Remote   

Alexander von Humboldt was born in the same year (1769) as Napoleon and Wellington but was celebrated as a world citizen by Germans after his death (1859). Quickly after his death, the worth of the generalist in science such as Humboldt was being downplayed as specialists came to the fore, and he therefore became lesser known than many of these, especially in the English-speaking world. Humboldt was responsible for a doubling of known plant species in his major South American exploration trip and for a general recognition of scientific advancements in his time. This workshop will cover his life and achievements.

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture.

SUGGESTED BOOK: The Invention of Nature, Andrea Wulf, ISBN 9780345806291

Thanks to intrepid individual investigators and the gradually evolving state of modern archaeology, today we’re able to hear ancient echoes from other, earlier civilizations otherwise long lost to time and collective memory, leading to new understandings that expand our perspective on the ancient world. We’ll look at six case studies: Schliemann at Troy (1870); Evans at Knossos (1900); Carter at King Tut’s Tomb (1923); the Gnostic Gospels at Nag Hammadi (1945); the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran (1947); and Connolly’s Reinterpretation of the Parthenon Frieze (2014).

New remote course. Format includes lecture.

When we think of the High Renaissance, we think of words like “genius, enlightened, and magnificent.” In this class we will look beyond the bright sheen of exceptionalism to consider the reality of life in Florence, including conflicts between the Medici and other powerful factions, the friction between humanism and conservative Christianity, the struggle of artists and architects to find commissions and establish reputations, and the contrast between male and female patrons. We will discuss Lorenzo the Magnificent and his family, the rival Pazzi Family, Savonarola, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Machiavelli, and various other artists, writers, and popes. This course is a follow up to “The Stormy Start of the Italian Renaissance,” but that course is not a prerequisite to this class.

New course offering an in-person section on Wednesdays and a remote section on Thursdays. Format includes lecture and discussion.

In preparation for the 2026 Camden Conference, this course examines elections and parliaments in Iran and Tunisia. Iran has been rocked recently by violent demonstrations against repressive government policies — but a newly-elected President promises reform. The Arab Spring uprisings began in Tunisia with hopes of a democracy replacing a dictatorship. However, a recently popularly-elected president has moved in an antidemocratic direction. We will explore these two cases of elections and their effectiveness in realizing democracy.
New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

As we delve into Australia, its people, and its land, we will meet deported criminals from England in an early penal colony north of Sydney; feisty Irish bushmen in the Outback resisting English discrimination; hard-living enemies in a fishing community on the west coast north of Perth; and a group of women who are long-time friends weekending in a beach community near Sydney. All are finding their way in the harsh climate of the immense megadiverse continent of Australia. We will read four novels in eight weeks with discussion facilitated by four teams of two presenters. The class is highly participatory so come prepared to immerse yourself. Please read the first half of The Secret River for the first class.

New remote course. Format includes discussion.

REQUIRED BOOKS: The Secret River, Kate Grenville, ISBN 9781841957975; The True History of the Kelly Gang, Peter Carey, ISBN 9780375724671; Dirt Music, Tim Winton, ISBN 9780743228480; The Weekend, Charlotte Wood, ISBN 9780593086445

Although Jung wrote the above-mentioned book over 60 years ago, his insights remain timely. The UFO phenomenon is real. The nature of that reality, be it mass hysteria, authentic space aliens in starships, or events even more bizarre, remains unknown, but potentially both knowable and worth discovering. Jung concludes his book with the still widely-believed suspicion that government officials know more than they will admit.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

No, not THAT “ADDAMS” family! For nearly 200 years, this family made incredibly diverse contributions to American life: two presidents and their remarkable first ladies, a Secretary of State, a congressman, a very significant ambassador to England during our Civil War, a pioneer female photographer, and two historians and pundits (one of whom may have been the 19th century’s greatest). We will examine seven lives from this remarkable clan.

Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Guessing which way the plot will change (when forewarned) will be added fun when watching the eight films listed here (one per week) at home. You’ll consider questions I send as a guide for our (remote) class. We’ll also consider filming snafus, actors’ quotes, and who refused to work with whomever again (as when Kubrick demanded 50 takes.) Schedule: Cinema Paradiso; All That Jazz; Whiplash; Fight Club; Silver Linings Playbook; Shawshank Redemption; Parasite; and we’ll pick one or two from your suggestions or No Way Out; The Great Dictator; Invisible Guest; Identity; Enemy. We’re not experts; just film-lovers. New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

An interactive course designed to help those with just a very basic understanding of bridge. You will get to the next level where you can have fun playing with some attempt to compete for a good score. Using screen sharing, we look at actual deals to discuss the guidelines for opening bids, responding to opener’s bid, making a defensive bid, playing a hand and defending. This is a fun and light-hearted class that is judgment free. You will learn how to log on to the free program to learn and play: bridgebase.com.

Repeat remote course. Format includes hands-on learning.

SUGGESTED BOOKS: Bridge Basics 1: An Introduction, Audrey Grant, ISBN 9780939460908; The Fun Way to Serious Bridge, Harry Lampert, ISBN 9780671630270

Introducing practical wisdom and sacred inspiration based on Tibetan Buddhist understanding of death. Based on The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and presenting video teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche, the course gives guidance on meditation and contemplation, a practice for healing for the moment of death, how we may best accompany someone nearing death and help a dying person to meet death reassured by loving support and care, with peace of mind. The course is for anyone who wishes to learn more about death and dying from the Tibetan Buddhist perspective. The universality these teachings goes beyond Buddhism.

