Nicolet College Learning in Retirement provides wide array of opportunities for members over 50

Nicolet College’s Learning in Retirement program is directed by retired and semi-retired Northwoods residents and was created for those who are retired or semi-retired, and is open to anyone 50 years of age or older. The program offers short-term learning opportunities that allow people to have a wide variety of experiences in what has been described as a relaxed, informal and friendly setting. Members from all backgrounds are encouraged to become part of the Learning in Retirement Program. There is only one requirement: all members believe that learning is lifelong. Classes are held throughout the year, and membership is valid from July 1 to June 30 each year. 

This fall semester of programming marks a 30-year partnership between Learning in Retirement and Nicolet College. Not only do members learn from a variety of categories, but many develop lifelong friendships that extend beyond the boundaries of the programs themselves. The curriculum committee looks to find new and inspiring programming each year. Program categories include community and government, health, wellness and medicine, history, language, culture and diversity, nature, the arts, tours and activities, and travel.

Membership in the Learning in Retirement program affords members the ability to attend over 60 classes. Most classes are free to members, while some require an additional nominal fee. All interested must be members of Learning in Retirement in order to attend a program or class. 

The first November offering comes from the Rhinelander Community Band and is titled: Music Performance and Instrument “petting zoo.”  Ensembles from the Rhinelander Community Band will perform in a short recital, followed by a brief talk by Marilyn Pekol, the band’s director. Attendees will learn more about different musical instruments and how they work the way they do. Pekol will also educate people on the science of sound. Attendees will also get the opportunity to check out some musical instruments for some hands-on learning. The program will be held at the Lakeside Center Commons at Nicolet College at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The next class will be in the health, wellness and medicine category. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, clinical nutritionist Sydney Zettler will present Nutrition for Smarties. She will instruct attendees on how to unlock their bodies’ innate healing capabilities and become aware of the harm caused by compounds such as heavy metals and chemicals as well as bodily harm from scares, food sensitivities and dental issues. 

Good immune system function as well as foods that can promote chronic conditions such as pain, inflammation, weight gain and digestive problems will all be explored in this class. With a deep desire to help others visualize and achieve their health goals, Zettler shares her passion for whole body healing. Zettler graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse with a degree in exercise sport science and nutrition and completed advanced autonomic response testing at the Sophia Health Institute in Washington as well as the professional clinical training in nutritional response testing in Florida. With all of this knowledge, Zettler built her own toolbox of environmental, emotional and spiritual components of healing that she will share with attendees of this class.

On Nov. 6, Ali Pichowski will take up to 30 members on a tour of the Nicolet College Library. Attendees can explore the “rich heritage and modern amenities” of the college library on this tour, which has been designed specifically for Learning in Retirement members. The library, like the program itself, fosters life long learning, with state-of-the-art facilities interspersed with cozy reading areas.

“Whether you’re reconnecting with a love for literature or discovering new interests, this tour promises to be an enriching experience,” the class description said. Attendees will come to see the library as not only a resource, but also a retreat.

Pichowski is a former elementary educator and library specialist for the Three Lakes School District and holds a master’s degree in library information studies from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Pichowski currently manages the instructional resources at Nicolet College, and specifically the Richard J. Brown Library.

The second week of November features “Meeting the Challenges of Aging: Part I.” The program takes place at the Northwoods Center of Nicolet College on Nov. 12. Christopher Koeppl, MD, a retired internal medicine physician will introduce members to some of the physical, cognitive and psychological aspects of aging.

“Let’s face it,” Koeppl said. “Most of us are closer to the exit than the entrance and have already experienced some differences in what we can and cannot do, both physically and mentally.” He said there are many ways individuals respond to those losses, and many are not positive, but he hopes to relay a more constructive way to approach aging through this class.

Dr. Koeppl served as a founding member and lead physician in the Northern Wisconsin Memory Diagnostic Clinic, where he focused on memory and cognitive impairments that can come with age. His specific area of interest is the differences seen between normal aging and diseases or conditions more common in older adults, as well as dementia. 

November also includes a tour of the iconic Rhinelander Post Office. The postal service has undergone a wealth of changes over the years, and Rhinelander post master Anthony Turek will give members a behind-the-scenes look at how incoming and outgoing mail is processed in this unique tour.

Anne and Murray Small share their long-distance journey on the Appalachian Trail in a program on Nov 17. Anne Small and her young son share stories of their five-month journey. Members will even get to see the gear the two used on their hike. Members can learn a great deal about long-distance hikes and how to be prepared for things that happen along the trail, as well as ways to lighten their load to have a more enjoyable adventure.

Another Learning in Retirement offering for November will take kick off at 10 a.m. on the 21st at ArtStart on Stevens Street in Rhinelander. This tour will include exhibits that will run from Nov. 20 to Jan. 7. The artist will guide member attendees through their own exhibit in two groups, and there is a cap of 30 members for this program.

Iannarelli’s exhibit in entitled, “With Age Comes Lines.” The artist has spent 44 years manipulating fabric, with both nature’s colors and seasons as her primary inspirations. 

“This exhibit demonstrates the artist’s love for the changing environment, with a strong emphasis on the use of lines: horizontal, vertical or angular,” the program description reads. Each piece of the artist’s work focuses on lines, whether precise or wandering.

December programming kicks off with a class in the health, wellness and medicine category. Attendees will join instructor Katy Ralph in her class, “Dance to Strengthen Mind and Body.” After a brief discussion of the numerous health benefits of dancing, members will receive a brief demonstration of line dancing as well as some basic instruction. 

Ralph is a former Nicolet College art gallery instructor and theater director at Elcho High School. She has been a certified dance and fitness instructor at the YMCA of the Northwoods since 2007.

Most programming will take place at the Nicolet College Campus in Rhinelander, with some classes taking members to different locations in and around Rhinelander. For more information on the Learning in Retirement Program at Nicolet, to learn how to become a member and get involved, or to learn how to donate to the program, see the Nicolet College website at nicoletcollege.edu and click on the “community” tab. Then scroll down to Learning in Retirement, or browse several other categories of community events, entertainment and learning opportunities as well.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].