Membership

Memberships

OLLI Trips

Enjoy day and overnight excursions with OLLI members planned by the OLLI Member Services / Travel Committee and Friendship Tours. Trips are open to current OLLI members on a first-come, first-served basis. They are also open to non-members for a surcharge of $10 for day trips and $20 for overnight excursions.

For reservations or questions call Friendship Tours at 860-243-1630. Mail individual checks for each trip to 705 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Please make the check(s) payable to Friendship Tours.

If you have any special needs or require accommodation, please tell the travel company when you register. Travelers may be expected to sign and certify that they are in good health at the time of boarding the bus for all trips.

Note: Trip fees are non-refundable unless a substitute is available on the waiting list.

As the name implies, these are the most common trip-related questions we’ve received over the years. If you don’t see your question below, or it isn’t answered to your liking, email osher@uconn.edu.

No. The tip for the bus driver and the tour escort is included in the price of your trip.

This may vary. Information about whether the meal for each trip is included is listed in the flyer and the OLLI Brochure on the Travel Page.

Yes. Phew.

No. If you want to drink on the bus, you must bring your own. Alcohol is not allowed.

Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. Purchases of alcoholic beverages (such as wine) may be stored to take home.

We will try to arrange a gathering of people who have told us they are looking for a roommate or someone to travel with. To be included, please leave your name and contact information (phone and email if applicable) with a note saying “Need Roommate” (or travel companion) on a piece of paper and place it in the Travel Suggestion Box on the information table. When we see enough people are interested, we will arrange a time and place to meet and contact you about it. (We will also contact you if not enough people are interested.)

No, there is no assigned seating.

Information for how to register is on the flyer for the trip and on the Travel Page of the OLLI Brochure. Registration is only through the tour company, not through UConn.

Yes, you may bring personal items and safely store them on the bus. The bus is locked while it is parked.

Most of our trips leave from St. Anthony/DOT Commuter Parking Lot in Prospect, CT on Rt. 69. The departure point is always listed on the flyer for any trip.

DOT rules and regulations state that cars can stay for 48 hours.

Upon registration, please inform the Travel Company of any special needs you may have. They will assess the situation for you. *It will be required for you to bring a travel companion to help you if you need assistance during the trip.

Yes, there is wi-fi on the bus.

No.

Yes. Also, if you take medication, please carry a list of your medications, the name of your doctor, and an emergency contact name with you.

Yes. Non-members pay an additional surcharge for the trip which will be listed on the flyer and in the OLLI Brochure on the Travel Page.

There is a possibility that you may. Please check with the Travel Company when registering. There are certain guidelines that have to be followed. The final decision is up to the Travel Company.

The pace and interests of OLLI trips are geared to adults.

For day trips, the full payment for the trip should be sent to the Travel Company immediately after registering. For Overnight trips, there is an Initial Deposit Date, an Initial Deposit Amount, and a Final Full Payment Date that are all listed on the flyer for the trip.

It’s best to register as soon as possible for both Day Trips and Overnight Trips. If there is not a minimum number registered for a trip by a certain period before the trip, the perceived lack of interest could cause the Travel Company to cancel their reservations at that point to receive refunds. This means that a trip might be canceled if most people wait until the last minute to register. However, if the minimum number of registrations has already been reached for a Day Trip, registrations will still be accepted up to a few days before that trip. The Minimum Number is listed on the flyers for all trips.

If a trip is canceled, the Travel Company is responsible for contacting you in a timely fashion. (This is one of the reasons you provide contact information when you register.)

Library Privileges

OLLI at UConn members qualify for library privileges as fee-exempt Community Borrowers. Please provide a valid driver’s license or ID showing Connecticut residency.

Community Borrowers may:

  • Borrow books from any UConn library for 30 days with renewals
  • Borrow DVDs/VHS tapes from any UConn library for a 7-day loan (no renewals)
  • Borrow AV and/or print material (on reserve) as needed for your courses
  • Request items that are available at UConn campus libraries

Visit the UConn Library website to explore the many resources available to you.

How to apply for a Community Borrower library card:

  1. Download and print a UConn library card application form or pick one up at the OLLI office.
  2. Get an approval form from an OLLI staff member.
  3. Take both forms to the UConn Waterbury library.
Apply for a Library Card

OLLI Café Presentations

A group of students sit in rows and take notes while watching a lecturer.

OLLI Café events focus on improving your quality of life. They feature a guest speaker, followed by a short question and answer session.

Better yet, OLLI Café events are included with your Annual OLLI Membership Fee. We do ask that you pre-register for OLLI Café events. Café events take place in the Multipurpose Rooms (113–119) and feature a guest speaker followed by a short Q&A session.

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Paul Colburn Presents Wildlife and Connecticut’s Changing Landscape 

Friday, September 11, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

This presentation provides a brief natural history of Connecticut, addresses the current state of wildlife in the state, including a discussion of major species, factors affecting their habitats, challenges we face in managing them, and provides suggestions for what people can do to make a difference.

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Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging Presents Medicare 101: Understanding Coverage, Costs, and CHOICES 

Friday, September 18, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

This presentation covers Medicare basics—coverage, enrollment, and cost-saving programs—along with common challenges. It also highlights the CHOICES program’s free, unbiased counseling to help individuals make informed decisions as they approach eligibility.

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Jan Baltrush Presents How to Get and then Stay Organized

Friday, September 25, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Passionate about recycling and reuse, Jan motivates and supports clients to get – and stay – organized. In this presentation, Jan will share practical tips for decluttering, sorting, and organizing the items you keep.