Wisdom is not taught. It’s shared! At Osher, our classes are special for this very reason. Osher members and instructors alike benefit from sharing wisdom gained from our long lives of varied experiences. Questions asked in our classrooms might make you think just as much as the lecture material presented. Our instructors teach because they love it and also because they themselves want to keep on learning. New classes and fun special events continue to start in March and April. Read some highlights listed below: We’re offering everything from Civil Dialogue to Invertebrates to art exhibitions, music history, and campus performances. Join us to experience something new and create your own springtime rebirth!
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In a time of increasing division, the ability to engage in respectful, thoughtful conversations is more important than ever (even and especially with those you disagree with!). This six-week course introduces the Living Room Conversations model--an approach to discussing challenging topics in a controlled environment where all voices are heard and valued. Participants will learn how to practice active listening, curiosity, and bridge-building, learning how to navigate difficult discussions with empathy and understanding. Each week, we will cover specific skills and discuss a different topic together, fostering powerful connection and mutual learning. Weekly topics will include: Foundations of Civil Dialogue, Navigating Tricky Conversations, Finding Common Ground in Political Discussions, Communicating with Care and Empathy, Writing and Speaking for Impact, and Applying Civil Dialogue in Everyday Life.
Wednesday March 25 at 11:30 am
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Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of objects the size of atoms and smaller. In class, we will discuss insights that led to the development of quantum theory. We will address quantum concepts such as Wave-Particle duality, the Uncertainty Principle, and virtual particles. We will examine experiments that led to the discovery of subatomic particles, from the electron in 1897 to the Higgs boson in 2012. We will also explore the strange and counterintuitive behavior of quantum systems, including quantum entanglement that Einstein called "Spooky Action at a Distance."
Monday April 6 at 1:30 pm
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Flapper fashion wasn't just popular in the United States, instead it represented a larger phenomenon of women stepping out of and redefining traditional roles to live and thrive in a rapidly modernizing world. In Asia the "Modern Girl" stepped out into a complex society, trying to find a place between tradition, nationalism, colonialism, and consumerism. In this single-session class we will discuss how colonization and modernization created a unique opportunity for women to seek out higher education, involve themselves in work, and adapt traditional fashions to become the iconic figures we remember today.
Wednesday April 8 at 3:30 pm
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This transformative class explores the profound art of connecting with horses through presence, breath, and mutual understanding. Far beyond traditional horsemanship, this experience invites participants to develop a deep, intuitive relationship with these magnificent beings without the barrier of riding. Class members will each be interacting and connecting with horses (not riding them).
Friday April 10 at 10:00 am
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This is the story of the Theater of the Mind. Radio was the central medium of news and entertainment in America until television nearly killed it. But rock 'n' roll came along and the medium was reborn, first as Top 40 radio. Later, as the audience migrated from the AM to the FM dial, underground or freeform radio dominated the airwaves and captured the imagination of popular culture. It changed the music business permanently and birthed the Classic Era of Rock. We listen to the music and look at where it came from, how it happened, and what became of it.
Monday March 25 at 1:30 am
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Learn how to create visually stunning digital stories, travelogues, and more using ArcGIS StoryMaps! ArcGIS StoryMaps is a web-based tool you can use to create interactive narrative stories that combine text, images, data, maps, and more. We'll explore the main features of the platform, learn how the platform can be used in both professional and personal settings, and see how the platform may be used to create engaging online exhibits. This one-day introduction course will inspire you to get started with your own creative project!
Wednesday March 26 at 11:30 pm
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Curious about AI but not sure where to start? In this two-week, hands-on class, you'll discover how tools like ChatGPT, Claude.ai, and Gemini can act as a personal "life coach" to help you set goals, stay motivated, brainstorm solutions, and handle everyday challenges with more ease. Each session includes live demonstrations, guided practice, and plenty of time for questions, so you'll leave with practical skills you can use right away to enrich your daily life. NOTE: AI wrote this course description and advised on the course outline!
Tuesday April 7 at 9:30 am
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Krav Maga is the official self-defense and fighting system of the Israeli defense forces and numerous US law enforcement and military agencies. Krav Maga emphasizes easy to learn techniques that have been proven effective in real-world situations to provide the adults and children practitioners in our community the strength and confidence to protect themselves and those closest to them. A team of certified experts who are internationally recognized for their civilian, military, law enforcement, and third-party protection training will teach us the same techniques they have extensively taught the police, military, and other high-risk operatives...so one may walk in peace. Join us for a demonstration with one of their experts and one of our very own Osher members! This demonstration will show us what self-defense techniques people our age can learn.
Saturday March 28 at 11:00 am
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Join us for the April session of the Osher Booker Bookers Book Club series! The book this month will be THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS by Kiran Desai.
The Booker Bookers will read Booker Prize winners in monthly meetings from September 2025 through May 2026. Each session will feature a rotating discussion leader from among Osher members. The reading list is curated by Osher volunteer Lee Ann Troutman, featuring titles available at both the Anderson Foothill branch of the city library system and the Granite County Library. Come join the Booker Bookers!
Please note: This event is offered as a series and you'll need to register separately for any sessions you'd like to attend
Friday April 3 at 1:00 pm
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Join us at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts for a guided tour of this special exhibition, Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt. This print retrospective is accompanied by Marie Watt's monumental blanket stacks, hanging textiles, and sculptures that also bring these stories to life. After the one-hour tour, Osher members are invited to stay and enjoy lunch together. Lunch or refreshments can be purchased at the UMFA's cafe.
Friday April 17 at 11:00 am
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Join us for a free, guided highlights tour of the Salt Lake County visual arts collection, featuring some of the key works in the collection by artists connected to Utah. The collection reflects the region's history, landscapes, and diverse communities, and is displayed in public buildings throughout the county, making it free and accessible to all. Each tour will explore artwork across all four floors of the government center--four floors in the North Building and four floors in the South Building--offering a broad look at the collection in each space. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a sack lunch.
