Looking for a fun way to spend your summer? Look no further than the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College Summer Adventures program. 

Our seven-week program runs from May 15 to June 30 and offers a one-of-a-kind curation of lifelong learning experiences. 

Weeks 1 and 2 (May 15-May 26)
Hop on board and sample one of seven trips. No baggage needed! Local excursions include expert-led discussions and exclusive behind-the-scenes sessions. 

Weeks 3-7 (May 30-June 30)
Treat yourself to a different lifelong learning experience. From gardening and improv to music and investing—there’s something for everyone.  

Whether you’re an avid lifelong learner or a casual seeker of knowledge, make OLLI at Ringling College your destination for the joy of learning.  

No tests! No stress! Just good times!

Registration opens Monday, April 24 for OLLI Gold and Silver members and the General Public. 

• All ticket prices/fees are per person.
• All tour and program tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• There are no refunds or exchanges for any tours.
• There are no refunds on lectures, presentations, or films.
• Unless noted all lectures, presentations, and films take place on the Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

For information or to register, call 941-309-5111.

Week 1: Tours

(Registration deadline: Monday, May 8)
Newtown Alive Tour 
Monday, May 15 • 10 am-12 pm 
$25 • OLLI Gold or Silver members only [Seating capacity: 28]
Point of departure: Ringling College Museum Campus at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail
Join us for a guided, interactive tour showcasing the history of Sarasota’s earliest African-American pioneers and one of its oldest neighborhoods. Travel the same route they took to integrate the world’s most beautiful beaches. Meet local trailblazers and enjoy music and songs. An uplifting journey awaits you! 

This tour takes place on an air-conditioned bus.

Elling Eide Center Research Library and Preserve 
Tuesday, May 16 • 10-11:30 am 
$10 • OLLI Gold and Silver members and General Public [Tour max: 20]
Meeting location: 8000 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota  
Join docent Norman Burr on a 90-minute fascinating trek through the historic Preserve. Walk through the arboretum and learn about rare, interesting, and exotic plants. Norman will discuss the geologic history of Florida and how plant life evolved. He will also share the history of the inhabitants of the Elling Eide Center from pre-history to today! Then, venture inside and see Elling Eide’s personal collection of Asian art and literature.

Directions: Follow the signs on the road adjacent to the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant’s parking lot. Enter the gate and follow the signs for parking.

Architecture Tour
Wednesday, May 17 • 10-11:30 am 
$25 • OLLI Gold and Silver members only [Seating capacity: 8]
Point of departure: The Trolley Cottage at 1826 4th St., Sarasota (Free parking) 
Sarasota is home to an amazing architectural legacy. On this 90-minute guided tour, guests will visit some outstanding examples of architecture and design, with tours featuring three of the city’s distinctive styles: Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, and Mediterranean Revival.

Visit historic neighborhoods and explore the Sarasota School of Architecture, structures and architects, periods, styles, and history of significant buildings.

This tour runs in a comfortable air-conditioned high-top van so that we can get down some of the narrower streets in Burns Court and other downtown neighborhoods.

Ringling Museum 
Friday, May 19 • 10 am
$30 • OLLI Gold and Silver members and General Public [Tour max: 20]
Meeting location: The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road  
This tour offers a trio of programs including a docent-led tour of the Museum of Art; followed by self-guided tours of the Circus Museum and the Bayfront Gardens. 

The Museum of Art: From the Rubens’ Galleries to the Turrell Skyspace, view the permanent collection’s treasures, the fascinating exhibitions from around the world, and the classical sculptures that fill the grand courtyard.

Circus Museum: Thrill to it all: the parade wagons, the posters, the glittering costumes, the Ringling’s fully-restored private railcar, and the cannon that shot daring performers through the air. Wonder at the must-be-seen-to-be-believed 44,000-piece Howard Bros. Circus Model celebrating the entertainment that has delighted America for generations.

Bayfront Gardens: As awe-inspiring as any work of art, The Ringling Bayfront Gardens are a living treasure: courting couples statuary watching over Mable’s Rose Garden, the shade the majestic Banyan trees provide, and the whimsy of the Dwarf Garden, and more.  

