Berkshire OLLI upcoming events

On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning (Saturday, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

On the Verge,
or the Geography of Yearning
by Eric Overmyer

A Play Reading by the OLLI Players
under the direction of Jeannie Marlin Woods

Two shows!

Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA

On the Verge is the story of three fiercely independent lady explorers who set out from America in 1888 in search of the farthest, most unknown spot on the globe, terra incognita. As their vocabulary begins to change and as they find arcane objects in their path, they realize that they have stumbled into a time warp. On the Verge has been described as a “heady comedy [that] is a fountain of language—alliterative, assonant, hyperbolic and onomatopoetic. The vertiginous Victorian adventure sends three prototypical women explorers through the African ice cap and Arctic desert of the author’s global imagination.”

The cast includes: Karen Erickson, Amanda Schenker, Lisken Van Pelt Dus, Adrian Alcala, Stephen Goodman, and Dan Woods.

Free and open to all, but pre-registration is requested.

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This event is supported through the generous philanthropy of Nancy and Michael Vale, whose bequest established the Michael and Nancy Vale Performing Arts Fund at OLLI at Berkshire Community College. This endowed fund supports theater-based OLLI programming.

On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning (Sunday, May 03, 2026)

Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

On the Verge,
or the Geography of Yearning
by Eric Overmyer

A Play Reading by the OLLI Players
under the direction of Jeannie Marlin Woods

Two shows!

Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA

The cast includes: Karen Erickson, Amanda Schenker, Lisken Van Pelt Dus, Adrian Alcala, Stephen Goodman, and Dan Woods.

Free and open to all, but pre-registration is requested.

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OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - The High Road, Lenox Reservoir Road to Lenox Mountain Summit (Wednesday, May 06, 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m.
The High Road, Lenox Reservoir Road to Lenox Mountain Summit

The High Road crosses Lenox Reservoir Road where hikers can park and the trail north to Lenox Mountain begins. The trail crosses land managed by Lenox Water Company, BNRC, and Mass Audubon illustrating the many partnerships that undergird The High Road. Starting on a logging road that crosses several streams, the trail turns north and begins a gentle rise up Lenox Mountain along Yokun Ridge through a rich mix of both deciduous and coniferous groves. The last section of the trail is short but steep and eroded. The western view at the top of Lenox Mountain includes Richmond Pond, Pittsfield, and Hancock, including Hancock Shaker Village and Berkshire Community College. If the weather cooperates, the apple trees in Bartlett’s Orchard will be in bloom to enhance the view and to perfume the air at the summit.

You can find more information on The High Road here https://www.bnrc.org/the-high-road

Directions to the trail head: From the North, take West Mountain Road past Pleasant Valley Audubon Sanctuary. Reservoir Road is the first road on the right south of Pleasant Valley. From the South, take Cliffwood Road in Lenox which becomes Reservoir. At the intersection with West Mountain Road ignore the Road Closed sign. The road is open to the parking lot where the hike will begin.

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this spring. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

All hikes are on Wednesdays and begin at 9:30 a.m. We strongly recommend using hiking poles. If you don’t have them, we can provide poles for the hike. Good hiking shoes are essential. If we need to cancel the hike due to rain, we will notify participants by email by 7:00 a.m. the day of the hike.

Registration will open on Tuesday, April 21 at 9 a.m.

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Attendees will need to able to walk on uneven ground for short distances, have waterproof boots for the wetlands, binoculars (or borrow from BCC), and a phone to download free birding apps - Merlin and eBird link.

Tom Tyning has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previous he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. He also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School (Amphibian Biology, Ornithology, Field Entomology, Reptile Biology), at Springfield College (Ornithology), and MCLA (Botany).

For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. An avid observer of New England natural history his main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, part of the Stokes Nature Series, A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co.

A member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal, Herpetological Review. He is past president of two local bird clubs, and the Massachusetts Butterfly Club.

Throughout the year he conducts various short and long-term field research projects on vernal pools, rare salamanders, Berkshire butterfly populations, and endangered snake species in Western Massachusetts. He was instrumental in jump-starting the installation of Salamander Tunnels in Amherst (MA) and the Massachusetts Herpetological Atlas through Mass Audubon. Tom received both his BS (Wildlife Biology) and MS (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), where he focused on the biology and conservation of the timber rattlesnake.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Engaging With Bach and his St. Matthew Passion (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:

Engaging With Bach and his St. Matthew Passion
with Jack Brown, artistic director of Berkshire Lyric

Wednesday, May 13 at 9:30 a.m. ET

In-person at Berkshire Community College and
Online via Zoom

World of Nature: Costa Rica Tour Information Session (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC presents:

World of Nature: Costa Rica Tour
Information Session

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Free and Open to the Public
Online via Zoom

OLLI at BCC is going to Costa Rica in February 2027!

You're Invited! Join us on this virtual Zoom call to learn more about the Costa Rica: World of Nature tour with Collette!

Come learn more and bring your questions!

OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems

"Melville in the Berkshires" book talk with John Dickson (Saturday, May 16, 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Join John Dickson for an author talk:

Herman Melville in the Berkshires

Saturday May 16, 2026
4:00 p.m. ET
In-person at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead

780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA

Free and open to the public.

