anthropology and linguistics at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Her research focuses on Native American languages, especially Mohawk, and their community work with language maintenance and reawakening programs. In particular, she has worked with language programs at the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation in Canada. Her research also focuses on Indigenous rights movements globally. She has written four textbooks in anthropology, language and culture, gender studies, and Native American studies and is the author of 20 separate ethnographies of Indigenous societies. |
Hiking in North County
Facilitators: Wendy Donovan and Barry Weitzner 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29 Location: Various | We will hike Mt. Greylock, Mohawk Trail and various Northern Berkshire locations. Moderate difficulty, approximately 500 ft. in elevation gain, and 2-3 hours in length. Barry Weitzner is an experienced hiker, mountaineer and fly fisherman. He is passionate about outdoor education to help others grow and have and enjoyable wilderness experiences. |
Artist Frederic Church at 200: America's Landscape Master |
Instructor: Ralph Pearson | Frederic Edwin Church was one of the greatest artists in the history of the United States and among the world’s foremost landscape painters. Church is associated with the Hudson River School, and he is renowned for aesthetic innovation and contact with the natural world. No other American artist in the nineteenth century achieved his level of fame. Church’s vision took him from working with paint and canvas in the studio to traveling the world to creating his home of Olana, a masterwork of architecture and landscape design. Ralph Pearson has frequently led OLLI classes about eighteenth and nineteenth century painting, with emphasis on North American landscapes. He has retraced portions of Frederic Church's journeys to the Andes of Ecuador and elsewhere. Retired from a career of innkeeping and leading tours worldwide, he continues to travel widely, often with landscape art collections and Church's masterpieces as destinations. B.A. Buffalo, M.P.S. Cornell |
Bicycling the Rail Trails
Facilitators: Larry Bennett Note - early start date | Riding on rail-trails is a great way to bicycle away from vehicle traffic. We will do five rides on three rail-trails over a six-week period (allowing one week for potential rain cancellation.) These are no-rider-left-behind outings that will often split into two groups with one 10 - 12 mile route and another 15 - 20 mile route. The emphasis is for everyone to have a safe, relaxed ride regardless of their past bicycling experience. There will be four class leaders: Larry Bennett, Michael Hohn, Laurie Martinelli, and Dane Silcox. We will have a leader and a sweep for both the fast(ish) group and slow(ish) groups. The four leaders have decades of riding experience plus some basic bike mechanical experience. |
Music in the Decades Surrounding the American Revolution |
Instructor: Ken Stark Please note: no class on 10/8 | In the decades surrounding the American Revolution, music was often shaped by a mix of European influences, religious practices, and emerging local styles, with most performance taking place in small- scale, community-based settings. Ken Stark is the Chair of the Board of Directors of 18 Degrees and on the Advisory Committee of Kids4Harmony. He previously served on the Boards of the Berkshire Bach Society and Berkshire Theatre Group. He is a former professor at the City College of New York and School Psychologist for the New York City Department of Education. |
“Trouble is My Business”: The Detective in Fiction and Film
Facilitator: James Mancall Please note: no class on 10/15 | What is the detective story? What does it do? Is it, as Edmund Wilson wrote, “simply a kind of vice that, for silliness and minor harmfulness, ranks somewhere between smoking and crossword puzzles?” Or is it, as W.H. Auden argued, a ritualized myth of the Fall and redemption? In order to answer these questions, this course will examine two iconic works in the genre: Agatha Christie’s first Poirot novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) and Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930). These two novels popularized two very different subgenres within detective fiction, the “cozy” British mystery and the hardboiled American mystery. But, as we shall see, the two subgenres may have more in common than we might initially expect. Finally, we will end the course by watching two episodes of Pokerface, a contemporary revision of the mystery-of-the-week television genre popular in the 1970s and 80s. Suggested Readings:
James Mancall is the author of James Ellroy: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction, as well as a forthcoming book on Elmore Leonard. He holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from New York University and currently serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement at Berkshire Community College. |
Conversations with Local Historians |
Instructor: John Dickson 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30 Location: Hybrid - Online and In-person at BCC Limit: 25 on-person only | Berkshire County has a rich and varied history. Each town has its own origin and development story. We are fortunate that each town has residents interested in preserving and sharing the history of the town. This class continues the exploration of Berkshire towns through conversations with their historians. We hope to examine Otis, Dalton, Ashford, Hancock, Williamstown and Pittsfield. John Dickson served 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments in Nigeria, South Africa, Peru, Mexico and Canada, as well as in Washington DC. He is active in local history projects in Pittsfield while continuing international work through two Peace Corps alumni organizations: Encore de la Paix and the Peace Corps Community for Refugees. He holds degrees in history from Princeton University and the University of Massachusetts. His book, History Shock: When History Collides with Foreign Relations, was published in 2021. |
