Summer 2025   

So George Washington was the first president of the United States, right?  A better question might be who led the U.S. for a period of 15 years spanning the time between 1774 and 1789, during the American Revolution and afterwards? This course will explore who were the first elected American Presidents who operated the congresses and led the nation in times of war and peace.

Think you know everything about one of the world's oldest beverages? Think again! From herb and tea parties to Soda Pop and Elizabeth I to Lipton and all points in between, explore the fascinating history of tea!

Using the support of a chair, learn seated and standing yoga poses to activate muscles and improve posture. We will focus on connecting our breath to each movement incorporating mindful transitions between postures. Additional benefits include: strength, balance, flexibility, stability, and relaxation. Please wear comfortable clothing that will not restrict movements and bring your yoga mat.

Learn to play American Mah Jongg, a fun game played with tiles. Attendees will learn "the wall", "the Charleston", "pung", "kong"and other interesting plays. All game materials will be supplied. We will play a few hands each week in class but you can also practice on Fridays at the Mah Jongg MIG. Lastly you will learn a few tricks and tips to help you win and make your first mah jongg!

We stand on the eve of a grand commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of America's Independence. While we all know of heroes such as Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, we may forget there are other significant heroes that are lesser known. Let's explore the roles of some of these vital and interesting individuals. Join us as we begin the celebration of America's Semiquincentennial!

This course is presented by the University of Alabama as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

How can I meet my fitness goals and live a thriving life? This course allows you to determine which systems might be causing you to have a difficult time accomplishing your health and fitness goals to lead a thriving life. We use tried and true physiological principles that have been helpful to hundreds of men and women. This is not a course filled with generalized recommendations nor is it a generic course about hormones or some system of your body without any respect for the other systems of your body. Instead, this course is about you!

The book: The Science of Thriving will be provided to students enrolled in this course. 

Discover the craft coffees of Huntsville! Each week we'll visit a different locally-owned coffee shop to try the unique brews of each locale. In conjunction with the Craft Coffee Trail from Downtown Huntsville, Inc., we'll hit 4 of the 10 locations on the trail to work towards bragging rights, yummy treats and a cool mug. Wake up your Summer with local brews!

Schedule of caffiene intake locations:

6/4 - Piper & Leaf - Constitution Village

6/11 - Mason Dixon Bakery

6/18 - (11am start) Pizzelle's Confections

6/25 - Bus Stop Coffee

 See the Craft Coffee Trail website for complete list of locations. 

Bafa Wubu or "Eight Methods, Five Steps," is the latest Tai Chi standard sanctioned by China. This new form, also known as the 13 Postures, expands the four core techniques of the 'Grasp Sparrow's Tail' movement into eight techniques expressed in five stepping directions. Student familiarity with either the Yang-10 or -24 Tai Chi forms will be helpful. 

Discover the art of storytelling through sound in this engaging hands-on course designed for lifelong learners.  Throughout the course, students will create their own sound stories, blending environmental sounds, foley effects, and recorded narration to craft compelling audio narratives. No prior experience with music technology is required—this course is designed for curious learners who want to explore creative sound production in an approachable and supportive environment.

Learn the basics of 3D printing and designing in this hands-on workshop! This course covers how 3D printing works, resources for locating models, software options for designing your own models, and how to turn your digital model into a finished 3D object. We'll also cover what 3D printing resources OLLI members have access to through the Salmon Library.  No prior experience necessary. Please bring a laptop or tablet with you if possible; a small number of both will also be available.   

Each person experiences many different phases of life—adolescence, higher education, marriage, retirement—at different points in time. With every new experience brings change, and change brings a transition. Transitions can be challenging when it includes making decisions regarding items you’ve collected throughout your life. In this course, we will help individuals right-size their life. You can expect to walk away empowered with tips as you prepare for your next transition in life.

This fun course for beginners will teach about the power of medicinal plants as teas. Each week we will feature a different tea and learn some fun facts about each one.

Designed for both beginner and avid home gardeners, this in-depth tour will provide insight into our time-tested growing methods and processes. Topics covered include soil and garden preparation, irrigation setup and water management, ground cloth selection and plant spacing, plant netting and support techniques, choosing the best flowers for our growing area, seed starting and propagation methods, fertilization and soil health, and flower drying and pressing techniques. 

This course will focus on starting a whole food plant based lifestyle and how food is our greatest medicine.  We will go over guidelines, beginning steps, cooking and a 7-day challenge. ($40 of your fee goes to a delicious meal for each class-come to class hungry.)

Examine a home bird sanctuary incorporating meadows, a shade garden and a bubbling rock water feature. During a tour of the garden, the instructor will demonstrate techniques of garden designs for creating your own backyard bird-friendly habitat and point out examples of key features such as native plantings, leaf mulching, pathways, plant density and water features. Participants will be invited to gather for questions and discussions of individual interest.

Participants will learn the ins and outs of baking perfect pound cakes and how you can create your own unique flavor blends. This course includes a demonstration of mixing and baking pound cakes in a kitchen, as well as discussion on recreating old-time favorites, and experimenting with new flavor blends.

Have you ever wanted to present an idea to a group?  PowerPoint is your answer.  This course will cover the basics of building a presentation to visually convey your ideas.

