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

This course introduces the fundamentals of quantum mechanics—from Planck and his constant to basic applications of Schrödinger’s equation and the resulting structure of atoms. With this foundation, we’ll take a relaxed, engaging tour through the elements, using the periodic table as our roadmap. Along the way, we’ll explore how these elements appear in everyday life, including the 60+ elements found in the phones we carry. Prerequisites include either the Fall 2025 Forever Learning course Mathematics and Quantum Physics or one semester of high school physics, some calculus, and college-level probability.

Ever wonder how our amazing immune system works? It's all about how the body detects and eliminates harmful threats or invading pathogens that, if left unchecked, will cause disease or worse. This course will examine our immune system in detail, concentrating on how specific cells, biochemicals and barriers interact to protect us. Knowledge of basic biology is helpful, but not necessary as applicable concepts will be explained and questions answered.

Did you ever wonder how those beautiful rocks on Lake Michigan’s beach were made? Why do some look like coral you’ve seen in Florida? Some look as black as lava. Some look to be layered with sands of a different color. Each of these rocks tell a story that we will explain in this course. We will tell the story of how the earth evolved and the unique process that formed the continents. Rocks can also tell the story of the evolution of life. Come learn these processes and you will never see beaches, mountains and plains in the same way. Finally, you will learn to appreciate the time involved in the development of the earth’s surface you see now.

Once each month, meet a naturalist at a County Park for an introduction to what’s going on with plants, animals and insects as nature reawakens from winter. Then head out for a naturalist-led hike to look and listen for nature in action. Dates and locations: March 6 at St. Patrick's County Park; April 3 at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve; May 1 at Bendix Woods County Park. All dates meet 9-11 am.

In today’s world, terms like genetics, mRNA vaccines, and CRISPR technology appear everywhere. This class provides a solid foundation in the basics of genetics and inheritance, exploring how they shape evolution, diversity, modern medicine, and cutting-edge biotechnology. It also serves as an excellent companion to my other course, Ethics in Genetics.

In an age of rapidly advancing technology, genetics is playing an increasingly significant role in science and medicine. With these breakthroughs come profound and thought-provoking questions. Who owns our genes? Are GMO foods safe to eat? Is it ethical to create entirely new proteins to combat disease and genetic disorders? What are the caveats and concerns surrounding CRISPR technology? Should we create “designer babies”? What happens if insurance companies gain access to our genetic profiles? Are we, in some ways, playing God? Join me as we explore these questions and many more. (No prior knowledge of genetics is required to take this class.)