The Berkshires have long attracted artists and writers, drawn to the mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes of Western Massachusetts. Herman Melville first came here as a young boy and was so inspired by the surroundings that he returned to live here for thirteen years during one of the most productive writing periods of his life. He finished his masterpiece, Moby-Dick, in his first year here, seated in his study with a view of Mount Greylock. “His first love,” is the way his cousin described his relationship to his adopted home. He wandered on foot and horseback to all corners of the county, tapping into the Berkshires in his art. The places he explored are sprinkled through the pages in his stories. Herman Melville in the Berkshires reveals the connections between Melville’s writing and the beauty of the landscape that inspired him.

About John Dickson

John Dickson serves as Chair of the Pittsfield Historical Commission and is a board member of the Berkshire County Historical Society. He has authored a local history book, Berkshire County’s Industrial Heritage, on the 19^th century mills in this corner of Massachusetts. He received a master's degree in public history having completed a thesis on the Berkshire Athenaeum.

This program is co-sponsored by:

Arrowhead is also offering a whole day of free programming on May 16, celebrating the opening of their season. Learn more here!

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

OLLI at BCC Welcome Back Cocktail Party and Auction (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

You are invited
to an Online Auction
and In-person Celebration

Supporting Lifelong Learning in the Berkshires

Let's Celebrate Together!

Online Auction

View the Online Auction and Register to Bid

Don’t miss your chance to bid on one-of-a-kind art, unique experiences, performances and behind-the-scenes opportunities.

Bidding Opens May 1 and closes May 19
Over 50 lots!

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Celebrate your Winnings

Tuesday, May 19
5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Ventfort Hall, Lenox

Enjoy heavy hors d'ouvres, open bar with wine and beer, live music, and a bonus silent auction in a spectacular setting.
$75 per person.

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Thanks to support from our generous donors and sponsors, all funds raised through the benefit auction and party will go directly to OLLI at BCC.

2026 OLLI Annual Meeting (Thursday, May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC Annual Meeting
and Ice Cream Social

Thursday, May 21 at 2 :00 p.m. ET

In-person at Berkshire Community College

and Online via Zoom

Free & open to all

The OLLI Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to meet the OLLI Board, learn more about how OLLI works and our plans for the next year.

Hybrid with an in-person meeting at BCC and online via Zoom. (approx. 30 min.)
Elections online in advance of the meeting. All members will receive a link to vote.
Stay for a fun and festive celebration with an ice cream sundae bar featuring Highlawn Farm ice cream!

Come, have a treat, and visit with some OLLI friends!

The party is on us, but please RSVP so we know how many people to plan for!

The 2026 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture: Dana Bash (Saturday, May 23, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

2026 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture
featuring

Dana Bash
Saturday, May 23, 5:00 p.m.
at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, is honored to present Dana Bash as our 2026 Mona Sherman Memorial speaker. Bash will be interviewed by Lisa Sharkey.

Ticket information:

Register directly through the Mahaiwe.

Tickets are now available directly through the Mahaiwe.
April 28 - May 4, tickets are available to Mahaiwe members only. If tickets are still available, registration open to the public on Wednesday, May 6 at noon.

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Dana Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent, anchor of Inside Politics with Dana Bash and co-anchor of State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the network’s Sunday morning newsmaker show. Bash is an award-winning journalist who plays a key role in the network’s political coverage, conducting high-profile interviews with candidates, serving as an anchor for CNN’s Election Night in America special coverage and frequently moderating presidential debates and town hall specials.

Bash’s first book America’s Deadliest Election, which she co-authored with David Fisher, details the 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election. It debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2021, Bash launched her CNN series, Being…, which features in-depth conversations with individuals affecting American policy, politics, and culture, giving viewers an understanding of the human being behind the public face. Her digital CNN series, Badass Women of Washington, profiles women from various backgrounds and generations to show how they have shattered glass ceilings on their way up the ranks. Her CNN Special Report Rising Hate: Antisemitism in America is an in-depth look at how antisemitism, once the hate of extremists, became mainstream and explores ways to curb it.

Bash won the Radio and Television Correspondents Association’s Joan S. Barone Award for her original reporting on a STOCK Act loophole that led Congress to pass legislation to close it. She is also a winner of the National Press Foundation’s Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and a three-time recipient of the Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress.

Bash graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in political communications from The George Washington University.

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A creative pioneer across multiple media platforms, Lisa Sharkey has overseen the acquisition and publication of more than one hundred New York Times Bestsellers, including multiple at number one.

She is senior vice president and publisher of Harper Influence, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Authors she’s published include Former Israeli Hostage Eli Sharabi, journalist Jim Acosta, former NFL football player Tim Tebow, Congressman Jamie Raskin, skier Lindsey Vonn, former Yankee Jorge Posada, gymnast Jordan Chiles, supermodel Christie Brinkley, journalist Chris Whipple and His Majesty King Charles.

At HarperCollins Sharkey created a robust video and livestreaming division with tens of millions of views of book-related content.

Lisa is also a veteran interviewer, moderator, and speaker on various topics from book publishing to transferable skills in the media landscape and has written for top magazines such as Redbook, and Parents.

