Yankee Sea Captains of the Pacific
California was part of Mexico, and the community of English-speaking sea captains was small. Captain Dana was a member of this fascinating group of adventurers who traveled the world. Dana met John Rogers Cooper in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and their friendship lasted until Dana’s death. This talk will also include other sea captains, each with his own special story.
Faculty: Barbara Watson, a retired fifth grade teacher, designed the original school field trip program at the Dana Adobe. She has been a member of the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos since 1999 and served as Docent Director for five years.
OSHR 2228
Sat., Apr. 5, 10:00 am - Noon
Maximum Class Size: 20
1 Meeting
Location: Dana Adobe, Nipomo
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History of Modern Social Welfare Policy
We will review the history of American social welfare policy from 1900 onwards. We will overview major policies that promote social equity, security and inclusion.
Session One will focus on the Progressive era reforms; Session Two on the New Deal; Session Three on the Civil Rights movement and the Great Society; and Session Three on the Reagan era and the New Federalism.
Understanding both the context and substance of major policies will help participants to more critically assess current proposals for national policy in the arenas of health care, social security, public assistance and immigration. How can we build on the successes of the past and learn from our mistakes? How have key identity groups, such as seniors and labor, influenced fundamental choices -- and what role should they play in future decisions?
Faculty: Anneka Scranton, A.B. from Harvard College in History, M.S.W. from Boston College, Ph.D. from USC Graduate School of Public Administration. She taught social welfare policy, including history course, for over a dozen years at the Graduate School of Social Work at U.S.C.
OSHR 2251
Mon. Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28 10:00 am -Noon
Maximum Class Size: 35
Meetings: 4
Location: SLO Adult School
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Field Guide to the Chumash
Who are the Chumash and what is special about them? The local Native Americans were quite different and renowned for a number of reasons. Learn about their distinguishing characteristics. Learn what life was like for them here on the Central Coast. Come join in this lively talk about Chumash culture and life through the ages.
Faculty: Ken Leonard has taught four OLLI courses previously, has done graduate work in Eastern European history and has had a lifelong interest in local history as well.
OSHR 2233
Mon., Apr. 14, 10:00 am -Noon
Maximum Class Size: 35
1 Meetings
Location: Oceano Community Center
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The Buffalo Soldiers
In 1866, Congress established six all-Black regiments, each of about 1,000 soldiers, to help rebuild the country after the Civil War and to patrol the remote western frontier. These regiments were the 9th and 10 Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st Infantry.
The four infantry regiments reorganized to form the 24th and 25th Infantry in 1869. As the conflicts of Reconstruction were being played out in the South, African-American soldiers did their best to protect the country’s western frontiers against mounted Indians. These Native Americans named the black cavalrymen “buffalo soldiers,” according to Robert B. Edgerton’s history of Afro-American participation in American Wars.
Edgerton wrote, “Native Americans called the Black cavalry troops ‘buffalo soldiers’ because of their dark curly hair, which resembled a buffalo’s coat. Plains Indians complained about being unable to scalp these men properly, but they also regarded buffalo with great respect, often believing them sacred, and they were impressed by the black soldiers’ fighting ability.”
Faculty: Archie Mitchell’s civilian education includes a B.A. in Journalism, and post-graduate work for a M.A. in Mass Communications from California State University, Northridge. After graduation from CSUN, he worked for various news agencies, including United Press International, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the Pasadena Star News, as a reporter. This experience was followed by re-enlistment in the United States Air Force.
OSHR 2230
Tues., Apr. 8, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 50
1 Meeting
Location: TBD
(Confirm class location 10 days prior by Web
or phone (805) 756-7635.)
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Mediation and Leading Discussions
Learn the basics of conflict mediation and practice key guidelines for productive questioning. Participate in discussion leader training that aims at sharpening judgment and promoting group interaction, while avoiding “bull.” This will be an interactive class with pauses for direction, explanation, and humor.
Faculty: Ira Winn has been working as mediator for the San Luis Obispo Superior Court for five years. He has taught for UCLA extension and has had a 40 year career in education. He has been trained as a discussion leader for Great Books groups as well.
OSHR 2214
Mon., Apr. 7, 14, & 21, 10:00 am- Noon
Maximum Class Size: 25
3 Meetings
Location: San Luis Obispo Adult School
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How to Prepare for Backpacking
How to prepare for backpacking: pack, body, food, and shelter. This hands-on course is intended to help participants develop an interest in backpacking and camping. Participants must have a love of the outdoors.
Faculty: Raymon Bishop is an outdoor enthusiast and an accomplished backpacker, and has completed a 100-mile trip through King’s Canyon National Park and a 2,138-mile trek through the Appalachian Trail, which spans from Georgia all the way to Maine.
