Hobbies, Games and Sports   

This seminar is for those who love beer and want to more about it, particularly in light of the huge proliferation of beer styles in recent times. Learn basic beer terms, the history of beer, the classic ingredients of beer, beer styles, and the difference between commercial beers and microbrews. This will be an interactive lecture/discussion.

The presenter is Martin Friedburg whose 25-year career in the beer and wine industry included ownership of an Ann Arbor beer/wine importing and distribution company. Beer will not be tasted at this event.

The program would provide the benefits provided by hiking in the natural environment. Benefits for physical health such as cardio strengthening, bone density maintenance and improvement, general functional fitness, balance and stability. Cognitive maintenance by ensuring oxygen transfer to the brain, (elasticity of veins etc.), improved alertness and sensory stimulation. Emotional health benefits by stress reduction from being in a wooded environment with greenery, the socialization with others on the trail and the relaxation from natural sounds of nature. Also, presentation for how to get started equipment, clothing, safety precautions, local trails. Overview of participants benefiting from hiking at all ages and all levels of fitness. Chronology age is not a factor merely one’s fitness level age which can easily be improved.

James Nelson is a Certified Personal Trainer, Senior Fitness Specialist and a Certified Health Coach. He has provided programs at WCC since 2019 and is the owner/operator of Take A Hike Adventures LLC. James recently completed training a group of individuals 62 to 76 years of age for the 20-mile Mammoth March, which all completed this past August.

The course will teach the modified and simplified version of the traditional Chinese tile game called Mah-Jongg, which was developed in Ann Arbor by Stuart Baggaley (1925-2022) in 2002. To play this version, a student does not have to join any organization or to pay any gambling debt. It is purely a social game that stimulates the brain and exercises the fingers. After the lessons, a student can join many groups in the community to play by the same rules regularly and participate in the annual Mah-Jongg Baggaley Style Tournament sponsored by AAUW Ann Arbor Branch.

Amy Seetoo has taught Mah-Jongg Baggaley Style with Stuart Baggaley between 2002 and 2019. She then taught with Nancy Howard in 2023 and 2024 at the UM Turner Senior Resource Center.

Stand-Up comedy is one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment. In this study group, we will learn about Stand-Up and try it out for ourselves. We'll laugh at videos of several of the most well-known comics (clean). Each participant will learn the basics of Stand-Up and create a 3-5 minute set on the topic of their choice. There will also be an optional field trip to a local show or open mic. If the class decides to do so, we'll hold an informal showcase for other OLLI students. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Just bring a sense of humor, and enthusiasm about learning something new!

Meta Mendel-Reyes is a budding Stand-Up comedian. She has performed at Open Mics throughout Metro Detroit. She has taught a study group before, and no one dropped out, so she must be good!

Explore the life of the honeybee in and out of the hive. Victoria Dluzen McIntyre is an amateur apiarist whose love of honeybees comes to her naturally- her family name 'Dluzen' means 'Keeper of the Bees' in Polish. Come and learn about the mysteries of the hive and how 50,000 bees work together for one common good.

Known as 'The Bee Lady,' Victoria McIntyre has travelled around southeastern Michigan giving talks to schools, garden clubs and civic groups.

This seminar is for those who enjoy wine but feel intimidated by their lack of knowledge about it. Learn lots of practical "how's" about wine: making wine, reading a label, using a corkscrew, opening champagne safely, tasting, matching with food, shopping for wine, storing wine, and more. This will be an interactive lecture/discussion. The presenter is Martin Friedburg whose 25-year career in the wine industry included Sales Manager at two Michigan wineries, ownership of an Ann Arbor wine importing and distribution company and serving as a wine judge. Wines will not be tasted at this event.