UD by the Sea—A four-day OLLI event at Rehoboth BeachDesigned by and for OLLI members, UD by the Sea provides OLLI members and guests with programming, activities and social time in Rehoboth Beach. Registration is open to the public, as well as all past and current OLLI members and guests!
Lighthouses and Shipwrecks — Overview of the many Delaware Bay and coastal lighthouses, and the even larger number of shipwrecks they have attempted to prevent. We’ll learn how treacherous Delaware’s waters are, and the long history of our area’s lighthouses.
LED BY — Jim O’Leary, former host of Radio Rehoboth’s “Skywatch at the Beach” and retired senior scientist from the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore.
ACTIVITY LEVEL —moderate (walking, bus ride).
Ecology and Evolution — Examine one of our local habitats, including an up-close encounter with horseshoe crabs, plus a discussion/presentation about the unique organisms that inhabit Hawaii, our 50th state.
LED BY — Jack Bartley, retired UD biology and ecology professor
ACTIVITY LEVEL — robust (bus rides, outdoor walking)
Farm to Table — Southern Delaware has a bounty of locally grown products which help serve both our food banks and our restaurant community. Visit local farms, meet with farmers and chefs, and learn more about “farm to table.”
LED BY — Marty Rosensweig
ACTIVITY LEVEL — moderate (walking, bus rides)
Additional $25 fee applies, to offset transportation, other costs.
Lewes Art and Artists through History — Participants will meet with a local printmaker, a regional painter, and a small boat model maker in their Lewes studios, and will be treated to a presentation from the Delaware Art Museum.
LED BY — Linda Dylla, local landscape designer and art enthusiast
ACTIVITY LEVEL — moderate (walking, bus rides)
Environmental Impact on Coastal Sussex County — Learn about the unique ways coastal Sussex County has been impacted by environmental circumstances, with visits to the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, UD’s College of Earth, Ocean & Environment (CEOE) Lewes campus, and Fort Miles/Cape Henlopen.
LED BY — Connie Benko, past Lewes Historical Society volunteer and Delaware Maritime Hall of Fame inductee
ACTIVITY LEVEL — robust (bus rides, outdoor walking, boat ride)
Additional $50 fee applies, to offset transportation, Cape Water Taxi costs
International Affairs Nexus — Explore international issues facing the world today. Experts in the fields of academia and the foreign service share their insight into geopolitical issues and foreign policy.
LED BY — Trudie Thompson, retired Army Reserve officer and longtime foreign service officer
ACTIVITY LEVEL — mild (takes place at the event’s hotel location)
2026 registration details coming soon
Refund and cancellation policy — For registrants wishing to cancel their UD by the Sea registration, a full refund is available for written requests received through March 31, 2026. After this date, and through May 6, 2026, the refund amount will be 50% of the total amount paid for UD by the Sea registration. After May 6, a refund is not available. In case of cancellation requests due to illness, an exception to the policy can be made. Neither the University of Delaware or the OLLI program is responsible for any costs incurred as a result of program cancellation or schedule changes. All refund requests must be made in writing.
Participants are responsible for accommodations, with the option to make reservations directly with the Atlantic Sands Hotel, or other lodging arrangements if desired. It is not recommended for participants to make any hotel arrangements before their UD by the Sea registration is confirmed.
UD by the Sea registrants receive discounted room rates at the Atlantic Sands Hotel and should make reservations directly with the Atlantic Sands Hotel following registration confirmation. Participants may make other lodging arrangements if desired.
Discounted room rate (single or double occupancy): Coming soon. Participants will receive the UD by the Sea Event Discount Code to share with the hotel after registration for UD by the Sea. At that time, reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling 302-227-2511.
Full vaccination strongly recommended — While OLLI or UD by the Sea participants are no longer required to provide proof of full vaccination in order to attend in-person classes or events, UD and OLLI strongly recommend that all OLLI members, volunteers, visitors and staff remain up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For questions or additional details about this event, email tlmarino@udel.edu or call 302-645-4111.
We invite you to join us and help support this exceptional program and social event.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Delaware
OLLI is an academic cooperative for adults 50 and over to enjoy classes, teach, exchange ideas and socialize together, with no exams or educational requirements for participation. OLLI welcomes you.
Kent/Sussex | Wilmington