FARMINGTON – The Gold LEAF Institute Senior College will hold an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday in the North Dining Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Gold LEAF is an organization offering learning opportunities to members age 50 or older and their spouse or partner, regardless of age. The $30 annual membership fee gives the opportunity to take courses at any of the 16 senior colleges in Maine.

There will be 19 classes starting in September, said Eileen Kreutz, first vice president of the all-volunteer organization. They range from Sudoku puzzles, to history. One new class, Bayonets at the Bridge, explores the history of a labor union’s efforts to organize the 14 shoe factories in Lewiston-Auburn in 1937, she said. Presented by Richard Condon, the two-session class will discuss the three-month strike that put more than 6,000 workers out of their jobs, brought national attention to the area and involved some violence. The United Shoe Workers of America’s effort failed, but the class will explore the role of unions in society then and now.

Another class offers a trip to the newly expanded Bowdoin Art Museum in October. UMF Assistant Professor of Geology Julia Daly will guide a geology hike Oct. 4 in the Belgrade Lakes area to study rock types while a one-on-one computer class offers an assigned UMF student to tutor participants in their use of the computer, Kreutz said.

Classes provide instruction without stress and without tests, according to the Gold LEAF Web site, www.goldleaf.wikispaces.com.

The university provides an office on campus, pays the organization’s phone bill and provides one work study student. Some faculty members are asked to teach the classes, which can be from one day to several sessions, she said.

During the open house, the group will be entertained by the Friendship Squares dance group then presenters will be available to provide more details about their classes.

A listing of courses is available at www.goldleaf.wikispaces.com, or at the office at 101 South St. prior to Wednesday’s open house.