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Elderhostel Notebook June 97
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Elderhostel Notebook is the monthly e-mail publication of the
Silver Threads, an informal collection of net seniors. It is the
product of elderhostlers, and is independent of the Elderhostel
organization and not associated with it.
It is published in conjunction with the Silver Threads
Newsletter, but has a separate mailing list. Submissions are
welcome and voluntary as are comments and suggestions.
Editor is Jim Olson sierrajimo@aol.co
There is no charge for either publication. Just contact the
editor to subscribe.
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Contents
From the Editors Notebook
Elderhostel Potpourri
Elderhostel Reviews
Personals
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Editor's Notebook
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I am now back in the happy situation as editor where there are a
number of reports in reserve. I like to keep the reports
tailored in size so they can be mailed in one section and wasn't
able to include all that you sent in this last month.
If the reserve grows too large, I will simply make the notebooks
more frequent, one of the advantages of the flexibility that
comes with setting your own schedules. Please, however, keep
sending in reports. I will get to all of them, including our
report on the Victoria elderhostel which is also now in the
reserve file. I will continue to publish all personals as they
come in as many of them are time related.
Please note as well that I am inviting reports on some of the
elderhostel alternatives described in the Potpourri section in
this issue.
Since many of you now have mail systems that automatically make
links to web sites clickable I am going to list some relevant
elderhostel links here in the editor's section of each notebook.
Others may want to use the cut/copy/paste feature of your
computer operating system to transfer them to the appropriate
window in the web browser you use, (for AOL users you can paste
them into your Keyword slot) If you know of others I should put here
let me know.
Links:
http://www.elderhostel.org (Elderhostel Boston)
http://WWW.MBnet.MB.CA/crm/lifestyl/ehostel/ehost1.html (Canada)
http://www.learn.unh.edu/INTERHOSTEL/IH_FH.html (Interhostel UNH)
http://www.limedene.demon.co.uk/othersts.html (U3a LIR index)
http://208.215.76.129/cgi-bin/WebX?13@^2288@.ee6ee2e
(elderhostel forum in seniornet roundtables)
http://www.thirdage.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@^32724@.ee6b468
(elderhostel forum on Thirdage web site)
note- there is no url for the elderhostel forum on seniornet at
AOL. AOL members use keyword seniornet- then forums- then arts
and leisure- then elderhostel.
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Elderhostel Potpourri
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Alternatives to Elderhostel
- Jim Olson (olsonjam@uwec.edu)
For the "Third Age" (another term for elders- seniors- old
folks- whatever) person who enjoys lifelong educational
experiences there are several alternatives to the standard
elderhostel program, including the programs of various
elderhostel organization sponsored centers for Learning in
Retirement, and other non-profit educational institutions. Most
of these involve learning in a non-residential local setting, but
some like elderhostel are travel related and offer some housing
and meal accommodations.
A typical Learning in retirement center is associated with a
local or regional educational institution and involves classes
especially designed to meet the varied interests and time
schedules of older people. For a listing of these centers use the
list kept by Ann Molison of Iowa State University,
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~retire_info/learninretirement.html
Ann,, is the director of the Iowa State
extensive program for retired faculty. She is one of the gurus
of the field of educational opportunities for older people,
maintains this list, and keeps in contact with developments in
the area not just for retired Iowa State faculty and staff but
for retired people in general. She would be happy to discuss ways
of setting up LIR sites at your local university.
Another source of links to programs of this nature is found at
Also http://www.limedene.demon.co.uk/othersts.html
It is one of the University of the Third Age sites in the UK.
There are a number of these centers around the world. The
concept was launched in France in 1972, followed by the creation
of the International Association of U3As (AIUTA). The idea spread
throughout the world. The first British Universities of the Third
Age were formed in 1982, under the aegis of the THIRD AGE TRUST,
which became an associate member of AIUTA. There are now more
than 350 local U3As throughout the UK, with a growing membership
exceeding 63,000 men and women. Local U3As are autonomous
self-help organizations, whose individual structures and
activities are planned and carried out by their own elected
members on a completely voluntary and unpaid basis.
Whether it is a U3A or a Learning in Retirement center most are
designed for learning at the site and tailored to the local
resident, but some do provide for rather extensive field trips
both in their own local area and beyond. For example the SAGE
group at the University of Nebraska has traveled to: Yucatan,
Mexico; Taos, New Mexico ;Hawaii, and throughout Nebraska
One of our subscribers , Mjs312@aol.com, is working with a group
of fellow elderhostelers to set up a local instutiute manned
mainly by volunteers. She reports:
"I am working very hard to get a local institute started at our
local community college (Gloucester County, NJ).This is a new
phase of Elderhostel which serves those who are at home and want
to come out for courses but are not able or not willing to travel
away. Elderhostel has helped us to get started by sending us
mailing labels for those in our area interested in life long
learning. We have set up a planning/organizational meeting with
the hope of getting interested elderhostelers to work on
curriculum, administration, finance, etc. If we are lucky enough
to get volunteer teachers, we ought to be ready by September."
