OLLI presents 'The Black Bear: Nature’s Voracious Omnivore'

Kurt Valenta, naturalist and educator, will present the OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program Tuesday, Oct. 23. “The Black Bear: Nature’s Voracious Omnivore” will be presented at 2 p.m. at the Nolin Murray Center next to St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Pleasant St. in Springfield.

Kurt Valenta, naturalist and educator, will present the OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program Tuesday, Oct. 23. “The Black Bear: Nature’s Voracious Omnivore” will be presented at 2 p.m. at the Nolin Murray Center next to St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Pleasant St. in Springfield, Vt.

The black bear, smallest of the three bear species found in North America, lives in a wide variety of habitats. They move with a lumbering grace and stealth that belies their size. They are part of many children’s tales, but the fiercely protective female and the belligerent solitary male are anything but cuddly “teddy bears.”

Valenta, a favorite presenter of the OLLI group, is a wildlife educator who presents programs to school and community groups. He brings many actual objects to illustrate the animal adaptations that provide for a fascinating talk about our local wildlife. This program is co-sponsored by the Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society.

OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, affiliated with the University of Vermont, is a local membership program geared towards seniors 50 years and older who want to engage in meaningful learning “just for the fun of it!” People of all ages are welcome to attend.

The OLLI series programs are selected with input from the local members and carry varied themes from semester to semester including history, art, music, literature, health, nature, science, and current events.

Programs are held at 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoons and last about an hour and a half.

Membership for the semester includes nine programs. Non-members are encouraged and welcome to attend individual lectures for a single program fee. Memberships, as well as single program fees, may be paid at the program.

The following OLLI program will be just one week later Tuesday, Oct. 30, and will be “This Year in Politics is Really Different (And That’s Not Fake News).” Journalist Jon Margolis will discuss the national and state issues that are being considered in the November election.

Brochures have been distributed throughout the area towns at businesses, the local libraries, town halls, and Chamber of Commerce offices. The complete Springfield and statewide program list is available online at www.learn.uvm.edu/olli. Choose statewide programs from the menu, and then scroll to Springfield.