We invite you to explore an engaging spring semester of ESI College classes! Now in its third decade, ESI College, one of several programs offered through Elderly Services, brings stimulating educational opportunities to our community. These programs are open to all lifelong learners who are age 60 and older.
This spring, five experts will share their knowledge in six courses that are accessible, thought-provoking and enjoyable for all. Topics range widely, from practical guidance on climate-friendly home energy systems such as heat pumps and solar power, to a fresh look at the Civil War and why heroism still matters today.
Science and discovery take us to the fascinating world of the La Brea Tar Pits, while music lovers can explore the mysteries of the fugue through the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. Readers are also invited to join a lively book group exploring enduring writings by George Orwell.
Whether your interests are history, science, music or literature, there is something to spark curiosity and conversation.
Registering online for courses is quick and easy, using the link below. To keep our program accessible, we continue our pay-what-you-can approach, rather than a regular fee, with a suggested payment for each course.
We hope you’ll be able to join us this spring and take part in our learning community.
Kira Winslow
Cheryl Whitney Lower
Register for Courses!
Click on the link below to register for Spring 2026 courses:
Registration for Spring 2026 ESI College
The online registration system called “Wufoo” provides an easy-to-use form to select your classes. Here’s how it works:
— Please sign up at least 48 hours in advance so we can be in touch with you about the class.
— Some classes have limited enrollment; others have readings.
— The registration system calculates the amount you have agreed to pay on a per person basis.
— Each person in your household must register separately. If you share the same email address, simply fill out a separate form for each person.
— The total cost for your classes will be listed when you complete your registration.
— After you submit your form, you will receive an automated email confirmation from “Elderly Services-ESI College <no-reply@wufoo.com>.”
Please feel free to call Kira Winslow, 802.388.3983, ext. 201, if you would like help registering for any course, or if you have any questions.
Payment Options
You may pay by check. Please send it (within a week of registration) to:
Elderly Services-ESI College
P.O. Box 581
Middlebury, VT 05753
Or, you may make a debit/credit card payment via PayPal, as you complete the online registration form. You do not need a PayPal account to use this feature.
Course List for Spring 2026
Course | Instructor | Dates & Times | Location | Suggested Cost (pay what you can)
The Magic of Heat Pumps | Rich Wolfson | Tuesday, April 21, 10-11:30 a.m. | The Congregational Church of Middlebury | $20
The Solar Revolution | Rich Wolfson | Tuesday, April 28, 10-11:30 a.m. | The Congregational Church of Middlebury | $20
The Civil War as It Actually Happened, and Why Heroism Matters Today | Connor Williams | Wednesday, May 6, 10-11:30 a.m. | The Congregational Church of Middlebury | $20
Enduring Writings by George Orwell | John Berninghausen | Tuesdays, May 12, May 19, May 26 & June 2, 10-11:30 a.m. | Elderly Services | $80 ($20 per session)
Tar Pits: Ice Age Ecosystems Preserved in Asphalt | Alexis M. Mychajliw | Thursday, May 14, 10-11:30 a.m. | The Congregational Church of Middlebury | $20
What the Heck Is a Fugue? | Larry Hamberlin | Wednesday, May 27, 10-11:30 a.m. | The Congregational Church of Middlebury | $20
Climate-Friendly Energy for Your Home
Climate change is real, and burning fossil fuels is the dominant cause. What can you do about it? Here in Vermont, where electricity has minimal fossil input, you can electrify. One way is to heat your home with heat pumps. Another is to make your own electricity, using free solar energy.
This course consists of two independent sessions, neither a prerequisite for the other.
The Magic of Heat Pumps
Date: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Congregational Church of Middlebury
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 suggested
Description: This course introduces the science behind this remarkable technology, shows why heat pumps are especially valuable for combating climate change, gives some practical tips on using heat pumps, and dispels common myths that might discourage people from adopting heat pumps, or wind up using them ineffectively.