I'm sure she would be happy to give anyone more information about
the process of setting up such a center for lifelong learning.
In addition to these opportunities are programs offered at the
University of New Hampshire where Elderhostel first started which
continues to offer its Interhostel program that was the model for
Elderhostel when it was later established as an independent
organization. It specializes in guided tours abroad and
especially appeals to the younger (50+) and more active hosteler.
A number of our subscribers have taken Interhostel tours and we
invite reports on them as well as on regular elderhostel
experiences. The University also has a family hostel program that
allows intergenerational tour experiences.
For information about Interhostel go to
http://www.learn.unh.edu/INTERHOSTEL/IH_FH.html
However you experience learning in your retirement years, ENJOY,
and let us know about the things you are learning, and the
various opportunities we can have for extending our horizons
(although my scale tells me that some of us have pretty extended
horizons already.)
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Elderhostel Reviews
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"History of Broadway"
Hunter Passmore PassHunt@AOL.com
New York City 6 - 11 April 97
Location - excellent. Food - Good. Room - poor. Program - fair
General - This is huge YMCA . Busy with lots of US and foreign
students coming and going.
Location: Site on 5 W 63 St was one block from Central Park, one
block from Lincoln Center/Columbus Ave and 20 blocks (1 mile )
from Times Square. Subway and buses provide easy access to any
part of the city. Columbus Ave and Broadway from 63rd St to the
80's are filled with restaurants, shops, movies etc.
Food: Prepared and served in tiny cafeteria. Dinning room is
slightly larger. Any item on menu may be selected.
Room: All rooms are singles. Tiny sparse clean rooms (bed, desk,
chair, lamp, a/c and TV - no wash basin). Two bathrooms on each
floor - one for men and one for women.
Program: Generally walked or took bus to site in city for lecture
by person at site. Lecturers were only fair - spoken off the cuff
- informal. One free afternoon. Most elderhostelers used the
evenings to attended the theater at their own cost. Inexpensive
taxi from theater to YMCA. Even cheaper bus or subway.
I would welcome any questions
___________________
Seattle EH - Wash State
Mjs312 @aol.com
Just returned from Washington State University's Elderhostel. It
was very different from the other 25 EH's we have enjoyed. We
left them many suggestions for improvement.
We stayed at The Inn at Queen Anne, a very old pair of buildings
- once a monastic retreat (built in 1922). There were small rooms
with bath kitchenette. Unfortunately, no facilities for
lounging or sitting around to eat there. We picked up coffee and
dry cereal in one of the rooms and took that back to our own
little space.
Courses were held several blocks away at the Jaycees. That was OK
unless it was rainy and windy. If you know Seattle, no more needs
to be said about the weather. Lunch was "catered" in at the
Jaycees. It consisted of a soup and salad and occasional cookies
or fruit..We ate in the classroom. Dinner was at several
restaurants in the area - not the best, of course, and little
choice.
No programs were scheduled for evenings. Russian lady instructed
about the Soviet Union and thereafter. Two storytellers amused us
as one course, and an architect walked us around the city after a
short trip on public bus. We made our own entertainment for late
afternoon and evening. All in all, we found this one
disappointing.
Edie and Marty
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Episcopal Conference Center, Ivoryton, Connecticut
rdeupree@connix.com
My first elderhostel was a terrific experience! We all stayed in
one of three lodges nestled in the woods near where the
Connecticut River runs into Long Island Sound at Old Saybrook.
The rooms were wood-paneled, and carpeted, and there was a
fireplace in each lodge. My favorite parts of the lodges were the
porches. Some were enclosed, others were open, but all were wide
and offered an assortment of comfortable chairs. I could have
spent hours there just relaxing, but as it turned out there were
so many interesting things going on that I didn't want to take a
chance of missing anything.
A typical day started at about 7:00 a.m. with a bird walk to a
private mile-long lake near the lodges. I'll never forget a
scarlet tanenger I saw one day. It had the most brilliant red and
black coloring that I have ever seen! Time passed quickly and our
guide made sure that we were back in time for a hearty family-
style breakfast at 8:00 a.m. The tables were round and there were
seven seats around each: an arrangement that made it easy to
carry on some spirited conversations about every topic that you
can possibly imagine.
There were 38 of us all together, and most of the time we all
took part in activities as a group. But during the morning, (9:00
a.m. to noon) we split into two groups for class. Classes were
held right in the lodges so there was no need to travel. My class
explored the fascinating topic of "Mind Magic." We learned about
efficient methods of learning, remembering, creative thinking,
and in general making the most of our brain power. My favorite
topic was "mind-mapping," a cleaver technique that combines words
and pictures so as to organize just about any kind of topic. I've
been using this technique ever since I got home. Those who were
not in "Mind Magic" delved deeply into the life of Benjamin
Franklin, and from talk at meal time, also experienced an
excellent course.
From 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. or so was a time for entertainment.
One evening there was a sing-a-long, and another was devoted to
square dancing. A third consisted of a slide show about owls and
wild flowers given by our entertaining and knowledgeable nature
expert. The last evening we entertained ourselves with some
world-class joke-telling, a talk/demonstration about ping pong, a
"real" story teller who kept us on the edge of our chairs, and a
demonstration of ballroom dancing.
