Fe University

Cities of the World: A Grand Tour, 4 City Bundle
2023-09-12 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This special series of 9 classes will take place on the second Tuesday of every month from 4:00-6:00p.m. at the Frank B. Koller Library in Manitowish Waters, with a rotating array of teachers.
Special discount bundle–NOW EXTENDED to January 9, 2024! Register for the FOUR classes of YOUR CHOICE and save.
Or maybe you’re ready to voyage all the way around the world? Increase your savings by registering for ALL 9 classes here!
Classes can also be purchased individually for $15 each.
Embark on an odyssey of some of the world’s greatest cities in Cities of the World: A Grand Tour! Be immersed in the culture and history of spectacular cities around the globe with our dynamic teachers. Whether you’re planning a trip or armchair exploration is more your style, you’ll come away with new knowledge and insights about each of these destinations. Plus, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to ask questions of the instructors and make connections with other globetrotting students.
The only downside? Your bucket list is about to get longer….
Our four-class bundle offers you access to your choice of any four classes in the series. REQUIRED: Please list your class choices when you sign up. (If you change your mind, you can always let us know.)
Here is the complete class list to choose from:
September 12: A historical, cultural and modern look at Barcelona, Spain, with Natalie Patritto
We will look at Antoni Gaudí’s Barcelona and discover the architectural beauty of La Sagrada Familia and his other well-known works of wonder. Also we will discuss how Barcelona got to be one of the most sought-after vacation spots in the world after we take a “highlights journey” from 711AD and bring you to the present. If there’s time we will hear the story of the Black Madonna at Montserrat!
October 10: Paris, with Brian Tarro
Discover the City of Light from the perspective of a teacher who has traveled there over 40 times! Wander off the Champs-Élysées to explore the lesser-known streets of this beautiful, beloved city. Explore Parisian culture, and get a taste of its unique je ne sais quois.
November 14: Rome, Italia: a look at the prominent historical sites along with fascinating hidden treasures! with Natalie Pattrito
We will explore the well-known ancient wonders of Rome along with several places off the beaten tourist path- and many of these are free! If time permits we will discuss Pompeii. Also, feel free to ask history and/or travel related questions about Italy!
December 12: Cities of the North Atlantic: Greenland and Newfoundland with Gary Theisen
The class will expose students to the role three of the most northern cities /countries in the world played in the exploration of the west side of the Atlantic. The industries that enabled them, the international politics that shaped them and the beauty that defines their topography will be examined complemented by the instructor’s personal photos and experiences.
January 9: Edinburgh: Story of a City with Mary Magray
Author Alexander McCall Smith has called Edinburgh a “heartbreakingly engaging city,” a city remarkably easy to fall in love with. Why? Because of how and when and where the city took shape. Because of the fact that from its start it has been the “capital” city—the “first” city—of Scotland. And because of its rich, proud, and enduring culture—never sacrificed in the cause of cooperation with its powerful neighbor to the south—that has, over the centuries, suffused this entrancing city.
The march of history is how Edinburgh came to be what it is today. From the heights of Castle Rock (where Edinburgh began) and the palace of Mary Queen of Scots to the Union with Great Britain in 1707, from the earliest Catholic friaries to the Protestant reformer John Knox’s St. Giles Kirk, from the Scottish Enlightenment to the restoration of the Scottish Parliament in 1998—history is everywhere to be seen, touched, and felt in what many have called “the loveliest city in the world.”
February 13: Indonesian Cities as Reflections of History and Culture with Gary Theisen
Students will gain an understanding of the economic and historical importance of the Indonesian archipelago. Composed of some 13,00 islands and over one hundred languages Indonesia is the largest Islamic nation in the world yet consists of many different religions and influences resulting in a culturally rich and complex cultural entity. The class will explore the context of those differences aided by the instructor’s personal photographs.
March 12: 37 Million People Can’t Be Wrong: Magnetic Tokyo, with Ardith Carlton
The world’s largest metropolitan area, Tokyo attracts not only young Japanese from throughout the country in search of their best life, but also international visitors galore. Learn about Tokyo’s history, its culture, and its range of unforgettable features, from the colorful cacophony of electronic districts to ancient, peaceful places.
April 9: St. Petersburg (AKA: Sankt-Peterburg, Peterburg, Petrograd, Leningrad, Piter….) with Michael Hittle
Peter the Great (1682-1725) founded St. Petersburg as one part of his life-long quest to transform tradition-bound Muscovy into a powerful empire capable of dealing on equal terms with the major powers of western Europe. St. Petersburg’s governmental organization, economic life, social relations, and cultural aspirations—all shaped by the tsar’s modernizing ambitions—stood in stark contrast to the institutional structures and ethos of the Muscovite state at the time of Peter’s accession to power. As the new capital of Russia, St. Petersburg not only gave impetus to a dramatic redirection of the country, but it also became a major issue in a prolonged struggle to define the identity of the Russian nation. Whether one looks at the city as the locus of significant historical events or as a symbol of cultural change, St. Petersburg has played an outsized role in the history of Russia for the last 320 years.
May 14: Dublin: Story of a City, with Mary Magray
Viewed from the mountains south of the city, Dublin today appears as a sprawling metropolis of more than a million people—a far cry from its beginnings some time before the 9th century. Then it was just a small settlement of several thousand men, women and children hugging the Liffey River. Since then, its story has been a roller coaster ride, the city rising and falling in significance, in wealth, and in centrality to the greater story of Ireland itself.
Not surprisingly, the traces of structures no longer visible on its landscape as well as those remaining today tell a vibrant story of all that has taken place in the city over time. From the now long-gone Viking cabins and Norman half-timbered houses to the great cathedrals, Georgian row houses, historic pubs and coffee houses, and immense (and immensely impressive) civic buildings, these structures tell of the throbbing life of a great city on the move for more than one thousand years: Dublin.
Instructors:
Natalie Patritto
Brian Tarro
Gary Theisen
Mary Magray
Ardith Carlton
Michael Hittle
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Moliere Parts Un & Deux: Play Readings of The Misanthrope and Tartuffe
2023-09-25 15:00 - 18:00 | Spinster Books, 313 Main St W, Ashland, WI, 54806, United States
This class will take place September 25 and October 2, 3:00-6:00p.m., at Spinster Books in Ashland.
What tickles the belly, rolls fun on the tongue, and transports us from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to 17th Century France? Moliere’s verse plays The Misanthrope and Tartuffe! Join us for a fun reading and discussion of both plays with parts for all. We will start some context on the impact of Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere’s satirical plays in his lifetime and consider why and how they’ve endured across time and cultures, and what resonates for us in both plays today, and then we jump into the play. Acting ability is not required, just the desire to take on a role!
Class registration includes a copy of a book containing both plays (The Misanthrope and Tartuffe).
Instructor: Parker Sterling
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Contact and Consequences: The Making of Treaties Between Indigenous Nations and the United States Government
2023-09-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Government Boarding School at Lac du Flambeau, Lac du Flambeau, WI, 54538, United States
This class will take place September 26 and 27, 10:00a.m.-Noon, with Cindi Stiles. *Please note location change: This class will take place at the Lac du Flambeau Boarding School conference room.*
Over 400 treaties were negotiated between the United States government and Indigenous Nations in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. This course will address the how, what, when, where, who and why of treaties in this era, with a brief description as to what preceded it.
When did treaty making between Indigenous Nations and the United States begin?
What preceded treaties between these nations?
Why were treaties made?
With whom did the United States negotiate treaties?
How were treaties negotiated?
How did treaties affect Indigenous Nations’ lifeways?
When did treaty making end?
How are treaties honored today?
Although not a requirement of the class, participants will be encouraged to attend the Treaty Day in Madeline Island on September 30.
Instructor: Cindi Stiles
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Ties That Bind and Ties That Sever: Russia and Ukraine (Mercer)
2023-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This class will take place October 4 and 11, 10:00a.m.-Noon, at Mercer Community Center, with Michael Hittle.
Please note that this class is offered in TWO locations. Click here for the Hurley class, which will take place October 18 and 25.
Click here for supplementary reading materials.
This course has two objectives. First, to provide an overview of the tangled relationship between the peoples of Muscovy and Russia, on the one hand, and the peoples of the geographic area known as Ukraine, on the other. In pursuit of this objective, the course will survey major political events, leading personalities, and defining cultural developments that have shaped the main contours of the relationship between these two peoples over the course of more than 1000 years.
The second objective will be to observe the ways in which history itself, as recorded and interpreted from the days of monastic chroniclers to the age of secular historians, has played an active role in creating notions of national identity that are so central to this complex interaction of peoples.
This course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion of some readings-with an emphasis on the former.
After a brief introduction to the geography of the area in question, the first session will trace the political activities of the main political entities that have sought to control all or part of Ukraine and identify the cultural imprints these powers left on the institutions and peoples of Ukraine. The second session will focus on the place of Ukraine within imperial Russia and then the Soviet Union. It will conclude by taking a look at a provocative interpretation that places the Russian-Ukrainian question within a broader context of 21st century international relations.
Requirements: The instructor will provide readings for the students—some online, others to be handed out. Primary source readings will be emphasized.
Instructor: Michael Hittle, PhD
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

The Witch Panic of the 16th and 17th Centuries
2023-10-05 15:00 - 17:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place October 5, 12, 19, and 26, 3:00-5:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Mary Magray.
This course will examine in close detail the witchcraft panic that spread like wildfire throughout Europe and the American colonies during the 16th and 17th centuries as well as to explore why the phenomenon remains such an endlessly fascinating historical event. If history can teach us anything, it is perhaps something important about human societies—most especially, what they’re capable of doing given a context of profound cultural change and societal upheaval.
This four-part course explores the widespread outbreak of torture, trials, and executions for witchcraft during the 16th and 17th centuries that resulted in the deaths of as many as 80,000 women, men, and children in Europe and the New World. The panic that ensued drew on a long history of witchcraft belief, belief that turned to widespread—and deadly—fear in the context of the profound religious and cultural upheaval of the period.
While the witchcraft panic tells us much about Western social, political, and religious culture of the early modern period, it also provides a useful lens through which to view contemporary “witch hunts” and to reflect on more general questions about human society—about the nature of belief, about fear and responses to fear, and about cultural norms that allow the persecution of particular individuals.
Class 1: The Invention of “Witchcraft”: Science, Religion, and Magic in the Medieval World
Class 2: The Invention of “Witchcraft”: The Role of the Devil and the Spread of Terror in the Early Modern World
Class 3: The Witch Panic: The Campaign to Exterminate Witches in Europe and the New World
Class 4: The Witch Panic: Consequences, Explanations, and Lessons Learned?
Requirements: The only requirement for this course is an interest in the topic. The instructor will provide short articles and/or excerpts to read between class meetings to aid in discussion as well as deepen students’ understanding of the early modern witchcraft hysteria as well as the contemporary concept of “witch hunts.”
Instructor: Mary Magray, PhD
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

From Amaterasu to Zyuranger: A Junket Through Japan's History, Culture & Language
2023-10-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This class has been canceled for October 2023 due to medical reasons.
This class will take place October 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10:00a.m.-Noon, at the Mercer Library, with Ardith Carlton.
Japanese innovations and pop culture have found their way into everyday life and entertainment worldwide. The land of their origin is a multi-faceted place shaped by a history far longer than that of the United States. Dip into Japan’s mythology, history, culture, language, and more, in learning about the Land of the Rising Sun.
A brief overview of class:
Week 1: The archipelago of Japan itself and an overview of Japanese history, from the ancient mists of mythology to the American occupation.
Week 2: Japan’s post-war comeback and positioning for the international popularity that so many elements of its culture enjoy today.
Week 3: A look at the Japanese language and three alphabets: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Learn how to read and write your name in katakana, and how to recognize words modified from English for Japanese usage.
Week 4: Japanese culture today, and any students’ particular topics of interest in Japan that have not yet been covered.
Requirements: Having an interest in Japan is helpful but certainly not required. No homework, no worries!
Instructor: Ardith Carlton
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Cities of the World: Paris
2023-10-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place October 10, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Brian Tarro. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Thanks to the generous funding of the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, we are offering this class at a special last-minute discounted rate of $5. (Value: $15.)
Discover the City of Light from the perspective of a teacher who has traveled there over 40 times! Wander off the Champs-Élysées to explore the lesser-known streets of this beautiful, beloved city. Explore Parisian culture, and get a taste of its unique je ne sais quois.
Instructor: Brian Tarro
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Ties That Bind and Ties That Sever: Russia and Ukraine (Hurley)
2023-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Iron County Board Room, 300 Taconite St, Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This class will take place October 18 and 25, 10:00a.m.-Noon, at the Iron County Board Room in Hurley, with Michael Hittle.
Please note that this class is offered in TWO locations. Click here for the Mercer class, which will take place October 4 and 11.
Sponsored by Paul Sturgul.
This course has two objectives. First, to provide an overview of the tangled relationship between the peoples of Muscovy and Russia, on the one hand, and the peoples of the geographic area known as Ukraine, on the other. In pursuit of this objective, the course will survey major political events, leading personalities, and defining cultural developments that have shaped the main contours of the relationship between these two peoples over the course of more than 1000 years.
The second objective will be to observe the ways in which history itself, as recorded and interpreted from the days of monastic chroniclers to the age of secular historians, has played an active role in creating notions of national identity that are so central to this complex interaction of peoples.
This course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion of some readings-with an emphasis on the former.
After a brief introduction to the geography of the area in question, the first session will trace the political activities of the main political entities that have sought to control all or part of Ukraine and identify the cultural imprints these powers left on the institutions and peoples of Ukraine. The second session will focus on the place of Ukraine within imperial Russia and then the Soviet Union. It will conclude by taking a look at a provocative interpretation that places the Russian-Ukrainian question within a broader context of 21st century international relations.
Requirements: The instructor will provide readings for the students—some online, others to be handed out. Primary source readings will be emphasized.
Instructor: Michael Hittle, PhD
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Interior Design Basics
2023-10-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place October 31, November 7, 14, and 21, 10:00a.m.-Noon, at Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Susan Goulet.
Basic principles of good design will be taught, enabling students to plan and create a personal design scheme.
Session 1, Planning: All good design begins with a thorough plan. Learn how to define and create a plan that suits your needs.
Session 2, Bottom Up or Top Down? What’s my next step after creating a plan? Flooring or walls? We’ll look at the process of where to start.
Session 3: What makes a design special and more importantly, unique to my life and family?
Session 4, Pulling It All Together: You’ve learned the basics, we’ll discover how to pull a design together so that it looks finished, lived in and loved.
Requirements: Students should have an interest in design and a desire to create a living space that reflects their needs. Each student will be required to take measurements of a room, visit a paint store and provide visual examples of some of the class subjects.
Materials: Students should bring a tape measure, ruler, pencils (#2) with erasers), and plain 8.5×11″ paper. The instructor will provide handouts.
Instructor: Susan Goulet
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Separating Fact From Fiction: Information Literacy Skills for Everyday Life
2023-11-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This class has been canceled. This class will take place November 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., at Mercer Public Library, with library director Teresa Schmidt.
Week 1: What is information literacy?
We’ll talk about how access to information affects our lives and everyday decisions; what it means to be information literate; how publishing and media work and why it matters; and how information, misinformation, and disinformation is shared in the 21st century.
Week 2: Fake news, misinformation, and disinformation
Learn to evaluate information and be a savvy media consumer, online and IRL.
Week 3: If it seems too good to be true…
This week is all about the scam industry. Learn about common scams and their red flags, how to avoid them, and what to do if you or someone you love gets caught in one.
Week 4: Do your own research, and the future of misinformation
So what do you do when you have an information need? What does it mean to “do your own research“? We’ll discuss more resources for quality information, online and in real life. We’ll also talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and other topics that will affect your ability to evaluate information in the future.
Instructor: Teresa Schmidt
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Cities of the World: Rome
2023-11-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place November 14, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Natalie Patritto. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Rome, Italia: a look at the prominent historical sites along with fascinating hidden treasures!
We will explore the well-known ancient wonders of Rome along with several places off the beaten tourist path- and many of these are free! If time permits we will discuss Pompeii. Also, feel free to ask history and/or travel related questions about Italy!
Instructor: Natalie Patritto
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Introduction to Basic Joinery
2023-12-04 16:00 - 19:00 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
Intermediate Fine Woodworking: Introduction to Basic Joinery will be held December 4-7, 4:00-7:00p.m., at the Hurley High School Woods Classroom and Shop with instructor Tim Lutgen.
In the event of inclement weather, a backup class will be held on December 9.
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 instructors 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.
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.
Instructor: Tim Lutgen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.

Cities of the World: Cities of the North Atlantic, Greenland and Newfoundland
2023-12-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place December 12, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Gary Theisen. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Cities of the North Atlantic: Greenland and Newfoundland
The class will expose students to the role three of the most northern cities /countries in the world played in the exploration of the west side of the Atlantic. The industries that enabled them, the international politics that shaped them and the beauty that defines their topography will be examined complemented by the instructor’s personal photos and experiences.
Instructor: Gary Theisen
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Exploring Northwoods Indigenous Communities
2024-01-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This class will take place January 9, 11 and 16, 2024, 1:00-3:00p.m. at the Mercer Community Center, with a fourth meeting and field trip January 18, 1:00-3:30p.m., with Jim Bokern.
Since the last glaciers retreated until today, Indigenous people have relied on Northwoods natural resources. Over thousands of years, from the Great Lakes to the interior lakes and streams, dynamic Indigenous practices have focused on sustaining a good life.
This series of four Fe University classes will explore the scholarship and historic documents that reveal some insights into Northwoods Indigenous people’s prehistory and history. Additionally, visits to a key cultural site and a museum will connect participants more directly to important cultural traditions.
Specific areas of exploration include precontact cultural traditions, historic indigenous communities, travel routes, village sites, resource use and interaction with Euro/American communities. An overview of post treaty Indigenous communities and families will illuminate how tribal groups like the Ojibwe and Potawatomi preserved traditional practices. An Ojibwe guest speaker will deliver a special focus on wild rice harvest and modern Ojibwe stewardship of resources. Finally, the class will travel to a historic pine pitch site and the George Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum and Cultural Center.
Participants will learn how to “Get out and Explore” cultural sites, support cultural stewardship and engage in historic preservation.
Instructor: Jim Bokern
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Cities of the World: Edinburgh
2024-01-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place January 9, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Mary Magray. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Edinburgh: The Story of a City
Author Alexander McCall Smith has called Edinburgh a “heartbreakingly engaging city,” a city remarkably easy to fall in love with. Why? Because of how and when and where the city took shape. Because of the fact that from its start it has been the “capital” city—the “first” city—of Scotland. And because of its rich, proud, and enduring culture—never sacrificed in the cause of cooperation with its powerful neighbor to the south—that has, over the centuries, suffused this entrancing city.
The march of history is how Edinburgh came to be what it is today. From the heights of Castle Rock (where Edinburgh began) and the palace of Mary Queen of Scots to the Union with Great Britain in 1707, from the earliest Catholic friaries to the Protestant reformer John Knox’s St. Giles Kirk, from the Scottish Enlightenment to the restoration of the Scottish Parliament in 1998—history is everywhere to be seen, touched, and felt in what many have called “the loveliest city in the world.”
Instructor: Mary Magray
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Cross Country Ski Instruction
2024-01-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Mecca Ski Trail, 4686 Fierick Rd., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
JANUARY 18: This class has been CANCELED due to poor snow conditions. This class will take place January 23, 25, 30 and February 1, 1:00-3:00p.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.
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) 892-3982 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.
We thank MECCA for letting us use their cabin and trails once again! Click here to find out more about MECCA Ski Trails.

From Freshwater Shores to Shining Saltwater Seas: An investigation of environmental crises along the Mississippi River and beyond
2024-01-31 15:30 - 17:30 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This class will take place January 31, February 7, 14 and 21, 3:30-5:30p.m., at Hurley High School, with Tom Fitz, Peter Levi and Titus Seilheimer.
The cumulative impacts of fossil fuel use and large-scale agricultural production have led to a breaking point in environmental crises. The excessive heat, destructive floods, ocean dead zones and red tides have demonstrated that environmental crises are being felt locally and globally – but how will climate change and water pollution affect the South Shore region?
Using the Mississippi River as a case study, we will explore the interconnectedness of ecology, geology, and human activities from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico. Then we will pull together the lessons learned and consider the coming decades along the shores of Lake Superior. Our objective is to describe the changes to our lands, waters, and communities from climate change and the science-based opportunities that can help us manage for a more resilient future.
Class 1 (Levi): Human stressors to the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems in the Midwest
Class 2 (Fitz): Geo-engineers: How humans have tried, and failed, to tame the mighty Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico
Class 3 (Seilheimer): From floods to droughts and ever-changing water levels: Plotting the course of management actions in the face of uncertainty
Class 4 (Fitz, Levi, and Seilheimer): The future of water and climate in the South Shore region of northern Wisconsin and Michigan
Requirements: Strongly recommended reading: Breakpoint: Reckoning with America’s Environmental Crises by Jeremy B.C. Jackson and Steve Chapple
Instructors: Tom Fitz, Peter Levi, and Titus Seilheimer
Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.
Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Cities of the World: Indonesian Cities
2024-02-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class has been CANCELED.
This class will take place February 13, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Gary Theisen. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Indonesian Cities as Reflections of History and Culture
Students will gain an understanding of the economic and historical importance of the Indonesian archipelago. Composed of some 13,000 islands and over one hundred languages Indonesia is the largest Islamic nation in the world yet consists of many different religions and influences resulting in a culturally rich and complex cultural entity. The class will explore the context of those differences aided by the instructor’s personal photographs.
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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Winter Social!
2024-02-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
Join us for a social gathering to kick off our new series, Still Learning After All These Years, on February 20, 4:00-6:00p.m., at Mercer Public Library!
Stop by our social to meet the teachers, learn about the classes in the series, and chat about Fe University–plus have a plain ol’ good time. Hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served. This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP needed, just show up!
About the series, Still Learning After All These Years: a series of classes for and about our FeU Generation–who we are, where we’ve been, what we need.
One or two classes will be offered each trimester beginning in February, 2024, and continuing until Spring 2025. Explore film and stories that portray 60+ folks, estate planning and long-term care options, write your memoirs, support your health as you age, and much more.
The classes in the series are priced at a discount thanks to a generous donation from the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.
Classes include:
Still Learning 1: Portrayal of the Fe U Generation in Literature and Film, with Wendy Thiede and Macy Washow, Feb. 27, March 5, 12, 19, Mercer Library
Still Learning 2: Be Informed, Be Smart, Be Sure: A Guide to Planning Your Estate and Understanding Probate, with Ryan Long and Roxanne Lutgen, May 9, 16, 23, and 30, Iron County Board Room, Hurley, 12:30-2:00, brown bag lunch
Still Learning 3: Approaching the End of the Runway: Medical and legal decision-making for the final chapters of your life, with Ryan Long and Martha Pierpont, September 5 and 12, 1:00-3:00p.m., in Hurley (Sept 5 – Iron County Board Room) and Mercer (Sept 12 – Mercer Public Library)
Still Learning 4: Our Amazing Boomer Bodies–Giving Them the Care They Need…and Deserve! with Peggy Bronsberg and Tim Lutgen, Late Oct./Nov. 2024
Still Learning 5: Life’s Stories: Writing your Memoirs, with Macy Washow and Wendy Thiede, Winter 2025
Still Learning 6: Matters of the Inner Being: An Examination of Spirituality Across the Lifespan, with Martha Pierpont and Rev Erv Teichmiller, Winter 2025
Still Learning 7: Bridge over troubled waters: teens and adults share thoughts on challenging topics and current issues, Winter/Spring 2025

Introduction to Fine Woodworking
2024-02-26 15:30 - 18:30 | Hurley High School, 5503 W Range View Dr., Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This course will take place February 26-29, 3:30-6:30p.m., with Tim Lutgen at the Hurley High School woodworking shop.
Limited enrollment–sign up soon to guarantee a spot!
Registration fee includes materials (except for required personal safety equipment).
Tim Lutgen’s popular Introduction to Woodworking returns for a second year! If you’ve ever wanted to build a project or piece of art out of beautiful hardwoods, but are intimidated by power tools… If you’d like to learn more about how to use woodworking tools safely… If you need help in researching projects and determining where to begin…. This course may help you plan, build, and display your own creations made from select Wisconsin hardwoods!
What you will make: Your own trivet made of Cherry, Walnut, Maple, and Oak that is large enough to support a 9” x 13” baking pan or large cast iron fry pan.
Optional additional item: Time permitting, you may use your scraps to build a smaller trivet that will support a large pot.
What you will learn: This course is intended for individuals who have little to no knowledge of woodworking and the safe operation of woodworking tools. You will learn:

What each tool is used for and how to operate each of those tools safely
How to plan a project to use your time and materials effectively
You will work in pairs to create your own beautiful trivet made from Cherry, Walnut, and Maple
You will learn how to finish your work, including the formulation of a custom blend of penetrating oils to optimize the appearance of the grain patterns

Overview of class:
Day 1: Introductions, Review of Syllabus, Introduction to Hardwoods, Introduction to Machine Tools & Safety with demonstrations
Day 2: Project layout including determination of woods to be used, quantities, and sizes, Initial machining of all components using a jointer, table saw, cut-off saw, planer, dado stack, router table, belt sander, band saw, and assorted hand tools.
Day 3: Sanding, fitting, and glue-up
Day 4: Band sawing excess slat ends, final sanding, finishing project using a blend of custom penetrating oils to augment grain and seal the wood, wood burning of students initials/logo on to their finished pieces.
Requirements: Safety is our primary concern. So, each student will need their own safety glasses, hearing protection (ear muffs preferred over ear plugs), and clothing that is not so loose that it could get caught in the machinery. Each student will learn how to safely operate and use the following tools under supervision: Jointer, Table Saw, Planer, Cut-off Saw, Router, Band Saw, Belt Sander, and orbital sanders. The class will be taught entirely in the woodshop and will require students to stand during class. No textbooks are required but a notebook and pencil might be helpful for taking notes.
Regular class attendance is critical for success in this class because there will not be time for a student to catch up on a missed class. Cleanup of the workshop at the end of each class is required for all students.
Registration Eligibility: Students who have previously taken this Introductory class with Tim are not eligible for this class. New students may use this course as a prerequisite for any of Tim’s upcoming intermediate woodworking classes. Keep an eye out for the next intermediate class, which will enable you to build a beautiful coffee table with kreg joinery in Fall 2024!
One section of last year’s class with their trivets!
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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Understanding Cannabis
2024-03-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer Community Center, 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin, 54547
This course will take place March 6 and 7, 10:00a.m.-Noon, at the Mercer Community Center, with Tim Lutgen, Michelle Willes, and Ben Lutgen.
What is Cannabis? Cannabis (aka Marijuana) and its derivatives have so many different names that it is easy to be confused or misled. This topic is challenging due to conflicting social media claims and advertisements about benefits and risks of each different product. Examples of terms that will be covered include: CBD, CBN, Delta-8, Delta-9, Medical Use, Recreational Use, Buds, Edibles, Concentrates, Dosing, and Side Effects.
The purpose of this course is to provide accurate information to students without encouraging or discouraging the use of cannabis products. The instructors include Michelle Willes, Corporate Training Manager of the Rize Dispensary in Ironwood, Tim Lutgen, WI licensed Pharmacist, and Ben Lutgen, WI licensed Attorney.
The topics to be presented include: Scientific vs Popular information, Legal Considerations, the Endocannabinoid system, Medical Applications & Cannabis, Methods of Consumption, Product Selection, and CBD.
Instructors: Michelle Willes, Tim Lutgen & Ben 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. Courses with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion. If you’re interested in a course, please sign up early! Thank you.

Still Learning 1: Portrayal of the FeU Generation in Literature and Film
2024-03-12 09:30 - 11:00 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
CLICK HERE to Access Supplementary Materials (Readings).
This course will take place at the Mercer Public Library with Wendy Thiede and Macy Washow on the following dates (please note varied times):

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
Tuesday, March 5, 10:00-11:30a.m.
Tuesday, March 12, 9:30-11:00a.m.
Tuesday, March 19, 10:00-11:30a.m.

The over-60 generation as portrayed in literature and film, a 4-session course, is the first in the series of seven courses titled Still Learning After All These Years: a series of courses for and about our Fe U generation: who we are, where we’ve been, what we need.
Students will learn the importance of how older adults are portrayed in literature and film because that portrayal can affect our perceptions and lead to discrimination and low self-esteem. The film, short stories, poetry and the novel chosen for analysis are intended to show the unique experiences and positive contributions of older adults contrasted to the stereotypes often seen in the media.
Session 1: Film, Feb 27, 10:00-2:00, light lunch provided.
We will discuss movies students have watched that feature older protagonists. What are the characters like? Are their actions and appearance age-appropriate? Is the portrayal a fair glimpse of an older person, or do the characters simply fit the stereotypes of grumpy old man or forgetful or feisty old lady for the sake of comedy. Are the movies depressing or upbeat?
We will then watch a film to answer the questions above and analyze how film technique is used to portray the older character. We will discuss techniques such as camera shots, camera movement, sound, editing, light, music, dialog and character interaction. What do we learn in the first few minutes about the character and how do we learn that?
Session 2: Short stories, March 5, 10:00-11:30a.m.
Students will read several short stories to discuss in class. The same questions above will be discussed, but instead of film technique, short story technique will be analyzed. What are the direct and indirect ways we learn about the character? Is there a message, and if so, how well does it come across? Can you tell the age of the writer from his/her portrayal of the older characters?
Session 3: Poetry, March 12, 9:30-11:00a.m.
Though often criticized for being obscure or not rhyming, poems can, in just a few lines, uncover universal truths or provide fresh ways of looking at the world. Students will read and discuss approximately a dozen short, easily accessible poems that examine who we are, where we’ve been, and what we need. They will analyze how the sound of the word, the imagery, the brevity of expression, structure, and even the arrangement of the line on the page add impact. Mostly, however, they will discuss what the poems say about life’s experiences and how the poem did or didn’t change their perspective. Students will discuss which are their favorite poems and why. Is there a line that especially hits home? Something that surprised them? Could they see their preference changing over time? Why or why not? Students are encouraged to bring in favorite poems of older adults. A list of additional poems will be provided.
Session 4: Novel, March 19, 10:00-11:30a.m.
Students will be assigned a novel to discuss in the 4th session. Again, the questions about portrayal of the elderly protagonist will be discussed and the author’s technique in getting the story across. What literary conventions did he/she use, and are they effective? Students will be asked to bring a meaningful quote or two from the novel to discuss in class. Students will discuss what they think the age the author was when he/she wrote the novel. What are some clues? Do they think the portrayal is realistic? If the author was in his 60’s or 70’s what might be different?
Requirements: Students are encouraged to read several short stories, poems and a novel.
Instructors: Wendy Thiede and 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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. Courses 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 a generous donation from the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.

Cities of the World: Tokyo
2024-03-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place March 12, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Ardith Carlton. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
37 Million People Can’t Be Wrong: Magnetic Tokyo
The world’s largest metropolitan area, Tokyo attracts not only young Japanese from throughout the country in search of their best life, but also international visitors galore. Learn about Tokyo’s history, its culture, and its range of unforgettable features, from the colorful cacophony of electronic districts to ancient, peaceful places.
Instructor: Ardith Carlton
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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Cities of the World: St. Petersburg
2024-04-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
THIS CLASS HAS BEEN CANCELLED due to a health issue. This class will take place April 9, 4:00-6:00p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Michael Hittle. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
St. Petersburg (AKA: Sankt-Peterburg, Peterburg, Petrograd, Leningrad, Piter….)
Peter the Great (1682-1725) founded St. Petersburg as one part of his life-long quest to transform tradition-bound Muscovy into a powerful empire capable of dealing on equal terms with the major powers of western Europe. St. Petersburg’s governmental organization, economic life, social relations, and cultural aspirations—all shaped by the tsar’s modernizing ambitions—stood in stark contrast to the institutional structures and ethos of the Muscovite state at the time of Peter’s accession to power. As the new capital of Russia, St. Petersburg not only gave impetus to a dramatic redirection of the country, but it also became a major issue in a prolonged struggle to define the identity of the Russian nation. Whether one looks at the city as the locus of significant historical events or as a symbol of cultural change, St. Petersburg has played an outsized role in the history of Russia for the last 320 years.
Instructor: Michael Hittle
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.
Cancellation Notice: Students are encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the beginning of any Fe University class. Classes 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.

Still Learning 2: Be Informed, Be Smart, Be Sure
2024-05-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Iron County Board Room, 300 Taconite St, Hurley, WI, 54534, United States
This course will take place May 9, 16, 23, and 30, 12:30-2:00 p.m., at the Iron County Board Room in Hurley, with Roxanne Lutgen and Ryan Long.
Drinks and snacks will be provided. Students are welcome to bring their own lunches.
In this 4-part course, we will help you think through your estate planning decisions by learning about the estate planning documents that everyone should consider, from wills to trusts to powers of attorney. In addition, we will discuss the probate process and review some cases showing what happens if you don’t plan ahead to avoid probate. Finally, we will discuss the growth rate in our senior population, the impacts of the caregiving crisis, and the benefits of long-term care planning.
Instructors: Roxanne Lutgen, JD, CPA and Ryan Long, JD
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.
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.

Cities of the World: Dublin
2024-05-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Frank B. Koller Memorial Library, 5761 US-51, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545, United States
This class will take place May 14, 4:00-6:00 p.m., at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters, with Mary Magray. It is part of our Cities of the World: A Grand Tour series.
Dublin: The Story of a City
Viewed from the mountains south of the city, Dublin today appears as a sprawling metropolis of more than a million people—a far cry from its beginnings some time before the 9th century. Then it was just a small settlement of several thousand men, women and children hugging the Liffey River. Since then, its story has been a roller coaster ride, the city rising and falling in significance, in wealth, and in centrality to the greater story of Ireland itself.
Not surprisingly, the traces of structures no longer visible on its landscape as well as those remaining today tell a vibrant story of all that has taken place in the city over time. From the now long-gone Viking cabins and Norman half-timbered houses to the great cathedrals, Georgian row houses, historic pubs and coffee houses, and immense (and immensely impressive) civic buildings, these structures tell of the throbbing life of a great city on the move for more than one thousand years: Dublin.
Instructor: Mary Magray
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.

Birding By Ear
2024-06-03 08:30 - 11:30 | Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St., Mercer, WI, 54547, United States
This course will take place June 3 and 5, 8:30-11:30 a.m., with Joan Elias, at the Mercer Public Library.
Participants will be exposed to the songs of frequently encountered species in our northern Wisconsin forests and yards. They will learn mnemonics and other tips for remembering songs, as well as learning about tricky birds, such as those who imitate other birds.
Students will learn to identify birds by their songs, and secondarily, by sight. Focus will be on the most common species found in the northern forest and nearby yards. Some of the easily confused species will be given special attention.
Session 1 will begin indoors and move outdoors. We will decide as a group whether more indoor time is desirable for session 2 or whether to spend the entire time outdoors.
Once the trees leaf out in spring, visual observation of birds high in the tree canopy becomes difficult. Some will say ‘there’s an app for that’, but relying on our technology is not always possible or desirable. Having the ability to identify birds by their songs is rewarding and fun!

Requirements: Participants should have a keen interest in identifying northern forest birds by their songs. Good hearing is a must, as the songs of many species are in the high frequency range. Bring binoculars and a notebook.
Dress for the weather, including sturdy walking shoes. Some walking/hiking will occur during the outdoor portions of the classes.
No textbooks or apps are required.
This class is limited to 15 students.
Instructor: Joan Elias
This course qualifies for advanced training hours for Master Naturalists.
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 Writing
2024-07-18 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 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.
