Attend Grandparents University®

Learn about the art and science of bird banding. Go hands-on with the equipment while discovering more about the literature and legal guidelines governing this unique tool used for the study of bird migration, longevity, and populations. During this course, you will help set up mist nets and attempt to capture, record, band, and release local songbirds. You might even have the opportunity to handle and release banded birds.

Activity Level: Moderate

Discover how things have changed—and how they will continue to change—by doing some hands-on exploration of library materials. Physical books, as well as online resources, will be used to learn more about the time periods that lifespans cover, looking at notable news and human achievements during different eras. The experience will culminate with a video recording done in the One Button Studio that can serve as a time capsule for the children to keep. It will be done in the style of NPR’s StoryCorps, with question prompts provided or the option to pose their own questions to each other.

Activity Level: Low

In this hands-on STEM class participants will be challenged to engineer a building that can withstand an earthquake. While designing, building, and testing your building, you will learn about the cause of earthquakes, the mathematics of building design, and the how to utilize the design cycle. This course allows learners to bring their prior knowledge and experience looking at bridges and buildings and apply it as they work as a team to build and refine their project.

Activity Level: Low

Learn about the life of renowned children’s book author, Beatrix Potter, and how her legacy left not only an impact on the children’s literature world, but also her work as a landscape and natural history artist, diarist, farmer, and conservationist. We will explore the history of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and its history on popular culture and children’s literature. Attendees will see a large variety of rare copies of the book from both the UI’s Special Collections & Archives and from the instructor's personal collection—from the 1901 privately printed copy of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" to modern-day books and merchandise to accompany the recent films.

Activity Level: Low

Learning can happen at any time—whether during school, our jobs, or our hobbies and interests. However, most students have not been taught how to study or learn effectively. This course will explore how memory works. We will discuss a handful of science-based practices that make learning and memory more efficient and longer lasting. By the end of the course, you will understand why a little forgetting is good, why re-reading is a poor learning strategy, and how testing yourself helps build stronger memories.

Activity Level: Low

This hands-on course is an entry level introduction to the sport of fly fishing. Students will learn about aspects of the sport including equipment, fish habitat, types of flies used for bait, and the joy of exploring the outdoors. Students will have the opportunity to practice fly casting for fish! Come ready to have fun!

Activity Level: High

Learn about the art and science of bird banding. Go hands-on with the equipment while discovering more about the literature and legal guidelines governing this unique tool used for the study of bird migration, longevity, and populations. During this course, you will help set up mist nets and attempt to capture, record, band, and release local songbirds. You might even have the opportunity to handle and release banded birds.

Activity Level: Moderate

Discover how things have changed—and how they will continue to change—by doing some hands-on exploration of library materials. Physical books, as well as online resources, will be used to learn more about the time periods that lifespans cover, looking at notable news and human achievements during different eras. The experience will culminate with a video recording done in the One Button Studio that can serve as a time capsule for the children to keep. It will be done in the style of NPR’s StoryCorps, with question prompts provided or the option to pose their own questions to each other.

Activity Level: Low

In this hands-on STEM class participants will be challenged to engineer a building that can withstand an earthquake. While designing, building, and testing your building, you will learn about the cause of earthquakes, the mathematics of building design, and the how to utilize the design cycle. This course allows learners to bring their prior knowledge and experience looking at bridges and buildings and apply it as they work as a team to build and refine their project.

Activity Level: Low

Learn about the life of renowned children’s book author, Beatrix Potter, and how her legacy left not only an impact on the children’s literature world, but also her work as a landscape and natural history artist, diarist, farmer, and conservationist. We will explore the history of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and its history on popular culture and children’s literature. Attendees will see a large variety of rare copies of the book from both the UI’s Special Collections & Archives and from the instructor's personal collection—from the 1901 privately printed copy of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" to modern-day books and merchandise to accompany the recent films.

Activity Level: Low

How does our brain allow us to recognize a face, our car, or a tree? This class will answer this question by learning how to identify trees on the Iowa campus. You will gain an arboreal introduction to campus and will discuss how learning to identify trees can promote a connection with nature that can have multiple health benefits. By the end of the class, participants will understand how we recognize objects and will be able to use a field guide to identify trees common to Iowa and the University of Iowa campus.

Activity Level: Moderate

The University of Iowa has a rich history of creative and notable architecture. It has also endured horrific events, impacting its campus and, through hard work and perseverance, making its campus even better. Learn about Iowa’s architectural history, highlight buildings and architects, and some of the plans that will help to project Iowa to success in the future. As renowned UI President Sandy Boyd said, "It is the people, not the buildings, that make a great university." But don't underestimate those buildings!

Activity Level: Low

Guided by Lauren Lessing, University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art director, participants will explore the museum's inaugural exhibition, "Homecoming", and discuss various types of portraits. From artworks with recognizable subjects by Elizabeth Catlett and Alice Neel to abstract portraits by Marsden Hartley and Jackson Pollock, there are lots of ways to depict someone that you admire! Then, using what you've learned from the Stanley’s world-class collection, you'll create a portrait of your loved one that can be realistic, symbolic, or abstract.

Activity Level: Moderate

Join us at historic Kinnick Stadium to learn about the ancient art and sport of falconry. We will introduce participants to falconry equipment, training techniques, and the hawks that we train for flights. We will provide hands-on activities such as showing how to tie a falconer’s knot and provide up-close experiences with live birds-of-prey. Our class will allow for much interaction, with discussion guided by the interests and questions of the participants.

Activity Level: Moderate

Nature provides us with an accessible instrument to maintaining our daily well-being. In this offering, we will move around campus discovering wild creatures that make Iowa City their home temporarily and long-term. Avian animals, insects and small mammals will be our primary focus. We will also note the trees and plants that thrive in Iowa in the summer. We will follow a preplanned route and use field guide/scavenger hunt sheets to help grow our knowledge.

Activity Level: High

Collaborate with your grandchild on producing a unique musical product utilizing Logic Pro. Participants will work in tandem to browse musical loops, implement musical instruments, and make creative decisions that will lead to a one-of-a-kind musical artifact that they can enjoy for years to come! Participants will learn a bit more about the other's musical preferences and skills interfacing with music and technology. This may also prompt further inter-generational conversations regarding favorite artists and musical styles.

Activity Level: Low

How can I slide as fast as possible down a slide? What if a swing were as tall as a skyscraper? Is it better to cover a playground with squishy sand or bouncy rubber? Going to a playground is an activity that kids and grandparents can easily share, so the explorations will have interest across the generations. The activities will recognize the competing demands of being exciting (often top of mind for kids) and being safe (often top of mind for grandparents). In this class, we will explore the science and engineering of playgrounds. Participants will design investigations and engineer solutions as they explore how to design slides, swings, and playground surfaces that are both exciting and safe.

Activity Level: Low

BizInnovator Startup is taking you for an entrepreneurial spin! You won't have the chance to sit back and relax, but we promise you will have fun while getting firsthand experience innovating and problem solving like a boss. Participate in this fast-paced and hands on workshop where you will work in teams on problems, develop entrepreneurial solutions, pitch, and get feedback from potential customers. Participants will work in teams participating in the Innovation Expo, listening to pitches, and giving feedback.

Activity Level: Low