UD by the Sea to take place May 21-24 in Rehoboth Beach

The community is invited to participate in a four-day learning and social event from Tuesday to Friday, May 21 to 24, in Rehoboth Beach, hosted by the University of Delaware’s lifelong learning program for adults age 50-plus.

Both newcomers to the First State and longtime residents will have an opportunity to learn about Delaware history and explore other intriguing topics during the annual UD by the Sea program.

Organized by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware, the program offers seven learning tracks focused on the history of Delaware’s seashore and the Delaware Bay; environmental science, foreign affairs, horticulture, coastal Delaware’s culinary delights, and crafts.

Each track includes two days of intensive learning and fun through presentations, field trips and demonstrations. Participants also will enjoy evening social activities, and welcoming and closing events at the oceanfront Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center, 1 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

Guest presenters include Ralph Begleiter, former CNN world affairs correspondent and founder of UD's Center for Political Communication; Rehoboth-based chef Hari Cameron, three-time semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards and TV cooking show competitor; and UD’s Christopher Petrone, director of the Marine Advisory Service, Delaware Sea Grant.

“UD by the Sea is a wonderful way to expand one’s knowledge and pursue personal interests in the company of other lifelong learners,” said UD OLLI Director Karen Asenavage Loptes. “We invite you to join OLLI instructors and subject matter experts to discover why OLLI is where friends meet to learn.”

The registration fee for UD by the Sea is $225 for OLLI members and $250 for nonmembers; it includes enrollment in one track per person, subject to availability, as well as social events. There is an additional $40 fee for the culinary track and $25 for the crafts track, to cover the cost of food and materials, respectively.

Discounted rooms at the Atlantic Sands are available for UD by the Sea registrants. Participants should contact the hotel directly for room reservations and provide a code to receive the discounted rate.

Learning tracks have limited capacity and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They include:

History by the Sea – Explore historic Lewes via tours, lectures and a cruise along the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. With expert guides, visit the British HMS DeBraak shipwreck and homes in Shipcarpenter Square. The track also includes a trip to the historic Indian River Life-Saving Station and a visit to a restored World War II fire-control tower.

Wild About Horticulture  – This nature tour features excursions to the James Farm Ecological Preserve, Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, Brittingham Farms and Delaware Botanic Gardens. A visit to a beautiful community garden and presentation provided by a Delaware Master Gardener completes this adventure.

Foreign Affairs – Experts in the fields of academia, foreign service and possibly the U.S. military will share their insights into foreign policy and international issues facing the world today.

Dela-Where? – Delaware may be small, but there’s a lot going on in this little gem of a state. Participants will take a trip to Cape Henlopen State Park and enjoy engaging presentations about Delaware’s culture, history, environment and government.

Coastal Culinary Extraordinaire – Visit Brick Works Brewing and Eats in Long Neck to enjoy gourmet pizza and learn the secrets of the excellent brew accompanying a delicious lunch. Expect more culinary treats and music on this feast of a track.

Environmental Science – Presentations and a tour of UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes kick off this track focused on the local environment. Participants also visit oyster hatcheries, a wind turbine and the historic Lightship Overfalls.

Craftastic – Get that creativity going and have some fun while making various craft projects. Experts demonstrate how to make jewelry, baskets, collages, mixed media and more, and guide participants as they make their own. This track is held at the hotel.

Sponsors of the 2024 UD by the Sea event include the Cape Gazette and the Rehoboth Art League. Additional sponsor opportunities are available; for details, email olli-kent-sussex@udel.edu.

In addition to UD by the Sea, UD OLLI presents more than 300 courses in fall and spring semesters as well as an abbreviated summer session and the free January Explorations program.

UD OLLI is a volunteer-based learning cooperative for adults aged 50-plus to take and teach classes together with no grades, exams or educational prerequisites. In Delaware and across the country, OLLI is affiliated with and receives partial support from the Bernard Osher Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on higher education, lifelong learning and the arts.

For more information and to register, visit olli.udel.edu/ud-by-the-sea.