Prior to her publishing career Sharkey was President of Al Roker Entertainment, Senior Producer of Good Morning America and worked at various network news organizations from CBS to PBS and KingWorld.

A two-time Emmy Award winner Sharkey is also the recipient of Peabody and Dupont Awards for her work as part of the ABC News team during 9/11.

Sharkey co-authored, with her late husband, architect Paul Gleicher, the book Dreaming Green: Eco-Fabulous Homes Designed to Inspire published in 2008 by Clarkson Potter.

In 2024, Sharkey, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Arts and Sciences at her alma mater Washington University in St. Louis.

Sharkey also spearheads the annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in honor of her late mother, which brings high profile speakers to the Berkshires at no cost to the community each Memorial Day weekend.

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This lecture will be recorded and available on the OLLI at BCC YouTube channel in early June.

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About Mona Sherman

The annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture was established to honor the memory of the late Mona Sherman, a dynamic businesswoman and volunteer leader who played a transformative role in the growth and expansion of OLLI at BCC. The lecture series, established through the generosity of her family and friends, honors both her love of the Berkshires community and of lifelong learning.

For over a decade, the Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture series has featured extraordinary nationally known writers and commentators: past speakers have included Chris Whipple, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Ari Melber, Cokie Roberts, Jim Acosta, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Klein, Katy Tur and others. The lectures have always been free and open to the public.

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, provides educational, social, and volunteer opportunities designed especially by and for people fifty years old and better, online and in-person throughout the Berkshires and beyond.

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We are grateful to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center for being our co-presenter, to Berkshire Gas for being our lead sponsor, Berkshire Health Systems for their sponsorship of OLLI at BCC, and to the many friends and family of Mona Sherman for their continuing support.

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - Three Mile Hill, Great Barrington (Wednesday, May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, May 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Three Mile Hill, Great Barrington

The Three Mile Hill hike is easy to moderate. The trail parallels Route 7 north of the center of Great Barrington. The trail includes forest, wetlands and meadows. The hike will include the extension to the south of Fountain Pond. We will hike the trail one way and carpool back to the south end trailhead on Crissey Road.

Learn more about the trail including directions at https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/threemile-hill-chp-loop

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this spring. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Registration will open on Monday, May 11 at 9 a.m.

Mass MoCA Building Tour (Wednesday, May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Mass MoCA Building Tour
with Nancy Seasholes

Wednesday, May 27
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

In-person only

Here's a chance to find out about the MASS MoCA buildings themselves -- when were they built? by whom? why? who has occupied them? how have these occupants used the buildings? This walking tour will address these and other questions in an exploration of present MASS MoCA buildings.

The tour is on one level, but participants will need to walk and stand for the two hour tour. Small stools are available to borrow from the museum.

Nancy S. Seasholes is an historian of Boston whose books include Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston, Walking Tours of Boston's Made Land, and The Atlas of Boston History. She has taught at Harvard Extension and conducted numerous walking tours of Boston. She moved to Williamstown in 2018 and has since researched and developed this tour about the history of the MASS MoCA buildings.

Cost: $15 for OLLI at BCC members with a Mass MOCA membership*, $37 for OLLI at BCC members who need an entrance ticket.

Sign up today!

*Don't forget your membership card!

No refunds unless your space is filled from a waiting list

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Will the Real Norman Rockwell Please Stand Up! (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Will the Real Norman Rockwell Please Stand Up!

1. Puppy Love (1926) - Humorist?
2. Rosie the Riveter (1943) - Social Activist?
3. Man's First Step on the Moon (1967) - Idealist?

Thursday, May 28 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College and
Friday, May 29 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
at the Norman Rockwell Museum
In-person only

Idealist? Humorist? Social Activist? Will the real Norman Rockwell please stand up! His artwork spanning 1913 to 1976 captures the evolution of American life unfolding during the 20^th century.

During our Thursday classroom presentation (2 consecutive 90 minute sessions), as students view the paintings of Rockwell over the course of his life, students will vote on which they view as the real Norman Rockwell.

In the second session, students will meet at and visit the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge to view his paintings and studio.

Thursday, May 28: Norman Rockwell art and its significance in the context of evolving American culture. (Bring lunch for break between the two consecutive sessions.)

Friday, May 29: Field trip to Stockbridge to view his paintings and studio.

10:00 a.m. Arrive at museum
10:30 a.m. Art tour by museum docent
12:00 p.m. Studio tour by museum docent
1:00 p.m. Lunch in café (Bring your own lunch and beverages or purchase at café.)

Skip Doyle is a lifelong educator in a variety of subjects. He teaches courses in art, literature, spirituality, business, and outdoor skills. Among a score of course titles, his most recent offerings include: The Hudson River School of art, American Nature Writers & Poets, Torah for Christians, Project Management, and Sailing Fundamentals. Skip Doyle is widely published in magazines and newspapers. His most recent book, The Long Path Journal & Guide describes his 350-mile hike through the backcountry of the Hudson River Valley.

Cost: $40 for OLLI at BCC members
$50 for non-members

Price includes ticket and guided tour of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Book Launch and Author Talk with OLLI Instructor Richard Matturro: Myskania (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Join OLLI Instructor Richard Matturro
for an author talk and the launch of his new novel:
Myskania

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
In-person at BCC
Free and open to the public, reception with light refreshments to follow.

