If joining a formal program like a lifelong learning institute or an OASIS or Shepherd’s Center program is not your cup of tea, don’t despair. There are a host of other venues within your community where you can dip your toe in the lifelong learning waters. A little sleuthing will yield great rewards.

The diversity of community-based organizations means they are perfectly poised to offer a wide variety of lifelong learning opportunities to the residents. They have established locations and programs, and are willing to share their knowledge.
 
Libraries
If you prefer a less structured form of lifelong learning then libraries are the perfect setting. Within your community, the library serves as a central resource and brings together local residents, organizations, programs and materials. A library is committed to serving everyone, and programs for older adults are one of their most popular events.

What’s nice about libraries is that you get to choose the style and type of learning that best fits you. Those who want to learn independently can do so. Those who prefer to learn within a group can also be accommodated. You can take part in programs that include all ages or just your contemporaries.

Some libraries even have staff designated as older adult specialists while others handle all age groups. In either case they help organize programming and events for everyone. Programs cover a wide range of topics and formats. Book discussion groups are very popular, as are travelogues and current events, but the

Libraries are also ideally suited to call on a wide variety of experts from the local community to lead workshops, lectures and courses. And they can even provide meeting rooms for local groups.

Check out the opportunities for lifelong learning at your local library. You’ll be glad you did.

Museums
Make a list of all the museums within 25 miles of your home. What did you come up with? History? Art? Cultural? Technical? Horticultural? Science? Which of them interest you the most? Now give them a call and ask what kind of classes they are offering to the general public. You’ll be amazed at the wealth of lifelong learning opportunities found at any museum. This is because almost all of them have education departments. Museums are, after all, primarily educational institutions. In fact, the U.S. government classifies them with schools and libraries so they qualify for federal programs.

Museums offer innovative programming that enlarges the scope of learning for all ages, not just older adults. And, studies have proven that museum education, because it is experiential, visual and “hands-on,” increases retention of information and understanding of the subject materials.

Museums large and small offer common opportunities for wider learning. Since they are public spaces and cultural centers where learning and leisure combine, they can encourage adults (who may find more formal education intimidating) to take a first step towards self-directed learning. Moreover, the special circumstances of engaging with real objects, which offer so many pathways into the past, can inspire creativity, curiosity and further study.

Museum education department staff pride themselves on offering a wide range of courses dealing with the subject matter of their museum. Drawing, creative writing,

You can even take museum learning one step further by becoming a docent-someone who leads tours for the general public. In order to become a docent you have to be extremely knowledgeable about a particular museum and what it offers. Docent learning, and museum classes in general, are just about guaranteed to keep your brain active and alert. 

Don’t Miss Out on This Special Opportunity for Readers of this Column
A Reminder – If you want to test the waters of lifelong learning, I can’t think of a better way then by spending one day listening to award winning professors from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, The University of Pennsylvania, Cornell and other top tier schools, who come together to offer you an elite, live classroom learning experience.

Check out www.onedayuniversity.com to learn more, and see if there’s a one-day university near you.  If so, when you register, thanks to your reading of this column, you will get a 15% discount on the cost of the program.  Just type in the word “LIFELONG” as your coupon code when you register at the website, or use it when calling 800-811-8821 to register.  It’s that simple!

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom. M.Ed., is the author of "Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years". Her book, according to Ken Dychtwald, is a “compelling and user-friendly guide to lifelong learning and, in many ways, a complete redefinition of the after-50 years.” Nancy also directs the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), North America's largest and most respected educational network for older adults. More than 360 lifelong learning institutes with over 150,000 members are affiliated with the Network. For more information – Elderhostel Institute Network Read Nancy’s story on her Journal Visit her Forum Group LearnTalk Nancy maintains a web site at LearningLater.com