Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Writing
2024-07-18 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Dillman’s Bay Resort, 13277 Dillman's Way, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
This class will take place at Dillman’s Bay Resort on July 18, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, with John Bates.
This is part of our series Visioning: Responding to Nature, which is offered in partnership with Dillman’s Art Workshops. Students can sign up for classes individually or save by bundling all three here.
We thank Dillman’s for their generosity in working with us. Dillman’s is a beautiful Northwoods resort with a world-class art workshop series, and we are grateful to be offering these classes with them.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Writing
In writing about the natural world, we need to write with both a sense of wonder and a scientist’s eye. We’ll focus on two approaches: creative nonfiction and poetry. While it may seem that those two words – creative and nonfiction – don’t go together, they really do. The genre is all about telling true stories using accurate facts about real life, but doing so in a vivid, enthralling manner that reads every bit as compellingly as fiction. Writers of creative nonfiction can supply information while being humorous, inspirational, and wildly creative at the same time.
We’ll also explore the world of poetry, reading works from poets who have made deep connections with their home places, and discussing what makes their words move our minds and hearts.
As importantly, we’ll also take the time to try our hand at both approaches, and as time permits, do some sharing.
Requirements: Students must bring their own favorite writing implements–pen and notebook, laptop, etc.
This class is limited to 12 students.
This class qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
Instructor: John Bates
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Visioning: Responding to Nature (3 Class Bundle)
2024-07-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Dillman’s Bay Resort, 13277 Dillman's Way, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
These classes will take place at Dillman’s Bay Resort 9:00 a.m.-Noon, with John Bates on July 18, with Gary Theisen on July 25 and on August 1 with Terry Daulton.
Visioning: Responding to Nature is offered in partnership with Dillman’s Art Workshops. Students can bundle all three classes here on this page, or sign up for them individually: Writing, Photography and Drawing/Painting.
We thank Dillman’s for their generosity in working with us. Dillman’s is a beautiful Northwoods resort with a world-class art workshop series, and we are grateful to be offering these classes with them.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Writing – on July 18 with John Bates
In writing about the natural world, we need to write with both a sense of wonder and a scientist’s eye. We’ll focus on two approaches: creative nonfiction and poetry. While it may seem that those two words – creative and nonfiction – don’t go together, they really do. The genre is all about telling true stories using accurate facts about real life, but doing so in a vivid, enthralling manner that reads every bit as compellingly as fiction. Writers of creative nonfiction can supply information while being humorous, inspirational, and wildly creative at the same time.
We’ll also explore the world of poetry, reading works from poets who have made deep connections with their home places, and discussing what makes their words move our minds and hearts.
As importantly, we’ll also take the time to try our hand at both approaches, and as time permits, do some sharing.
Requirements: Students must bring their own favorite writing implements–pen and notebook, laptop, etc.
This July 18 class qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Photography – on July 25 with Gary Theisen
This class is designed for two types of photographers: a) those new to or interested in photography and b) experienced amateur photographers who want to improve upon their photographic techniques and results. The focus will be on capturing landscape and close-up images of subjects in nature. The class is not intended to provide in-depth guidance on photographic methods but rather to introduce/review basic concepts about light, the camera’s ability to capture it in different circumstances, and composition. Handouts will be provided.
The three-hour class will be divided into three parts.
Hour 1: In-class presentation by the instructor on key things to understand about camera settings, and principles of strong composition.
Hour 2: Photographing in the resort area with several instructor assigned tasks designed to illustrate and reinforce the principles discussed in the first hour. Participants may work individually or with partners. The instructor will be available to provide guidance.
Hour 3: Participants will return to the classroom to critique images and to use their photos for answering questions and discussing strategies for improving their results.
Requirements: Participants must bring their own phone, point-and-shoot or DSLR camera with memory card. The instructor will have a memory stick for transferring photos for projection and discussion in the review session. Please dress according to weather conditions. We plan to photograph outdoors even if raining. To best focus the class presentations, please answer the several questions that will be sent prior to class.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Drawing and Painting – with Terry Daulton on August 1
Join artist/illustrator and naturalist Terry Daulton for a fun day in the outdoors exploring Northwoods habitats with sketchpad and a variety of art mediums. Terry has been creating art on location for many years and will share tips on watercolor, sketch pencil, ink, as well as techniques for illustrating plants, animals and landscapes. This half day will include a journal and art materials. Terry’s work can be seen on her website or at the Trout Lake Limnology Station’s art/science website.
Requirements: This half day will include art materials; students must bring their own sketchbook.
Classes are limited to 12 students.
Instructor: John Bates, Gary Theisen and Terry Daulton
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