Lil Chronis, a 44-year-old history professor with a distinguished career, is facing dismissal from the university after a complaint from a student that Dr. Chronis, during a conference over a term paper, claimed to have been present — physically present — at the Trojan War. The job of supporting her in the complicated disciplinary procedure for removing a tenured faculty member falls to a colleague, Bailey, who barely knows her and accepts the role of union representative reluctantly. Lil’s bizarre account of having been a girl named Myskania, who was born in Troy and lived through the 10-year siege, at first leads Bailey to think she is crazy, but her otherwise rationality and intelligence, not to say friendliness and wit, induce him to listen to her story, which is interwoven with the main narrative. The more he hears, the more fascinated he becomes with her, even as he realizes that his own good judgment is being eroded.

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 and fourteen years teaching literature at UAlbany, he now lives on an old farm in the foothills of the Berkshires. He is the author of numerous newspaper articles and short stories and is a frequent OLLI instructor. Myskania is his eighth novel.

The paperback edition is out now and will be available for purchase and signing after the talk!

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

In this three week workshop, Life Coach Janet Forest will lead you through exercises in self-reflection, group conversation, and goal setting, so you can start taking small action steps. Each session will provide accountability and support as participants practice self-honesty and open their hearts and minds to new possibilities they have never considered. At the end of the three weeks, each person will have a customized toolkit to create new habits and routines, so they can settle into their new life.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Janet Forest is a Certified Professional Life Coach and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. She specializes in working with seasoned professionals who want to leverage their experience to find a career with meaning and impact and recent retirees who need support and accountability to settle into their next chapter. Janet is also the Director of the Dalton Free Public Library. She lives in Dalton, MA with her husband Andrew and her entitled Tibet Spaniel Dawa.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

Will the Real Norman Rockwell Please Stand Up! (Friday, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Will the Real Norman Rockwell Please Stand Up!

1. Puppy Love (1926) - Humorist?
2. Rosie the Riveter (1943) - Social Activist?
3. Man's First Step on the Moon (1967) - Idealist?

Thursday, May 28 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College and
Friday, May 29 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
at the Norman Rockwell Museum
In-person only

Idealist? Humorist? Social Activist? Will the real Norman Rockwell please stand up! His artwork spanning 1913 to 1976 captures the evolution of American life unfolding during the 20^th century.

In the second session, students will meet at and visit the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge to view his paintings and studio.

Thursday, May 28: Norman Rockwell art and its significance in the context of evolving American culture. (Bring lunch for break between the two consecutive sessions.)

Friday, May 29: Field trip to Stockbridge to view his paintings and studio.

10:00 a.m. Arrive at museum
10:30 a.m. Art tour by museum docent
12:00 p.m. Studio tour by museum docent
1:00 p.m. Lunch in café (Bring your own lunch and beverages or purchase at café.)

Cost: $40 for OLLI at BCC members
$50 for non-members

Price includes ticket and guided tour of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

2026 Art Exhibition Registration and Payment (Monday, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Call for Artists!

Submit your artwork for the June 2026
OLLI Member Exhibition

Where: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA
What: Multi-media exhibition
Submission deadline: April 3, 2026

2026 OLLI Art Exhibition Entry Form

Fee: $25 per artist
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Thank you to the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts for generously hosting this event.
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Questions? Email the OLLI office at olli@berkshirecc.edu

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Ornamental Alternatives Gardening Workshop (Tuesday, June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Ornamental Alternatives:
Replacing Invasives with Beautiful
Natives that Restore a Healthy Home Landscape
with Chris Ferrero

June 2 and 3, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Hybrid: Online and in-person at Berkshire Community College

Official invasive plant lists have unmasked the "bad actors" in home landscapes, but some of these culprits are beloved for their blooms, shade performance or fall foliage. This program highlights common trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials from MA's "prohibited" lists, and offers native alternatives with superior flowers, fragrance, fruits & fall color, plus value to pollinators and birds.

Chris Ferrero trained as a Cornell Master Gardener in New York where she led demonstration garden teams, plant propagation workshops, and alternatives-to-invasives work groups. She regularly consults on challenges like shade gardening, deer deterrence, and pollinator gardening with native perennials and flowering shrubs, and her 20 talks keep her busy speaking to garden clubs and master gardener symposiums. Formerly a corporate marketing director, she has retired to Stockbridge, MA near the Berkshire Botanical Garden, where she serves on the faculty and also sits on the Horticulture Advisory Committee.

This lecture will be recorded and available for viewing at the convenience of registrants.

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $30
Non-members: $40

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Ornamental Alternatives Gardening Workshop (Wednesday, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Ornamental Alternatives:
Replacing Invasives with Beautiful
Natives that Restore a Healthy Home Landscape
with Chris Ferrero

June 2 and 3, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Hybrid: Online and in-person at Berkshire Community College

This lecture will be recorded and available for viewing at the convenience of registrants.

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $30
Non-members: $40

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Poetry Reading and Discussion with Ed Meek (Wednesday, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Poetry Reading and Discussion with Ed Meek

Wednesday, June 3 at 1 p.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College
Free and open to the public.