The Solar Revolution
Date: Tuesday, April 28
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Congregational Church of Middlebury
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 suggested
Description: “The Solar Revolution” focuses on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. We’ll start with the PV scene in Addison County and why PV makes sense even in cloudy Vermont. We will then explore a more global picture, including the global growth that makes PV among the least expensive ways to generate electricity today. I’ll share some practical experience with PV systems, give a quick overview of how PV systems work, and end with projections for a PV-powered future.
Instructor: Rich Wolfson is Professor of Physics & Environmental Studies, Emeritus, at Middlebury College. He taught climate courses at Middlebury’s Vermont and Monterey campuses through the early 2020s. He has created video courses on energy and climate for the Teaching Company’s Great Courses series, and is the author of Energy, Environment and Climate, now in its fourth edition.
The Civil War as It Actually Happened, and Why Heroism Matters Today
Date: Wednesday, May 6
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Congregational Church of Middlebury
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 suggested
Description: Now more than ever, Americans need to remember the Civil War as it actually happened, devoid of mythology and mollifying memory. This course examines the Civil War as Lincoln and his generation experienced it, looking at the actual causes and consequences of the deadliest conflict in American history. And based on that history, it examines what American heroism really looks like, why it matters today, and how it could impact our future — ensuring that government by the people, of the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Instructor: Connor Williams teaches history at Middlebury College. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and an M.A. from Dartmouth College. In 2021 and 2022, he served as Lead Historian for the United States Congress’ Naming Commission, ending Confederate commemorations in the military, and continues to lead public history initiatives on reconciliation. His next book, The Confederacy Myth: How an Insurrection of Slaveholders Tried to Destroy the United States, will be released on October 13.
Enduring Writings by George Orwell
Dates: Tuesdays, May 12, May 19, May 26 & June 2
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: Elderly Services
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 per date suggested
Description: George Orwell died three quarters of a century ago at the young age of 46. Orwell’s quirky, fiercely independent perspectives on freedom of expression, clear thinking, popular culture, the importance of cherishing the natural environment and writing clearly are still widely admired. We will read and discuss Orwell’s first book, Down and Out in Paris and London (1933), memoir and reportage; his often overlooked fourth novel, Coming Up for Air (1939); and a selection of Orwell’s most important essays. Books are available for purchase at an additional cost. More information will be provided upon registration.
Instructor: After earning his Ph.D. at Stanford, Professor Emeritus of Chinese John Berninghausen established Middlebury College’s Department of Chinese Language and Literature. Along with teaching Chinese, he led popular seminars on Western and Asian literature. An avid reader, he collects Chinese paintings and is a world traveler.
Tar Pits: Ice Age Ecosystems Preserved in Asphalt
Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Congregational Church of Middlebury
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 suggested
Description: The La Brea Tar Pits of Los Angeles, Calif., is a site famous for its record of Late Pleistocene megafaunal mammals preserved in naturally occurring asphalt. But, did you know that these fossil deposits contain not just dire wolves and mammoths, but also birds, fish, insects, and even pollen? We will learn about the geological and biological ingredients necessary to form a tar pit and produce their unique taphonomic (fossil preservation) conditions. We will discuss the techniques that paleontologists use to reconstruct past ecosystems and compare tar pits from around the world.
Instructor: Alexis M. Mychajliw is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Middlebury College. She is also a Research Associate at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum in Los Angeles. She loves small mammals and currently has 10 pet rescue rats.
What the Heck Is a Fugue?
Date: Wednesday, May 27
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Congregational Church of Middlebury
Cost: Pay what you can ~ $20 suggested
Description: This talk with live music explores J. S. Bach’s most fascinating music, his fugues, in which he weaves multiple melodies into a harmonious tapestry in sound. We’ll examine how fugues work, experience different ways of listening to them, and contemplate what they have to say to us today. We’ll also gain an appreciation for why Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, a collection of 48 preludes and fugues, has been revered by three centuries of musicians as a pinnacle of musical expression.
Instructor: Larry Hamberlin taught music courses at Middlebury College for two decades. The author of The Curious Listener, Tin Pan Opera, and An Introduction to America’s Music, he has given presentations at several national and international conferences on music history.
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