Bemidji's Adventures in Lifelong Learning Unveils Spring 2026 Course Schedule

Adventures in Lifelong Learning will hold eight free presentations Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. starting March 10 and running through April 28 at the Bemidji Eagles Club, with donations accepted. The season closes April 28 with Ann McKeig, Minnesota Supreme Court associate justice, presenting on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic and the jurisdictional gaps, media silence, and community-led efforts to bring justice, awareness and healing to stolen sisters and relatives.

Attendees are asked to arrive early: coffee and refreshments will be ready at 9:40 a.m., and organizers request parking in the East parking lot of the Eagles Club with entry to the event room from that lot. If ISD 31 cancels school or posts a late start, the Adventures in Lifelong Learning session for that day will be canceled; for weather-related cancellations and updates, check the Bemidji Adventures in Lifelong Learning Facebook page.

The spring season opens March 10 with Nicholle Bieberdorf presenting "Health Center Paths, Tracks to Providing Health Care." Bieberdorf is listed as Northwest Technical College Dean of Affairs and Programs. On March 17 Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood will discuss differences in firefighting operations in town and country in his presentation "Firefighters, City and Rural is Different Today."

March 24 brings local preservation expertise when Emily Thabes, executive director of the Beltrami County Historical Society, presents "Out of the Dust, Into our Memories: Preserving Family History and Mementos." As a release noted, "Family keepsakes and old photographs hold powerful stories — but humidity, light, and other preservation enemies can erase them." The release added, "Thabes will offer practical and inspiring lessons on preserving your family’s history. Learn how to safely store photos, letters, textiles, and heirlooms using museum best practices, and how to document the stories for future generations."

On March 31 George Anastos will present "Scams, Schemes, Staying ahead of the Criminals." The release says, "Anastos will discuss common scams, red flags to watch for, and practical ways to protect your money, identity and online accounts," a timely session given rising local reports of fraud targeting seniors and online shoppers.

April sessions include "Kayaking Lake Superior: Take a Trip with Polly on Gitchi Gumee" with Polly Scotland on April 7; the release quipped, "If you have read Leaf Enger’s recent book, 'I Cheerfully Refuse,' Scotland’s presentation will be safer for reader and rider." On April 14 Faye Dickey will deliver "Part 2 of My Life: A Refugee's Opera Career on the Stage and On the Farm."

Reflections on end-of-life care close the penultimate week when Ken Smith presents "We Walked Through the Valley: Reflections on a Career as a Hospice Nurse" on April 21. Smith "dedicated 21 years of his nursing career as a hospice nurse before retiring and writing a book about his experiences," a background detail provided for the session.

The program continues a local tradition of free community learning that previously offered multiple talks on local history, arts, and social studies and was created by a Bemidji State University alumnus to encourage pursuit of knowledge at any age. The spring lineup combines public safety briefings, practical consumer protection advice, cultural preservation instruction, personal storytelling, and statewide legal perspective, all convening at the Bemidji Eagles Club from March 10 through April 28. Sessions begin at 10 a.m.; coffee is available at 9:40 a.m., and attendees should use the East parking lot entrance.