Ed Meek will read poems from his new book, Great Pond, talk about poetry, and share some of his favorite poems. People are invited to bring a favorite poem to read. Copies of Great Pond will be available for purchase.

Ed Meek is the author of five books of poetry and Luck, a collection of short stories. His most recent book of poems, Great Pond, has just come out. He also published a memoir this spring and a children’s book is due out this summer. Ed has had work in The Boston Globe, The Boston Review, The North American Review, The Paris Review, Plume, The Sun, and The Baltimore Review. He teaches at OLLI at BCC. He writes book reviews for The Arts Fuse.

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, June 05, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

2026 Art Exhibit Opening Reception (Saturday, June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The 2026 OLLI Art Exhibit

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield
June 3-26, 2026

Saturday, June 6, 2026
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Free for OLLI Members and Guests
Registration required.

We will also participate in First Fridays Arts Walk, and members of the public are very welcome to come see the exhibit on Friday, June 5; 5 - 8 p.m.!

The exhibit will be shown virtually after closing.

Questions? Email the OLLI office at olli@berkshirecc.edu

Artwork by Joanie Ciolfi

Summer One 2026 OLLI Term (Monday, June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

OLLI at Berkshire Community College

Summer One 2026 Term

June 8 - July 14, 2026

Online registration opens on May 5 at 9 a.m.

Our Summer One term runs June 8 - July 14, 2026, and includes a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid (online and in-person) courses. All classes take place in Eastern Time.

Summer One 2026 course descriptions can be found here.

Hiking classes are using a separate registration form. Register for hiking classes here.

Course cost:
$60 for one courses
$110 for 2 courses
$150 for 3 or more courses

To sign up for courses, you need to be an OLLI at BCC member. (Not a member yet? Join here.) Not sure which classes you want to take? Sign up for one or more Flexpasses, which allow you to attend six individual class sessions of your choice within a semester, as long as the class is not full. Click here to learn more about Flexpasses.

Note that our online courses are recorded, unless otherwise noted. If you cannot attend live, or if you miss a session or two, you can access that course's Padlet for the recording link and watch it at your convenience.

Questions? Contact us at olli@berkshirecc.edu or 413.236.2190. We look forward to hearing from you!

OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems

Hiking Classes - Summer One 2026 (Monday, June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Summer One Hiking in June!

Hiking is a very popular OLLI at BCC offering.

To enable more people to be able to participate, registration for hiking classes is done separately, through this event page.

All OLLI at BCC members can sign up for one hiking class.
Each class costs $60 and is a separate charge from Summer One 2026 course registrations.

Hiking Course Listings:

For full descriptions, click here.

Exploring Beaver Habitats
Instructors: Dan England, Wendy Donovan and Paula Hatch
Mondays
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Four Sessions - 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29
Limit: 12

Hiking Old Growth Forests
Instructor: Amy Whitworth
Thursdays
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Four Sessions - 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/2
Limit: 15

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - Thomas and Palmer Brook Trails, Great Barrington (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, June 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Thomas and Palmer Brook Trails, Great Barrington

The hike will include all three sections of trail in this BNRC reserve. The trail begins near a wetland and open meadow before entering the forest and ends at the unique rock formation called Whale Rock. By traversing these varied habitats, hikers may see some of the many birds that call this reserve home, early summer wildflowers, and an apple orchard. The trail is easy to moderate with some elevation gain in the last section to Whale Rock.

Learn more about the trail including directions at https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/thomas-palmer-brook

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this spring. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Registration will open on Tuesday, May 26 at 9 a.m.

Making Sense of Grape Scents (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:

Making Sense of Grape Scents

with Professor Cynthia Holland

Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom

Breath Workshop with Michelle Oram (Thursday, June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Vocal Breath Energy Clinic with Michelle Oram

Thursday, June 11
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only

Learn about the Healing Powers of the Voice and its ability to melt away physical and mental tension.

This workshop will explore vocal techniques and breath exercises to help you connect to your breath and sing for your health.

Yogi Complete Breath
Alternate Nostril Breathing
Vocal Breath
Breath and Meditation
Breath and Vibration
Rhythmic Breathing
Learn to integrate Eastern & Western approaches to singing.
Learn vocal exercises to help you improve your range.
Learn how to actively listen.
Learn how to “center yourself” and be in the NOW.
Most importantly –learn to sing for your health.

After graduating from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Michelle Oram explored breath-body mastery and integrated Eastern and Western approaches of Yoga, Tai-Chi, Alexander, and Bel-Canto techniques to help her get out of her head, into her heart and connect with the divine teacher within.

Michelle founded Stagestruck Performing Arts Center with numerous locations in NJ to help everyone discover the artist within. She developed art, dance, drama, musical theater, and vocal programs for thousands of students from ages three to adult. Because of the diversity in programs students were able to explore all their artistic possibilities. Many of her students have performed and directed on and off Broadway. Some are composers, vocal coaches, songwriters, artists, dancers, teachers, music therapists and yoga instructors, but all share one thing in common—the importance of music in their daily lives.

