FAB students at various activities in 2023-2024. Courtesy image.
Fifty and Better Program Announces its Fall Course Session, Early Fall Lectures and Activities
Click here for a complete listing of classes
THOUSAND OAKS — California Lutheran University’s Fifty and Better (FAB) program is pleased to announce its fall course session, early fall lectures and early fall chair yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi for fall prevention classes.
Amid tensions in the United States and questions about our democracy, FAB has worked to provide educational opportunities that delve into topics related to authoritarianism and our democracy, as well as offer lighter educational fair to provide a chance to escape the daily news cycle.
The fall course series, beginning September 2nd, offers four-week courses on a wide range of topics.
Dr. David Livingstone will use a global perspective to examine authoritarianism; Dr. John McCannon will discuss the exploration and exploitation of the Arctic world from early European incursions to the present day; Dr. Jason Hensley will continue unpacking the subject of cults; Dr. Cliff Wilcox will delve into Bruce Springsteen, his music, and the fight for America; Cary Ginell will discuss the most popular, influential, and enduring musical artists of the British Invasion; Dr. David Livingstone returns to explore the California’s importance to defending the homeland during WWII; Dr. Jason Hensley will unpack the context, conspiracy and consequences of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; Katherine Zoraster will delve into the American regionalism realist modern art movement; and Pattie Ridenour will take a look at the geography of wine.
In individual lectures, Tim Allison will examine the dangers to democracy and question if there are guardrails left to ensure our system of democracy remains intact; Mads Tolling will examine the history and future of the violin, including exploring cutting edge technology that makes it possible to lay almost any style of music with the violin; and in a free lecture, Christopher Mick returns to explore the Artemis II mission and our return to the Moon.
Courses are $35 each. FAB students can choose any three courses for $80 or bundle all courses for just $200. Lectures are $10 each.
Over half of the courses will be delivered in a “HyFlex” format – FAB students may choose to attend the same lecture in-person or virtually. Students attending virtually will access the lectures via Zoom.
All class sessions and individual (stand-alone) lectures meet for two hours. FAB’s in-person courses will meet at Cal Lutheran’s main campus in Thousand Oaks. Parking is free and accessible. Registration is open.
FAB continues to offer in-person and virtual Chair Yoga classes with Anyez Klevecz in early fall four-week sessions. FAB also continues to offer Qigong and Tai Chi classes with Jim Belsley in the fall. Level 1 classes incorporate Qigong with some light Tai Chi; Level 2 classes are beginning Tai Chi, with a focus on fall prevention and balance. The five-week classes meet on Friday mornings. View details and pricing on the Fifty and Better website.
FAB was designed to offer university level-courses with no tests or homework taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals 50 years of age and older. When COVID-19 erupted and the first-ever offering of in-person courses had to be postponed indefinitely, Cal Lutheran responded by being the first program in the area to offer courses virtually via Zoom. The first year of the program was a success, giving those most impacted by the pandemic an outlet to continue learning and connecting. Since that time, FAB has evolved into a program that offers courses, lectures, and activities year-round. All courses and lectures are available virtually, with about half of them also offered in-person.
FAB has served nearly 1800 students (and counting), hosted over 120 courses, and has presented more than 280 lectures. FAB has sponsored tours to museums and places of interest within and external to Ventura County, and has hosted “FAB Nights” at the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. Additionally, FAB offers virtual tours of museums such as The Broad and the Holocaust Museum. Furthermore, FAB offers several free virtual lectures and virtual or in-person tours each year, to create an opportunity for all in our 50+ community to continue learning.
Fervent FAB student, Debbie Weiss, shared, “I keep returning to the FAB classes because a variety of subjects are always offered and the faculty are extremely qualified. The material is always organized and presented well. The FAB program was a lifesaver during COVID and has continued to hold my interest. I love that most classes are offered as a hybrid which gives me the opportunity to decide to attend in person or online. Intellectual stimulation is very important to me and I definitely receive that from the classes. Please continue on as you have. I know that the program has grown and you have reached many people that otherwise wouldn’t be privileged to avail themselves of this FABulous opportunity.
To register for lectures, courses, and activities, go to CalLutheran.edu/fab. For more information, visit the website or contact Christina Tierney at fab@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3290.