Tours & Travel and Special Events   

Join us for our Annual Membership Meeting to learn more about what’s happening at OLLI, the direction we’re headed, and to hear an up-to-date report on our financial status. While no formal election will be held, the Nominating Committee will introduce candidates recommended for upcoming Advisory Council positions.

Refreshments will be generously provided by Right at Home, Home Care.

Look for the ZOOM link in the OLLI Weekly.

Valley Wood Park Wildlife Gardens in Northwest Reno includes eight themed gardens focusing on pollinators, birds, native plants, and sustainable gardening. Each season brings its own beauty, with interpretive signs and walking paths. Learn about the birds that inhabit the garden from Lahontan Audubon Society Executive Director Diane Hong-Kone. The guided tour, led by Kitty Gillette, co-chair of Valley Wood Wildlife Gardens Task Force, is mostly on paved sidewalks and asphalt walkways. If you have any questions, please email Eileen Bidwell at eeniebee@charter.net

TOUR SIGN-UP REQUIRED: Sign-up will open on May 22 and close on June 4.  The tour is limited to 25 OLLI members. A lottery will be held to fill available slots if demand exceeds availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Each OLLI member must sign up separately to be considered for joint attendance. Signing up for the tour does not guarantee participation. Confirmation details will be provided individually once the tour deadline has closed to let you know if you’re on the tour or not.

TOUR SIGN-UP CLOSED.

Join other OLLI explorers for a driving trip to Truckee and return to the 1880s (sort of). Learn about the role Truckee played in the expansion of the railroad, the West, Virginia City, and lumbering. Visit several interesting museums and experience a personal viewing a Type 1 fire engine and one of Caltrans’ rotary snowplows. Have lunch and explore. We will meet and carpool from Reno.

TOUR SIGN-UP REQUIRED: Sign-ups will open on May 22 and will close on May 28. The tour is limited to 12 OLLI members. A lottery will be held to fill available slots if demand exceeds availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Each OLLI member must sign up separately to be considered for joint attendance. Signing up for the tour does not guarantee participation. Confirmation details will be provided to you individually once the tour deadline is closed to let you know if you’re on the tour or not.

TOUR SIGN-UP CLOSED.

Join us at PBS Reno for a tour of some of the ins and outs of how our PBS Reno operates. Walking is involved and the building is ADA Accessible if needed. The tour usually lasts about an hour and there is parking in the front of the building on the campus.

TOUR SIGNUP REQUIRED: Sign-ups will open May 22 and close May 28. The tour is limited to 15 OLLI members. A lottery will be held to fill available slots if demand exceeds availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Each OLLI member must sign up separately to be considered for joint attendance. Signing up for a tour does not guarantee participation. Confirmation details will be provided individually once the tour deadline has closed to let you know if you're on the tour or not.

Join us for our 14th year of OLLI Good Time Camping, Luau & Day Activities from Wednesday, June 17 – Friday, June 19, 2026 at Washoe Lake State Park Campground. Members are welcome to camp overnight or simply come for the day to enjoy the potluck dinner, hula dancing, ukulele and sing-along, hiking, music, fellowship, and fun. Please review the schedule below for activity details. Please bring your own chairs, as seating is limited.

• Wednesday, June 17 (2 p.m. check in)
  • 5:30 p.m. Potluck Dinner
  • 6:30 p.m. Campfire, Hula Dancing Ukulele & Sing-Along (bring a log for the fire)
• Thursday, June 18
  • 8:30 a.m. OLLI hikers
  • 2 p.m. Silver Dollar Chorus Barbershop Quartet
  • 3 p.m. Dennis Goldman (music, cowboy poetry & Nevada History)
• Friday, June 19 (11 a.m. check out)

Overnight camping fee - $15 per night for Nevada vehicles. Day use fee - $5 per vehicle. To be paid at the park entrance. (Current Nevada State Parks All Access Senior Permits waive these entrance fees) 

Questions? Contact Cal Wilson (775) 240-4009. 

Join us as we embark on an approximate three-mile walking tour back in time through these historic tunnels with local historian Paul Ackerman. Before May 10, 1869, traveling across the United States was a lengthy, perilous, and costly endeavor. The game changed on this date with completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The journey from Iowa to California, which once took months by wagon, could now be accomplished in just four days! Among the engineering marvels of the transcontinental railroad, the Donner Pass Summit Tunnels, situated atop Donner Summit, stand out as one of the most crucial. While no longer in use, the historic Donner Summit tunnels, constructed primarily by Chinese railroad workers, stand as a testament to ingenuity and industry. These tunnels represent one of the most significant engineering accomplishments of the 19th century and played a vital role in uniting what would become the “Lower 48”.

TOUR SIGN-UP REQUIRED: Sign-up will open on June 12 and will close on June 18. The tour is limited to 20 OLLI members. A lottery will be held to fill available slots if demand exceeds availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Each OLLI member must sign up separately to be considered for joint attendance. Signing up for the tour does not guarantee participation. Confirmation details will be provided individually once the tour deadline has closed to let you know if you’re on the tour or not.

