xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
EH Notebook #108 September 16, 2002
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Welcome to EH Notebook, the e-zine where e-friends who have
attended Elderhostel programs can compare notes.
There is an independent but cooperatively maintained index to old
issues at http://members.aol.com/ehindex
To subscribe to the e-mail publication and/or to submit reviews of
programs taken send an e-mail to the editor, Bob McAllester, at
EHnotebook$A$earthlink.net
Please keep all correspondence in simple e-mail text format.
################################################
From the Editor's Notebook
################################################
I stretched the size of this issue a little. There were so many
excellent reviews that I wanted to include.
I still have to write the review for our most recent Elderhostel
at the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona.
Keep those reviews coming for the next issue.
Bob McAllester
EHnotebook$A$earthlink.net
################################################
Comments and Queries
################################################
Anyone been to an EH in Prince Edward Island, Canada?
Martha Schumacher
Martas773$A$aol.com
################################################
Program Reviews
################################################
N O T I C E
To use an e-mail address, substitute
the "at symbol" for the 3 characters $A$.
################################################
The Firs Conference Center, Wash
Lifelong Learning Canada/Toronto, Ontario
Atlantic Leadership Institute, Maine
Malheur Field Station, Oregon
Center for Adventure Education, Georgia
Maine Conservation School, Bryant Pond, Maine
Breckenridge Music Institute, Colorado
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Firs Conference Center, Wash
Bellingham, Washington
August 4-9, 2002
It felt ridiculous to be packing warm jackets and sweatshirts in
90+ degree temperatures. We were planning our escape from the
August heat of the midwest, heading for a cabin in a forest of
tall Douglas Fir trees in upper Washington State.
The cabins at The Firs varied as to size and condition. Most had
one bedroom; some had refrigerators while others did not. Ours
was roomy and comfortable with a separate living area and plenty
of storage space, but in need of re-painting and carpeting,
showing signs of wear and tear. Four ladies who came together
were housed in a large, freshly painted four-bedroom suite with
enormous living room, kitchen and two bathrooms. Someone remarked
that it looked as though the maintenance workers were starting to
repaint the cabins, but did not have a chance to get around to all
of them before our program started.
Clean, cool fresh air from open windows provided a welcome change
after months of air conditioning back home. Daytime temperatures
were very comfortable. The cabins were heated, but we only found
it necessary to turn the heat on at night a couple of times.
Breakfasts were very good, the best meal of the day: choices of
cold and hot cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, a different hot
dish prepared each morning (e.g., pancakes, waffles, scrambled
eggs and bacon). Lunches and dinners were OK. Average but
plentiful, typical Elderhostel type food was served family style;
one entree at each meal, no choices. (Special provisions are made
for people with dietary problems upon request.)
All the people who worked there were friendly and helpful,
responsive to everyone's needs. They came around promptly to
repair anything that wasn't working, readily providing such items
as extra hangers or light bulbs upon request.
It was a short walk from the cabins to the dining room and the
spacious lounge where classes were held. Fruit and cookies were
always available in the lounge, along with coffee, assorted herbal
teas, hot chocolate and cider, even cold drinking water with lemon
slices floating in it. The lounge was a pleasant, welcoming place
where Elderhostelers gathered to chat, read or play games when
classes were not in session. It overlooked the basketball and
tennis courts.
Our program included presentations on marine ecology, estuaries,
glaciers, and beaches. The facilities lacked modern audio-visual
equipment. Most of the presenters managed by using an old-
fashioned slide projector for their visuals. One brought along
his own digital camera with powerful telescopic lens. By hooking
it up to a TV, he was able to show us enlargements of small animal
life moving around in pond water. Everyone had an opportunity to
go for a pleasant pontoon boat ride on the nearby lake.
A delightful lady named Marcile Mack treated us to a wonderful
music program. Although she had been a music professor and piano
soloist with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, we suspect that she
is secretly a stand-up comedian at heart. She kept us laughing
continually by interspersing her wry humor with her piano playing
and commentary. Unfortunately, she has health problems and may
not be presenting Elderhostel programs for very much longer. We
consider ourselves fortunate to have had the chance to attend her
classes.
The highlight of the week was a magical day spent whale watching
from a boat in the Strait of Georgia. The Firs chartered the boat
exclusively for our Elderhostel group, a special treat that was
greatly appreciated by all. It turned out to be the best whale
watching experience we have ever had. Right below the Canadian
border, we were surrounded by a pod of 60 orcas, many of them
coming in close to our boat and breaching all around us.
