Ashland Courses   

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball course or who have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who have taught before. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet at Lithia Park pickleball courts every day for five consecutive days for 1½ hours. There will be an emphasis on safety and sportsmanship. This skills-building class will focus on different types of serves; lobs; third-shot drops or “drop shots” drives; partner communication; stacking; types of scoring; and identifying Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson! The last day will be a fun round-robin in which players will rotate play with all other players. There will be an instructor/Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club member at each court who will be ensuring no faults and providing feedback. A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. 

NOTE: Students are expected to have their own paddle and know the basic game, such as rules/usapickleball.org, court position, basic serve, return of serve, NVZ, calling “out” balls, safety and sportsmanship. Players will need court shoes, a hat or visor, snacks and a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. 

Chaos can take many forms — whether with personal struggles or global uncertainties. Yet, peace is always within us. Inspired by the transformative teachings of Sydney Banks’ Three Principles, this understanding offers us a lens to uncover our innate resilience and well-being regardless of our external circumstances. Join this engaging journey, where we will blend insightful discussions with short, impactful videos featuring thought leaders like Syd Banks, Michael Neill and George and Linda Pransky. In watching these videos, we often receive our own deeper insights that can guide us to more clarity, peace and an empowered life. In a world yearning for peace, those of us who have embraced the wisdom of the Three Principles understand that raising our consciousness is the ultimate answer. As we live fully in our own peace, contentment and well-being, we affect all around us, at a personal, community and global level. Join this exploration toward the profound healing of the universal mind.

NOTE: There are many other wonderful Three Principles teachers. To watch other teachers, search on YouTube.

This highly interactive, informal class will give you a chance to improve your Russian. We will use a minimum of English and repeat and contextualize Russian so that everyone understands and can respond in Russian. Grammar will be discussed only as needed, as our focus will be on using Russian. The free online textbook “Mezhdu Nami” provides some materials, along with a selection of short readings, songs and poems. 
 
NOTE: We don’t expect students with fluent Russian. Experience shows that some students struggle with pronunciation, some with cases and some with the Cyrillic alphabet. The Russian From Scratch course is not a prerequisite but could help many students.

Oregon has been the site of rich literary offerings by lesbians. Starting in the 1970s, lesbians here began to gather and record their lives, their spirituality, their erotic experiences and their politics. In WomanSpirit magazine, Ruth and Jean Mountaingrove offered years of meditations, rituals and spiritual insights that touched women around the world. A group called the Southern Oregon Women Writers’ Group, Gourmet Eating Society and Chorus helped writers create and publish dozens of lesbian books. The “We’Moon Calendar” has showcased global women’s art and writings annually for over 40 years. Tee Corrine made lesbian sex a literary and visible celebration from her home in Oregon. Come out and enjoy discovering lesbian writing, art and publication in Oregon. There will be books to read and art to view. The course will be taught from the perspective of preserving lesbian herstory as part of the LGB cultural mosaic. No background knowledge is needed.  

NOTE: Most materials will be excerpted, scanned and distributed to the class. Full versions may be available online.

A Pickleball Round-Robin FUNdamentals Collective is designed for round-robin-style pickleball. This fun and active class is for pickleball players who understand and play the game. Because it is a rotation, all levels are welcome. There will be three classes of three hours each at Lithia Park pickleball courts. The round-robin is a structured form of play, with rotation at the end of each game. Players will learn format, partnering, stacking (when and how to), hand signals, types of scoring, byes and types of pickleballs. Timing and numbering of rotations will be taught in addition to safety during play. Players will experience a minimum of six timed games, and we will break for rest periods frequently. You will be an active participant and connect with your rotating partners to strategize play. This course will be taught by experienced players from Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club who volunteer their time and expertise. 

NOTE If you have mobility issues this course may not be for you. A waiver must be signed on the first day of class. There is a $3 charge for pickleballs on the first day of class. You will need a hydrating drink, a paddle, court shoes and a hat or visor. Eye protection is recommended. 

Playing the harmonica can bring joy to you, to other musicians with whom you play and to those who enjoy listening to music. In class, we’ll listen to recordings to become familiar with the typical chord progressions one hears when listening to the blues. Then we’ll improvise harmonica “riffs” (strings of notes that sound good) that complement them. We will let our ears guide us, playing the notes that our hearts and gut-sense tell us sound right. We will not be reading music or expecting to play a given song in exactly the same way twice. As with any skill, it takes practice to be a good harmonica player, so you will be expected to practice on your own between classes. The instructor will direct you to recordings and online resources that provide background music with which to practice. Having access to a CD player, the internet and a computer with speakers will be essential.  

