EDUCATION ON AGING RESEARCH: LESS INTENSIVE EXPERIENCES
If you want intellectual stimulation but shy away from the intense commitment of college courses, why not enroll in a short-term educational program such as Elderhostel? Elderhostel is a network of over five hundred colleges, universities, and educational institutions that offer special low-cost programs, usually a week long, to people over sixty. There are Elderhostel schools in all fifty states and in Canada, England, and the Scandinavian countries, offering a wide range of liberal arts and science courses. There are no grades, no homework, no exams, and the focus is on making friends and enjoying vacationing as well as learning. Although some people I interviewed had had a disappointing experience with the Elderhostel teachers (or other students), many became addicted to this learning vacation. They loved the mix Elderhostel offers – the chance to travel, meet people, and be intellectually stimulated at the same time.
Or explore the many educational opportunities outside the college campus. Churches, museums, libraries, and YMCAs offer courses and classes in almost every conceivable area. Senior citizens’ centers and clubs also offer regular lectures on interesting topics, though their mission is as much social as educational. Nonacademic institutions such as churches or Y’s are especially good sources if your educational aims are more creative than academic -if you want to pursue an interest in the arts.
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