The Spectacular Geology of Iron County and the Northern Highlands
2024-07-20 09:00 - 14:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
Join us for a FREE presentation open to the public on Friday, July 19, followed by a field trip on July 20. (Registration is required for the field trip ONLY.)
We live and spend our vacations on an ancient subcontinent. It has been the subject of violent geological forces for billions of years. Significantly, the record of those events is right there to see on our exposed earth surface and in the records of those who mined the resulting metallic formations.
Friday, July 19, 2:00-3:00 p.m.: FREE, one-hour presentation at the Mercer Community Center, open to the public, sponsored by the Mercer Public Library. We will journey through 4.5 billion years of our history with emphasis on the unlikely chain of events of the last 1.9 billion years which created vast mineral wealth and shaped our county and the whole subcontinent. In the lecture we will look at rock samples which show evidence of the beginnings of multicellular life 1.9 billion years ago, the tremendous and violent volcanic activity which created precious metal deposits in our neighborhoods, and the repeated transitions from ocean to soaring mountain ranges.
We will discuss millions of years of “rock cycles” which are still occurring here. We pose the question, “If there were great mountain ranges here, where did they go?” (The answer is VERY surprising.). Registration is NOT required.
Saturday, July 20, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: In this field trip led by Richard Thiede and famed geologist Tom Fitz, we will tour the “in situ” rock evidence. We will observe vast lava flows, 3-billion-year-old rock outcrops, a continuous rock exposure which shows evidence of the beginnings of life, the geological wonders of Copper Falls State Park. At Mellen, Wis., we will study the results of an incredible tectonic explosion. The tour ends with an in-depth discussion of iron mining, past and future, at the newly restored Plumer Mine site near Pence, Wis.
The field trip is sponsored by Fe University. It includes a box lunch, bus transportation, and will last about 5
hours. The tour fee is $40 per person. It leaves at 9 a.m. from the Mercer Public Library.
The field trip is limited to 10 students. Scholarships are available.
Please register by July 15 to receive lunch. Lunch will not be included with registrations after July 15.
Please register for the field trip below. Friday’s free presentation is recommended for field trip participants. (You do not need to register for Friday’s presentation, only for Saturday’s field trip.)
Instructors: Richard Thiede and Tom Fitz
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.

Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Photography
2024-07-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Dillman’s Bay Resort, 13277 Dillman's Way, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
This class will take place at Dillman’s Bay Resort on July 25, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, with Gary Theisen.
This is part of our series Visioning: Responding to Nature, which is offered in partnership with Dillman’s Art Workshops.
We thank Dillman’s for their generosity in working with us. Dillman’s is a beautiful Northwoods resort with a world-class art workshop series, and we are grateful to be offering these classes with them.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Photography
This class is designed for two types of photographers: a) those new to or interested in photography and b) experienced amateur photographers who want to improve upon their photographic techniques and results. The focus will be on capturing landscape and close-up images of subjects in nature. The class is not intended to provide in-depth guidance on photographic methods but rather to introduce/review basic concepts about light, the camera’s ability to capture it in different circumstances, and composition. Handouts will be provided.
The three-hour class will be divided into three parts.
Hour 1: In-class presentation by the instructor on key things to understand about camera settings, and principles of strong composition.
Hour 2: Photographing in the resort area with several instructor assigned tasks designed to illustrate and reinforce the principles discussed in the first hour. Participants may work individually or with partners. The instructor will be available to provide guidance.
Hour 3: Participants will return to the classroom to critique images and to use their photos for answering questions and discussing strategies for improving their results.
Requirements: Participants must bring their own phone, point-and-shoot or DSLR camera with memory card. The instructor will have a memory stick for transferring photos for projection and discussion in the review session. Please dress according to weather conditions. We plan to photograph outdoors even if raining. To best focus the class presentations, please answer the three questions that will be sent prior to class.
This class is limited to 12 students.
Instructor: Gary Theisen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Wisconsin’s Last Undeveloped Lakes: Paddling Upson Lake
2024-07-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Upson Lake, Upson Lake Road, Anderson, WI, 54840, United States
This class will take place on July 29, 9 a.m.-Noon, at Upson Lake (near the town of Upson), with John Bates.
Participants will gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the remarkable community of life typically found in a northern lake, and in particular, in Upson Lake, a sandy 49-acre, 17 feet deep wild lake that has never seen any development. The Penokee Range hills surround the lake.
Class will cover the following topics: aquatic plant species identification and ecology, shoreland plant composition and its connection to water quality, general natural history of bird/amphibian/mammal/insect species of the lake, the importance of lake morphology, and, of course, we’ll “cover” the importance of beauty in our lives. We will paddle slow and stop frequently to discuss the attributes of the lake.
Requirements: Participants must have their own pfd, paddle, and canoe or kayak, and must be at least a reasonably experienced paddler. No requirements for readings prior to the course.
Instructor: John Bates
This course qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
This course is limited to 13 students.
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Drawing and Painting
2024-08-01 09:00 - 12:00 | Dillman’s Bay Resort, 13277 Dillman's Way, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
This class will take place at Dillman’s Bay Resort on August 1, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, with Terry Daulton.
This is part of our series Visioning: Responding to Nature, which is offered in partnership with Dillman’s Art Workshops.
We thank Dillman’s for their generosity in working with us. Dillman’s is a beautiful Northwoods resort with a world-class art workshop series, and we are grateful to be offering these classes with them.
Visioning: Responding to Nature Through Drawing and Painting
Join artist/ illustrator and naturalist Terry Daulton for a fun day in the outdoors exploring Northwoods habitats with sketchpad and a variety of art mediums. Terry has been creating art on location for many years and will share tips on watercolor, sketch pencil, ink, as well as techniques for illustrating plants, animals and landscapes. Terry’s work can be seen on her website or at the Trout Lake Limnology Station’s art/science website.
Requirements: This half day will include art materials; students must bring their own sketchbook.
This class is limited to 12 students.
Instructor: Terry Daulton
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Wisconsin's Last Undeveloped Lakes: Paddling Mud Lake
2024-08-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Sandy Beach Lake Picnic Area, Sandy Beach Road, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
This class will take place on August 5, 9:00a.m.-Noon, at Mud Lake, with John Bates.
Participants will gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the remarkable community of life typically found in a northern lake, and in particular, in Mud Lake, a 55-acre shallow, 7-feet-deep wild rice lake that has never seen any development. As time permits, we may paddle a ways down and back on Little Bear Creek.
Class will cover the following topics: aquatic plant species identification and ecology, shoreland plant composition and its connection to water quality, general natural history of bird/amphibian/mammal/insect species of the lake, the importance of lake morphology, and, of course, “cover” the importance of beauty in our lives, but also let the beauty of the lake speak for itself.
Class will paddle slow and stop frequently to discuss the attributes of the lake.
Requirements: Participants must have their own pfd, paddle, and canoe or kayak, and must be at least a reasonably experienced paddler.
Instructor: John Bates
This course qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
This course is limited to 13 students.
Location: Meet at the Sandy Beach Lake picnic area, Sandy Beach Road off of Powell Road. A several hundred yard portage is required.
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Still Learning 3: Approaching the End of the Runway: Medical and legal decision-making for the final chapters of your life
2024-09-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on September 5 in Mercer and September 12 in Hurley, 1:00-3:00 p.m., with Martha Pierpont and Ryan Long.
The September 5 Mercer class will take place at the Mercer Public Library, and the September 12 Hurley class will take place at the Iron County Courthouse Board Room. These two classes are a consecutive course; they build upon each other, so they should both be attended.
The course will be given in two sessions, each 2 hours long, covering the following topics:

Optimizing end of life care.
End of life medical decision making and the necessary legal documents that every adult should have in place.

In the first class, Martha Pierpont will show a video and review with students the book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande, about “end of life” decision making. Students will have an opportunity to discuss their feelings about the process. Students will also study and discuss ways to optimize their medical care in clinic, hospital and nursing home settings.
In the second class, Attorney Ryan J. Long will go through the legal documents that are often used during end of life decision making, including living wills, health care powers of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate orders. Attorney Long will also go through well-known guardianship cases with the class and discuss how an individual can attempt to avoid a guardianship proceeding. Students will view short videos of cases where individuals did not have proper “end of life” documents in place. Students should also be able to identify the most necessary basic legal documents that all adults should have in place and the legal requirements for executing them.
Instructors: Martha Pierpont and Ryan Long
Course Requirement: Before the first class, students are encouraged to please read or review a synopsis of “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande. Multiple editions of this book are being held at the Mercer Public Library for your use. Additional reading materials will be provided before the second class.
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to a generous donation from the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

The Nitty Gritty of Planning an International or Domestic Trip
2024-09-17 16:30 - 2024-09-24 18:00 | Gogebic Community College, Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI, 49938, United States
This course will take place on September 17 and 24 at Gogebic Community College, 4:30-6:00 p.m., with Natalie Patritto.
If you’ve ever planned a trip, you know that there are many, many details that need to be addressed. International travel can be even more complicated. We will take a look at all that goes into creating an itinerary and putting together everything you need to travel with as little stress as possible.
The course will be given in 2 sessions, each 90 minutes long, covering the following topics:

Passports
Lodging
Air or train travel
Using the metro
Finding restaurants
Packing!!!

Instructor: Natalie Patritto
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Wisconsin's Remnant Old-Growth Forests: Island Lake Hemlocks SNA
2024-09-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Island Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area, Island Lake Road, Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This class will take place on September 19, 9:00a.m.-Noon, at Island Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area, with John Bates.
Participants will gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the remarkable community of life typically found in a remnant old-growth hemlock-hardwood forest, and in particular, in the Island Lake Hemlocks SNA, a 120-acre older-growth forest surrounded by cut-over county and industrial forests. This high quality, forest mosaic supports perhaps the best American marten habitat in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.
Learn about old-growth plant species identification and ecology, general natural history of bird/amphibian/mammal/insect species, and, of course, “cover” the importance of beauty in our lives.
Class will walk slow and stop frequently to discuss the attributes of the stand.
Requirements: Participants must be at least reasonably fit hikers. The trail is relatively rough. Class will go off trail for short distances. Out and back is approximately 1.5 miles. No requirements for readings prior to the course. Note: the road to the site is rough and pot-holed.
Instructor: John Bates
This course qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
This course is limited to 15 students.
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Basic Conversational Spanish for Travelers
2024-09-25 16:30 - 2024-10-30 18:00 | Gogebic Community College, Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI, 49938, United States
This course will take place on Wednesdays from September 25 to October 30 at Gogebic Community College, 4:30-6:00 p.m., with Natalie Patritto.
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.
The course will be given in 6 sessions, each 90 minutes long, covering the following topics:

Pronunciation and basic grammar
Greetings, days, months
Numbers –to be used for shopping!!
Ordering in a restaurant
Foods from the many Spanish-speaking regions
Transportation and getting around the city
Health-related information—going to a clinic or pharmacy

Come prepared to have fun! Bring a notebook and a folder to hold handouts. This class will start at the beginning, so no prior knowledge is necessary. If the skill level is higher, we will use more advanced information.
Instructor: Natalie Patritto
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Great Masters of Western Painting: Rembrandt, Turner, Monet and Van Gogh
2024-10-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on Tuesdays, October 8-29, 1:00-3:00p.m. at the Mercer Public Library, with David Barnhill.
The Great Masters of Western Painting course will introduce students to a wide range of great paintings by four masters and highlight their stylistic development over time. Students will not only learn about these paintings, but become inspired by them and perceive the world in a deeper way.

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). We will examine the paintings by the Dutch Master from his youth to old age: history paintings, individual portraits, group portraits, landscapes, and self-portraits, including his radical free style of painting late in life that turned the critics and public away, leaving him to die in obscurity.
J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851). Turner is Britain’s greatest and most complex painter, and his late paintings are considered a precursor to both Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. We will discuss his early pictures in Britain, marine paintings, and history paintings, as well as pictures on contemporary subjects, then his depictions of the Alps and Venice, concluding with his late watercolors and radical visionary paintings.
Claude Monet (1840-1926). The great master of Impressionism, his art evolved from realistic landscape painting, to his emphasis on the effects of light and color in our perception of nature (including his innovative series of subjects seen in different seasons and times of day), to the goal of representing the envelope or atmosphere of light, and finally to his largely abstract water lilies.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Many of Vincent’s works are well known, but we will cover his early works with their subdued brown and gray palette, the explosion of colors in his works when he came to Paris, the flowering of his own style in the south of France, and the burst of creative energy in his last months before he committed suicide.

Requirements: The only requirement is an interest in art. There will be no printed materials and no homework.
Instructor: David Barnhill
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Level 3 - Introduction to Pocket-Hole Joinery
2024-10-30 16:00 - 2024-11-03 17:00 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Level 3 – Introduction to Pocket-Hole Joinery will be held October 30-November 3, 2024 at the Hurley High School Woods Classroom and Shop with instructor Tim Lutgen.
Make your own beautiful coffee table — just in time for holiday gift-giving.
In this class, instructor Tim Lutgen will teach students the fundamentals of pocket-hole joinery, which is commonly used in the construction of most commercial furniture and provides a quick and extremely strong butt joint. Students will learn to use the patented Kreg® pocket-hole joinery system to build their own coffee table from any wood or combination of woods they choose based on artistic preference and budget.
This is an intermediate level course. Completion of the Introduction to Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Level 2 – Introduction to Basic Joinery course is required. Students should feel comfortable using the following equipment independently with minimal supervision: Cut-off Saw, Table Saw, Band Saw, Jointer, Planer, Router Table, Belt Sander, and assorted hand tools. This class will follow an aggressive schedule and the instructor will not have time to teach machine fundamentals. However, the instructor will review essential safety procedures.
Requirements: Students will not be permitted in the Woods shop without appropriate eye protection. Full cover safety classes are recommended. Students are encouraged to bring ear protection due to loud machine noises. Food or beverages are not permitted in the Woods shop but may be consumed in the Woods classroom.
Materials: The registration fee does not include materials. Students must purchase their own wood.
Class Times: The class days and hours are Oct. 30 (4-7 p.m.), Oct. 31 (4-7 p.m.), Nov. 1 (3:30-6:30 p.m.), Nov. 2 (8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.), and Nov. 3 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), 2024.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 8 students.
Instructor: Tim Lutgen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Still Learning 4: Our Amazing Boomer Bodies
2024-11-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This course will take place on November 12 and 19 in Mercer, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., with Peggy Bronsberg.
Participants will explore how changes seen in the U.S. and the world over the last 60+ years have impacted our health status and expectations, and longevity. Health behaviors and practices which can impact quality of life in our later years will be discussed. Guidelines for beneficial use of the internet for personal health research will also be covered.
The course will be given in two sessions, each 120 minutes long, at the Mercer Community Center. There will be no prerequisites for taking this class. No required readings. Discussion and sharing with small groups and the class will be highly encouraged. Please do bring your smart-phone to class!
Instructor: Peggy Bronsberg
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to a generous donation from the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

Northern Highland Psychoecology
2024-12-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on Dec. 4 & 6 and Dec. 11 & 13 in Mercer, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., with George Conesa.
This course will explore the multifaceted and complex relationships between humans and their natural environments. Across four seasons, our activity patterns and ways of connecting to the natural world change. This is a psychoecological process in step with Aldo Leopolds’ “phenology”: “On our farm we measure the amplitude of spring by two yardsticks: the number of pines planted and the number of geese that stop.” (Aldo Leopold, “The Geese Return,” A Sand County Almanac.) Our Northern Highland winters demand perhaps the most extreme set of psychoecological accommodations: a tolerance for inclement weather and new perceptions and interpretations of “beauty”– our “sense of place.”
Materials will be provided freely online to the course’s students.
Register by Nov. 25 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $45!
Instructor: George Conesa
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Level 2 - Introduction to Basic Joinery
2024-12-04 16:00 - 2024-12-08 17:00 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Level 2 – Introduction to Basic Joinery will be held December 4-8, 2024 at the Hurley High School Woods Classroom and Shop with instructor Tim Lutgen.
Make your own beautiful keepsake box — just in time for holiday gift-giving.
In this class, each student will build a Keepsake Box crafted of Cherry, lined with Walnut, and detailed with Walnut accent splines. Instructor Tim Lutgen will teach fundamental joinery using precision 45 degree miter cuts which are then butt-joined and reinforced with decorative splines. The top and bottom of the box will be made using dados and tenons. Students will also learn how to re-saw hardwoods and machine them to precise tolerances before assembly. The box will be finished with a rubbed-on classic triple oil blend.
This is an intermediate level course. Completion of the Introduction to Fine Woodworking course is recommended but not required. Students should feel comfortable using the following equipment the following equipment under the instructor’s indirect supervision: Cut-off Saw, Table Saw, Band Saw, Jointer, Planer, Router Table, Belt Sander, and assorted hand tools. This class will follow an aggressive schedule and the instructor will not have time to teach machine fundamentals. However, prior to operating any piece of equipment, the instructor will review essential safety procedures.
Requirements: Students will not be permitted in the Woods shop without appropriate eye protection. Full cover safety classes are recommended. Students are encouraged to bring ear protection due to loud machine noises. Food or beverages are not permitted in the Woods shop but may be consumed in the Woods classroom.
Materials Fee: This class includes a $20 materials fee, including all hardwoods and consumable supplies.
Class Times: The class days and hours are Dec. 4 (4-7 p.m.), Dec. 5 (4-7 p.m.), Dec. 6 (4-7 p.m.), Dec. 7 (8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.), and if needed, Dec. 8 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), 2024.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 8 students.
Instructor: Tim Lutgen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Sound Safari: Developing Musical Awareness Through Listening
2025-01-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This course will take place on January 11, 18, 25, and February 1, 2025, in Mercer, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., with Rusty Wulff.

This Fe University course offering will be devoted to awakening and enhancing the average student’s listening experience. Familiar music of varied styles as well as novel forays into “Wow-I-Never-Heard-That-Before Land” will be used for group exploration/discussion. The goal of the sessions is to provide opportunities for everyone to gain insight into how our thoughts and feelings are influenced by songs and sound.
Using quality recordings and supplemental live demonstrations, students will be afforded many opportunities to increase insight, awareness, and sensitivity in the world of music.
“Hey! I never noticed that!” and “Can we hear that again?!” will be phrases the teacher hopes to elicit because this is fun!
NOT a music theory course. Non-musicians will be very comfortable with our activities.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.

Register by Dec. 28 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $35!
Instructor: Rusty Wulff
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Still Learning 6: Matters of the Inner Being - An Examination of Spirituality Across the Lifespan
2025-01-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on January 16 and 23, 2025, in Mercer, 1:00-3:00 p.m., with Martha Pierpont and Rev. Erv Teichmiller.
This interactive class will provide attendees the opportunity to explore the concept of spirituality and its role throughout the lifespan:
• Examine the spirit within us. What makes us spiritual beings?
• The definition of spirituality: explore its nature and mystery, share our understanding of spirituality.
• How do we perceive “self” and transition from “me” to “they.”
• Explore what spirituality has meant in your life and its evolution throughout your lifetime.
•. Brief history and discussion of spirituality and religion.
The course will be given in two sessions, each 120 minutes long, at the Mercer Public Library. There are no prerequisites for taking this class.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This course is limited to 15 students.
Instructor: Martha Pierpont and Rev. Erv Teichmiller
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

CANCELLED: Cross Country Ski Instruction
2025-02-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Mecca Ski Trail, 4686 Fierick Rd., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
Jan. 30, 2025 Update: This class has unfortunately had to be cancelled. Registrations and ski rentals will be refunded.
This class will take place February 4, 6, 11 and 14, 1:00-3:00 p.m., starting at the MECCA Trails warming cabin, with Chad McGrath.
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.
You will learn:

how to attach/wear boots, skis and poles,
how to dress
the different types of Nordic skiing
how to stand up with skis on if (when!) you fall
how to grip the snow with your ski and kick forward with and without poles
how to glide on your skis in and out of the track
how to shift your weight forward after you kick to maximize forward momentum
how to push with your poles to further assist with forward motion and speed
how to use your ski edges (edging) to stop and turn
how to use the herringbone technique to climb a small hill
how to use the sidestep technique to climb a steeper hill
how to use the snowplow technique to slow down going down a hill
how to use skate ski technique down small hill

Requirements: Students should have been on skis before. They should have the basic ability to balance: ability stand on one foot for at least 5 seconds. They should also be able to fall onto snow from a standing still position without undue worry about injury.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 10 students.
Register by December 26 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $45!
Ski requirements: Students need to either bring their own skis, or rent skis through FeU for $20 (pay at registration, below).
Instructor: Chad McGrath
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
We thank MECCA for letting us use their cabin and trails once again! Click here to find out more about MECCA Ski Trails.

From Ice to Industry: How Wisconsin's Northwoods Evolved from Logging Boom to Conservation
2025-02-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This course will take place on Wednesdays, Feb. 5, 19, and 26, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at the Mercer Community Center, with Kerry Bloedorn.
Noted historian Kerry Bloedorn will explore the Northwoods of Wisconsin’s captivating history, from the glaciation that sculpted the land and set the stage for the 1800s logging boom to the gritty lives of the lumberjacks who fueled the industry. Explore how the Civilian Conservation Corps restored the forests in the 1930s, the evolution of forestry products from lumber to paper, and the innovations that shaped the modern forests we see today. Kerry’s presentations are filled with great stories and historic photos.
Register by Jan. 29 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $35!
Instructor: Kerry Bloedorn
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Basic Conversational Spanish for Travelers Part 2
2025-02-05 14:00 - 15:30 | Gogebic Community College, Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI, 49938, United States
This course will take place on Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2025, at Gogebic Community College, 2:00-3:30 p.m., with Natalie Patritto.
This four-week course is designed to be a follow-up to our “Basic Conversational Spanish for Travelers” class held in September and October 2024, or for anyone who knows a little beginning Spanish, such as rules of pronunciation, basic greetings, and basic verb/subject agreement, even if you learned it “once upon a time” and would like to review it. We will also discuss more about asking for directions and getting help at a medical clinic as well as learning how to use the metro to get around. Once again you will learn usable conversations and will practice with a partner.
Come prepared to have fun! Bring a notebook and a folder to hold handouts.
Register by January 22 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $35!
Instructor: Natalie Patritto
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Religions of China and Japan
2025-02-18 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 403 East Chicago Avenue, Minocqua, WI, 54548, United States
This course will take place on Tuesdays, February 18-March 18, 2025, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at St. Matthias Church in Minocqua, with David Barnhill.
The beliefs and practices of classical Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, and Shinto will be examined. Special attention will be paid to theories of human nature and the natural world, which is considered the source and location of the sacred. Students will come out with a better understanding and appreciation of the rich and complex tradition of Chinese and Japanese religions.

Classical Confucianism (500 b.c.e. – 200 c.e.). We will focus on theories on morality, human nature, and politics.
Classical Daoism (500 b.c.e. – 200 c.e.). We will examine their theories of nature, human nature, and the relationship between them, as well as their theories of action.
Chinese Buddhism (600 – 1644). Special attention will be given to the philosophical school of Huayan and Zen (Chan) Buddhism, including their views of nature and the practice of meditation. We will explore the development of Buddhism in Japan as well as China.
Neo-Confucianism (800 – 1900). Influenced by Buddhism and Daoism, Confucianism developed into a more complex religion. We will focus on theories of nature, human nature, and morality.
Shinto (Japan, 500 – present) and Japanese religious aesthetics. Shinto is the native religion of Japan, and we will explore its view of nature and divinity and its spiritual practices. We will also examine the complex tradition of the religious arts, especially in the Japanese medieval period

Requirements: The only requirement is an interest in the topic and an openness to study religious traditions quite different from those in the West. There will be no texts or homework, although sources for students to further explore the subject will be offered. There will be no printed materials and no homework. A few handouts will be provided by the instructor in the class as well as uploaded onto the course website at www.feuniversity.org.
Register by February 4 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $55!
Instructor: David Barnhill
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Insider Perspectives on USAID: The Promises and Problems of Foreign Assistance
2025-03-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This course will take place on March 10, 2025, in Mercer, 6:00-8:00 p.m., with Gary Theisen.
Register for free to participate in this two-hour course!
USAID–the United States Agency for International Development–has been in the news lately, but what do we really understand about this government foreign aid program? Fe University is pleased to present Gary Theisen, Mercer resident and a former office deputy director at USAID, who will provide factual information and personal experiences about the Agency and hold a question and answer session afterwards. The two-hour program will be held on Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at the Mercer Community Center. Registration is required and space is limited.
For the first half-hour, Gary will focus on basic information about USAID’s history, purpose, structure and decision- making. The mandate of USAID, how it operates and what its resources are allocated for, where it operates, and how it is held accountable will be addressed. Further discussion will center on collaboration with other international assistance agencies to address global problems of health, sanitation, education, poverty, nutrition and policy formation in those areas. Insights into how the Agency works internally and how it is subject to political pressures will also be offered from personal experience.
In the second part of the session, Gary will entertain questions from the audience.
Gary Theisen spent 30 years working in international foreign assistance agencies, including five years as a Deputy Office Director in the Bureau of Science and Technology at USAID. While at USAID he oversaw and contributed to education research and planning efforts in a number of countries including Pakistan, Egypt, Botswana, Indonesia, Bolivia, and Jamaica, among others. From positions he held at other organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Institute for International Education (IIE), and the World Bank, he gained an outside perspective on the role and efficacy of USAID as an organization and on the capabilities and contributions of USAID employees and programs.
There is no charge to attend this program, but registration is required and space is limited. Registration will end when the limit is reached.
Facilitator: Gary Theisen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.

Still Learning 7: Bridging the Gap - Teens and Adults Share Thoughts in Hurley
2025-03-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This course will take place on March 12, 19, and 26, 2025, in Hurley, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., with Neil Klemme. (Original starting date of March 5 was postponed a week due to inclement weather.)
Register for free to participate in this three-session course! The only requirement is that you must attend all three sessions.
A gathering of up to 10 adults and 8 to 12 high school students, facilitated by Extension Iron County 4-H Youth Development Educator Neil Klemme, the goal of this course is to provide a model for listening to and engaging in meaningful conversations with high school-aged students in a way that validates their concerns.
Each class will consist of three 90-minute sessions during the school day at Hurley High School, with one week between each session. Lunch is included, subsidized by the Iron County Youth Leadership Council!

Week 1 (March 12): Issue Identification: panel of students and adults brainstorm topics that matter to them. Identify one or two issues to discuss in depth in the next session.
Week 2 (March 19): Define and discuss feelings on issues previously identified.
Week 3 (March 26): Resolution: Looking for a common ground.

(A Mercer-based version of this course will be held at the Mercer School on April 17, 24, and May 1, 2025. Please CLICK HERE to go to that course’s page in our online course catalog.)
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 10 adults.
Facilitator: Neil Klemme
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

The Modern Era of Great Lakes Shipping (1954-Present)
2025-03-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Online
This online class will take place March 25, 27, April 1 and 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m., via Zoom, with Kelsey Prihoda.
Become an ambassador of Great Lakes shipping! Anyone with an interest in Great Lakes shipping and its impact on our everyday lives would benefit from taking this course.
Through storytelling and learning experiences, this course will provide you with foundational knowledge of commercial shipping on the Great Lakes in the modern era from the development and opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to present-day opportunities for growth and sustainability.
The course will be giving in four sessions, each two hours long, covering the following topics:
● Session 1 – The Story of the Seaway: Linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean (1954 – 1978)
○ Importance of locks to commercial navigation.
○ Location of locks on the Great Lakes and how they operate.
○ Development of the St. Lawrence Seaway and its impact on Great Lakes shipping.
● Session 2 – One-Thousand Footers: The Expansion of Great Lakes Freighters (1972 – 1981)
○ Evolution of ship sizes since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
○ Types of vessels on the Great Lakes.
○ Cargo types and how Great Lakes shipping touches your everyday life.
● Session 3 – Unforeseen Consequences: Ballast Water and Aquatic Invasive Species (1959 – 2024)
○ Importance of ballast water for vessel and crew safety.
○ Unforeseen consequences of using water as ballast.
○ Ballast water management strategies and Impact of national and binational policy on ballast-mediated aquatic invasive species.
● Session 4 – New Opportunities in Great Lakes Shipping: Containers and Decarbonization (2014 – Present)
○ Contrasting efficiency of transportation modes.
○ Rebirth of container shipping in the Great Lakes.
○ Great Lakes Green Shipping Corridor.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
● Identify the ways in which the United States and Canada have worked together in support of commercial shipping in the binational Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway.
● Describe the importance of the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to the era of modern, commercial shipping in the Great Lakes and the economic impact of today’s maritime sector.
● Compare and contrast the types of vessels that ply the Great Lakes and recognize typical Great Lakes voyage routes and cargo types.
● Explain what ballast water is, why it’s important, and how it has played a role in the introduction of aquatic invasive species to the Great Lakes.
● Recognize future opportunities for Great Lakes shipping, including cargo types and sustainability initiatives.
Requirements: The only prerequisite knowledge needed is an understanding of the basic geography and location of the five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the states and provinces that comprise the Great Lakes region. This is an online course and will require a computer with a microphone and camera. Some prior experience with the Zoom meeting platform will be helpful. Any other resources needed during this course will be provided by the instructor. Students will be assigned a Great Lakes vessel and will be asked to track its movements in between sessions; there will be a final presentation on each vessel and its two-week trade pattern that will require work time in between class sessions to prepare.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 25 students.
Register by March 11 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $45!
Instructor: Kelsey Prihoda
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Still Learning 12: Better Bridge Basics - Review and Polish Your Game
2025-04-04 12:30 - 14:30 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This course will take place on Fridays, April 4, 11, 25, and May 2, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, Wis., with Macy Washow.
Bridge is social, fun, always challenging, and sometimes competitive. All you need are a group of four friends and a deck of cards to play. Unlike most card games, however, bridge challenges your brain. No two hands are the same. It is not just luck. There is always something more to learn… a better outcome if you had only….
Maybe you played bridge in college, but need a refresher. Maybe you play party bridge but would like to take your skills to the next level. Standard American was developed to provide a simple, modern system that both partners can understand. It still forms the basis today for many more complex systems and common conventions. This class is for players who have some bridge experience. We will review the basics of the American Standard System, standard leads, signals, and play of the hand. Based on the skill level and interest of the class, some popular conventions will be introduced. Basic strategies, scoring and play of Duplicate or competitive bridge will also be covered. Sample hands will be dealt, played, and discussed.
Week 1: The Basics. Bidding NT
Week 2: Bidding the majors and minors
Week 3: Take out Doubles, Overcalls, Pre-empts, Strong 2 club.
Week 4: Review, Popular Conventions, Competitive Play, Scoring.
What is covered each week will be adjusted based on class experience and interest.
Requirements: Students will be expected to have some bridge experience.
Recommended: Bridge at a Glance by Audrey Grant. c 2023. Available on Amazon for $10.76. (This is a 40-page quick reference pamphlet.)
This class is limited to 14 students.
Instructor: Macy Washow
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

Still Learning 7: Bridging the Gap - Teens and Adults Share Thoughts in Mercer
2025-04-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Mercer School, 2690 Margaret St., Mercer, 54547, United States
Rescheduled! This course will take place on April 17, 24, and May 1 (was originally March 20, 27, and April 3), 2025, in Mercer, 10:00-11:30 a.m., with Neil Klemme.
Register for free to participate in this three-session course! The only requirement is that you must attend all three sessions.
A gathering of up to 10 adults and 8 to 12 high school students, facilitated by Extension Iron County 4-H Youth Development Educator Neil Klemme, the goal of this course is to provide a model for listening to and engaging in meaningful conversations with high school-aged students in a way that validates their concerns.
Each class will consist of three 90-minute sessions during the school day at Mercer School, with one week between each session. Lunch is included, subsidized by the Iron County Youth Leadership Council!

Week 1 (April 17): Issue Identification: panel of students and adults brainstorm topics that matter to them. Identify one or two issues to discuss in depth in the next session.
Week 2 (April 24): Define and discuss feelings on issues previously identified.
Week 3 (May 1): Resolution: Looking for a common ground.

(A Hurley-based version of this course will be held at Hurley High School on March 12, 19, and 26. Please CLICK HERE to go to that course’s page in our online course catalog.)
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This class is limited to 10 adults.
Facilitator: Neil Klemme
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

Great Art Museums of Europe: A Virtual Tour
2025-04-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on Tuesdays, April 29 and May 6, 13 and 20, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Mercer Public Library, with David Barnhill.
The “Great Art Museums of Europe” course will introduce students to a wide range of art museums in Europe. This will be a
virtual art tour, and students will be introduced to great works of art (mainly paintings) from the Renaissance to the 20th century at the various museums. Students will not only learn about these museums and these works of art, but become inspired by them and perceive the world in a deeper way
The course will begin with a very short summary of European art history starting with the Renaissance.

London. We will tour the National Gallery, Tate Britain, the British Museum, the Courtauld Gallery, the Wallace Collection, and Tate Modern.
Netherlands. We will visit the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Kröller-Müller Museum, Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, and the Mauritshuis.
Paris. The tour will include the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Marmottan, the Musée de l’Orangerie, Petit Palais, and Musée Rodin.
Other locations. To be selected from the following: The Hermitage (St. Petersburg), The National Museum of Norway, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Copenhagen),The Art Museum of Basel (Switzerland), Museum Folkwang (Essen, Germany), Neue Pinakothek (Munich), Gemäldegalerie (Berlin), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna), Uffizi Gallery (Florence), Vatican Museums, Prado (Madrid), Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Madrid).

Requirements: The only requirement is an interest in art. There will be no homework, and handouts will be provided on the museums and an outline of art history
This class is limited to 12 students.
Register by April 15 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $45!
Instructor: David Barnhill
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

Still Learning 11: Discovering Family History - Genealogy Basics
2025-05-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place on May 1 and 8, 2025, in Mercer, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., with Emmie Norton.
Participants will learn the basics of getting started on their own family history through genealogical research in the most efficient manner possible. Getting one’s research organization plan will be described. Primarily free Internet resources will be covered and utilized in class. There will be short descriptions of the major subscription based websites. Genealogy software will be discussed. We will do live searches in both classes.
Requirements: Since most genealogical research occurs on the Internet, students should have some basic experience with computers and Internet searches or be willing to learn. Family history research knowledge will still be useful to those who are less proficient with online searches. Prior to class one, the instructor will ask for some basic information from students about their own family history questions. There will be some simple homework tasks after the first class.
The course will be given in two sessions, each 120 minutes long, at the Mercer Public Library.
We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.
This course is limited to 15 students.
Instructor: Emmie Norton
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

Iron Mining in Northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the Geological "Miracle" that Created the World's Purest Iron Ore
2025-05-03 09:00 - 15:00 | Iron County Historical Museum, 303 Iron St., Hurley, WI
This class will take place on Saturday, May 3, leaving from the Iron County Historical Museum in Hurley for a four-hour tour of geological, mining and infrastructure sites, before returning to the Museum for a one-hour conclusion.
In 1844 surveyor William Burt and his crew discovered an iron ore deposit near Negaunee, Mich. After being removed from the earth the 15 to 25% iron ore was smelted in charcoal furnaces to remove most of the silica (sand) content and then shipped to steel mills in the East. The smelting process was time-consuming and expensive.
Thirty-six years later another surveyor, Richard Langford, discovered another deposit of iron on Colby Hill just south of the current town of Bessemer, Mich. Astonishingly, this ore was almost pure iron. Within a few years many iron mines were developed, this first direct ship ore was shipped to steel mills in 1884. This ore required no processing and could be directly made into steel. The resulting iron rush ended about 82 years later and produced over 350 million tons of direct ship ore worth between $36 billion and $42 billion at 2024-25 prices.
In our Fe University class we will learn about the unique-in-the-world set of geological events that produced this “miracle” iron ore. We will observe the ancient exposed geological layers and visit at least eight historical mine sites, discuss the mining techniques, and see historic mine buildings and infrastructure. We will learn about the terrible cost of life these mines wreaked. We will discuss and observe the remaining ore in the west end of the range and posit geological, health and economic reasons why it will never be mined.
The one-day class will meet at the Iron County Historical Museum in Hurley, Wis.　After a one-hour lecture there, we’ll head out for a four-hour tour of geological, mining and infrastructure sites. (The tour will require short walks over unpaved and paved surfaces.) We will finally return to the Iron County Historical Museum’s mining museum to solidify our Gogebic Range education.
Please register by April 25 so we can arrange for lunches and the right size of transport vehicle.
This class is limited to 24 students.
Register by April 19 to get a $5 Early Bird discount off the regular registration price of $55!
Instructors: Richard Thiede and Tom Fitz
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.
Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.
Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.
Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.
