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Forever Learning Institute



Our Classes

Fri30 Wines of the World - Italy

$25

with Sharyl Dawes, MBA

Calendar Mar 27, 2026 at 2 pm, runs for 1 week

Build your wine knowledge by sipping and studying your way through some of the world’s most famous wine regions. Each session will feature 3-5 tastings, with a discussion of food pairings, tasting notes, and the history and geography of the region. Sharyl has hands-on viticultural and wine-making experience. The cost is $25 per session. The session meets on Friday, March 27.

Wed20 The Joy of Nature Journaling

$55

with DeAnna Varela, M.A.

Calendar Apr 1, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 6 weeks

Step into the sunshine and let your creativity wander! The Joy of Nature Journaling is a relaxed, playful course for anyone eager to explore the outdoors with curiosity and a sense of fun. No experience needed—just an open mind and a love for the natural world. Learn quick sketching skills, simple nature photography, collage, and gentle guided writing. Your naturalist instructor shares fun facts and easy techniques as you slow down, notice small wonders, and create joyful pages that celebrate the beauty around you. *Runs April 1 - May 6 in the Brown Barn at St. Patrick’s County Park. A journal and a pencil will be provided. Please bring a $5 copy fee to the first class.

Will run

Tue15 Birding 101

$55

with Michaele Klingerman

Calendar Apr 14, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 6 weeks

If you are curious to learn about birds and don't know where to start, this series is for you! We will begin with basics of bird id while looking at birds as we visit the trails at the various St. Joseph County Parks located throughout St. Joseph County. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. If you don't have binoculars, no worries! We have optics available. April 14 St. Parick's County Park: Harvest Room April 21 Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park: Astor Room April 28 Bendix Woods County Park: Runnels Shelter May 12 Spicer Lake Nature Preserve: Nature Center May 19 South Bend-Elkhart Bird Sanctuary: 59395 Clover Road May 26 Beverley D. Crone Restoration Site

Full Course

Wed44 iPad Photo Editing Workshop - Late Spring

$35

with Richard Sunshine, Ph.D.

Calendar Apr 15, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 5 weeks

In this course we will help you easily improve your photos by safely and responsibly using ChatGPT AI to repair damage and undo fading in old photos, to improve clarity, brightness, and color, remove unwanted objects and people, blur or change backgrounds, combine or blend photos, and create collages, greeting cards, cartoons, and artistic creations.  The editing process uses verbal commands in everyday language, so no technical or photo editing experience is required.  An iPad using iPadOS 26 is required. Jane Keller will be co-teaching.

Thu27 Cedar Grove Cemetery Tour

Free

with Jon Adamson, B.A.

Calendar Apr 16, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Join us for a lecture and a tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery--the cemetery on the campus of Notre Dame. Learn about local history and the fascinating lives of both famous and ordinary people interred at Cedar Grove. The lecture will be held in All Souls Chapel--the oldest continuously used chapel on campus. This will be followed by a tour of the grounds, stopping at various graves along the way. This session will meet on Thursday, April 16.

Full Course

Fri28 Wines of the World - Spain

$25

with Sharyl Dawes, MBA

Calendar Apr 17, 2026 at 2 pm, runs for 1 week

Build your wine knowledge by sipping and studying your way through some of the world’s most famous wine regions. Each session will feature 3-5 tastings, with a discussion of food pairings, tasting notes, and the history and geography of the region. Sharyl has hands-on viticultural and wine-making experience. The cost is $25 per session. This session meets Friday, April 17.

Full Course

Wed39 Science and Religion: Conflict or Something Else?

Free

with Robert Jay Malone, Ph.D.

Calendar Apr 22, 2026 at 2 pm, runs for 1 week

The so-called Conflict Thesis, made popular by Andrew Dickson White and John WIlliam Draper in the 19th century, claims that science and religion are, at best, in conflict, and, at worst, at warfare with each other. This talk will look at the historical roots of this purported tension, beginning with the Galileo affair and ending with Intelligent Design. We will examine Stephen Jay Gould's Non Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA), Richard Dawkins' belief that many Christians are essentially idiots, and wrestle with the idea of beauty and the seemingly numinous qualities of nature. This session will meet Wednesday, April,m22.

Will run

Thu31 Cedar Grove Cemetery Tour

Free

with Jon Adamson, B.A.

Calendar Apr 23, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Join us for a lecture and a tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery--the cemetery on the campus of Notre Dame. Learn about local history and the fascinating lives of both famous and ordinary people interred at Cedar Grove. The lecture will be held in All Souls Chapel--the oldest continuously used chapel on campus. This will be followed by a tour of the grounds, stopping at various graves along the way. This session will meet on Thursday, April 16.

Full Course




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