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.
Winter / Spring Program Information
Cookie Sponsors are Jim & Janet Chaffee
May 4, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Black on the Wisconsin Frontier, 1725-1868
Speaker: Christy Clark-Pujara, PhD
Christy Pujara-Clark, PhD, is Chair and Professor in the Department of African at UW-Madison. Free and enslaved Black people lived, labored, and raised families on the Wisconsin frontier; they called the towns and cities of Prairie du Chien, Racine, Green Bay, Lancaster, Milwaukee, and Menominee home. Yet their stories remain largely untold. Black people resisted bondage and political marginalization, creating places and spaces where they could be free and thrive. Black Americans were a tiny minority in Wisconsin territory and later the state; nevertheless, the practice of race-based slavery and anxieties about Black migrants led white Wisconsinites to dispute abolition and the rights of Black residents.
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Bev and Tim Lewis sponsored this program.
- Summer Series -
June 8, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Forensic Science:
The Wisconsin Crime Laboratory
Bob Block spent 34 years as a forensic analyst with the WI Crime Lab as head of the drug identification unit. Step into the world of real-life crime solving and forensic investigation. If you’ve ever been captivated by shows like CSI, this presentation is your chance to see how forensic science works beyond the screen. You’ll explore the fascinating field services of the Wisconsin Crime Lab and discover how each area of analysis—from drug evidence to crime scene investigation—helps bring truth to light. Hear directly from an expert forensic analyst who will share stories of real courtroom drama, unusual drug cases, and haunting crime scenes. Get ready for an experience that’s as informative, educational, and unforgettable as it is thrilling.
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Program sponsors - Duane & Leslie Younsteadt and Pat Pfeifer
June 15, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
Brain Health:
Strategies for Preventing Cognitive Decline & Neuro-degenerative Disease
Rick Menet, MD, is board certified in Internal Medicine and has completed a fellowship in Infectious Disease. He holds board certification in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, demonstrating a broad and in-depth expertise across these medical specialties for 36 years practicing in Appleton. His commitment to furthering his medical knowledge was driven by his own health journey, which he openly shares with others. Dr. Menet, motivated by his interest in brain health, earned certification in the Dr. Dale Bredesen - ReCode Program, for the prevention and improvement of cognitive decline. Rita Menet, retired RN, is a certified Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.
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Program sponsors - Dr. James & Mary Fico
June 22, 2026
6:30 pm
Waupaca Area Public Library Meeting Rooms
The National Native American Veterans Memorial: Honoring the Military Service of Native Americans
The National Native American Veterans Memorial opened on November 11, 2020, on the grounds of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. This tribute to Native heroes recognizes for the first time on a national scale the distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military.
Simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive, the memorial creates an interactive yet intimate space for gathering, remembrance, reflection, and healing. It welcomes and honors Native American veterans and their families, and educates the public about their extraordinary contributions.
Join Rachelle Pablo (Diné), Museum Specialist with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, to learn about the making of the memorial from concept to creation and about the enduring legacy of Indigenous military service.
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Program sponsors - Linda and Rex Pope
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This program was developed as a companion to the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series, organized by Smithsonian Affiliations & is presented in collaboration with the Waupaca Historical Society, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and the Smithsonian.​​​
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