Course Title: Lake Ecology

Course # 18S03

Dates and time: Tuesday and Thursday, July 10 & 12, 10:00 AM to 3:00PM,   

Location: Oma Town Hall – 4514 W Town Hall Rd. Oma, WI (16 miles north of Mercer on the corner of Hwy 51 and Town Hall Rd.)

Fee: $35 with $5 discount for early bird registration before June 26^th (includes 2 lunches)

This course consists of 4 segments, each 2 hours and lead by a lakes expert. A catered lunch, included in the fee, will be served between morning and afternoon sessions both days.

Session I, Waters of Wisconsin, Tuesday July 10, 10AM to 12PM. Instructor Susan Knight  – Associate Scientist and Interim Director – UW Madison, Center for Limnology – Trout Lake Station –

Course description:   Waters of Wisconsin – Lakes, streams, wetlands, and ground water are dynamic features of Wisconsin’s landscapes. These waters are vital to our health, livelihoods and enjoyment. In this session, we will discuss the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of these water resources and how they interact.  We will consider how lakes differ as well as the importance of lake issues including food webs, eutrophication, invasive species, and damage to shorelands. We will address problems unique to streams as well as local groundwater issues. Finally, we will examine the importance and vulnerabilities of wetlands. We will discuss how these different types of waters interact and contribute to the aquatic landscape in Wisconsin. Continue reading

Course Title:  Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area Guided Auto Tour, Part I

Course # 18S04

Dates:  Monday, Aug. 6; Thurs. Aug. 9th; Monday, Aug. 13

Time:  9:00 am – Noon

Location:  Mercer Public Library Conference Room, (and various field sites to be announced), 2648W Margaret St. Mercer, WI

Fee: $35 (early bird discount $30 if paid before July 23rd)

Objectives:  Students will gain an understanding of the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Water Area by tracing the route of the Turtle -Flambeau Scenic Water Area Auto Tour guide book.  Topics to be covered include the introduction of the history of the flowage, fauna and flora present, its watershed, the geology, wetlands emphasizing deep water bogs, and how some tree and game species are managed within the tour area.  Continue reading

Course Title:  Identifying, Treating and Reporting Invasive Terrestrial Plants

Course # 18S02

Dates:  June 6 and June 7, 2018

Time:  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location:  Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St, Mercer, WI 54547(if more than 12 students register, then a new venue will be required)

Fee: There is no fee for this class, but students must register as space is limited.

Objectives:  Students will learn about the negative impacts of invasive plants and about the organizations in the county and state that treat and monitor invasive species.  Students will learn about the most damaging invasive terrestrial species in the region, how to identify them, treat them, and report them.  During the second day, the group will visit known sites of invasive species in Iron County, learn about treatment techniques, and help remove invasive plants in the field. Continue reading

Course Title : Birding Skills Workshop

Course # 18W09

 Dates : May 21, 22, 23, 2018

 Time : 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

 Location : Mercer, WI Library, 2648 Margaret St.; meet in the conference room

Fee: $45, Early Bird (no pun intended) discount $40 with payment by May 7

Class Size Limit:   Class is full no more enrollments will be taken.

 Objectives: Mid-to-late May marks the return of nearly all of our neotropical songbirds from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. They come back in full voice and brilliant color ready to establish new territories and successfully breed. In this 3-day class, we’ll take our time to learn how to identify birds by sight, by ear, by habitat, and by behaviors. This class is for beginning birders to moderately experienced birders, so if you’re new to birding, you should fit in fine.

Course structure: We’ll be in the field every morning slowly hiking sites that will give us the best chance of finding a good diversity of birds and to give everyone the necessary time to get comfortable with their ID skills. We’ll also have a bird-banding demonstration by master bird-bander Bruce Bacon. Continue reading

Course Title:  Beginner Golf Lessons

Course #18S01

Dates:  Wednesdays, May 23, 30 & June 6, 13

Time:  5pm to 7pm

Location:  Gogebic Country Club, 200 Country Club Rd, Ironwood, MI  49938

Course Fee: $30 plus $20 for club fees (4 sessions). Early Bird discount $25 plus $20 club fees remit $45 by May 9th

Class Size Limit: 20 Students

Objectives:  The lessons will cover all basics of the golf game from stance, grip and swing to chipping, putting, rules and playing the course.  Clubs and golf balls will be provided. Continue reading

Course Title: A Brief History of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement

Course#18W01

Dates:   Wed. Nov. 29, Dec 6, Dec 13, & Dec 20

Time: 4:00PM to 6:00PM

Fees: $30 Discount Fee-$25 if received by Nov. 15th

Location: Hurley K-12 School

Fe University is now accepting registrations for the class titled A Brief History of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.  The class taught by Hurley High School history teacher, Christopher Kelly, will be held for four Wednesdays November 29^th, Dec. 6, 13, 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Hurley K-12 School.

This class will focus on the U.S. Civil Rights movement from the 1890’s through the 1960’s.  Particular attention will be paid to major events of the 1950’s and 60’s including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the Children’s March and the Mississippi Burning case.  The course is intended to highlight major areas of interest.

Continue reading

Course Title: Reading Russia’s Past

Course#18W02

This class is full and we will only be accepting registration for a future class.  If you are interested please complete a registration form and send it to us without the fee.

Dates: Tuesdays, Jan 9, 16, 23, 30,  2018

Time: 9:30-12:00 Noon

Location: Mercer Public Library, 2648W Margaret St.

Fee: $35 with $5 discount if registration is received by Dec. 26th.