Friday April 24 at 12:00 pm
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| Osher Special Events in 2026 are brought to you in part from funding from ZAP
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In celebration of the traveling exhibit Bug World at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU), go behind the scenes with Invertebrate Collections Manager Christy Bills to discover the connections between the exhibit and NHMU's incredible collections of insect specimens. Participants are encouraged to arrive early or stay after the tour to explore the Bug World exhibit (on the 3rd floor) on their own.
Wednesday March 25 at 4:00 pm
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative team, themes, and creative choices behind the production COME FROM AWAY before seeing a Preview Performance of it that night! Pioneer Theatre Company's exclusive class is only offered to Osher members.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 22
Thursday April 23 at 6:30 pm
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The mission of the Pioneer Theater Guild (PTG) is to foster and promote community interest in and financial support of the Pioneer Theater Company. Join the PTG at their luncheon at the Alta Club and have an actor from the PTC's production of COME FROM AWAY join your table. The event will begin with a visit with Amy Wadsworth (guild president) to learn more about the guild and its activities. Visit with your guest actor and hear other members of the cast talk about the production and their experiences. Guests at this luncheon will also be the first to hear about the exciting 2026-2027 season of the Pioneer Theatre Company!
Monday April 27 at 11:30 am – Only 3 seats left!
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Self-Care in Trying Times
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March 25, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Amanda McNab, DSW, LCSW, Manager at Huntsman Mental Health
The news should keep us informed of world events; not be the source of nightmares. Yet these days, exposure to the news frequently creates intense, negative reactions in those that consume it. This presentation will explore ways to address the emotional toll exposure to the world news may cause and how to prevent further distress
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Volunteer Opportunities to Contribute to Osher!
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Do you love attending Osher Special Events each term? Are you curious about how we select and organize our many varied fun events and who is responsible for planning them? This single-session free class will give you a behind-the-scenes tour of how Osher staff and volunteers run this very special and unique aspect of our program. Volunteerism is the foundation of Osher and especially of Special Events. We've slowly been gearing up after Covid changed the way events were done in 2020. We're getting back to more in-person meetings at familiar venues and exploring new places too. Come learn how it's done and maybe even plan a new special event yourself for your fellow Osher members or share your ideas for fun places for Osher to visit.
Thursday March 26 at 9:30 am
Wednesday April 15 at 10:00 am
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Come join us for a hands-on session of special event planning! In this workshop, you will plan an event in real time with the help of the Osher team. We will have a list of event ideas for you to choose from before the workshop. Come to the workshop ready to fill out the Special Event Proposal Form. Our goal is to have you leave the workshop with your first event planned and ready to go!
Thursday April 2 at 10:00 am
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Did you ever wonder about how the Osher program operates behind the scenes? This single-session free class will introduce you to the magic of how Osher staff and volunteers recruit instructors, organize classes, and create four fascinating six-week terms each year. We will outline duties performed by the esteemed Osher Curriculum Committee. Our founder, Bernard Osher, intended his Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes to be member-driven and volunteer-led within a community of peers, ages 50 and better. Every single member, instructor, and volunteer brings their wealth of life experiences and knowledge to the classroom, building a very special community of curious adults who value education and class discussions highly. Come learn how it's done, share your ideas, and maybe even think about teaching a course yourself for your fellow Osher members.
Tuesday April 7 at 10:00 am
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New! Osher Special Events Club — Join the Conversation
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Osher members are invited to a new monthly gathering designed to spark ideas, build connections, and help shape future Osher special events.
Our next Special Events Club meeting will take place:
Monday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Natural History Museum (cafeteria)
For questions or more information, contact Sandi Greene: sandi@sandigreenecoaching.com
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This informal gathering is an opportunity for members to come together, share ideas, and collaborate on creative possibilities for future Osher events. Following our discussion, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through the Natural History Museum together. Future meetings may rotate to other Osher partner locations and wonderful places that Osher members can enjoy through their membership benefits.
Whether you love brainstorming, planning, or simply connecting with fellow lifelong learners, we’d love to have you join us. No registration needed, please just show up and have fun!
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Call for Submissions – Osher Reflections
Attention Osher Members! We are excited to announce that the 2nd Edition of Osher Reflections, our new literary and art publication, is now in the planning stage, to be available by December 2026. We are soliciting 22 stories and poetry for this edition. The selection of these stories/poetry will be done by a juried panel of five Osher members including Holly Webster, the editor. Guidelines for writing these submissions can be obtained by email: hollyfw@gmail.com .
We know there are many people in our Osher community with intriguing stories, and we look forward to reading them! We are hopeful for very modest donations to help publish this project, but it is not obligatory for submission of your writing. Donations can be made through the Osher website.
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Artwork: Song Bird by Marjorie Ann McClure
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Utah Presents at Kingsbury Hall
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Known internationally for presenting works of astounding inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists founded and directed by Moses Pendleton. Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in a new work inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.
March 26 at 7:30 pm
Save 20% with code: OSHER
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Journey into the heart of central Italy to explore the remarkable Etruscan civilization, an ancient culture whose art, architecture, and traditions helped shape Italy as we know it. Led by one of Osher’s own, Giuliana Marple, this immersive 8‑day experience blends daytime discovery with enriching evening conversations featuring Giuliana and guest archaeologists.
With a small group, private transportation, and a thoughtfully crafted itinerary, you’ll gain a rare, insider’s perspective on Italy’s deep and enduring past.
October 09-16, 2026
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Our previous newsletters and podcasts are saved in an archive on our main website, so you never have to worry about missing a thing.
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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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