Get Involved as a Volunteer in 2026 |
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Do you love Osher and want to give back to this wonderful program by serving as a volunteer? We would love to have you! We are currently seeking volunteers to serve as Osher Ambassadors to help greet and direct people at our annual open house at Red Butte Garden in August, annual member luncheon at Little America Hotel in December, and our Spring Fling held on campus in early March. Osher Ambassadors will help staff with various tasks at these big events and also help host free special events throughout the year, attending as an Osher member who gathers the group at the designated meeting spot, takes roll, and communicates with staff afterwards.
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During our four terms, Osher Ambassadors can also help instructors by taking roll in classes and reading announcements each week before class begins, as well as directing members to our complimentary coffee and tea service and their classrooms during the "first week of school" when Osher members are trying to find the way to their new class. This is a low effort but high impact and fun way to get involved. You can sign up to help at as many or as few events or classes as your schedule allows. Join us to learn more about this opportunity in a fun, free class session.
Thursday January 15 at 10:00 am
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There's no shortage of forgotten women in history: women who spoke when they were told to be silent, stayed when they were told to leave, and who never wavered in forging change. In every historical period, there have been women whose stories have been ignored or simply lost to time. In this course, we will look at some of those women in the areas of science and technology, women in war, political change-makers, athletes, and women in the arts. We will make connections between brave and innovative women in history and modern-day champions, Nobel Prize winners, and those who changed the course of human achievement. Standing on the shoulders of giants, these new generations of women go on to create great innovations and initiate change that has had, and will continue to have, global impacts.
Wednesday January 21 at 9:30 am
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Discover tips and tricks for using Google Maps. Create and save custom maps to share with friends and family. Learn to map your favorite restaurants, fishing holes, bike routes, golf courses, trail heads, etc. Explore the variety of features available in Google Maps through demos, hands-on activities, and discussion. Download off-line maps to use to navigate on mobile devices. Locate indoor maps and digital directories. Bring your laptop or tablet to class.
Wednesday January 21 at 2:00 pm
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Jane Austen is 250 years old this year. To celebrate, we will focus on analysis of Austen's work in relation to the social and cultural conditions of late 18th and early 19th century England. We will explore the ways in which Austen's work responds to and reflects the major social issues of her time: the Napoleonic wars, the abolition of the slave trade, gender inequity in laws and customs, the landed gentry, and economic inequities. We will also explore the ways in which modern adaptations incorporate or, more often, ignore these themes. Austen was an English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character. She published four novels during her lifetime (1775-1817) and two posthumously. They have become timeless classics.
Thursday January 22 at 9:30 am
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Muscle strength and balance are critical to maintaining health and independence as we age. Without additional strength training, most older adults will suffer a loss of muscle mass and strength that can negatively impact their balance and mobility. Vivo, a live, online, interactive strength-building course customized to your fitness level, helps you attain physical fitness. Vivo exercise sessions consist of cognitive, balance, and strength exercises informed by the latest science and research on exercise for older adults. Certified personal trainers provide modified exercises to meet each student's fitness needs. Whether you are new to exercise or exercise regularly, Vivo will help you build your strength and improve your fitness and mobility. Classes meet once a week for 45 minutes. For best results, sign up for two class sessions per week and choose which days best suit your individual time preference and schedule.
Mondays through Fridays starting January 20
Registration Deadline January 6 – Tomorrow!
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This class is an introduction to qigong and simple stretching patterns. Movements will be taught both as physical and energetic exercises and as methods for improving present moment awareness and mindfulness of subtle perceptions. No special clothing or experience is required, come as you are, and be ready to move about comfortably in your home space and have fun with others! This course is offered in conjunction with several other Osher Institutes across the country. We will be meeting over Zoom, and the class will include social time with other class members. The instructor will offer supporting resources of a suggested DVD available for purchase, free videos to view on YouTube, and ongoing virtual classes between Osher terms.