Before the music, there were playwrights, poets, and librettists. Throughout the history of opera, texts and music converge, resulting the great works we see and hear today.  Who were the famous folks behind our favorite operas?  What were their relationships with the composers? What were their lives like as they created the "little books," the libretti?  Enjoy the bios and the music!

This course is presented by the University of Alabama as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

Sitting beside the Marshals, Holmeses, Warrens, Brandeises, and Marshalls were the "also-sat" Justices -- the Supreme Court Backbenchers. The Justices you may have never heard of. One Justice sat on the bench while in debtors' prison. Another Justice refused to sit for the annual photo as long as a Jewish Justice was to be in the photo. Hear stories of the lives and philosophies of the lesser-known Justices.

This course is presented by the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

This course will be recorded. 

Sitting beside the Marshals, Holmeses, Warrens, Brandeises, and Marshalls were the "also-sat" Justices -- the Supreme Court Backbenchers. The Justices you may have never heard of. One Justice sat on the bench while in debtors' prison. Another Justice refused to sit for the annual photo as long as a Jewish Justice was to be in the photo. Hear stories of the lives and philosophies of the lesser-known Justices.

This course is presented by the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

This course will be recorded. 

This course is designed to inform and educate on the conservative care of Arthritis.  Attendees will learn about the different types of Arthritis and ways to manage the discomfort and pain that comes with it. 

Alabama’s territorial and early statehood years represent a crucial formative period in its past, a time in which the state both literally and figuratively took shape. This course will tell the story of the remarkable changes that occurred within Alabama as it transitioned from frontier territory to a vital part of the American union in less than a quarter century. Learn about charismatic leaders, rugged frontiersmen, a dramatic and pivotal war that shaped the state’s trajectory, raging political intrigue, and pervasive sectional rivalry. 

This course is presented by the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

This course will be recorded.

*Optional Textbook: Early Alabama (ISBN#9780817359287)

Continuing “Soundtracks of Our Lives,” let’s examine the (heart)beat of popular music. Whether it’s the power driving live band performance or the steady percussion of recordings, drums can make or break a band.  So thought Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein when he invited Ringo Starr to join the band.  This course will take a look at the greats - from Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa to Dave Grohl and a new crop of drummers who keep the beat.  

This course is presented by the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

Continuing “Soundtracks of Our Lives,” let’s examine the (heart)beat of popular music. Whether it’s the power driving live band performance or the steady percussion of recordings, drums can make or break a band.  So thought Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein when he invited Ringo Starr to join the band.  This course will take a look at the greats - from Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa to Dave Grohl and a new crop of drummers who keep the beat.  

This course is presented by the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

This course follows the life and times of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I, who became the famed “Winter Queen” of Bohemia and a catalyst for the Thirty Years' War. The art and palaces of England, Prague, Vienna, the Netherlands, and more are explored, as well as the complex relationships and dynamics that far outlasted her time.

This course is presented by the University of Alabama as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

Students will learn the history of haiku poetry and learn the basics of modern English-language haiku. Students will have a chance to write their own haiku. The course includes a visit to the Haiku Path at the North Alabama Japanese Garden at Monte Sano State Park on the last day of class.

View more information on the Haiku Path here!

This course teaches various point perspectives (1, 2, 3, or other multipoint) when drawing or painting an interior scene. All the materials for drawing - pencils, drawing paper, rulers - will be provided. If you want to paint or use something other than a pencil or pen, please feel free to bring it. Bring photos of an interior shot from anywhere that inspires you or intrigues you.

It's never too late to learn three different dances! The Foxtrot has smooth movement and style. Salsa and Merengue are two classic Latin dances. Let's heat up the dance floor, regardless of your level of dance experience. It is helpful to sign up with a partner, but it is not required.

Take a tour through the basic varietals of wine at Church Street Wine Shoppe, in Downtown Huntsville.  Enjoy a walk (and taste) through the basics of how wine is made, basic wine terms, and common wine varietals.  The course will also dicuss appellations, bottle opening, wine tasting basics.  (A sampling fee will be charged per session.)

*Optional Textbook: Rebel School of Wine

This course will teach hands-on CPR, AED use and basic first aid.

(This course is for informational purposes only. No certifications will be given.) 

What is self-care and why is it important? This is an introductory course and is for anyone interested in understanding the meaning of self-care and how self-care strategies can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. We will discuss how poor self-care practices can lead to anxiety, depression, increased pain, and poor quality of life. This course will include printable self-care journaling sheets and self-care strategies for participating in your health.

Explore the innovative strategies shaping the future of tourism in North Alabama. This course dives into marketing techniques that highlight the region’s unique attractions, the origins of our visitors, and the dynamic trails promoting our communities. Discover how accessibility initiatives are transforming the visitor experience, making North Alabama a welcoming destination for all. Learn about future-focused efforts like retire-and-relocate campaigns, community development, and sustainable tourism practices. Gain insight into how we are fostering connections between our rich heritage and modern amenities to position North Alabama as a premier destination for exploration, living, and unforgettable experiences.

This interactive course explores the journey of artificial intelligence from its early beginnings to its current role in society, and its potential future impact. Participants learn how AI has evolved, understand its present applications and discuss future possibilities. The course provides insights into AI’s influence on industries and everyday life.

This course is provided by the University of Alabama as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.