OSHR 2215
Thurs., Apr. 17, 1:30 - 4:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 25
1 Meeting
Location: Morro Bay Community Center - Senior Center
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Successful Downsizing
When we need to move ourselves or others to smaller dwellings, there are many possibilities to consider. An experienced counselor/liquidator will share the ins and outs of the decisions to make and what to know to prepare for a good experience. Learn about pitfalls and how to avoid them, and about options and how best to choose from among them.
Faculty: Carolyn Rivaldi and her husband have run an antique shop, Heritage House, for decades. Liquidation became a logical extension of their work, especially after both of their mothers died in one year. Carolyn and Jim learned many things they wished they had known before. Now Carolyn has become a counseling intern and has even more insights to bring to the process of household downsizing and liquidation.
OSHR 2240
Wed., Apr. 16, 10:00 am - Noon
Maximum Class Size: 40
1 Meeting
Location: Oceano Community Center
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Responsible Energy Choices
Without doubt, climate change is the most urgent threat of our time. This course will provide its participants with scientific evidence that shows that nuclear power is not the way to reduce greenhouse gasses or to provide reliable energy for the future of California. It will also examine the responsible energy choices which have been proven to be affordable and environmentally sound.
Among presenters will be experts currently implementing solar, wind, and geothermal technologies. Much of the material provided in the course is based on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the group recently sharing a Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore.
Faculty: Elizabeth Apfelberg has been a Mothers for Peace member since 1971 and is presently its President. A former high school science and math teacher she is knowledgeable about the science of global warming and what can be done to prevent the worst of climate change. Elizabeth was an original intervenor in the licensing procedures opposing operation of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. She acted as Mothers For Peace lay attorney before the Atomic Energy Commission (now Nuclear Regulatory Commission) from 1973-1976. She is one of the spokespersons for the Mothers for Peace.
OSHR 2258
Tue., Apr. 8, 15, 22, 10:00 am - Noon
Maximum Class Size: 35
3 Meetings
Location: Congregation Beth David, SLO
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Herbs of the Chumash
This course is a three-hour overview of plants valued by the Chumash Indians. It reveals how herbs such as artemesia diglaciana, yerba mansa, chia, horsetail, nettle and others were used by our Native American ancestors.
A color slide presentation and detailed plant identification handouts will be included. It will be a lecture with color slides and handouts, similar to the others in the “Lore of Herbs” series. I’ll be going into some detail about the evolution of herb use by the Chumash; which herbs were favored by certain segments of their society; how these herbs were used, what they look like, and where they’re found. I like to use color slides depicting the plants in various stages of development to help students identify them. I’ll follow up with a brief discussion of the current and best books now available about Chumash healing.
Faculty: Samantha McTighe has been involved in holistic healing since the1970s. She is a certified holistic health practitioner, nutritionist, master herbalist, massage therapist and aromatherapist. She has lectured on natural healing for over 15 years in Southern California, and joined OLLI in 2006.
OSHR 2237
Fri., Apr. 11, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 45
1 Meeting
Location: PG&E Community Center
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What Happens to All That Stuff? and “Lightbulbs Across America”
Find out what happens to the over one million pounds of solid waste that is generated each day in San Luis Obispo County. Presenter Mike di Milo of the SLO County IWMA will give an overview of local solid waste management challenges and strategies. You’ll look at your blue, gray and green curbside containers with a new perspective. This 30-minute slide show will both educate and inspire, with practical ideas on how to improve waste reduction and increase recycling at home.
“Bulbs Across America” is an energy-saving lightbulb program. If every home in America replaced just ONE light bulb with an energy-saving bulb, we could close down two power plants or save enough energy to light more than 2½ million homes for one year. Watch a demonstration of a variety of energy-saving lightbulbs. Learn about their benefits and latest market choices. Test-read under these lights and find out which kind is right for you. Take home a FREE energy-saving light bulb and benefit fliers to share with your family and friends.
Faculty: Mike di Milo is the school education program coordinator for the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA). This is his eleventh year of providing education programs. Mike and his staff deliver 400 recycling presentations and 125 field trips each year to children and adults throughout our county.
Ms. Teddy Llovet, a member of OLLI, started Bulbs Across America in January 2007. She has given 22 demonstrations on energy-saving light bulbs to over 500 people. She’ll show you how to save money, energy, and support our planet one bulb at a time!
OSHR 2235
Wed., Apr. 9, 10:00 am - Noon
Maximum Class Size: 50
1 Meeting
Location: PG&E Community Center
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Sustainable Organic Wine Growing Practices
It is a generally accepted principle that great wines always start in the vineyard. Significant efforts are being made to improve wine quality and the ecological impact of vineyards. Much descriptive language is often used to highlight these wine-growing practices, causing, at times, confusion to the public.
