Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Illinois

📣Happening TODAY! (Sat, 4/11/26)📣

The 2026 Boneyard Arts Festival is in full swing, and it’s amazing to see so many local venues lifting up artists this year! 🎨✨
Festival info: https://40north.org/our_programs/boneyard-arts-festival/

If you’re out exploring, make sure to stop by OLLI at Illinois (M2 Building, 2nd floor, Downtown Champaign) from noon–4 PM.

We’re celebrating 30+ local artists, poets, and writers — come enjoy the creativity, meet the makers, and support our community’s talent!

🌿🪻🌱🪻🌿 The Let's Go Hiking! crew went on their annual bluebell adventure this week at Hidden Acres! Group leader, Fred, reports that the bluebells will be at their peak for about one more week and shared a map that makes Hidden Acres not so hidden for anyone else who may want to go enjoy!

As always, thanks for Fred for sharing the photos and information!

🥾🌳🌞 The OLLI Let's Go Hiking! Interest Group recently enjoyed a sunshine-filled hike at the Camp Camfield trails, Lake Shelbyville. Special thanks to Fred C for the photos!

🌟 Orange & Blue Days: March 4–6, 2026 🌟

We’re excited to share that OLLI at Illinois is part of this year’s campus‑wide Orange and Blue Days crowdfunding campaign!
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of OLLI’s founding, we’re inviting our community to help us reach an important goal: 20 additional donors to the OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund during this year’s campaign.

This special fund was created in honor of OLLI’s two decades of growth, learning, and connection. And thanks to a generous anonymous donor, every gift made to the Sustaining Excellence Fund in 2026 will be matched at 50%, up to $100,000—making your contribution especially impactful.
If OLLI has enriched your life or the life of someone you know, we hope you’ll consider making a gift during Orange & Blue Days. Together, we can ensure a strong and vibrant future for our learning community.

💙🧡 Make your gift today and help us reach our goal! 💙🧡

https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/OLLI

Some members of the Let's Go Hiking! Interest Group recently had a beautiful day for a hike on the Allerton Park Yellow Trail. Thanks to Fred Christensen for the photos!

🎉 Congratulations to Our Week 2 OLLI Trivia Champions! 🎉
A heartfelt thank you to Fred Christensen, who once again took the helm as our MC last week, delighting us with a 🎶 musical trivia montage 🎶 that filled the OLLI suite with sweet sounds and good cheer.

Make sure to join us tomorrow—THURS, FEB 5, at 3:00 PM—for our final winter trivia session, featuring more thought‑provoking questions and friendly competition in the very best OLLI tradition.
Feel free to bring a friend—trivia is even more fun when shared!

The OLLI Winter Gathering this past weekend was a delight—filled with thoughtful conversations, shared laughter, and a wonderful sense of community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the gathering so enjoyable. 💖🥰💖

🎉 Congratulations to our Trivia Champions! 🎉
A big round of applause to this week’s winners—well done! And a special thank you to Ann Campbell, who brought a touch of Scottish flair with her questions as our MC for the very first time.
Join us again same time, same place next week for more laughs, great questions, and friendly competition.
🏆 Who will be next to join the winner’s circle? We’d love to see you there!

✨ A Season of Learning and Discovery at OLLI ✨

Last week, members enjoyed a captivating showing of the documentary "Frozen Frames: Murphy’s Yellowstone" followed by an enlightening presentation on GeoBioMed studies and current research from Bruce Fouke. The turnout was wonderful, and we are delighted to share that Bruce will return during our Winter session with "Human Kidney, Heart and Breast Calcification: A Microcosm of Yellowstone Processes."

As the holidays approach, only two more Brown Bag lectures remain! Today’s in‑person program features Allan Tuchman with "A Seal for a Cause," accompanied by a special treat: a shared display of Allan’s remarkable personal collection of Christmas Seals and more.

📚 Don’t miss these final opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate the season together.
👉 Register here: https://go.illinois.edu/OLLI-Lectures

Looking for the perfect gift for a friend?

Give the gift of lifelong learning and new friendships - a membership in OLLI at Illinois.

https://go.illinois.edu/OLLI-Gift-Certificate