Join the Events Committee in providing and packaging homemade holiday cookies or candies for door prizes at our hOLLIday Open House. Please bring AT LEAST four dozen homemade cookies or candies to the exchange and arrive at Moana by 10:00 a.m. Any extra cookies will be divided among the participants and can be taken home with you. Please be on time as we will be boxing and wrapping the cookies. Note: Participants MUST arrive promptly at 10:00 a.m. or they will not be included in the exchange.

OLLI is headed to Italy! Join us for an interactive information session to learn more about Discover Italian Vistas, a Collette group travel experience featuring Rome, the Colosseum, Sorrento, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Verona, and Lake Maggiore. Come explore the highlights, itinerary, and details of this unforgettable journey, ask questions, and learn how you can experience Italy alongside fellow OLLI members.

Look for the ZOOM link in the OLLI Weekly.

 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED by Tuesday, August 18. Lunch, tea and cookies will be provided. Lunch, tea, and cookies will be provided. Participation is limited to 20 participants and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. After the first 20 registrations are received, the Sign-Up / Waitlist option will appear and any additional registrants will be placed on the waitlist. You will be notified by email confirming whether you are registered for the class or have been placed on the waitlist. Click Here for Registration Instructions. Hosted by Circle of Life Community Hospice. 

Cancellation Courtesy: If you are unable to attend a program for which you registered, please review our Registered Program Cancellation Courtesy.

Curious about OLLI? Whether you're a prospective, new, returning, or longtime member, this event is for you! Join us for our Fall Member Orientation to learn what OLLI is all about—our history, programs, resources, and ways to get involved. Meet fellow members, explore opportunities, and see how OLLI can enrich your lifelong learning journey.

After the orientation, stay for our Mix & Mingle! Enjoy light refreshments, connect with fellow members, and kick off the season with great conversations.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 11
• Orientation: 10 am to 11 am (Hybrid)
• Mix & Mingle: 11 am to 12:30 pm (In-person)

Look for the ZOOM link in the OLLI Weekly.

The Mix & Mingle will follow the Fall OLLI Member Orientation, offering a chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Take this opportunity to ask your "burning" questions to OLLI staff and volunteer leadership. 

Come and be part of the excitement, meet new people, and enjoy light refreshments.

Dust off those tea dresses and fascinators (or top hats if you prefer!) and dress up for a delightful afternoon of music, merriment and refreshment. Get your reservation in early to join Principal Conductor and extraordinary Music Director of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Laura Jackson, and her always very special guests for a live musical presentation as well as an exclusive preview of the Phil's 2026-2027 season, and a sneak peek at other exciting musical community events for the entire family.

Refreshments and gifts are generously provided by Cascades of the Sierra Senior Living.

Sign-Up Required: Sign-ups will  open on Friday, August 21 and close on Thursday, September 3. Due to limited space, registration will be handled through a lottery process rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. Members interested in attending must register by the deadline to be included in the lottery. Signing up does not guarantee participation. Those selected will be notified after registration closes. To register, log in to your member account, then return to the program page to complete your registration.

We’re excited to continue our travel opportunities in partnership with Collette Travel, offering OLLI members the chance to explore exciting destinations alongside fellow lifelong learners. Our next destination? The energy, culture, and iconic landmarks of New York City. Join us for a memorable 7-day guided adventure, Spotlight on New York City: Beyond the Bridges, departing Thursday, October 29, 2026. From Greenwich Village and Wall Street to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Broadway performances, the 9/11 Memorial, and a Brooklyn experience across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, this immersive trip blends cultural highlights, history, and unforgettable city experiences.

Click here to view trip details and register

For general questions about this OLLI travel opportunity, please contact Clare Steppat with OLLI's Tours and Travel Committee at csteppat14@gmail.com or call (775) 772-7433. For travel-specific inquiries—such as itinerary details, trip extensions, or travel insurance—please reach out directly to Jason Gomes at Collette: (800) 852-5655 ext. 14988 or jgomes@collette.com. When reaching out, please reference the group booking number: #1434069.

Travel deadline: A deposit is due no later than Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Trip is open to current OLLI members only. Participants will also be required to complete a UNR liability waiver prior to final confirmation.

Experience the beauty, history, and charm of Italy on this unforgettable 13-day journey, departing Saturday, March 13, 2027, from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. This tour features Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Venice, Verona, and Lake Maggiore, with highlights including the Colosseum, Pompeii, the Isle of Capri, Tuscany, Murano Island, and a farewell dinner overlooking the Italian Lakes.

Click here to view trip details and register

For general questions about this OLLI travel opportunity, please contact Clare Steppat with OLLI's Tours and Travel Committee at csteppat14@gmail.com or call (775) 772-7433. For travel-specific inquiries—such as itinerary details, trip extensions, or travel insurance—please reach out directly to Jason Gomes at Collette: (800) 852-5655 ext. 14988 or jgomes@collette.com. When reaching out, please reference the group booking number: #1434090.

Travel deadline: A deposit is due no later than Monday, September 14, 2026. Trip is open to current OLLI members only. Participants will also be required to complete a UNR liability waiver prior to final confirmation.