Because of her love of music Michelle has blessed to sing with some amazing big bands and jazz ensembles over the past 35 years and has also acted and directed in theaters throughout the East Coast. Her jazz band …and All That Jazz pays tribute to numerous styles of music—jazz, cabaret, blues, Broadway and pop —all with a unique twist.

Cost: $15 for OLLI at BCC members
$25 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, June 12, 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

OLLI and the Clock Tower Artist Event (Sunday, June 14, 2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

CLOCK TOWER CURIOUS?

Come to the Clock Tower and join OLLI and the Clock Tower Artists for a guided tour of Clock Tower Artist Studios by Monika Pizzichemi, director of Wit Gallery. There will be open studios, wine tasting, and hors d'ouvres.

Sunday, June 14
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tours at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Sign up for a time when you register.

Cost: $40 per person

Clock Tower Artists, 75 South Church St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Join us for an evening inside the working studios of Clock Tower Artists - Pittsfield's creative hub housed in the historic Clock Tower building. This is not a gallery opening or a typical art show. It's a chance to step inside the actual spaces where local artists paint, sculpt, build, and create and hear from the people doing the work.

The evening features guided studio tours led by Monika Pizzichemi, director of Wit Gallery, wine tasting by Nejaime’s, and hors d'oeuvres by Berkshire Culinary Group. Whether you're a longtime arts supporter or just curious about what goes on behind those studio doors, this evening is designed for you.

Tours will be led by the Wit Gallery, one of Berkshire’s most respected contemporary art galleries. The Wit Gallery has deep relationships with many of the Clock Tower artists and will guide guests through selected studios, providing context and conversation about the work on display.

Two tour slots are available at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sign up for your preferred time at checkout. Space in each tour group is limited.

Thank you to Nejaime's Wine Cellars and the Wit Gallery for your support and sponsorship for this event!

Jacob's Pillow in Lee: Exhibit Tour (Monday, June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:45:00 GMT

OLLI Special Events Committee presents:

Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Mass

Explore the relationship between Jacob's Pillow and the neighboring town of Lee from the early 1930s to today.

Monday, June 15 at 11:45 a.m.

In-person only, Scolforo Gallery, Lee Library
100 Main Street, Lee, MA

Private tour with Researcher and Curator Joshua D. Bloom
Limited to 20, if wait list, tour will repeat at 1:15 p.m.

Free and open to the public.

Optional lunch outing in Lee with participants.
If you're interested in joining us for lunch (on your own) following the tour, check the box when registering to reserve a place.

Event Chair: Pat White
Special Events Chair: Arline Breskin

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone. If the event is full, please join the waiting list.

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - Mt. Hunger at Konkapot Ridge and Steadman Pond, Monterey (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, June 24 at 9:30 a.m. Mt. Hunger at Konkapot Ridge and Steadman Pond, Monterey

This BNRC reserve honors John Konkapot, one of the two Mohican sachems who negotiated the treaty that founded Indian Town/Stockbridge in 1735. The trail is part of the Berkshire Wildlife Linkage which provides undeveloped corridors for wildlife to move from the Hudson River highlands to the Green Mountains in Vermont. The hike will begin on the ridge, also called Monterey cobble, ending in a young succession forest with views of the Tyringham valley and cobble. After the ridge trail, the hike will continue at Steadman Pond, a favorite place for bass fishing and a dip in the summer.

Learn more about the two reserves including directions at:

1. https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/mt-hunger-at-konkapot-ridge

2. https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/steadman-pond-at-hudson-howard

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this spring. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Registration will open on Monday, June 8 at 9 a.m.

Shakespeare & Co. Production of "Fireflies" (Thursday, June 25, 2026)

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

OLLI Special Events Committee Presents

Thursday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Shakespeare & Company, Lenox

By Matthew Barber
Directed by Daniela Varon

Retired schoolteacher Eleanor Bannister lives alone in tiny Groverdell, Texas, settled into her routines and secure in her standing as the town’s most respected woman. When a hole in her roof brings Abel Brown—a charming, smooth-talking drifter—onto her doorstep, he offers to repair the house and quietly begins to upend her carefully ordered life. As an unexpected late-life romance flickers to life, gossip spreads and doubts surface. Can Abel be trusted, or is he not quite who he seems? Either way, the whole town is watching.

Talk Back Following the Play with OLLI's Barbara Greenbaum, Theater Lover

OLLI Member $52

Non-OLLI Member Guest $60

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is (Thursday, July 02, 2026)

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is

Thursday, July 2, 9, and 16
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only

Grief changes like life does. As we open ourselves to grow through grief we open to what is hidden in it - so often, love. We'll draw on poetry, writing and sharing to give voice to our grief at this moment in life, discovering new ways to reflect on our experience of loss. As we bring ourselves present we support each other in being present too.

Charlotte Nuessle, BSc, is a certified grief educator with David Kessler. She has co-led grief groups for 2 years. For the past 11 years she facilitated groups in exploring death and dying, as well as groups focused on strengthening resilience and personal development. She retired from a 25-year career in adaptive yoga and developing self-awareness for seniors and elders. Reading and writing poetry has given her a perspective on grief that opened creativity and possibility in the midst of loss.

Cost: $35 for OLLI at BCC members
$45 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Osher Online Summer 2026 (Monday, July 06, 2026)

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Osher Online is a program from 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. All times listed are Eastern time.

