Summer school is fun at Osher. You get to pick what you want to take, where, and when and follow your interests freely. Summer registration is now open so sign up today to learn something outstanding. Read below for a few highlights of fun classes and special events to keep you amused and curious all summer long!
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The AARP Smart Driver Course is the nation's first and largest 4-hour refresher course designed specifically for older drivers. The goal is for you to become an even safer driver through this program and our additional resources. This course will review driving skills and techniques, as well as strategies and tips to help you adjust to normal age-related changes that may affect your driving ability. As an added bonus, graduates could receive a discount on their auto insurance. Plus it's fun and enjoyable!
Monday May 18 at 1:00 pm &
Monday June 29 at 1:00 pm
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Develop your customized master layout and planting plan. Learn to create pleasing outdoor spatial relationships and plant selections that generate seasonal interest and visual curb-appeal. Begin with a site plan of your property drawn to scale and advance each week through the design, decision, and sketching process. Each session includes lecture, hands-on development, and planning time. Bring your property dimensions, building footprint, and current photos of environmental conditions.
Wednesday May 20 at 3:30 pm
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Dr. Carol Anderson will present a half-hour preview of the music in the May 22 Finishing Touches Rehearsal of the Utah Symphony. This engaging lecture will offer musical insights and listening highlights from Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No. 5, "Egyptian"Â and Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, "Romantic," exploring historical context, key themes, and what to listen for during the rehearsal.
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The class takes place in the First Tier Room of Abravanel Hall from 9:00-9:40am on Friday, May 22, 2026. Separate tickets are required to attend the actual rehearsal and can be purchased from the Utah Symphony Ticket Office, 801-533-6683; they can also be purchased immediately after the class in the half hour before the rehearsal begins.
Friday May 22 at 9:00 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. Vivo is the recipient of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to study its science-based training strategy and personalized online small-group format for older adults. Classes are small and instruction is individualized. Certified personal trainers, skilled in working with older adults, 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.
We now offer your choice of 8:00 am and 10:00 am start times!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 18
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How does religion structure political, social, and economic life? Why do some religions enjoy wide acceptance, while others are labeled "cults"? Do religious conflicts really just mask social conflicts? In this course, we will address these questions and discover religion's place in social life together. We will explore the sociohistorical development of the major religious traditions, sociological theories of religion, and the rise of secularization in parts of the world. Crucially, our sociological approach will focus on the differential impacts of religion and secularization upon society from an impartial, non-theological perspective.
Tuesday May 26 at 11:30 am
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This course explores the intersection of psychedelics and human development through historical, scientific, psychological, and spiritual lenses. Class members will examine the cultural roots and modern resurgence of psychedelic substances, learn about their therapeutic uses, and engage with cutting-edge research on their potential to address mental health challenges. Emphasis will be placed on the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of healing, offering a holistic framework for understanding transformation and integration. By the end of the course, class members will have a deeper understanding of how psychedelics can influence identity, healing, and growth--both individually and collectively.
Wednesday May 20 at 9:30 am
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Run by the National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University, this special program allows members from various Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes to participate in shared online courses, thanks to the generosity of Bernard Osher Foundation. These courses are not meant to replace our locally offered in-person or online courses but rather to supplement our own local offerings. The very high-quality courses feature popular instructors from some of the 124 Osher Institutes across the country. Osher Online allows Osher members from different states and institutions to learn with and connect to each other while maintaining membership at their own local Institutes. We hope you will enjoy being a part of the fun!
Registration Deadline: June 17th
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Founded in 1904, Utah Food Bank remains true to its mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide by providing food to a statewide network of partner agencies located in each county of the state. Utah Food Bank distributes tens of millions of meals annually to families and individuals facing hunger throughout the state, free-of-charge. Touring Utah Food Bank's 143,000 square foot primary distribution center and headquarters, located in South Salt Lake, will provide insight into the complex operations required to feed Utahns facing hunger.
Tuesday May 12 at 11:30 am
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A tour of the Salt Lake City International Airport will take participants onto the airfield for a unique behind the scenes look at airport operations. The tour is conducted by an airport operations manager who provides an overview of airport programs, such as the wildlife mitigation program, deicing/snow removal, operations, and airport rescue and firefighting services. Please note: There will be a lot of walking and standing on this tour.
Thursday June 11 at 2:00 pm
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Big Cottonwood Canyon beckons. Let's get outdoors and hike about 1 mile around Silver Lake and learn about the geology, plants, trees, and water conservation (no pets or support animals) of this gem on our public lands. The hike will take about an hour and have an elevation gain of 60 feet. The first half of the hike is on a boardwalk and the other half is on a graded gravel/dirt path. Your tour leaders, David Anson and Julie Myers, are volunteer educators for the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, which in conjunction with the USFS, staffs the Silver Lake Visitor Center and promotes education and stewardship of these public lands.
Tuesday June 16 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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The tour begins at the front doors of the Walker Center in downtown SLC. Once inside, you'll learn a little about the city's premier historic office tower including its ties to Utah's mining industry and WWI. You'll also hear about Harry Houdini's visit and a true crime caper which played out at the Walker long ago. The tour moves to the rooftop just in time for sunset! Here your guide will point out other city landmarks and there will be time for photos. After dark, the iconic Walker Center sign lights up! You'll hear the history of the sign and see its modern capabilities. This tour is recommended for residents, history buffs, and anyone else wanting to experience the most photogenic rooftop and all of Salt Lake City at the most magical time of day. The $20 special fee is due upon arrival. Please plan enough travel time to allow yourself time to check in and pay as part of the Osher group.
Saturday May 23 at 7:00 pm
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Cyanotype is an early photographic process that uses sunlight to create deep blue prints on fabric. By arranging leaves, flowers, and natural objects on treated cloth, the sun reveals delicate silhouettes and botanical patterns in rich indigo tones. Located at Handcraft Revival, each participant will create one cyanotype fabric flag, perfect for hanging in a window, adding to a wall display, or incorporating into a banner or textile project. We'll provide the fabric flag and a selection of botanical materials to print with, but you're welcome to bring interesting leaves, flowers, lace, or small objects from home to experiment with as well. The $10 special fee is due upon arrival. Please plan enough travel time to allow yourself time to check in and pay as part of the Osher group.
Friday May 29 at 2:00 pm
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Enjoy a hands-on creative weaving experience with Jenny Ferguson of Bewitched by Alpacas located in Bluffdale; NO experience necessary. You'll learn a traditional fiber art and experience the quiet satisfaction of making something with your own hands, taking home a finished piece at the end of the 3-hour workshop. The looms are set up outdoors, surrounded by nature and curious alpacas who occasionally wander over to see what everyone is doing. Everything is designed so beginners can relax, experiment with color, and enjoy the creative process. All levels of weavers welcome!
Friday June 5 at 10:00 am or 4:00 pm
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Did you miss a Lunch & Learn lecture this term? Would you like to re-watch as session you attended in a previous term? Our Lunch & Learn Archives hold recordings of almost every presentation going back to winter 2021. Please enjoy watching at your leisure and share the link with a friend! Lunch and Learn will start up again for fall term on September 23, 2026. Thank you to Sandy Clark, our volunteer coordinator, for organizing so many great lectures for Osher members and our community at large!
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Call for Submissions – Osher Reflections
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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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Volunteer to Have More Fun at Osher!
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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:
Thursday, May 14 at 2:00 pm
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
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 Utah Museum of Fine Arts 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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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 |
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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