Old Growth Forests |
Instructors: Amy Whitworth and Katherine Kidd | This six-session course will include three classroom sessions and three sessions in the field. In the first two classes, participants will learn about the Old Growth Forest Network, the importance of old growth trees and their ecosystems, and the characteristics of old growth forests, especially those in New England. Amy Whitworth is a frequent OLLI instructor of both philosophy, ecology, and hiking courses. She has been learning about old growth forests for five years including exploring old growth forests across the US, leading old growth forest hiking courses in the Berkshires and taking classes focused on these special ecosystems. |
African Rooted Dance
Instructor: Noel Staples Freeman NOTE: This location has stairs leading to the studio. | This course offers a welcoming space for active older adults to explore the foundational rhythms and movements of African-rooted dance. NOTE: This location has stairs leading to the studio. Grounded in lineage and community, Noel Staples-Freeman is a cultural bearer, choreographer, and teaching artist whose work sustains African and African Diaspora dance as living traditions. She is the Artistic Director of Uprising Dance Theatre and the Berkshire African Dance & Drum Collective (BADD), offering intergenerational classes, workshops, and performances throughout the Berkshires. |
The Iliad |
Instructor: Richard Matturro | “Every notion of progress is refuted by the existence of the Iliad.” So said Italian writer Roberto Calasso of the work that stands at the dawn of Western civilization. The Trojan War has become the archetype for all wars, and the Iliad, a story of love, rage, grief, and a matchless city on the verge of destruction, is a tragedy as familiar today as it was 30 centuries ago. This will be a discussion class in which we will read and consider the epic in detail and also the distinctiveness of its composition. Suggested Readings:
The Robert Fagles translation of the Iliad (Viking/Penguin, 1990) will be used by the instructor in class, but feel free to read any modern translation. Among the many good ones, there are now two by women, Caroline Alexander and Emily Wilson. (Try to avoid translations prior to the 20th century.) Richard Matturro, a native of Rye, New York, holds a doctorate in English with a specialization in Shakespeare and Greek Mythology. After sixteen years at the Albany Times Union, he taught literature at UAlbany for fourteen years. He is the author of numerous newspaper articles, short stories, and eight novels. |
Practical Self Defense |
Instructor: Laycolaion Freeman NOTE: This location has stairs leading to the studio. | In Practical Self-Defense, you will gain knowledge and skills to stay safe and confident in any situation. This course is specifically designed for active older adults and focuses on practical, easy-to-learn self-defense techniques tailored to your unique abilities and needs. Laycolaion Freeman’s impressive background and experience in martial arts and boxing make him an accomplished and knowledgeable instructor. His achievements, such as competing in the Junior Olympics at a young age and winning the Massachusetts Golden Gloves at 15, demonstrate his exceptional skills and dedication to the sport. Earning a second-degree black belt in Kempo further showcases his commitment to martial arts. |
Science Conversations |
Facilitator: Hank Gold 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30 Location: Online | Join
us to discuss science news appearing in the Tuesday “Science Times”
section of the New York Times, plus magazines and journals. The
moderator for the sessions will encourage a vigorous give-and-take.
Student suggestions for discussion topics and additional readings are
welcomed. |
Nature Walks in the Berkshires |
Instructor: Bess Dillman | This is an outdoor class meeting for 1.5 hours at various Berkshire properties that have accessible or easy trails. I will talk about what we see, including the flora, fauna, and natural and cultural history. The trails may include some rocks and roots and small changes in elevation. Each class will be at a different venue and have a different focus. Learn about the features in the forest and meadows along the trails. In her former life, Bess Dillman ran a small creative advertising agency and founded, published, and edited a magazine here in the Berkshires. She is now retired and a certified Appalachian Mountain Club hiking leader, guiding hikes in all parts of the Berkshires since 2007. Over the years, Bess has led more than 400 hikes. She has hiked in many parts of the country and the world and loves to share her passion for nature and the trail! |
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Please note that you must be an OLLI at BCC member and have created a login account to register for classes online. How to create a login account. You can register by phone from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Eastern at 413.236.2190.
OLLI: the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems
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