Even the boat's captain, who takes whale watchers out every day,
said they were the most active he had ever seen them (unless he
tells that to every group). Whenever the whales started moving
out, the captain, who knew which way they were heading, would take
us around them, get out in front of them, then kill the engine and
wait for them to come to us again. We spent several hours this
way, watching them put on quite a show. The Firs packed a very
nice picnic lunch for us to eat on the boat. They provided cold
soft drinks and bottled drinking water, plenty of it, leaving the
bottles out in a cooler where we could help ourselves whenever we
wanted throughout the day. People commented on what a pleasant
change this was from the sticky, sugary juice boxes that many
other Elderhostels give you as beverages on field trips.
We were lucky to have sunny weather for the entire week. On
another wonderful day, we took a scenic bus ride through the
Cascade Mountains up to Mt. Baker. The road to the top of the
mountain had been cleared of snow and opened to traffic only a few
days earlier. We rode up a series of switchbacks to a scenic
lookout where the road ended. There we got out and walked around
on the mountaintop, crunching the snow under our shoes while
admiring the view, something especially enjoyable to do in the
middle of summer.
Lunch that day was served at The Firs' very own ski chalet on Mt.
Baker. We ate in front of a blazing fireplace, gazing out at
beautiful snow-covered Mt. Shuksan. Most of us took a half-mile
"hike" (actually, more of a stroll) around a picturesque lake that
reflected the surrounding mountains in the water. We felt as
though we were right in the middle of a scene from "The Sound of
Music." A few of the more hardy souls in our group went for
longer hikes down the mountainside at the visitor center.
Some pictures taken on the two field trips are available from the
index web site of EH Reviews: http://members.aol.com/ehindex
Link to Readers' Own Elderhostel Web Pages under CONTACTS AND
RELATED SITES.
This was a five-night Elderhostel program, but a number of
people complained that it was actually only a four day program
because it ended with an early breakfast on the last day.
We were required to vacate our cabins shortly thereafter.
Some did not mind, remarking that they planned to leave early
anyway.
We recommend this program, especially if you are lucky enough to
have good whale watching. That one spectacular day alone would
have made the trip worthwhile for us.
HG
hglucks$A$aol.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lifelong Learning Canada/Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Takes Centre Stage
We did an elderhostel about the theatre scene in Toronto, and it
was very enjoyable. We saw three plays - a Checkov play (Uncle
Vanya), a Shakespeare play (A Winter's Tale), and a musical (Mama
Mia) - which made for a real variety of shows. We had poor seats
for Uncle Vanya - up in the balcony, which made it difficult to
hear. However, our seats for the Shakespeare play and Mama Mia
were very good.
Speakers come to the University of Toronto where we stayed and had
our meetings. The speakers were most interesting and included a
theatre critic from the Toronto Sun, a publicist for Mirvish
Productions, and a fellow who described what it was like to be a
struggling young actor in Toronto. We also had a tour of two
lovingly restored old theatres on Yonge Street. One of these
theatres, the Winter Garden, resembled a wonderland of sorts. It
was beautiful and a bit indescribable - something that has to be
seen. Another afternoon was spent touring Toronto and seeing the
various ethnic neighborhoods - Greek, Arabic, Chinese. It was
interesting that the street signs were in both English and the
language of the neighborhood.
A special treat one morning was a group of 50+ folks who came from
the continuing education part of the University of Toronto. They
performed three one-act vignettes for us, and they were wonderful.
Not only did they do a good job with the acting, but they seemed
to enjoy each other and have a lot of fun together. The first
vignette was done in Irish dialect, and the man and woman did a
splendid job with it. The second vignette was called "Running
Away from Home" and was about a 60+ fellow who decided that he had
had enough of living with an over-protective daughter. The third
one-act playlette was about an older couple who had met as the
result of a personals advertisement. The group tries to do works
that refute stereotyping of older folks, and they have appeared at
various locations around Toronto.
I had been to Toronto before and stayed on Yonge Street, which is
the main north/south street. I've been told that Yonge is the
longest street in the world as it starts at the shore of Lake
Ontario and goes clear up to Hudson Bay. This time we stayed at
the University of Toronto on Spadina Street, just above Toronto's
largest Chinatown. The coordinator of the elderhostel told us
that she loved riding the street cars on Spadina, because she
always got a seat - that the Asian young people are brought up to
respect their elders and give up their seats.