Tuesday January 13 at 10:00 am
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Who made the United States? This course examines how three peoples--Europeans, Natives, and Africans--encountered each other in the newly United States. The course begins with the American Revolution, and then proceeds through the early republic, the antebellum era, and then culminates with the Civil War and Reconstruction. Lectures tackle topics including the creation of the Constitution, early foreign policy, Jacksonian democracy, the transportation revolution, manifest destiny, abolition, and secession. Together, these lessons provide a great introduction to the latest scholarship on almost every aspect of early US history from the end of the American Revolution in 1783 to the end of Reconstruction in 1877. Most importantly, the course places front and center the ordinary people whose lives and struggles made this new nation.
Friday January 23 at 11:30 am
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Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Shriners Children's Hospital SLC and see firsthand the extraordinary care provided to children and families across the Intermountain West. You'll visit their prosthetics and orthotics clinic, wheelchair and seating clinic, and comprehensive therapy department which includes occupational, speech, physical therapy, and the recreational therapies. Visitors will see patients and families, as well as care providers in action and will hear inspiring stories about the children whose lives have been transformed through the care.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 6 – Tomorrow!
Thursday January 8 at 2:00 pm
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There is actual published research demonstrating improved cognitive function among those who play board games! Thousands of new board games are published each year, and an afternoon at Game Night Games will introduce you to a few of them. Whether you like strategy or cooperative games, those for two persons or groups of 20, you will find something to your taste. Join fellow Osher members in exploring a Salt Lake City location dedicated to playing board games, learn how to play a new one, and get tips for learning how to play other games!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 9
Tuesday January 13 at 1:00 pm
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The NHL Utah Mammoth team is the hottest game in town. Come watch a hockey game in style as the Mammoth take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Osher has arranged for members to watch the game in our own skybox on Level 6 at the Delta Center! In addition, before the game a Mammoth representative (who played college hockey) will give us a tutorial on hockey. The $99 special fee covers your game ticket, lunch, game time snacks, and drinks. Space is limited so reserve your spot right away. Please note: Osher special fees are non-refundable as we will be reserving the skybox in advance.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 23
Sunday March 1 at 12:30 pm
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Lunch & Learn lectures are wonderful opportunities to experience a sampling of what the Osher program offers, firsthand and for FREE! These lectures open to the general public, as part of our service to the community. If you have a friend who might be interested in Osher, please encourage them to attend and give us a “test drive”. Register now for our winter series!
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How to Participate in the America250 Celebration!
January 21, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Ronald Fox, Co-Chair of Utah America250, Former Director in the Office of Presidential Advance for Six U.S. Presidents, and Author
This presentation will outline planned events for the America250 celebrations. We will highlight opportunities to participate and discuss events being held across the country. Mr. Fox will also speak about American history and Utah's history.
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Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Prevention, and Management
January 28, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Sarah Zou, MPH, RDN, CDCES, Clinical Dietitian, University of Utah
This presentation serves as an introduction to type 2 diabetes, including a review of the underlying physiological cause, risk factors, prevention strategies, and lifestyle management.
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100 Women Who Care: Small Donation, Large Impact!
February 4, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Lisa Evans, Member, Community Activist, Musician, and Singer Songwriter
This presentation will explore the history of 100 Women Who Care, a charity group started by a woman named Karen Dunnigan in Jackson, Michigan. There are now 700 chapters, or giving circles, called 100 Women Who Care located across the US and Canada. Today, Lisa Evans, the woman responsible for bringing this charity to Salt Lake City in 2014, will discuss the efficient, high-impact way their group raises thousands of dollars in one hour, four times a year, and what happens at their meetings. Their average collective donation, made together to benefit one chosen group, is $25,000. Lisa will share some heart-warming experiences the group has had that make them love serving our community and how they appreciate the way service unites us all in community. She will also compare the donations made by 100 Women Who Care to donations to other well-known donors and philanthropists in Salt Lake City and Utah.
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FBI Salt Lake Outreach Program
February 11, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Muhammad Khan, FBI Community Outreach Specialist, Salt Lake City Division
The presentation will provide a baseline overview of the FBI's role as a federal law enforcement agency, an overview to the Salt Lake City Division, and details about the FBI's Community Outreach Program. Presentation will further highlight details about the role of community outreach in the FBI and efforts to mitigate evolving threats impacting the community to include concerns with cyber, fraud, hate crimes, etc.