Week 2: Tours

(Registration deadline: Monday, May 15)
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Monday, May 22 • 10 am -12:30 pm
$18 • OLLI Gold and Silver members and General Public [Tour max: 20]
Meeting location: Mote Marine, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway (at the Whale Fountain) 
Mote Aquarium is your gateway to the ocean, featuring hundreds of marine animal species and windows into Mote Marine Laboratory, where real scientific research happens. From our open-water Shark Zone exhibit to our stingrays, reef animals, sea turtles, manatees, and more, Mote Aquarium pairs ocean-going fun with the meaningful mission of our marine laboratory. Brad Tanner, Mote Educator, welcomes us for a one-on-one discussion about the latest research at Mote. Guests can then enjoy self-guided tours of the Aquarium and Marine Mammal Center.  

Architecture Tour
Wednesday, May 24 • 10-11:30 am 
$25 • OLLI Gold and Silver members only [Seating capacity: 8]
Point of departure: The Trolley Cottage at 1826 4th St., Sarasota (Free parking)  
Sarasota is home to an amazing architectural legacy. On this 90-minute guided tour, guests will visit some outstanding examples of architecture and design, with tours featuring three of the city’s distinctive styles: Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, and Mediterranean Revival.

Visit historic neighborhoods and explore the Sarasota School of Architecture, structures and architects, periods, styles, and history of significant buildings.

This tour runs in a comfortable air-conditioned high-top van so that we can get down some of the narrower streets in Burns Court and other downtown neighborhoods.

Selby Gardens: Behind-the-Scenes Greenhouse Tour
Friday, May 26 • 10-11:30 am 
$25 • OLLI Gold and Silver members only [Tour max: 20] 
MeetingLocation: 1534 Mound St., Sarasota   
See plants that are rarely on view to the public during an exclusive tour of the working greenhouses at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. This guided experience will feature endangered orchids and other exotic specimens from the Gardens’ world-renowned collection. Guests are welcome to tour the gardens once the greenhouse tour is complete. 

Week 3: Summer Film Series

This four-day film series will highlight films set in the season of summer!  Let’s embrace the heat and celebrate the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer by watching both narrative and documentary films. We’ll watch the films together and with lively immediate reaction, engage in discussions led by film aficionado and series host Roxanne Baker. 
Fee: $5 per film  

• Tuesday, May 30: Mystic Pizza (1988)The filmcharts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in a little town called Mystic. 

• Wednesday, May 31 Summer of Soul (2021 documentary) The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was a celebration of African-American music and culture.

• Thursday, June 1: Summertime (1955) An American spinster finds love when she meets a handsome ⸺ but married ⸺ Italian man while on vacation.

• Friday, June 2: Adventureland (2009) A college graduate learns real-world life lessons while working at an amusement park.

Week 4: Cultural Expressions

Monday, June 5 • 11 am-12 pm
Explore the Roof of the World: Tibet with Judy Levine
Fee: $10  
Take a trip over the Himalayas and visit the “Roof of the World” in Tibet. Explore Tibet’s unique culture through its art, music, and dance. Enjoy Tibetan art and artifacts collected by the speaker on her travels to this sacred place.

Seeker/Keeper—Observing Culture Through a Documentary Photographer’s Lens with Wayne Eastep
Monday, June 5 • 1-2 pm
Fee: $10
Angola to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan to Kyoto, from the most northern peaks of the Himalayan range to deserts of Arabia and the premier underwater locations in the Caribbean. This stunning multi-media presentation will take you on a visual journey to the magnificent places and remarkable people he has photographed. Mr. Eastep will share stories of his encounters. He will discuss his approach to documentary photography and making connections with people uniquely different from his life in New York City.

This Was Their Lives Series
Tuesday, June 6 • 11 am-12:20 pm
Middle Earth and the Shire: The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien with Martha Hill
Fee: $10  
J.R.R. Tolkien was a distinguished scholar and professor whose special subject was Old Norse. His love of languages led to the creation of his own and the fully-realized world of Middle Earth. What led to the creation of this splendid fantasy? Take the journey and find out.

Thursday, June 8 • 11 am-12 pm
From the Andes to the Amazon: Colombia’s Biodiversity and its Different Cultures with Andrea Saravia Pérez
Fee: $10  
Published author and poet Andrea Saravia Pérez showcases with visual accompaniments the biodiversity of her home country and the role that plays in creating a myriad of traditions within its 440,000 square miles. A thorough dive into the different regions of Colombia and its cultures, the presentation seeks to highlight what makes each regional culture unique and how Colombia’s national culture differs from other countries within the Latin American diaspora.

Week 5: Personal Finance  

Monday, June 12 • 11 am-12 pm
Seniors — How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Investment Scams with Lisa Trueba Roberts 
Fee: $10  
This session will provide information on how seniors can avoid becoming victims of investment fraud. The presentation will include an overview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); offer strategies for smart investing; tips to avoid fraud; and planning for diminished capacity. Attendees will learn how the SEC protects investors; who to call if they suspect that they have been offered an investment that may be fraudulent; and details about the SEC website www.investor.gov which has investor alerts about current fraudulent schemes and other important information.

This Was Their Lives Series
Tuesday, June 13 • 11 am-12:20 pm
The World of P.G. Wodehouse with Bonnie Spadafora
The prolific creations of this English writer-humorist include novels, short stories, essays, and song lyrics. He is probably best known for his characters Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, his valet. Wodehouse’s life story ranges from boarding schools to country houses, Broadway to Hollywood, and Paris to German internment camps.

Living on a Fixed Income with Bob Busch
Wednesday, June 14 • 11 am-12 pm
Fee: $10
Almost 67 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, and 40 percent rely exclusively on Social Security checks for retirement income. Living on a fixed income is a stark reality for most seniors today. Budgeting is the first step in analyzing your situation and improving your financial well-being. Credit-card debt is an anchor for many seniors, and we will discuss how to help you avoid debt. We will close with guarding your assets against fraud. Our session is on self-reflection and how to streamline your expenses. 

What Wall Street Doesn’t Want YOU to Know with Don Hagan and Regan Teague
Thursday, June 15 • 11 am-12 pm
Fee: $10  
Join the Day Hagan team to learn Wall Street’s secrets. Find out why “Black Swans” and “Gray Rhinos” happen, how retail investors are the last to know, and how Wall Street preys on the two primary investing emotions: fear and greed. They’ll provide practical tips and best practices for selecting investments, constructing portfolios, and managing risk. 

Friday, June 16 • 11 am-12 pm
Learn How to Fill the Gap in Your Retirement Strategy with Fred Everts
Fee: $10  
Long Term Care (LTC) are services that help people who are unable to take care of themselves due to aging, chronic illness, or disability. The chance that you will need LTC increases as you age. This session explains the cost of different types of care; ways to pay for long-term care; government support (Medicaid and Medicare) and eligibility criteria; and LTC insurance options (traditional vs. hybrid LTC policies). It pays to know your LTC insurance options in advance.

Friday, June 16 • 1-2 pm
It’s all About the Planning: Overview of Estate Planning for Seniors with Sydney Seabaugh
Fee: $10  
The presentation will include an overview of estate planning by familiarizing attendees with the basics of wills, trusts, living wills, health care surrogates, and general estate administration tasks. Attendees will learn about the importance of estate planning so they can best plan for the future. This session will include an introduction to the laws governing the disposition of property after death by will and the laws of estate planning.

Week 6: Performing Arts

Improv and More at Florida Studio Theatre with Will Luera
Monday, June 19 • 11 am 
Fee: $10  
Meeting location: Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota  
Will Luera, Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, hosts this special session that includes a behind-the-scenes look at the theatre followed by fun improv games and theatre exercises. Did you know that improv can be used to improve listening skills and strengthen your cognitive fitness? Join us and get in on the excitement of learning in a theatrical environment.

This Was Their Lives Series
A Frank Lecture on Sinatra with Tony Moon
Tuesday, June 20 • 11 am-12:20 pm
Fee: $10
The Sinatra story is one of amazing ups and downs as his career spanned nearly 60 years. In this session, we will cover his career with songs, videos, and stories of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Come join this Rat Pack!

Thursday, June 22 • 11 am-12 pm
The Man I Love: The Story of Kay Swift and George Gershwin with Sandra Moulin
Fee: $10  
Local actress, pianist, vocalist, public speaker, instructor, and storyteller Sandra Moulin, brings the story of Kay Swift and George Gershwin to life in this dramatic, interactive, entertaining presentation featuring piano selections and singalong. Learn about this little-known 10-year love affair and discover how history remembers a genius whose legacy still resonates 86 years after his death.

Friday, June 23 • 11 am-12 pm
What Makes the Harp Special with Sharon Busch
Fee: $10  
This gorgeous sounding, ancient instrument has origins in early Egypt. Today, we have a variety of harps differing in sound and style. This session includes a pictorial of harps through the ages. We end with a look at our modern harps, so rich in resonate sound. How is the harp played?  What is its unique sound? This is a close look at this elegant instrument loved by so many. Sharon will play several selections showcasing her Celtic harp.  

Friday, June 23 • 1-2:30 pm
All About That Bass with Paul Gormley and Dick Hamilton 
Fee: $10  
Join professional bassist Paul Gormley for a rhythmic tour of an instrument that’s more than an oversized guitar or cello on steroids. Paul will share little-known facts and funny stories about the largest but often ignored of the stringed instruments, its evolution, its role in various musical genres, and its unexpected talents. Multi-instrumentalist Dick Hamilton joins Paul to demonstrate the versatility of the bass.

Week 7: Wellness + Healthy Lifestyles

Dreams: What Condition is Your Condition In? with Dr. Katherine A. Best
Monday, June 26 • 11 am-12:30 pm
Fee: $10
From ancient cultures to current theories, dreams have been either revered as guidance or prophecy or dismissed as unintelligible scripts we cannot translate. The question we should be asking is: “Why is the psyche bringing us these images?” We know that nature doesn’t waste energy, yet dreams come to us each night with people or animals and images that try to communicate a story to us. Carl Jung taught that we should attend to dreams; recording the story and drawing the dream images. Respecting and attending to dream images allows guidance from the deep psyche to point the way. Join us for a fascinating discussion.

This Was Their Lives Series
Tuesday, June 27 • 11 am-12:20 pm
The Life of Eric Kandel with Alan Grindal
Fee: $10
Eric Kandel won a Nobel Prize in 2000 for his work on understanding the biology of memory. His research has helped define the framework that underlies modern neuroscience. Our discussion will also explore the subject of human memory in greater detail.

Intimacy and Sex. What is Happening? with Dr. Mary G. Davenport
Wednesday, June 28 • 11 am-12:30 pm
Fee: $10
Over the course of our lives, body parts and systems evolve. How we understand and adapt to those changes affects our quality of life. The changes in sexual interest and function are no exception. In this presentation, we will address the impact of these changes on the individual and on the couple. You will learn some helpful coping strategies. Join us for a fun and candid discussion. Your questions are invited.

Navigating Your Florida Garden and Landscaping with Tenille Dixon Pawlus
Friday, June 30 • 10 am-11 am
Fee: $10  
Learn gardening ideas and lessons for your Florida landscape. Tips on everything from soil, sun, watering, plants, pests, wildlife, and how gardening is not only good for our environment but our bodies and souls. 

Plant Parenthood: How to Care For Your Plants and Uplift Your Spirits and Home Space with Tenille Dixon Pawlus
Friday, June 30 • 11 am-12 pm
Fee: $10 
Plants aren’t just for your landscape. Plants bring joy and beauty inside your home and on your lanai and balcony. Learn what plants are best used inside, what soil to use, how to deal with pests, plus other tips. Working with soil can nurture your mind.