Lifelong Learning Institute   

Pickleball for all lifelong learner levels. Come and play pick-up games for fun, exercise, and light-hearted competition. Non-Lifelong Learning members must pay a Discover U fee.

Bridge: A card game and a way to build community with others. Score sheets and cards will be provided. Come and learn how to play bridge.

Join us for light cardio, functional strength, balance exercises, yoga, and relaxation. In this class, you will also learn how to use the machines in the NIACC weight room and perform simple dumbbell exercises to foster muscle maintenance. You will be encouraged to modify things to work for your body. There is no need to bring any equipment to class.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

We know his-story; but what about her-story. In the Women’s History study group, members will introduce two to three women each week to learn about their families, their accomplishments, and even their scandals. They are mothers, authors, doctors, entertainers, adventurers, and wives from around the world. Join us as we discover how these women have influenced our lives today.

Learn to decorate with royal frosting and take home your adorable Halloween cookies!

In our first session, we’ll explore the distinctions between values, morals, and ethics, with a focus on understanding what uniquely defines ethics and why. In the second session, students are invited to share real-life ethical challenges they’ve encountered. We’ll examine these experiences together, discussing the ethical dilemmas involved, the principles considered, and the resolutions reached. By the end of the second session, students will identify professional codes of ethics they’re interested in learning more about. In our final session, we’ll review these codes and discuss how rationalization can sometimes lead to violations of ethical standards.

Drawing on over forty books from his private library, most of a biographical nature about our sixteenth President, Jim will try to humanize and add dimension to this towering figure in American history by examining some lesser-known facts about his life, including the impressions of those in direct contact with him. A bibliography will be provided as part of the class, with comments and recommendations. Students of history and those who would like to know more about Lincoln should find this presentation interesting.

Daphne Fuller unexpectedly reconnects with her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett, decades after a life-changing event separated them. Whistler explores memory, choices, loss, and enduring love as two adults reflect on how brief yet meaningful connections can shape a lifetime. It is a heartfelt story about forgiveness, courage, and the lasting impact of being truly known.

Lifelong Learning book club provides the opportunity to share your thoughts while also listening to gain the perspectives of others. Together, we will enjoy lively and sometimes deep discussions. Feel free to either offer your input or sit back and listen. Join us even if you weren't able to finish the book.

The book can be found at your local library and on Amazon. For a local purchase and a discount, please consider shopping at Three Bells Books, 14 S Commercial Alley, Mason City

World War II and the Holocaust were unparalleled events in world history. How did the churches in Germany and throughout Europe respond to the Nazi persecution and mass murder of European Jewry? We will begin by looking at the varying Christian movements within Nazi Germany and briefly assess both Christian complicity with and resistance to the Nazi regime. We will note how the German churches responded to the persecution of the Jewish people in the Nazi era. We will then briefly look at varying churches throughout Europe in the Nazi era and their responses related to the Holocaust.

Aging is inevitable – and how we age is something we can influence.  In this engaging and uplifting class, discover five powerful secrets that help people thrive physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially as they grow older.  Whether you are planning for your future or looking to improve your quality of life right now, this class will provide encouragement, tools, and inspiration to help you age with confidence, vitality, and joy.

History ignores the fact that between 1854 and 1929, over 300,000 children were forcefully moved from Eastern Seaboard cities to every territory and state in the Union. Was this a huge social experiment that failed? Or the one and only chance thousands of children had to survive a condition created by poor government and short-sighted social programs?

In recognition of our Country's 250th anniversary, this course will take a look at over twenty Presidential homes and/or libraries visited by Jim over the years, his impressions, and related stories.

Are you fascinated by true crime? In this class, participants can volunteer to present and discuss true crimes. If presenting is not your thing, feel free to join in on the riveting discussion as the group dives into the mystery together.

On June 25th, 1950, the military forces of North Korea, with the tacit support of both the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea. South Korean and United Nations forces were pushed back to the Pusan Perimeter by September, but a brilliant counterattack at Inchon by Douglas MacArthur relieved those troops and created a push into North Korea by United Nations troops. They almost got to the Yalu River before the Chinese invaded North Korea. As Chinese troops poured across the border, the stage was set for one of the most famous battles of the war. The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir occurred from November 27th to December 13th, 1950. United Nations forces, comprised primarily of American soldiers and marines, fought a major battle in horrible freezing weather against a vastly superior Chinese force. They were encircled but managed to break out and fight their way to the coast. For their bravery and valor, they will forever be known as the “Chosin Few.”

Step into baseball’s past as familiar images and legendary players are brought to life through original oil paintings. Artist Larry Schimka shares stories of colorful characters and enduring myths behind these classic scenes. Blending art, history, and storytelling, he offers an engaging new way to experience the game that has captured the imagination of fans across generations.

How do medical and research scientists explain the power of healing prayer? It’s not about how religious faith and theologians explain it. Jim Collison’s long career as a researcher and writer began as a journalist when he was 17. As a reporter for the Waterloo Courier in 1957, he began researching and writing about “faith healing.” Now, 69 years later, what has he learned are the science-based explanations for the power of “Faith Healing” prayer?

Brainstorming 3.0 is a simple yet fruitful tool for families planning a vacation or groups envisioning their future! In 3.0, everybody has cards to write down their ideas as they shout them to stimulate others. Wild ideas encouraged! Next, all idea cards are laid out and gathered into clusters. Participants pick a cluster to develop further, then work together in small groups. We briefly brainstorm "the family vacation" to learn the skill, then put our brains together to dream possibilities for the Life Long Learning Institute (courses, resource people, places, times, and more...)

Throughout our nation's 250-year history, we have engaged in many wars. We will examine our society's attitudes, support, and non-support for wars in the course of our journey from colonial times to the present.  We will examine our nation’s wars in the context of the eras in which they occurred, with an understanding of how war effects our national character.  After surveying the many motives and justifications for war and their impact on our society, we will end with a class discussion of the impact wars have had on our national unity.

THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.

We the Women by Norah O'Donnell and Kate Andersen Brower presents a fresh look at American his­tory through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the prom­ises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

We are trying a non-fiction book to mix it up a little. This book club provides the opportunity to share your thoughts while also listening to gain the perspectives of others. Together, we will enjoy lively and sometimes deep discussions. Feel free to either offer your input or sit back and listen. Join us even if you weren't able to finish the book.

The book can be found at your local library and on Amazon. For a local purchase and a discount, please consider shopping at Three Bells Books, 14 S Commercial Alley, Mason City

This course follows the course on The Churches and the Holocaust, although it is not necessary to take that course first. We will first briefly assess historical relations between Christians and Jews, including during the Nazi era. We will then look at how some Jews and Christians engaged in dialogue after the Holocaust. We will note the theological shifts among certain churches, particularly taking note of Vatican II in the Roman Catholic Church, and then take note of some of the personalities involved in this work. We will conclude by looking at some of the pioneering women who spent their lives doing this work.