We got around on the street cars and subway in Toronto, and I
particularly liked the street cars as they clanged their bells
which had a nostalgic sound. Toronto has an excellent public
transit system and seemed even more vibrant and more cosmopolitan
than I remembered.
The elderhostel coordinator said that in the future all hostels
will be staying at a downtown hotel, so there is no need to
comment on accommodations and dorm food.
My husband remarked that he had a good time and that he hoped to
go back to Toronto again. It turns out that we will have to
return to Canada as the border was too busy to turn in our
Canadian money, and our bank at home wanted a small fortune to
exchange our colorful Canadian money into the bland green stuff we
have in the US. Also, they were not at all interested in taking
our loonies and two dollar pieces. So, he kept the Canadian money
and said that we will use it next year, which sounds fine with me.
Jean Sterling
sterlij$A$attglobal.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Atlantic Leadership Institute, Maine
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Campobello Island
August 25-30, 2002
My husband and I have just returned from a truly wonderful
Elderhostel on FDR, the New Deal, and his Presidency. We also
learned about the local area and enjoyed a morning ride on the
schooner Sylvina W. Beal. The program was outstanding. All of the
presenters were excellent. We were able to tour the Campobello
Summer Home of the Roosevelt family as part of the program and in
our limited free time. We had a field trip to Cutler, ME where we
enjoyed a lobster luncheon served in the Methodist Church. This
was followed by a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Betty
Duzen) who told about her life with FDR and on Campobello. On our
final morning we visited the Sardine Canning Museum and the
Cottage Garden in Lubec, ME. Both places were very interesting and
enjoyable. We had programs and entertainment every evening after
dinner.
We were housed in homes belonging to the Campobello Conference
Center. These cottages were elegant turn of the 20th century homes
that had large, elegant bedrooms with private baths. Each cottage
also had living rooms and small kitchens for the participants'
use. We were served gourmet meals in Prince House. We had buffet
breakfasts and two choices for each of the other meals. These were
the best meals we have ever had at an Elderhostel. Our two
program coordinators, Joy Rising and Cathy Bell, were outstanding.
We all enjoyed our time with them.
Of the 32 Elderhostels we have attended, I would rate this at or
near the best.
Helen Sternheim
helen$A$umassk12.net
Pictures from this Elderhostel will be posted on:
www.umassk12.net/mort Then click on Photo Gallery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malheur Field Station, Oregon
I read with interest the review of Malheur Field Station in EH
Notebook #107. You see, I was there about ten years ago, and
while I enjoyed the field trips and the instruction (there were
two instructors then, and a coordinator), I was appalled at the
condition of the buildings and the living situation. We were
given no sheets or blankets, and yes we had the hospital beds.
Fortunately, I had brought sleeping bags because as an option at
the end of the week we could sleep out at the top of the mountain-
-part of the field trips--if we brought our own tent and sleeping
bags. Some participants did this, some didn't.
We were told then that the buildings at the field station were put
up in President Johnson's days when he created the Job Corps (not
sure if that's what it was called) or something like that. The
field station was temporary, a work training camp which was to be
torn down, but a group of scientists pleaded for it to remain so
field research in geology and paleontology could continue. I
would think the maintenance of the facility lies with the
university under whose watchful eye it operates.
There is a nice air conditioned dining hall and a gift shop where
you can buy copies of novels by Jean Auel. She stayed there when
she did research for her novels. I think that the field station
has raked in enough EH dollars to justify the hiring of someone to
at least clean the facilities and replace some of the broken
furnishings. It's a shame that these conditions continue to exist
under the guise of "rustic".
Sincerely,
lydlady$A$juno.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Center for Adventure Education, Georgia
St Marys Cumberland Island
Georgia Southwestern State University
August 25-30, 2002
This Elderhostel studied historic southeastern "Coastal Georgia."
Almost all area attractions were studied and toured in this EH
program: St Marys (2nd oldest town in USA, after St Augustine);
Cumberland Island (GA's largest and southernmost barrier island,
populaton now maybe 40); Amelia Island, FL (a well-populated
industrialized barrier island just south of Cumberland); Naval
Submarine Base (Atlantic Fleet homeport for submarines such as
Trident); and nearby Okefenokee Swamp.
This EH program now in its tenth year still offers the quality EH
program that reviewers described in two earlier posts to this
database.
Recent changes: Since 9/11, the visit to a submarine is off-
limits. But a Navy CPO submariner does still lecture us about the
base, submarines in general, and the base's economic impact to
smalltown St Marys (where hundreds of Navy dependents live,
school, shop). Today's EH program has replaced the submarine tour
with a Sugar Mill ruins tour...led by a colonial-garbed "planter
impersonator."