Through an examination of select historical moments, this course will identify and assess some of the main themes of Russia’s history.  These themes will include: the impact of geography; the diversity of population; an authoritarian political tradition; an hierarchical social order; challenges to economic development; and a long-established cultural tradition that centers on tension between Russia and western Europe.  Along the way we will encounter such figures as Vladimir the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II, Lenin, Stalin, and Vladimir Putin; and we will look at such watershed events as the Christianization of the country, expansion to the Pacific Ocean, the emancipation of the serfs, and the revolutions of the 20th century, and Russia in World War II.

Objectives:  This course will provide students with a broad framework for understanding Russia’s historical development and will introduce them to some major—and often conflicting—interpretations of significant events and trends. Students will also have some practice interpreting primary documents.

Continue reading

Course Title:Tracking the American Marten, a Wisconsin Endangered Mustelid

(Course qualifies for Master Naturalist continuing education)

This class is full and we will only be accepting registration for a future American Marten class.  If you are interested please complete a registration form and send it to us without the fee.

Course#18W03

Dates:   Wed, Thurs, Fri, January 17, 18, 19, 2018

Time:  17th and 18th –9AM-12PM; 19th—9AM-1:00PM

Location:  17th– Iron County Forestry Highway Dept conference room, 607 3rd Ave. North,      Hurley

        18th-Mercer Library, 2648W Margaret St., Mercer

        19th-Meet at Mercer Library—tracking field trip

Course fee:  $35 with a $5 discount if registered by Jan. 3rd.

Objectives: Deep in the heart of Iron County in Northern Wisconsin, the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, along with local high school students, are investigating the linkage between forest types, soils, water, and wildlife.  Through hands-on research the team has been studying Wisconsin’s State endangered American Marten and its habitat, home range, and behavior.  This session will introduce you to the fascinating natural history of the Am. Marten as well as a sharing of data collected about marten habitat and the importance of forested wetlands.   Continue reading

Course Title:  Cross Country Ski Instruction

Course No. 18W09

Dates:  Jan. 16, 18, 23, 25, 2018

Time:  1:00 – 3:00 PM

This class is now full.  Since it filled so quickly FeU is working on scheduling another class in February.  We need to coordinate with the instructor and ABR to make it work.  Fill out a registration form or call us(715-561-3098 or 715-476-2881) and we will add your name to the next course offering. Keep checking this site for updates.

Location: ABR Ski Area, E5299 West Pioneer Rd., Ironwood, MI 49938, 906-932-3502, ABR Ski Website

Course Fee: $45 (minus $5 if registration received by Jan. 9); Scholarships available

Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, students will understand the basics of both diagonal stride and skate style skiing, as regards both technique and equipment.  They will be able to stand comfortably on skis, compress each ski and grip the snow, kick off and then repeat with the opposite leg.  They will be able to glide forward on the gliding ski after their kick, maintaining balance, as they shift their weight forward over the gliding ski.  They will be able to engage their poles at the proper time and push, assisting forward movement. Continue reading

Course Title: Contest and Controversy; Rome, Ireland, Early Christianity in the British Isles

Course#18W04

Date: Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 2018

Time: 10:00 am to noon

Location: Mercer Library/Community Center

Fee: $30 with $5 discount if registration is received by Jan 17th.

Objectives: This course explores a fascinating moment in both the early history of the British Isles and early Christianity. Between ca. 400 and 700, a struggle ensued between the forces of “orthodoxy,” with its evolving church hierarchy centered in Rome, and the flourishing Celtic Christian tradition that emerged among the Irish and the Britons, which was to prove remarkably influential in the Christianization of Europe. Though Roman orthodoxy ultimately prevailed, the contest between the two Christian traditions was not finally laid to rest until the twelfth century. Or was it? The course will conclude with a look at how and why that Celtic tradition—or at least an idealized version of it—has survived through the centuries, culminating in a global ecumenical Christian practice that we know today as Celtic Christianity. Continue reading

Course Title: Basic Conversational Spanish I

Course#18W05

Dates:  Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 26 – March 21

Time:  3:30-5:00 PM

Location:  Hurley School, Room __415_____

Fee: $41 minus $5 if registered by Feb. 12

Objectives: Useful Spanish conversation for travel or just to enrich will be explored while we also touch on the basics of the language and its structure. This class will start at the beginning for those who need it and provide review for those with previous exposure to the language. Continue reading

Course Title:  Cross Country Ski Instruction II

Dates:  Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 27 and Mar 1, 2018

Time:  1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: MECCA Ski Trails trailhead warming house, Mercer, WI

Course# 18W08

Fee: $15

Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, students will understand the basics of both diagonal stride and skate style skiing, as regards both technique and equipment.  They will be able to stand comfortably on skis, compress each ski and grip the snow, kick off and then repeat with the opposite leg.  They will be able to glide forward on the gliding ski after their kick, maintaining balance, as they shift their weight forward over the gliding ski.  They will be able to engage their poles at the proper time/angle and push, assisting forward movement.  Continue reading

Course Title: Investing and Estate Planning

Course#18W06

Date: Mar 8, 15,22,29, 2018

Time:4-6 PM

Fee: $30 with $5 discount if registration is received by Mar. 1

Location: Hurley, WI Courthouse, board room.

Course structure: The course will be given in 4 sessions, each 2 hours long. The following topics will be included:

1) Estate Planning:Trusts, Power of Attorneys, Wills

2) Foundations of investing: Investment types, portfolio construction and diversification and combining your Investment with your goals(Retirement income, preservation, etc).

3) Nursing Home Planning: How to prepare and costs. Medicaid rules.

4) Investing and Estate Planning:How your investments work into Estate Planning. This will overlap on specifics from class 2. Investment account types and life insurance. Continue reading