Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning is part of Continuing Education at the University of Utah and has a mission to provide high-quality non credit classes that challenge, inform, entertain, and generally enrich the lives of adults. Their classes are offered evenings and weekends to fit the schedule of busy adults. They offer classes in art, photography, business, home and garden, food and wine, personal development, recreation, and writing. They pride themselves in offering something for everyone.

Trash into Treasure: Art from Recycled Materials

"One man’s junk,” says the proverb, “is another man’s treasure.” In this class, we’ll turn trash into treasure as we create works of art that adorn, inspire, or intrigue from throw-away or found objects. We’ll start with some background on this emerging art form and a look at techniques for using post-consumer materials. Next we’ll dive into our projects as we create one to two pieces that reflect our taste and vision; please bring objects that appeal to you to this class (some will be provided as well). In the last class we will polish our experiments and share them with one another to generate more ideas and approaches to transforming trash to treasure. Andrea holds a BFA in sculpture and an MFA in environmental sculpture. She has been creating art from post-consumer materials for more than a decade.

Eating Local / Slow Food

Fresh food is good food, and if it’s grown locally, it’s also good for your community and planet. Eating locally is more than a trend—it's a re-discovery of regional identity, a direct way to support the local economy, and a way to help reduce our nation’s dependence on oil by eliminating costly transport. We’ll show you where to find local farmers, bakers, ranchers, beekeepers, and cheese makers, then offer up tips on how to enjoy these tasty, healthful products year round. We will also provide information on local food co-ops and community gardens for the coming growing season. Christi has a master’s in education from Westminster College and is the head of Slow Food Utah. She is an avid home cook and a teacher at Riley Elementary.

Building Green: Architecture Using Sustainable Resources

Are you building, remodeling, or considering retrofitting your home for energy and resource-efficient living? In this course, we’ll explore various aspects of green (environmentally sound) building, including energy efficiency, passive and active solar design, renewable and healthy building materials, and alternative construction techniques. We’ll also analyze several projects to help you better understand green building as it applies to your own home, and discuss initial costs versus energy savings and payback schedules. Emphasis is on green as a design philosophy that integrates aesthetics, budget, function, health, enjoyment, and accessibility for all. A Saturday field trip will show you green buildings in action; the date will be chosen by participants (section 001). Angela is principal of AMD Architecture in Salt Lake City and the author of Green by Design: Creating a Home for Sustainable Living. Ascenzo is a senior architect with RiverStone Design Group in Park City, a firm committed to green and sustainable design practices from land planning to architecture. In 2003, he helped craft landmark green building legislation in Telluride, CO. Bridgette is the director of sustainability for RiverStone Design Group and advises clients on sustainable development, green building, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

By now, most people understand that carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered to be one of the primary causes of global warming. But how do you reduce your usage of CO2 without making changes you’re not prepared to keep up? In our first meeting, we’ll show you why the typical US household produces 55,000 carbon pounds (CO2 emissions) per year while the average Swedish household contributes only 15,000 pounds annually. Week two we’ll explore how to trim the carbon “fat” through lifestyle and household practices, and set up a peer-support network to help you introduce and maintain changes in your own home. Then we’ll meet again so you can measure the differences in your carbon footprint and share them with the class. We’ll also calculate how much carbon "fat" we trimmed collectively. Special fee covers David Gershon's Low Carbon Diet: A 30-Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds workbook. Alexander has an MBA from Georgetown University, works in commercial real estate, and is the founder of LessCoal.com, an online resource that addresses regional air pollution in a business context. He is a board member of Recycle Utah and is on the environmental issues committee for the Park City Board of Realtors. Cherise is the founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air and is completing her MS in environmental health and social ecology at Yale. In 2002, she worked on sustainability issues for the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC.

Waterwise Landscapes

Want to save water in your landscape but not sure how to begin? Join us as we look at plant varieties and landscaping techniques that help conserve water and make your yard the envy of the neighborhood! Learn which water-wise perennials to combine for continual bloom; how to group plants according to water needs, color, and texture; and the unique design and maintenance requirements of water-wise gardening. Taught by staff from Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, this class is co-sponsored by Red Butte Garden. Members pay $63 plus special fee (ask for section 002).

See Lifelong Learning website...

*Note that the Office of Sustainability is a clearinghouse for information on sustainability initiatives being carried out by other departments and groups at the U of Utah. Please contact us if you have questions or ideas to contribute!