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Unearthing Alta: The Lost Stories of a Mining Boomtown
February 18, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Ian Wright, Utah's Public Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office
Recently, the mining ghost town of Alta, Utah, was excavated for the first time after a construction project uncovered thousands of artifacts that hadn’t seen daylight in more than 150 years. The State Historic Preservation Office partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to document the site and recover as many artifacts as possible before winter storms shut down access. This presentation explores the remarkable history of a once-booming mining town through the objects its residents left behind and the stories those artifacts still have to tell.
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Lessons Learned in a Blessed Life of Sharing Utah and American Stories
February 25, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Craig Wirth, ABC Channel 4 Feature Reporter
Craig Wirth has been blessed to discover that the history of Utah (and America in general) is the history not just of buildings, cities, or places (although they are cool), but of people...and what those people have done in daily life. Some stories are amazing feats, some humorous, but most are just someone doing something unique or being that rare person who actually does follow their dream. Craig’s dream was to meet them, observe them, and be the lucky guy who gets to tell their stories.
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Most lectures from our previous terms were recorded and will be kept in our archives for re-watching. Enjoy them anytime and feel free to share the link with a friend!
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Did you know? Our online brochure each term features a handy calendar at the end! Our team of graphic designers and Osher staff carefully creates this calendar every term to help you schedule your classes. Click the link below, scroll to the bottom, and take a look!
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In this season of giving, please consider donating to help keep our Osher Institute growing and thriving. The University of Utah provides administrative support, our Bernard Osher Endowment funds 35%, and 65% comes from your Osher memberships and tuition. Every dollar helps us create outstanding new courses, support our dedicated instructors, plan exciting special events, grant scholarships, and so much more! Your contribution shows us that you value Osher in your life and ensures that we can continue to grow, offering 350+ courses each year, building a vibrant community of curious adults, ages 50 and better, who bring a wealth of life experiences to our very special program. Your donations make all the difference, particularly to those members who receive generous scholarships to attend our classes. Thank you to all our many donors, supporters, and volunteers who make this outstanding and unique program so special!
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Support the Red Rocks with Two Special Deals for Osher Members!
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This is the ONE meet (before NCAA Nationals) with the TOP teams in collegiate gymnastics competing. These teams include: Utah (No. 4 seed), Oklahoma (No. 2 seed), UCLA (No. 5 seed), and LSU (defending national champion). There will be two sessions on Saturday, January 10, 2026: 2:00 pm and either 6:00 or 7:00 pm. Utah will compete in the 2:00 pm session.
Your ticket (the Perfect 10 Access Pass) will include the following, so come at least an hour-early to enjoy all these:
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- Entrance to both afternoon and evening sessions (you can watch all 8 teams)
- VIP entrance - Skip the lines.
- Backstage Access - Go behind the scenes where magic happens.
- Premium Indoor Tailgate at the Centennial Room - snacks, giveaways, family fun
- Photo Ops & Autographs
- Sign-making & Friendship-making Stations
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Best of Utah Meet on Monday, January 12, 2026, with 40% off discount code
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Discounted tickets to the Sprouts Collegiate Quad on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
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The Les Olson IT Best of Utah returns for its 7th year on Monday, January 17, 7:00 pm. This is your chance to see all four NCAA Division 1 Women's Gymnastics teams from Utah in one arena! Watch Utah compete against BYU, Utah State, and SUU — cheer loud for the Red Rocks!
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Stay Connected by Joining Us on Social Media
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The Osher Instagram and Facebook pages are a great way to stay connected. We highlight the accomplishments of Osher instructors and members. Special Events are updated, posted, and featured here too. Please like us to stay up to date and share with your friends who would enjoy all that Osher has to offer!
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
801-581-6461 | osher@utah.edu
osher.utah.edu
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Continuing Education at the University of Utah | 540 Arapeen Dr Rm 210 | Salt Lake City, UT 84108 US
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540 Arapeen Drive | Salt Lake City, UT 84108 US
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