Other noteworthy features in the current EH program:
That "planter impersonator" (Roland Loveless) also gives a vivid
1st-person impersonation lecture of gilted-age financier Henry
Flagler who, among his many other accomplishments, financed and
caused to be built the first railroad from Jacksonville to Key
West.
A St Marys walk tour, including several homes, shops and museums.
A tour of Fort Clinch, a strategic coastal defense overlooking key
waterways in Civil War years.
A bus tour and 8-block walk around ritzy Amelia Island.
A ferry to and tour-led visit of nearly unpopulated Cumberland
Island, including the Carnegie family estate ruins there. Our one
EH program deviation occurred here, when a tropical thunderstorm
swept in as we were touring the island. Seeing it coming, our
Ranger tour guide (Geah-Jah Graves) scurried us back to a shelter
(with bathrooms!) to sit out the 90-min storm. We still had time
to walk the Island's pristine unpopulated beach.
A morning boat-tour of Okefenokee Swamp with P.M. visits to a
preserved old homestead and National Wildlife Refuge park there.
Two folk-music evenings: guitarist/folksinger Bill Temme, who also
plays bongos in a St Augustine band; and vivacious 63-yr-old Lynn
Wadley, a folksinger/songwriter who accompanies her own songs
using any of 7 stringed folk instruments--from dulcimer to guitar
to bowing a carpenter's saw.
This busy EH's activities ran without a hitch, thanks to capable
coordinator/lecturer Tom Murray. My one regret is that he didn't
provide us an email address for my: "Outstanding EH, Tom; thanks
much!"
Jim Fleming
Falls Church, VA.
JimFleming1$A$compuserve.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maine Conservation School, Bryant Pond, Maine
Active Outdoor Program
August 25-30, 2002
It remained my puzzle for a time. Why a woman in our group
would drive eight times from Louisiana to Maine for an active
outdoor Elderhostel? Weren't there similar lovely lakes, haunted
by loons that would have moved Monet? And doesn't the moon remain
mainly the same on Main Street as it shines in Maine?
In a flash of a senior moment (this time one of clarity) I slapped
my ascending forehead and remembered what I have been applauding
and booing since I began Elderhosteling in l992. And that insight
is this: no Elderhostel can rise above the level of the
coordinators and the staff, despite the subject and the domain. A
dedicated leader who is not too vain is worth more than the
terrain.
In the case of the Maine Conservation School, it is mainly
marvelous because of Susan Isham, the caring coordinator, her
mainstay, likeable Lou, and people such as Jeff, Eric, Lisa, and
our kitchen friends. They didn't talk a lot and act little, as was
the case with my last coordinator. Skilled as Mark Twain, and
certified in the outdoor arts, they treated everyone as if every
day were grandparents' day. Although I was shy in a kayak, and new
to a canoe, I received considerate individual instruction. From
the moment Susan contacted me with a list of recommended outdoor
clothing, I felt I had new friends.
Location: The school is about an hour and a half northwest of
Portland, off Route 26. This road is as coiled as a snake hissing
"Don't speed on me!" The speed limit shifts abruptly from 55mph to
35mph, and the local constabulary is vigilant. Speed limit signs
are clearly posted though. This is not the case with signs around
Bryant Pond, so try to get very specific directions from the
school.
Accommodations: There is a choice, which is arranged through
Boston. I stayed in one of the two bunkhouses, which were located
on the campus near the lake. This was accessible by climbing a
short steep hill, made easier by steps and rails. There is a
common roof and the rooms are sectioned off. The rooms contain two
double deck beds, as this is an old children's camp, and the
showers are "down the hall." I found this to be comfortable, but
not everyone would enjoy it.
The other option is the "Maine House" a mile and a half away,
which has television, a fireplace, and individual bathroom
facilities. There is a shuttle van to bring hostelers back and
forth to meals and events. As in all other cases, Susan was very
well organized, and everything ran on time and as promised.
Food: We received the menu of the week with our packet of
information. I absorbed a great number of calories just reading
about the good, basic food. It was displayed buffet style, all you
care to eat. Some goodies, lovingly prepared by the talented chef
were homemade blueberry pancakes, strawberry shortcake, and a
sirloin steak as thick as a moose. There were many choices. This
was true for our two outdoor picnics as well as our campfire
farewell on amateur night. If you come here, think of girth
control when you go home.
