FARMINGTON — A kick off of the Gold LEAF Senior College-UMF spring term will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the University of Maine at Farmington Olsen Student Center, North Dining Hall, 111 South St. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Learn more about the Gold LEAF Senior College, meet the course presenters, socialize with some of the current members, become a member and sign up for classes. The classes and activities are designed for people age 50 or older, and their spouses/partners regardless of age, who are interested in lifelong learning opportunities and socializing with people who have similar interests.

The 24 offerings for spring term include classroom sessions on bear rescue and rehabilitation, astronomy, an acting class, writing your family history, Maine fossils, the role of drug therapy in treating chronic diseases, art museums around the world, healthy cooking for one, a festival of five Bollywood films and a study of the changing face of economic supremacy. Learn a new knitting pattern or how to play Mahjong. For those wanting exercise, try Tai Chi or tennis. Technology classes will range from computer basics to tech tools for nonprofits. Book discussions will focus on sociology, politics and post-modern culture as imagined by the authors of “The Hunger Games” trilogy and “American Gods;” and author Peter Spiers will talk about his book, “Master Class.”

Field trips include hikes, a wildflower walk, an informational tour of New Sharon and a trip to Boothbay Harbor to visit the aquarium and botanical garden. The full description of all course offerings is on the web at goldleaf.wikispaces.com.

Registrations are open now for the classes and activities, which run from March 19 to June 20. Because some classes fill up early, everyone is encouraged to register for classes as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the kick-off event on March 13, although registrations may be done that day.

Dues for new members, joining for the first time during the spring term, are pro-rated at $10. Annual membership dues are $30 for the year beginning July 1. Courses have nominal fees ranging from $3 to $14, depending on the length.

There are no tests, homework or educational requirements to be a part of Gold LEAF, which stands for Lifelong Education At Farmington. Gold LEAF is a nonprofit, member-run organization sponsored by the University of Maine at Farmington, and is one of 17 senior colleges in the state.

Call 778-7063 or email [email protected] to get a course booklet, registration instructions or general information.