NOTED: A $15 fee is due at the first class meeting for materials. The instructor will provide each student with two Blues Band harmonicas in different keys, printed materials and audio recordings (on CD). Each class session builds on the one before, so it is important that students attend all sessions. Students who know they will miss a class are asked to take the class during another term.  

This is the perfect course for those who might enjoy a deep dive into some of the finest short stories published last year. Some of the authors contributing this year include Molly Dektar, Alexandra Chang and Jim Shepard. Before each session, students will read three designated submissions from the anthology “The Best American Short Stories 2024,” which will then be discussed in comfortable, inclusive classroom surroundings. This collection explores a wide variety of settings, characters, styles and intentions — all stunningly contemporary. Please look forward to this new term with confidence that students and teacher alike will enjoy and learn from this text and from one another. Class participation is expected and encouraged. 

NOTE: A copy of “The Best American Short Stories 2024” edited by Lauren Groff is required. The current paperback version of this book is available online at Thriftbooks, Amazon or anywhere else books are sold, and is priced at about $16.

What tickled the theatrical fancies of our early American ancestors? Stories about George Washington and his soldiers, Pocahontas, the Salem witches, Indian chiefs, poor but honest yeoman farmers and social climbers aping the latest fashions from London and Paris were all grist for our playwrights in the early days of our republic. The two best-known plays of the era, “The Contrast” and “Fashion,” will be presented, along with others I’m sure you have never heard of. As part of the tale, you will learn how show business moved from London to the Colonies and how one of the bloodiest riots in our history was started by a performance of “Macbeth.” No text is required. No prior knowledge is assumed.

NOTE: Be aware that some of these plays would not be considered “politically correct.” They reflect the attitudes and language of the late-18th and early-19th centuries.

Does a lot of what you read in the news about the world concern you? Does it make you feel a bit overwhelmed? Do you wish you could understand the “big picture” better and share your concerns about the world with others? Over 10 weeks, this interactive class will discuss global issues confronting the new president as presented in the Foreign Policy Association’s “Great Decisions 2025” booklet: 1) the most pressing decisions before the U.S. in 2025; 2) American foreign policy; 3) U.S. changing leadership of the world economy; 4) U.S.-China relations; 5) India: between China, the West and the Global South; 6) international cooperation on climate change; 7) the future of NATO and European security; 8) artificial intelligence and American national security; 9) American foreign policy in the Middle East; 10) common themes and likely future directions. All participants in this course must have the ability to respectfully discuss viewpoints different from your own.

NOTE: Participants will be expected to read about 20 pages before class covering various points of view so that we’ll be able to dive in and spend most of our class time on informed discussion. The “Great Decisions 2025” booklet is required reading and will be distributed at the first class. (Cost: $35) 

This is a previously taught course with new content. This course aims to broaden a student’s vocabulary and understanding of the day-to-day German spoken today. The etymology of certain words will be discussed, and the rules of grammar will be explained on request. This term we will read the instructor’s memoirs referring to the events in 1992 and later.

This course will offer students the opportunity and encouragement to learn to draw or further develop their drawing skills, even if they are apprehensive about their ability. Each week, we will draw in class, then students will practice drawing at home through specific drawing assignments. Participants will begin with simple shapes and shadows and gradually work up to figure drawing. If weather allows, the class may venture outside to study natural and person-made shapes and structures. No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. The goal is to demystify the drawing process and encourage participants to draw. Every human can learn to draw; it is innate within us. 

NOTE: The total cost for supplies will range from $20 to $30, depending on the quantity and quality. A supply list will be provided to registered students.

This four-week course will help you understand your digital camera and improve your photography skills. It is designed for people who enjoy photography and want to improve their understanding and skills. You’ll learn how to use your camera to create more interesting photographs. Course topics include: composition techniques; creating more engaging photographs; digital camera operation; understanding your camera’s features and settings; the exposure triangle; working with aperture, shutter speed and ISO; post-processing and enhancing your photos for greater impact. Each week you will be asked to send the instructor a photo, based on a theme, that will be shared with the class the following week. The class is designed for people who use cameras with adjustable controls, not phone cameras. To prepare, review your camera’s manual before the first class. You may need to download it from the camera manufacturer’s website. Familiarizing yourself with your camera’s basic controls and menu system will help you get the most from this course. 