Repeat remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

SUGGESTED BOOK: Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche, ISBN 9780062508348; Facing Death and Finding Hope, Christine Longaker, ISBN 0385483317; Present Through the End, Kirsten DeLeo, ISBN 9781611807684

Considering current ecological and political conditions, do you believe that our global civilization has begun to descend towards an inevitable collapse? If so, how shall we live on the bumpy ride to the bottom? Might we learn to savor the gift of this life, in these times? Guided by Brian McLaren’s book Life After Doom and other sources, we will engage in mutually supportive dialogue that considers these questions. The aim is to find common ground in accepting what we cannot control and building a community of people who support the well-being of all humans and all life on Earth.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

SUGGESTED BOOK: Life After Doom, Brian McLaren, ISBN 9781250893277

Have you ever experienced a memory lapse? Have you ever misplaced your car keys or experienced that “tip of the tongue” feeling when you were trying to remember someone’s name? We can certainly improve that! First, we will be discussing what memory is and how it works. Then you will learn some new techniques on how to remember what you did in the past, put names to faces, remember lists and other things you need to do. We’ll review and use memory techniques that work best for your lifestyle. Furthermore, we will look at the roles of emotions, recall, focus and forgetfulness, concentration concerns, and other memory issues that may be of concern. Also, there will be opportunities to practice memory techniques that apply to real-life situations.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Granted, we didn’t fight in Vietnam for 30 years. But we were involved ever since WWII. We even had an ally by the name of Ho Chi Minh in opposing the Japanese. But when the hot war ended and the Cold War began, we turned a deaf ear on Ho’s pleas for support in uniting Vietnam. Instead, we helped the French reclaim their colony. This course examines our country’s involvement in Vietnam, the toll it took on our youth, but also our psyche, our sense of ourself, and our place in the world.

New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Have you experienced something inexplicable and wondered how it came about? You may have attributed it to intuition, inner knowing, spirituality, synchronicity, or even coincidence. In a safe, supportive environment, we will share and explore these experiences and define ways of cultivating them. Magical moments are unpredictable. Help arrives unexpectedly, the right person appears at the right time, an innovative solution emerges, someone we’re thinking of calls, we survive a dangerous or difficult situation, dreams inform us. Magical moments come in numerous forms. In this six-week class, we’ll reflect on these experiences and define potential ways of nurturing them.

New remote course. Format includes discussion and film.

As we continue our Sherlock Holmes series, starring Jeremy Brett, this episode includes one of the most oftquoted lines spoken by Holmes in the Canon. It involves the theft of a great racehorse and a barking dog.

New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and film.

We can face a variety of ups and downs in life these days. As we navigate through “rough waters” we can experience a range of stressors and stress-related symptoms. Join us for this upbeat workshop to learn some down-to-earth tips to better manage — and even thrive — through life’s challenges. Vicki’s interactive style combines lecturette with time for reflection and guided discussion. Some handouts will be distributed in class. Topics include: Reach Back: Reignite your sources of strength and resilience; Reach In: Recognize and quiet your inner vulture, expand your thinking, and dissipate your “drainers”; Reach Out: Activate your energizers: Nature Nurtures, Circles of Connection, Why Should We Be Serious About Humor? Building a “Personal Thrive Kit.”

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

SUGGESTED BOOKS: Building the Bonds of Friendship at Midlife and Beyond, Vicki Field & Dr. Amy (I will bring books with me).

West Side Story (1961) was a monumental film winning numerous film awards and it became a lasting tribute to its creators, Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, and Stephen Sondheim, three musical geniuses. In 2021, another genius, Steven Spielberg, remade the movie to honor his father, who loved the musical. It is a daunting task to tackle a masterpiece, but I sincerely believe his version was up to the task. We will watch clips from both movies to relive this wonderful experience and to enjoy and discuss both movies.

New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and film.

Students learn the art of writing memoir. They are encouraged to submit a written memoir for each monthly workshop and receive constructive comments in return.

The workshop meets via Zoom once a month between October and May.

Repeat remote course. Format is discussion.

This five-week introductory course teaches the basics of the Zentangle pen & ink drawing method of art. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing patterns within structured spaces.  Zentangle has proven to have beneficial health effects as well! This course will provide instruction in fundamental pen strokes, multiple tangle patterns, and simple shading techniques. Each class focuses on learning a specific design style while learning a variety of “tangles” that employ this type of design specific. We will also explore basic components of design and ideas for embellishment. New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Materials Kit for Zentangle 101, ($15; purchased from facilitator)

This five-week introductory course teaches the basics of the Zentangle pen & ink drawing method of art. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing patterns within structured spaces.  Zentangle has proven to have beneficial health effects as well! This course will provide instruction in fundamental pen strokes, multiple tangle patterns, and simple shading techniques. Each class focuses on learning a specific design style while learning a variety of “tangles” that employ this type of design specific. We will also explore basic components of design and ideas for embellishment. New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Materials Kit for Zentangle 101, ($15; purchased from facilitator)

Shading could be said to be the most exciting component of the Zentangle method! After your tangles have been placed on your tile, it is your shading techniques that make your overall design “pop.” In this class, you will explore shading basics, and how to apply these skills to the original white, black, Renaissance, and grey Zentangle tiles.

New remote workshop. Format includes hands-on learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Beginner materials ($15) can be mailed directly to the registrants and payment is made directly to the facilitator via Venmo or a check.