55+ Living Guide 55+ Living Guide Fall 2017 | Page 44

Welcome to Lifelong Learning T he Academy for Lifelong Learning at Saratoga Springs is a nonprofit, independent membership organization for mature learners whose primary mission is to meet the intellectual and social needs of its members. The Academy offers an average of 35 peer-taught academic classes and study groups in each of the Fall and Spring eight-week semesters. The Academy is designed for adults in Saratoga County and the region who share a love of learning in a supportive, friendly environment. Members are active, self-motivated adults who enjoy learning together, regardless of the extent of their formal education background. They share a desire to keep living actively and learning long after retirement. Academy member volunteers help develop and guide the Academy activities. The organization shows that people over 60 years of age can remain active, smart, involved in managing their own lives, and involved in the community. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year: July 2017 – June 2018. Founded in 1992 by a group of volunteers who worked to develop a diverse educational experience for members, the Academy is sponsored and hosted by SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga Springs. Non-credit classes cover a wide range of genre including: history, 44 25 Years art, media, health, religion, science, culture, writing and economics. Volunteer-led classes typically meet for two hours once a week for eight weeks. Most classes are held in SUNY Empire State College classrooms at 111 and 113 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs with several off-site offerings at a variety of local facilities and outdoor venues. A selection of past class titles include: Photo Workshop, Spring Birding, Gothic Fiction, Economics for Beginners, Seeking Spirituality, Ancient Israel, Saratoga Sandplains, Conflicts in the Bible Part 2, Painting Lab, Writers Circle, Hikes at Moreau State Park, Wildflower Identification and History, Art & Science All Around Us. The two popular speaker series meet for two hours once a week for eight weeks and feature a different subject each week. A sampling of topics includes: Miracle of Bees & the Magic of Honey, Wilderness Beyond: Easter Island to Cape Horn, Unsung Fall 2017 | 55PlusLivingGuide.com Pioneer of Civil Rights (Eisenhower’s Attorney General), Music that Helped Change the World, Archeology and the Native American Past (Saratoga Reads), Early Railroads in the Capital District & Surrounding Areas, and Cinderella Opera, Italian Style: Rossini’s La Cenerentola. The Academy for Lifelong Learning at Saratoga Springs is changing people’s lives. Member Shirley Neth: “Once again, I am awed at the diversity of subject matter and how the Academy can come up with so many different presenter’s year after year. And, of course, we all enjoy the connections we make with friends, old and new. There’s no question that these programs bring so much more to the students than just the topics being presented. Annua l membership dues are $60. Eight-week study groups are $50 each for the first two per semester and $25 for a four-week class or a third eight- week class. Fall class registration begins July 17 and runs through the beginning of the semester starting September 11. Fall class brochures are available local senior centers and libraries. You can also stop by or contact us at the Academy office at 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, call 587-2100 x2415, email [email protected], or visit www.esc.edu/all. PRIDE is ageless OUR PRIDE KNOWS NO BOUNDS Like anyone else, people in the LGBT community want to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. AARP is committed to creating a new vision for aging—one complete with diverse stories and innovative ways for everyone to pursue their passions—equally, openly and proudly. Learn more at aarp.org/pride. Residential | Commercial | Equine | New Construction | Land 519 BROADWAY | SARATOGA SPRINGS | 518.587.4500 | ROOHANREALTY.COM Fall