Happy Thanksgiving!

A publication of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU

Giving Thanks Is More Than a Holiday

For many, it has been a year of challenges. Consequently, sometimes it can be easy to overlook the simple gifts that shape our day and influence our life. The colors of the sky, a warm hand to hold, a breath of clean air, a friendly smile, a perfect snow flake. This 2.5 minute video is a heartwarming reflection of life's gifts to be thankful for.

View the video here.

Thank you for your continued support of OLLI at MSU. We truly appreciate the many gifts you share with us, your membership, and lifelong learning pursuits.

Be well and enjoy the gifts of the holiday!

3 Ways to Ignite the Joy of Lifelong Learning

Looking for a gift idea for a special someone who seems to have everything they need? Consider the gift of learning!

Here are three ideas that can ignite the joy of learning in family and friends this holiday season.

Purchase an OLLI at MSU gift certificate or gift membership here for a curious learner in your life;
Make a contribution here to OLLI at MSU, and support the continued development of lifelong learning programs that bring joy to you and others;
Honor and share Doug Young's enthusiasm for lifelong learning with others. Contribute to the Doug Young Memorial Scholarship Fund, created to support student scholarships for participation in OLLI at MSU. Contributions in Doug's memory may be made online here or mailed to: MSUAF, Attn: Doug Young Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 172750, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Remember, this academic year affords anyone anywhere the opportunity to participate in our diverse lifelong learning courses, lecture series, special events, workshops and more; live online or live recorded. Rodger in Iowa, Sara in New Hampshire, and Loren and Evelyn in Nevada are prime examples of OLLI at MSU members who continue engaging in lifelong learning from afar.

Learning new skills and engaging in challenging mental activities is known to help slow the rate of age-related cognitive decline in older adults. Join your peers, engage your brain, give the gift of learning today!

NEW! Special 'Snowmester' Offerings

Ecological Insights From 70 Years of Greater Yellowstone Amphibian Studies

With an introduction by special guest, local author Todd Wilkinson, Charles R. Peterson, professor of zoology at Idaho State University, and Andrew Ray, an aquatic ecologist with the National Park Service, will present and discuss how partnerships between the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey and Idaho State University helped launch one of the longest-running amphibian monitoring programs in the U.S.

Amphibians exhibit a fascinating range of adaptations to their varied environment and help indicate the health of wetlands...

Read more and register here.

This program is a collaboration between the Institute on Ecosystems, Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, Greater Yellowstone Network - National Park Service, Idaho State University, Bozeman Public Library and OLLI at MSU.

Day: December 10, 2020

Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public. Registration is required for this online event. Read more and register here.

Coffee With Ivan

Jan Zauha, humanities and outreach librarian at the MSU Library, will lead an exploration of Ivan Doig's life and legacy. This special 'Snowmester' course will focus on two of Doig's most popular works, "This House of Sky" and "The Bartender's Tale," will be equal parts biography and book discussion. Using items from the Ivan Doig Archive housed in the MSU Library's Archives and Special Collections, Zauha will share unpublished documents, letters, photos and sounds to provide attendees with an insider's look at Doig's life and writing process.