OLLI at BCC is excited to be a part of this program. Space is limited! Register early.

Osher Online classes are $60 each, and available to OLLI at BCC members only.

Each class has a limit of 13 students from each participating OLLI.

Registration closes June 22.

Osher Online classes are not recorded.

After you register for Osher Online classes, you will receive a welcome email from the Osher NRC. This email will include an Osher Online username and password as well as a link to the Osher Online Website, through which you will access your classes.

You will also have access to a pre-class orientation, where you'll get helpful information for accessing your class. There you'll find the class Zoom link, syllabus, discussion board and Customer Care contact information.

Available Courses:

The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media

Instructor: Rafael Davis Portela
Mondays at 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24

Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History

Instructor: Eamanuel Abramovits

Tuesdays at 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Six Sessions - 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25

Horticulture

Instructor: Chris Baker
Tuesdays at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11,

Women Architects and Designers

Instructor: Eleanor Schrader
Wednesdays at 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19

Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion

Instructor: Eileen Goddard
Wednesdays at 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19

Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC

Instructor: Kasey Sease
Thursdays at 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

Deaf Culture and History

Instructor: Matthew Cooper
Thursdays at 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Six Sessions - 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

Class details and videos from instructors can be found here.

Curator's Talk and Tour at the Clark Art Institute (Wednesday, July 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:30:00 GMT

OLLI Special Events Committee presents:

Curator's Talk and Exhibition Tour at

the Clark Art Institute

Wednesday July 8
10:30 a.m.

In-person only

Join OLLI for a special behind-the-scenes talk and tour of An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection.

Celebrate the transformative gift The Clark received in October 2024 from the foundation of the late collector, philanthropist, and connoisseur Aso O. Tavitian with an introductory look at this exceptional collection. The exhibition highlights a selection of works from what is arguably the most significant private collection of European art assembled in North America in the twenty-first century.

Featuring works by many of the most acclaimed artists of the early modern era—Jan van Eyck, Andrea della Robbia, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Peter Paul Rubens, Jean-Antoine Watteau, and Jacques-Louis David, among others—this exhibition marks the first public presentation of selections from the Aso O. Tavitian Collection. The full collection will go on view in summer 2028 when the Clark opens the new Aso O. Tavitian Wing adjacent to the current permanent collection galleries.

The event features a 1-hour talk by curator Lara Yeager-Crasselt, Aso O. Tavitian Curator of Early Modern European Painting & Sculpture on the development of the exhibition and a 1-hour docent tour. Join us for lunch (on your own) in the cafe after the tour.

Open to OLLI members and their guests.

Cost: $20 for Clark Art Insitute members or card-to-culture holders
$35 for non-Clark Art Institute members

Questions about ticket price category? Call the OLLI office.

Event is limited--Sign up today!

If you're interested in joining us for lunch (on your own) in the Clark cafe following the tour, check the box when registering to reserve a place.

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card. If the event is full, please join the waiting list.

Creativity and Artistic Expression Workshop (Wednesday, July 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Creativity and Artistic Expression Summer 2026

Wednesday, July 8
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

This workshop will focus on working with and decoupaging colorful, ceramic tile coasters, or glass plates, which can be used in a variety of ways for entertaining and “welcoming spring”.

Try something new or continue on the next step if you’ve attended workshops with Marsha in the past.

Marsha Edell is a licensed clinical social worker, and a long time crafts person. A firm believer in the positive energy which connecting to one’s creativity brings, she is looking forward to helping people enjoy the process and the results.

Cost: $25 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Price includes materials cost.

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is (Thursday, July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is

Thursday, July 2, 9, and 16
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only

Cost: $35 for OLLI at BCC members
$45 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is (Thursday, July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This Moment in Grief: The Poetry in Being Present for What Is

Thursday, July 2, 9, and 16
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only

Cost: $35 for OLLI at BCC members
$45 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Bogus Astronomy Mini-course (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Bogus Astronomy
with Kenneth Bechis

Two sessions:
July 21 and 28 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Is it true that "In space no one can hear you scream"? Do Hollywood movies accurately portray spaceship battles, laser cannons, and explosions? Are space aliens invading Earth really ill-advised? How well do Earthbound media and the general population understand astronomical concepts -- e.g., why is it hotter in the summer than in the winter? Does it matter that our Sun travels yearly through 14 constellations, not just the 12 familiar Zodiacal ones? Why does astronomy, unlike other sciences, have conspiracy theories -- e.g., did Stanley Kubrick help NASA fake the Moon landings? Or, did the Martians construct a giant Face on their planet along with canals? Why are tens of millions of Americans today convinced the Earth is flat? Let's explore these a more in Bogus Astronomy!

Kenneth P. Bechis retired from Northrop Grumman as Chief Scientist in the Space Operations/ Environmental Solutions Division, and as a Distinguished Technical Fellow in the Intelligence Systems Sector. He holds a bachelor's in astronomy from Harvard College, a master of science in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is a former NASA Payload Specialist Astronaut.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$40 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Bogus Astronomy Mini-course (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Bogus Astronomy
with Kenneth Bechis

Two sessions:
July 21 and 28 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$40 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

A Chester Duet 2026 with OLLI at BCC (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

The OLLI at BCC Special Events Committee presents:

A Chester Duet

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.