This short course will review, compare and contrast the various wine growing practices and link the practices to desirable wine quality and ecological outcome. There will be an evening lecture, followed a few days later by a wonderful tour of one of the loveliest vineyards in the Edna Valley led by Jean-Pierre Wolff himself. Class participation is encouraged.
Lecture on April 16, 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Field trip to vineyard on April 18, 10:00 am - noon.
Faculty: Jean-Pierre Wolff, PhD, is owner and vintner of Wolff Vineyards, a 125-acre ecologically friendly property in the Edna Valley. The vineyard is engaged in various University research projects, ranging from beneficial insects release programs, water deficit management, energy- and water-efficient irrigation technologies, Biologically Integrated Sustainable Farming Systems (BISFS) research and organic fertilizers. The vineyard has been described by the wine press as “a living laboratory.”
OSHR 2152
Wed., Apr. 16, 2:00 - 4:00 pm & Fri., Apr. 18, 10:00 am
Maximum Class Size: 24
2 Meetings
Location:
Apr. 16: SLO Adult School
Apr. 18: Wolff Winery 6238 Orcutt Rd., SLO
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Exploring the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is the largest remaining dune system south of San Francisco and the second largest in the state of California. The dune complex is home to a unique ecosystem as well as several endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. To protect the dunes environment, much of the complex has been set aside for conservation. Tour three different areas and see three different aspects of the Dunes, all on the same day, with Kathie Matsuyama, Watershed and Natural Resources Manager for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center.
We will meet at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. Following a tour there, we will caravan first to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, and then to Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area. Among the subjects that will be covered are the history of the Guadalupe oil spill, the cultural history of the dunes, natural history of the dunes, biodiversity of the dunes complex, watershed and water quality, current land management, and the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Collaborative.
Participants must be able to walk 1½ miles round-trip along an easy, level pathway to the beach. Carpooling recommended: Limited parking. There may be a parking fee collected at the Dunes Center. Participants should wear walking shoes and bring sunscreen, a hat, a windbreaker, binoculars (for bird watching) and a brown bag lunch.
Faculty: Kathie Matsuyama is the Watershed and Natural Resources Manager for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, a non-profit environmental education and outreach organization. She was chairman of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Collaborative in 2005 and 2006. Kathie is also on the Board of Directors of the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District.
OSHR 2174
Wed., Apr. 2, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Maximum Class Size: 45
1 Meeting
Location: Meet at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center.
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Estrella Warbirds Museum — Paso Robles
Tour of Freedom Hall (artifacts and memorabilia) and outside, which includes 24 aircraft from WWII through the current war in Iraq, plus WWII vehicles, tanks and armored personnel carriers. In addition to the growing collection of memorabilia from WWI and WWII in Freedom Hall the museum is also receiving items from the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and the Iraq War.
The instructor will show the personal side of the former owners of these items, and focus on civilian life during WWII, including the role of the medic/corpsman during a war. Participants can focus on the different types of aircraft and their uses, and some of the design features which have been adapted to civilian aircraft as well.
Faculty: Elizabeth “Betty” Renton Miller received her B.A. in History of Art with a specialization in Theater Arts from the University of Redlands, and an M.A. in Education from Cal Poly. She holds a Secondary Life teaching credential and an Elementary Life teaching credential. She also has an extensive background in the commercial airline industry and with tour groups. She is presently curator of Estrella Warbird Museum.
OSHR 2255
Fri., Apr. 25, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 50
1 Meeting
Location: 4251 Dry Creek Rd., Paso Robles
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Tour of Steinbeck Center and House
This course includes a bus trip to Salinas to visit the Steinbeck Center, lunch at the Victorian house where Steinbeck was born, and a walking tour (optional) of downtown Salinas. The Steinbeck Center contains the most comprehensive collection of materials on his life and works, while the Steinbeck House and old-town Salinas will symbolize the neighborhood and environment that greatly influenced his works. It is preferred that you have taken Course #2211, “The Life and Literary Works of John Steinbeck.”
The bus to Salinas leaves SLO by 8 am. The group will visit the Steinbeck Center for a docent-led discussion and viewing of Steinbeck Center, then have lunch at the lovely restored Victorian Steinbeck House, with a tour of the house afterwards.
Participants will be on their own for about one hour for shopping, touring old downtown Salinas, or spending more time at the Steinbeck Center prior to catching bus to return to SLO.
Faculty: Alex Beattie is a retired community college teacher living in Morro Bay. He loves to organize things and has had a long time interest in John Steinbeck -- the man and the writer.
OSHR 2212
Tues., Apr. 1
Maximum Class Size: 40
1 Meeting
Location: Bus will leave from SLO. Meet at the Costco parking lot; look for the big Cal Poly bus. Additional $45 fee for bus tour and lunch.
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Living with the Geology of SLO County
We live in one of the most dynamic, active geologic areas of North America. Our county was once located where San Diego is today (28 million years ago) and will eventually end up near San Francisco (15-20 million years from now).
This course will be in two parts: 1. a meeting to see and hear an overview of geological background and 2. a bus trip to visit Avila, San Luis Obispo and the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield. We will have lunch at the Parkfield Inn.
Choose 1 of 2 dates for the bus tour: Apr. 17 or Apr. 24.
Faculty: Alan Stevens is active, dynamic and a fountain of information. His training was in geological engineering and geophysics. His work in oil exploration took him all over the world.
OSHR 2027
Lecture: Fri., Apr. 4, 10:00 am - Noon
Tour: Thurs., Apr., 17 or 24
Maximum Class Size: 50
2 Meetings
Location: PG&E Community Center
Additional Fee: $25 bus transportation (lunch not included)
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Pismo Beach Geology Walk
The Central Coast of California has a rich and varied geological history. Join us for a brief overview of that history and then we will take a hands-on and up close look at some geological highlights that are exposed at the beach in Pismo.
Some of the features that the site has to offer are faults, dikes, volcanic ash, sea stacks and evidence of rock-eating clams. All of them have a story to tell us and together we will unravel the tale. This course will allow you to look at our wonderful coast in a completely different way.
A similar course was taught at the same site a few years ago by Jamie Foster. If you took that course, this one will be a repeat.
This site is on the beach and requires going up and down staircases that total approximately 200 steps. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and the sandy beach. In case of rain the backup date is Tues., April 29.
Faculty: Lyle Yager is a docent for the Pecho Coast Trail and team-teaches the OLLI Lighthouse Hike Course, Reservoir Canyon and the Coon Creek hikes. He has developed an interest in the geology of the Central Coast, and has studied the Pismo Beach site a number of times as a member of several geology courses he has taken.
OSHR 2220
Tues. Apr. 15, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 25
1 Meeting
Location: Participants meet at the end of Wilmar St., Pismo Beach.
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Filipponi Wetland Perserve Walk
Join Brian Stark for an educational and inspirational walk at the Filipponi Ecological Area, a private site where The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has been working on a wetland enhancement project for over seven years. New habitat ponds were added to the site in the fall of 2007 in an effort to expand and enhance the wetland floodplain of the East Fork. The ponds were dug at varying depths to create diverse aquatic homes for wildlife including unique water plants, turtles, birds and the endangered red-legged frog.
Multiple restoration projects over the past few years have gradually nurtured the wetland back to its natural state. The wetland not only provides critical habitat, but it also filters water prior to entering the main stem of SLO Creek. This site is a spectacular area for birding and supports a diversity of mammals including deer, raccoons and bobcats. Filipponi Ecological Area is owned and managed by the City of San Luis Obispo.
Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited
Faculty: Brian Stark is the Executive Director of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, a position he has held for over 3 years. In his 14 years at the Land Conservancy he has gained extensive experience with restoring habitats for wetland plants and animals along San Luis Obispo County streams. Brian has been involved on the tour site for all seven years since its inception and will share some of the magic he has seen on this site over the years.
OSHR 2259
Fri., Apr. 18, 10:00 am - Noon
Maximum Class Size: 40
1 Meeting
Location: In San Luis Obispo; outdoor on-site
location off South Higuera street. If you are traveling
south, past the Octogon barn. There will be signage
out that day.
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Coon Creek Nature Walk
On this moderately easy five mile round trip walk you will experience the spring riparian habitat of Coon Creek with its many bird and animal species as well as the trees, plants and wild flowers of the Montana de Oro coastal plain and foothills. Through geologically dramatic formations, the gently ascending trail follows Coon Creek, a native steelhead trout stream surrounded by one of the most diverse and lush populations of native plants in the county.
Hikers should be able to walk about five miles along a gently ascending, descending and sometimes overgrown trail. You may encounter poison oak, stinging nettles, ticks and mud. Rain will cancel the walk.
Faculty: Lyle Yager is a docent for the Pecho Coast Trail and team-teaches the OLLI Lighthouse Hike Course, Reservoir Canyon and the Coon Creek hikes. He has developed an interest in the geology of the Central Coast, and has studied the Pismo Beach site a number of times as a member of several geology courses he has taken.
OSHR 2221
Thurs., Apr. 24, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Maximum Class Size: 20
1 Meeting
Location: Montana de Oro State Park. Meet at the parking area near the end of Pecho Road at the southern boundary of the park.
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