To the delight and surprise of many of us, the refrigerator,
usually set aside for medicine, was stocked with an alternative
medicinal liquid. I tasted it just to sample the local culture:
Sunday River Beer. I sipped it slowly just to forget. To forget
prohibition! Maine also brewed Neil Dow, pioneer prohibitionist,
who ran for President on the Prohibitionist Party platform in
1880. (Abstain in Maine, and everywhere else!). If Dow were alive
today, he would be turning over in his grave!
Program: The program's the thing, and it is maintained precisely
as in the EH Catalogue. It included hiking, kayaking, canoeing,
exploring a rare floating bog with insect-eating plants, (bring
boots!) a smooth ride on a ski lift, outdoor lunches near
waterfalls and during a river trip. There are also very
interesting evening and daytime lectures on medicinal plants and
herbs, loons, forest management, and outdoor life. I liked the
fact that Coordinator Susan was with us for many of these events,
as was her staff. Several of the lecturers ate and socialized with
us in the dining hall.
It was raining on campfire night, but true to the spirit of these
genial hosts that did not deter our having fun. Lou built a great
fire in Rogers Hall, where we ate and heard our lectures. Almost
all of the 27 hostelers participated in one way or another because
of our esprit de corps, which was built up during the week. I had
the feeling many folks who would not have entertained in other
circumstances entertained here. We delighted in group singing,
original poetry, guitar and harmonica playing, and great rounds of
applause for all of our hosts, who were organized and coordinated
by the excellent efficient Susan.
The Good Lord willing, I will remember this Maine next year! See
you there?
Sid Kessler
itisalive$A$erols.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breckenridge Music Institute, Colorado
Inside a Music Festival: The Highlight of a Breckenridge Summer
July 22 to 27, 2002
This was an outstanding Elderhostel and one that I would like to
repeat again next year. Roberta Nelson, our coordinator, was
dedicated to making this a wonderful experience and her volunteer
hosts and hostesses, who were board members of the BMI, were very
attentive to our needs.
I paid the single supplement, traveled alone and took a shuttle
(90 minutes) from the Denver Airport. I did not have a car in
Breckenridge but since carpooling was encouraged it was not a
problem. The weather was lovely, but if it had been a rainy week I
might have regretted not renting a car at the airport. Most of the
activities are within walking distance, however, this program does
require a good amount of walking between the condos, classroom,
and restaurant. This just added to my enjoyment of the week.
Note: Breckenridge is located in the mountains at an elevation of
9,600 ft. The catalog warns "Daily walking required: site
conditions may be physically demanding due to the high altitude".
The altitude presented minor problems for some of the
Elderhostelers but they adjusted to the thinner air after a few
days.
Accommodations: We were housed in two bedroom, two bathroom condos
located in four buildings near the Riverwalk Performing Arts
Center where many of our activities were centered. These condos
are individually owned so I can only describe the one I was
assigned to. It was large, nicely furnished, and fully equipped
with all the comforts of home, including a washer, dryer, and
dishwasher.
Food: The food was very good. The first evening we had a catered
BBQ dinner at the lovely mountain home of a BMI board member.
There were excellent box lunches each day. Most dinners were at a
local restaurant, which offered a choice of two or three very good
entrees, with the choices changing each day. Breakfast was unusual
for an Elderhostel program. Our refrigerators were stocked with
breakfast items for our first breakfast and we were given a gift
certificate to the local grocery store so we could buy our own
groceries and eat breakfast each day in our condo. This proved to
be a wonderful plan. We could have exactly what we wanted for
breakfast, it saved us time and we were able to have leisurely
breakfasts while enjoying a view of the mountains.
Program: We attended concerts each evening featuring a variety of
music: classical music played by the Breckenridge Music Institute
Orchestra or the National Repertory Orchestra, a chamber music
concert and a pops concert. The pops concert was disappointing but
the other concerts were excellent. Most of the BMI musicians are
members of symphonies in major U.S. cities and many of them also
are music professors at various universities.
Daytime classes featured discussions with the conductors and
sessions with the musicians and the music festival staff. This
gave us an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the
musicians and their instruments. We also gained an understanding
of what goes on behind the scenes of a music festival. These
sessions were well planned and very interesting. Attending
rehearsals was an added treat.
Other daytime activities included a historic walking tour of
Breckenridge, a mine tour and a visit to a lovely high altitude
garden.
This Elderhostel is only scheduled for one or two weeks in the
summer so if you are interested in attending next summer I would
recommend signing up as soon as the catalog is published.
Jean Mabie
jmabie2$A$yahoo.com