A Delicious Lunch plus a Great Afternoon of Theater

This program is in-person at Chester Railway Museum and Chester Theatre Company in Chester, MA

11:30 a.m. Chester Railway Museum

A national historic landmark where OLLI chefs create lunch and Dave Pierce, Director, tells station history and tales.

2:00 p.m. Chester Theatre Company
Amchitka
By Mark St. Germain
Directed by Julianne Boyd

In a monitoring station at Amchitka, a volcanic island 170 miles off the coast of Alaska used for underground nuclear testing in the 1960s, three scientists find themselves cut off from the outside world as an event seems to be underway. But what? A new philosophical thriller by Mark St. Germain, author of Magdalene and Freud’s Last Session.

Cost: $78 for OLLI at BCC members
$84 for guests/non-members
$20 Lunch only with your own Chester Theatre subscription

Wheelchair accessible seating is available, be sure to note that when you register. Seating will be in order received.

Event Leader: Judy Keshner, Special Events Chair: Arline Breskin

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Creativity and Artistic Expression Workshop (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Creativity and Artistic Expression Summer 2026

Wednesday, July 29
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

This workshop will focus on working with and decoupaging colorful, ceramic tile coasters, or glass plates, which can be used in a variety of ways for entertaining and “welcoming spring”.

Try something new or continue on the next step if you’ve attended workshops with Marsha in the past.

Cost: $25 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Price includes materials cost.

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Jacob's Pillow with OLLI at BCC (Friday, August 14, 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:45:00 GMT

The OLLI at BCC Special Events Committee presents an afternoon at

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

TICKETS SOLD OUT - DESSERT ONLY STILL AVAILABLE

Dessert only with your own Jacob's Pillow Subscription: $9.00

Friday, August 14, 2026

Norton Owen, Preservation Director,
will talk at Blake’s Barn at 11:45 a.m.

Bring a Bag Lunch – OLLI chefs provide desserts and drinks

Martha Graham Dance Company

Schedule:

11:45 a.m. Talk with Norton Owen, Historian and Founding Director of Preservation, at Blake’s Barn

12:30 p.m. Lunch (bring a bag lunch with you, our OLLI chefs will provide dessert and drinks)

1:00 p.m. Dessert

2:00 p.m. Performance

Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates their 100^th anniversary! Founded in 1926 by the legendary contemporary dancer Martha Graham, it is the oldest American dance company. It has been called "one of the great dance companies of the world” by The New York Times and “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe” by The Washington Post. Many of the great 20th and 21st-century modern dancers and choreographers began their careers with this prestigious company, including Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, and Paul Taylor.

Tickets are limited and seating will be in order received.

Wheelchair accessible seating is available, be sure to note that when you register.

Ticket Prices:

OLLI at BCC Members: $103 SOLD OUT!
Guests: $113 SOLD OUT!
Dessert only with your own Jacob's Pillow Subscription: $9

No refunds unless space is filled from a waiting list!
This program is in-person at Jacob's Pillow
358 George Carter Rd., Becket, MA

Thank you to OLLI at BCC's Special Events Committee for organizing this and so many other great OLLI events!

Strengthening Hope During Times of Conflict: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Work Between Israelis and Palestinians (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC Distinguished Speakers Series
Sponsored by Kimball Farms Life Care

Strengthening Hope During Times of Conflict:
The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Work Between Israelis and Palestinians

Tuesday, August 18 at 4 p.m. ET

Hybrid - In-person and Online via Zoom
$10 for OLLI Members
$15 for non-OLLI members

30 years ago the doors of the Arava Institute opend on Kibbutz Ketura. Since then it has brought together Israelis (Jews & Arabs), Palestinians, Jordanians, Moroccans and other college age students from around the world to study and live together. These past years have been a stress test for the work of the Institute, but it has remained true to its mission. In addition to its academic program, the Institute is the home of a number of Transboundary research centers as well as the Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy which is active in Gaza. Rabbi Michael Cohen, who has been involved with the Institute since its doors opened dividing his time between Vermont and Ketura, will share firsthand experiences, lessons, and insights from the past three decades.

Rabbi Michael Margaretten Cohen is a faculty member of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. He is also the Director of Community Relations, for the Friends of Arava Institute. He teaches courses on conflict resolution, the Bible, and the environment. Rabbi Cohen has been a Policy Advisor to the Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, U.S. Department of State and a Speechwriter Adviser to the Office of the White House Speechwriters. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Middle East Peace Partnership (MEPPA) of USAID established by Congress. Cohen, the rabbi emeritus of the Israel Congregation in Manchester Center, Vermont is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in the Middle East and the United States. He has been a regular Torah commentary in the Jerusalem Post as well as being an ongoing columnist in the Jerusalem Post. He is the author of "Einstein's Rabbi: A Tale of Science and the Soul." He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Burr & Burton Academy, the Mount Equinox Preservation Trust, KaTO Architecture, and the Jerusalem Peacebuilders. He is a recipient of the Eliav Sartawi Award for Middle East Journalism from the Search for Common Ground.

OLLI at BCC is also sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems