OLLI Winter 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 13
through water or snow. The pace may be brisk.
Please consider your physical abilities, and only
register if you are an experienced hiker. Poles are
recommended for the winter hikes. The All Trails
hiking app will be used.
$45 – Facilitated by Diane Rock, Sheila Hansen,
Allan Spangler, Rob Parks, Dave Woodruff, Chris
Esken, Paul Miller, experienced hike leaders who
love to explore trails in the Tri-County area and
beyond.
Seats available: 18
Ken Ferino and Dave Woodruff toast to good times
on the recent Traveling Braves trip to Croatia.
Flying Lessons: Finding Your Next Life’s Purpose
Tuesdays, January 27 – February 24
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
PeoriaNext Innovation Center, 801 W. Main, Peoria
In life, we experience threshold moments. Our
identity shifts. What once made sense now is
a question mark. Join us on a journey of selfre昀氀ection. Together, we’ll examine who we are
now and identify where we want to go amid the
fabulous possibilities lying before us. Guiding us
on this journey will be facilitator Heather Patterson
using her book “Flying Lessons: To Discover and
Remember You.” In addition, at each session,
we will be stimulated to think and write about
our future from prompts Heather has designed.
Heather's newly published book will be available
for purchase on the 昀椀rst day of class for $20.
$45 – Facilitated by Heather Patterson, VP of
Resource Development for the Heart of Illinois
United Way and the pastor of St. Paul United
Church of Christ in Pekin.
Seats available: 20
Advanced Trailblazers
Mondays, February 2 – 23
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Various locations
Join our hiking leaders to explore multiple trails
in the area. Each hike will be 3 to 4 miles in
length, and some will have signi昀椀cant elevation
changes. Trails will be uneven, rocky and may go
Let the Games Begin – Winter Olympics Edition
Tuesdays, February 3 – 24
1:30 – 3:45 p.m.
PeoriaNext Innovation Center, 801 W. Main, Peoria
This February, in the cities of Milano and
Cortina, Italy, approximately 3000 athletes from
91 countries will compete on snow and ice in
116 events. Every Olympics, there are stories
that inspire and fascinate. Join frequent OLLI
facilitators Randy Wilson and Denise Hocker as
we discuss movies and documentaries based
on real people and explore the events that
in昀氀uenced these athletes and the Games in which
they participated. The following movies and
documentaries are expected to be viewed on your
own prior to each discussion: February 3: Downhill
Racer; February 10: Miracle and The Russian Five;
February 17: I, Tonya and The Ice King; February
24: The Crash Reel. All are available on Amazon
Prime, Tubi, and at your local library.
$45 – Facilitated by OLLI 昀椀lm buffs Denise Hocker
and Randy Wilson.
Seats available: 20
The Gilded Age: The Rise of Modern America
Thursdays, February 5 – March 5
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
PeoriaNext Innovation Center, 801 W. Main, Peoria
Step back into one of the most pivotal eras in U.S.
history - the Gilded Age. Together, we will glide
through the Old West, waves of immigration, and
the explosive growth of cities. We’ll examine the
rise of industry and labor unions, the evolution
of the two-party political system, and the early
stirrings of big government. Through our group
discussion, we’ll uncover how this dynamic period
laid the foundation for modern America, and how
its struggles and triumphs still echo today.
$45 – Facilitated by John Cummings, retired high
school teacher, OLLI member, and lifelong history
enthusiast.
Seats available: 24
STUDY GROUPS
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