Co-facilitator: Lynn Steele

Participants will follow a group of remarkable young Jewish teens, escapees from Nazi-controlled areas in the late 1930’s. They settled in the US to continue studies and work. When the USA entered WWII these young men promptly joined the US military. As it became evident that military intelligence was paramount in this war around 2,000 of these young men were interviewed, sent to Camp Ritchie, MD for intense training, naturalized as US citizens and shipped off for D-Day and beyond. More than 50% of the actionable information in the war came from these brave soldiers. Returning to civilian life at the war's end, they made great contributions to the USA.

Optional book: Sons and Soldiers by Bruce Henderson

Since reality has existed, people have thought of how to change it, argue with it, escape from it. Within the last decade this has become a reality. Today there are over 171 million people globally using Virtual Reality (VR) and/or Augmented Reality (AR) technology to augment or escape from reality. Over 2 sessions participants will discuss how VR/AR technology developed, the options available to us today, and where it could go in the future. We will discuss the impact this technology may have on individuals and on society.

Co-organizer: Carolyn Hopkins

The mission of the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University is to foster inquiry, celebrate artistic excellence, preserve and perpetuate Native American cultures, and inspire a lifelong engagement with the visual arts. This tour will feature the special exhibit period “Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories”.

Participants will meet at Schingoethe Center, located on east side of the campus of Aurora University.

Co-organizer: Carolyn Hopkins

The mission of the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University is to foster inquiry, celebrate artistic excellence, preserve and perpetuate Native American cultures, and inspire a lifelong engagement with the visual arts. This tour will feature the special exhibit period “Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories”.

Participants will meet at Schingoethe Center, located on east side of the campus of Aurora University.

This is a repeat of the 9:30 session.

Co-facilitator: Donna Sue Blankenship

Participants will read and discuss the memoir, "Rocket Boys" by Homer H. Hickham, Jr. The facilitator will share information about her experience growing up in a southern West Virginia coal camp. She will also bring stories of people who lived in her hometown, as well as relevant artifacts.

Required book: Rocket Boys by Homer Hickham, Jr. ISBN 9780385333214

Co-facilitator: Evelyn Porter

Outing: Meet at Scitech Museum, 336 McKee Street, Batavia IL 60510

Dive into the basics of programming with Ozobots. Participants will discover the fundamentals of coding and learn how to create a custom track for their bot to navigate. Perfect for beginners! This hands-on experience will introduce participants to the exciting world of coding in a fun and interactive way!

Participants will expand their knowledge of music by learning about the birth of the Blues, how it developed in various regions of the United States, famous musicians and its influential impact on other music genres. To enhance their local music appreciation, participants will gain an understanding of the significance this style of music played in the Chicago area.

Co-facilitator: Kim Carew

Aurora resident Jim Gamache has recently traveled extensively throughout the Ukraine with various humanitarian organizations. Jim will share his experiences with the Ukrainian people, what we should know about the country, the war, and how we can best stay informed.