One afternoon we piled into three mini-vans for a site-seeing
visit to the coastal area near Essex, Old Lyme, and Old Saybrook,
CT; even got a chance to see Katherine Hepburn's home.
The whole week was a great adventure! I'm ready for another.
Bob Dupree
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Program Number: 31162-0518-1, May 18-23, 1997 - "The Santa Fe Trail"
- Plaza Resolana en Santa Fe
Do not miss this class, folks! It is a 10+! It is taught at
various times throughout the year.
If you have never been out West, if you love art, or if you just
want to see Santa Fe for 5 days, please take this class.
Our class size was small, 30 people. There is an all-day field
trip to Fort Union National Monument and Wagon Mound, NM. We
visited a ranch and saw trail ruts left by the wagon trains.
There was a herd of buffalo on the range and one decided to give
birth (just for the class, perhaps!). The rancher's wife then
invited 30 strangers in for homemade ice cream and to use her
bathroom! Ah, the hospitality of the West! There is also a
field trip to a museum (Palace of the Governors) and to Pecos
Historical Park (we had a picnic lunch). This is a busy class
but also free afternoons for a trip or just look around Santa Fe.
Our rooms were large and the food was excellent. There was an
evening class with a storyteller. The teachers were very
knowledgeable about the history of the Trail.
I would recommend the May class as June may be too hot. Please
take a wind breaker and a hat. You also need good walking shoes,
lip balm and a water bottle. This is high altitude (7,000)--and
it is an adjustment for a day or two...you just don't walk as
fast as you do back home and will probably feel sleepy for a day
or two, but you do adjust. One lady had to leave because new
blood pressure medicine and the high altitude affected her.
Check with your doctor.
Recommended side trips: take a day off and go to the church in
Chimayo (El Santuario de Chimayo)--go to the back of the alter
and see the room with miracle dirt, visit Ortega's weaving shop
just a few minutes from the church, then go to Taos. There is a
scenic route (High Road to Taos) but Rt. 68 is shorter and also
scenic. Do Canyon Road...full of art and sculpture...hard to
park but there is a public parking place half way up the road on
the left.
You may stay an extra night or two at the Plaza..it is also a
B for 2 people with breakfast is $80, single rate is
$70. You will feel safe there and it is easy walking to the
Plaza. I've decided I would like to go back as a volunteer and
work on the farm they have a short distance from the Plaza (you
may stay there)--picking vegetables or whatever someday. Most
evenings are free to tour the city.
I flew into Albuqueque, stayed over night and visited Old Town.
A lovely place, also. The drive to Santa Fe is only one hour or
so.
Please e-mail, if you have any questions.
Ruthann Chellis
RACCAT@aol.com
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Personals
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From: Lyn
I have just returned from an Elderhostel in Hawaii. The
University of Pacific allowed me to enter the program at the last
minute (I was already in O'ahu visiting family, and needed to get
away with my "peers"). The Oahu/Maui program was wonderful.
Teachers were knowledgable, interesting and personable. Our
coordinator was one of the best I have encountered in the MANY
programs attended. The hotel and food were great. My "peers" were
a delight.Don't miss these Univ of Pacific, well-organised
programs! Also, does anyone have info on New York city programs?
Also, we are scheduled to go on a Greek Study/Cruise this fall.
Would like to extend trip into Eastern Europe, or? Any
experiences would be appreciated. Thanks. Lyn Brophy,
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From: Bill Power
Subject: Glacier Bay
In regards to the Glacier Bay inquiry in the May issue if
Elderhostel Notebook , I have been on about thirty elderhostels
and have never found any to excel this one. It is held just
after the regular tourist season over. In fact the regular jet
service out of Juneau had been canceled so we had to use one of
the small local airlines. The plane I was on only took four
passengers and that included one who had to sit in the co-pilots
seat-that was me. Apparently on this small a plane a co-pilot
isn^Òt required. Needless to say I was very apprehensive until we
were in the air when all doubts disappeared. The scenery was
absolutely spectacular. I spent four years in the air force and
never enjoyed a flight as much as this one. It only takes about
thirty minutes. Some of the planes carry ten passengers so there
wasn^Òt any problem getting there. The program was superb The
accommodations and food -superior. If I were to repeat an
Elderhostel, this would be the one for me.. You are in for a
wonderful experience.
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From: Bill McCallum
Subject: China: Border Kingdoms and Tibet
Hi,
We are planning to take our first Elderhostel trip late this
summer to China: Border Kingdoms and Tibet. Any input from
someone who has taken this trip would be most welcome and
appreciated. As background we have never been on an organized
tour. We always have done all our own planning and gone alone or
sometimes with another couple usually without reservations along
the way. Why Elderhostel now? 1) Some friends that have
travelled extensively rave about Elderhostel. 2) We very much
enjoy learning about the culture along with meeting the local
people and in China this might be the best way to achieve this
goal.
Thanks,
Bill billmac@ccnet.com
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