Our free programs are on Mondays beginning at 6:30 PM -
see our current schedule below.
If cancellation is required an announcement will be made on
WILW 96.3FM and Facebook.
OUR MISSION
Winchester Academy’s mission is to enrich the community by providing free, intellectually stimulating, informative, and engaging programs.
- 2026 Fall Series -
September 14, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
9/11 at 25:
A Historian Remembers and Reflects
Christopher Kolakowski is Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The September 11, 2001 attacks on America marked a watershed moment in world history with after effects visible today.
This presentation will explore the day, various ways it was experienced around the country, and how the presenter has interpreted it at various museums.
Time permitting, there will also be an open discussion.
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Dr. Robert Wubben sponsored this program.
September 21, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Arts Hub
515 School St., Waupaca
Meet Bach's Oboe
Stacey Berk is Professor of Oboe and MusicTheory/Composition at UW–Stevens Point. Step into the fascinating world of the Baroque oboe and discover the instrument behind some of Johann Sebastian Bach's most expressive music. In this engaging lecture-demonstration, Stacey Berk shares her journey learning to play this beautiful yet challenging instrument and her exploration of the vibrant world of early music. Along the way, you'll discover the art of making Baroque reeds, the process of building a Baroque oboe d'amore, and hear these remarkable instruments brought to life through live demonstrations. Whether you're a musician, a Bach enthusiast, or simply curious about historical instruments, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the sounds, craftsmanship, and performance traditions of the Baroque era.
Diane Forsythe is our program sponsor.
September 28, 2026
6:30 pm
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Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Findng Fact-Based Journalism
in a Polarized World
Jim Malewitz is managing editor of Wisconsin Watch, where he oversees the statewide nonprofit newsroom. He has spent nearly his entire career in nonprofit public affairs journalism. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Politico Magazine.
Where can people turn for trustworthy information in a polarized world with shrinking local news options? Jim’s talk explores a community-centered model of journalism that listens to residents and investigates solutions to the challenges they face.
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This program is sponsored by Jerry & Karen Lyons
October 12, 2026
6:30 pm
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Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Beyond the Headlines:
A Scientist's View of Bird Flu
Thomas Friedrich, PhD, grew up in Wauwatosa idolizing Robin Yount and Carl Sagan. He always wanted to be a scientist of some kind, focusing on physics before becoming interested in infectious diseases while reading Laurie Garrett’s The Coming Plague in college. He is now a professor of virology at UW-Madison where he teaches students about global health, HIV/AIDS, and emerging infectious diseases. Friedrich will present what we currently know about bird flu viruses circulating in dairy cattle and explain how virus jump species, and how scientists assess whether viruses pose a pandemic risk.
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This program is sponsored by Mark Flora and Sally Stevens
October 19, 2026
6:30 pm
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Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Nature:
More than Meets the Eye
Chuck “Ritz” Ritzenthaleris is a retired high school biology teacher and a volunteer naturalist at the River Edge Nature Center in West Bend. Using a variety of plant and animal examples, Chuck will open your eyes to the creative adaptations in nature. Adaptations give organisms like monarchs, goldenrod, spiders, dragonflies, burdock, fireflies, yellow sweet clover, and other living things brilliant survival strategies. A closer look at their structure and how they function has revealed information leading to impactful human innovations. Do you know how studying spiders impacts birds? Or maybe knowing more about sharks has affected navy ships and the ocean? Or what burdock has to do with your shoes? Or even how studying a specific plant is saving lives? Through your attendance, you will agree that there is more to the story of nature than meets the eye.​
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This program is sponsored by Rev. Barry and Ruby Shaw.
October 26, 2026
6:30 pm
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Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Ballot Language Decoded:
Understanding Referendums Before you Vote
Sue Abrahamson is a retired public librarian, community advocate, Co-captain of the League of Women Voters Appleton Fox Cities Unite & Rise 8.5 Campaign, and Chief Election Inspector of the Town of Waupaca. Confused by the wording of referendum questions on your ballot?
This informative session breaks down how ballot language is written, what common terms and phrases really mean, and how to evaluate proposed measures with confidence. Of particular attention are three Wisconsin State Constitutional referendums on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
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This program is sponsored by Rich and Florence Dittle.
November 9, 2026
6:30 pm
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Trinity Lutheran Church 206 E. Badger Street
The Doctor Is In:
A History of Medicine and Healthcare in Waupaca
Tracy Behrendt has served as the executive director of the Waupaca Historical Society since 2015, after moving to Waupaca in 2011. Explore the history of medicine and healthcare in Waupaca, from the era of horse-and-buggy house calls to early medicine and pharmacies to the establishment of local hospitals. This program traces the evolution of medical care in the Waupaca community, highlighting the people and places that have served generations of Waupaca residents.
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This program is sponsored by Dave & Brenda Wenberg.
November 16, 2026
6:30 pm
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St. Mary Madgalene Catholic Church
N2845 Shadow Road
Winchester Academy's
Celebration of 35 Years in Waupaca
More information coming soon!
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This program is sponsored by Pat and Steve Cuellar.
November 30, 2026
6:30 pm
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Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Image - Nostalgia - Place
For 40+ years, Kevin Knopp has sustained an artstudio based in Waupaca, exhibiting widely, earning an MFA, teaching, and working as a piano tuner, whose work appears in public and private collections throughout Wisconsin. Using images from travel, with a particular emphasis on our proximate major art museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, as well as his own body of work, Kevin will discuss his personal perspective on the significance of contemporary landscape painting. In conjunction with his exhibition in the Waupaca Library Exhibit Room, October 10 - December 5, 2026, the discussion will explore how the passage of time, nostalgia, location, social and political history may affect our perception of the landscape we live in and often take for granted.
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This program is sponsored by Denny & Cindy Wandtke.