This course is designed for anyone with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. Class members will learn how water, gas and electricity come into a home and how to shut them off, how to change the filter in a furnace and clean the coils on a refrigerator, and why you should. We’ll talk about paint, how to replace a light switch or plug, fix a stuck door, what is a good set of tools and what you should watch for outside the home, such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage, invasive vegetation and more. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big-box stores versus independent merchants and how to choose a contractor. Above all, we’ll talk about what class members want to know about maintenance and repairs to the building that keeps them safe and comfortable. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. You will learn to take care of your home, so your home can take care of you!

NOTE: Each term of this previously taught course is different, as there are new issues brought to class. If you have taken the class before, you will likely gain knowledge in something not previously discussed or that you didn’t quite understand the first time.

We often take plants for granted. The goal of this course is to foster an appreciation for the importance of plants in our daily lives. We will examine how plants contribute to our lives and well-being, including such basics as oxygen to breathe, food, shelter and clothing. We will also discuss the role of plant compounds as medicines and psychoactive/stimulating agents. Using coffee as an example, we will answer such questions as: What species of coffee are grown? Where did they originate? How does caffeine work in the body? The course will introduce scientific concepts and terminology relating to plant structures and functions and economic and historical aspects of plant use. The format will be interactive lectures. Plant material will be brought in periodically to demonstrate particular concepts.  

From wolf reintroduction to controlling invasive species, wildlife has influenced our lives throughout history. This course will examine some of the world’s most challenging and often controversial historic and current wildlife management issues, and it will explore possible solutions. The instructor will start with an overview of the history of human and wildlife interactions throughout the world and look at unique aspects of wildlife management in the United States. Efforts to protect critically endangered species and to implement species recovery and reintroduction programs will be discussed. The impact of introduced species on native wildlife will be covered. Topics will include threatened salmon runs in Alaska, endangered wildlife in Africa, wolf reintroduction in Colorado, invasive pythons in Florida and much more. Classes will be discussion-based, and your input encouraged. The course is open to anyone who appreciates wildlife. No prior knowledge is necessary.

NOTE: Participants are encouraged (but not required) to read “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold prior to the first class.

This course will provide a learning environment for understanding war culture. We will consider ways to promote critical consciousness and intellectual curiosity, and we will craft ideas for moving toward a democratic culture of peace. Students should be prepared to discuss all aspects of a war culture including strong anti-war endeavors such as “Howard Zinn on War.” “Waging peace” means learning to live with diversity instead of combating it. This course will be based on “After Empire: Myth, Rhetoric, and Democratic Revival” by Robert L. Ivie and Oscar Giner, 2024. Lecture slides will cover content from the book. Discussion questions will be provided ahead of each class session, and students will be encouraged to highlight portions of the book they would like to discuss in class. It’s a rich text. Within each chapter we will choose what we discuss as a class. Students are also welcome to arrive to class with no preparation! 

NOTE: Students should acquire “After Empire: Myth, Rhetoric, and Democratic Revival” by Robert L. Ivie and Oscar Giner.

If you are curious about the walking trails around Ashland and enjoy walking with others, this course is for you. Each week we will walk for about two hours, covering three to four miles. The trails will be mostly dirt paths with some elevation gain. While the walks are not intended to be aerobic, it is important that participants are reasonably fit and have good balance. Directions on where to meet will be emailed each week. Trails that may be explored include North Mountain Park/Riverwalk Loop, Road 2060 above Lithia Park, Emigrant Lake, Bear Creek Greenway, the TID ditch trail, Lithia Park hillside trails, Hald-Strawberry Park trails and Oredson-Todd Woods. We will walk rain or shine. 

NOTE: The trails we will be walking are the same as in previous courses. Only humans are included on these weekly walks. Dogs will need to stay home. A liability waiver must be signed before the start of the first class.

This course is for fiction writers who wish to add screenplays to their arsenal. Screenplay writing is more than formatting; it is using our imagination — especially a writer’s visual and dialogue sense — in different ways than we are accustomed to in prose or poetry. Every story in history uses elements that go back to Homer; a screenplay merely uses a different shuffle of the same. A screenplay will be deconstructed each week, story elements illuminated and discussed. Short in-class writing exercises will be included most weeks. This is a course for fiction writers who have an idea for a story they wish to explore further or are in the process of writing. Creating an environment that supports writers is an important part of this endeavor. Join if you think screenplay format can boost your storytelling skills. 

NOTE: A successful download of any screenplay application is required before class begins, and laptops are welcome in class. There are many online sources for free screenplay software. All are good because the format is industrywide. Selecting one that can convert to PDF is best. (Final Draft is best if you are looking to purchase).