2025 Humanities Festival Schedule
September 27, Saturday, Natrona County Library
Noon – 4:00 p.m. Pizza, Movie, and a Craft — Crawford Room
Library Atrium Exhibits curated by Librarian and Archivist Hanz Olson with Casper College students.
The Play of Archiving an Institution — A process of restoring what it means to archive an institution backward from a constantly revolving exhibit space at its doorstep.
The Play of Displaying an Archives — Engagement with New Museology conversations on the “poetics” and “politics” of display as a basis for selecting traces of archival material for an exhibit.
September 28, Sunday, Hell’s Half Acre
Noon – 4:00 p.m. Paleontology Outing to Hell’s Half Acre
Led by JP Cavigelli, Tate Geological Museum collections specialist.
Join the Tate Geological Museum collections specialist JP Cavigelli for a visit to the bizarre and colorful rock formations at Hell’s Half Acre west of Casper. The fossils found here are primarily of ancient mammals from just after the dinosaurs died out. The main focus will be on paleontology, but human history and natural history are also part of the story. Any fossils found will be collected for the Tate Geological Museum collections. This outing is subject to weather and will involve walking on uneven grounds. Sign-up through the Tate Geological Museum. Meet at the Tate. This trip is limited to 12 participants age 10 and above.
September 30, Tuesday, Tobin Visual Arts Center
Noon – 1:00 p.m. GLAM Exhibition: “Pattern, Order, Chaos”
Reception for the Humanities Festival
Tobin Visual Arts Center
This collaborative of art galleries, library, archives, and museums (GLAM) exhibition features collections from the Goodstein Foundation Library, the Western History Center at Casper College, the Tate Geological Museum, the Werner Wildlife Museum, and the Casper College Foundation Fine Art Collection arranged by the playful theme “pattern, order, and chaos.”
1:00 p.m. Play in the Mud
Led by Michael Olson
Ceramics Studio, VAC
Come play with Mike in the clay studio. Create a small keepsake to reconnect to your inner maker. Limited to 25 participants.
5:00 p.m. Book Club: The Power of Play — David Elkind (2007)
Moderated by Joseph Campbell.
Crawford Room, Natrona County Library
Copies of the book may be picked up at the NCL, first come, first served.
October 1, Wednesday, Wheeler Hall, Music Building
12:00 p.m. Wyoming Symphony Musicians Performance
The Ventis String Trio is comprised of principal string players in the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra: Jennifer DePaolo, violin; Gary DePaolo, viola; and Timothy Jones, cello.
1:00 p.m. Playing for Casper College: Casper College Musicians
Led by Director Joshua R. Mietz, DMA
The Casper College Music Department offers students a comprehensive and individualized education preparing them for lifelong music-making as professional and nonprofessional musicians, while enriching the cultural life of our community. Casper College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The program includes “Playdates” by Jonathan Cohen, Clapping Music, and “New York Counterpoint” by Steve Reich.
5:30 p.m. Demorest Keynote Lecture — More Than Just Fun and Games: Using Play to Explore Communication, Connection, and Self-Discovery
Presented by R. Paul Maddox II, Ph.D.
In this presentation, participants will explore how play serves as the first and most natural form of communication, transcending age and circumstance. Far from serving as an optional pastime, play is an important medium through which individuals express core truths, process experiences, and forge meaningful connections throughout their lifespan. The session will examine how play creates safe spaces for vulnerability, allowing both children and adults to communicate desires, fears, and hopes in ways that may often be overlooked. Attendees will discover how intentional play can unlock insights about oneself, strengthen relationships, and provide a universal language that bridges differences—revealing play’s profound role not just as entertainment, but as an essential component of human connection, personal growth, and overall well-being. Livestream made possible with a grant from Wyoming Humanities.
October 2, Thursday, Goodstein Foundation Library
All Day — Playing for Casper College
Curated by Casper College Librarian and Archivist Hanz Olson.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Living Library
“Living Libraries,” “Human Libraries,” or “Living Book Libraries” are all names for similar projects. These are libraries where, instead of checking out a book in the traditional/digital manner and reading its story, you check-in to a person and have a conversation about their story with a group of other readers. Readers may include Casper College students, staff, and community members. The purpose of the Living Library is to promote conversation, encourage understanding, and foster a culture of inclusivity. Participants should expect to encounter perspectives they have never before considered, viewpoints different from their own, and life experiences that may challenge their own ways of thinking, all within a safe and positive atmosphere at the Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library. Short sessions with presenters include time for questions and answers.
11:00 a.m. Art as a Lifeline: Embracing Process, Play, and the Unfinished Journey
Presented by Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones is a multidisciplinary artist working in sculpture, ceramics, and drawing. While his materials and techniques are often rooted in tradition, his practice is defined by play, experimentation, and discovery. He frequently collaborates with his children, both intentionally and organically. One ongoing project — a backyard fort that remains in a constant state of evolution — serves as a metaphor for the inseparability of art and life. For Jones, artistic creation is not just a profession but a fundamental way of engaging with the world. In this talk, he will explore how embracing unpredictability and process sustains and enriches both his creative practice and lived experience.
12:00 p.m. Meet the T-Birds! Current Student Athlete Panel
Moderated by Erich Frankland
Featuring livestock judging, rodeo, basketball, volleyball, and soccer student athletes, along with community athletes, the Warbirds.
6:00 p.m. An Evening at the Tate Geological Museum
Hosted by Russell Hawley, education specialist
“Dinosaurs: Jumper Cables for the Imagination”
October 3, Friday, Goodstein Foundation Library
11:00 a.m. The Wild Horse Effect: Making the Most of Recreation in Mustang Country
Chad Hanson
In this presentation, Chad Hanson will discuss some of the key findings from the newest lines of research on the experience of feelings like awe and reverence. Hanson will also describe the social and psychological impact of spending leisure time in natural settings, with a special focus on the recreational and therapeutic potential of the wild horse herd areas in Wyoming.
12:00 p.m. Lunch Reception: Meet Former T-Bird Athletes
Moderated by Erich Frankland
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Gaming with the Thunderboard Gaming Club
Hosted by Andrew Young
Goodstein Foundation Library, Room 106, Casper College campus
Come join us for a variety of board and card games. Enjoy the free pizza!
6:30 p.m. Reception for the Humanities Festival
North Lobby, Krampert Center for Theatre and Dance, Casper College campus
7:00 p.m. Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”
Mick and Susie McMurry Stage, Casper College campus
Based on the beloved children’s books by Mo Willems, Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is a whimsical, theatrical experience that celebrates friendship and the powers of imagination. The show follows “bestest” friends Gerald, a careful, anxious elephant, and Piggie, a spirited, optimistic pig, as they discover they are, in fact, characters in a play … much to their delight and occasional dismay. Together, they navigate the surprises of theatrical life, from breaking the fourth wall to singing and dancing with the Squirrelles, a trio of jazzy backup singers. With humor, heart, and plenty of audience interaction, the show is a perfect introduction to live theater for young audiences and families alike. A talk-back will follow the performance.
October 4, Saturday, Tate Geological Museum
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Fossil Day
Activities for all ages.