VCU Elderhostel program offers 'smart' travel options for seniors
Jerry Stern worked for many years as a high school principal.
His wife Nancy taught at an elementary school. And now, the longtime Wisconsin educators have become
students in their retirement years thanks to Elderhostel, the world’s largest not-for-profit education
travel organization for adults 55 and older.
"We've been to Atlanta, Albuquerque, Seattle, New Orleans – all over the country really," said Nancy
Stern.
The Sterns' travels brought them to Richmond last summer to participate in a Virginia Commonwealth
University Virginia Center on Aging Elderhostel program. "Richmond's Jewels: Mansions, Monuments and
Masterpieces" is one of more than 9,000 Elderhostel programs nationwide.
"Programs like this are really an adventure in learning for older people," said Jane Stephan, Ed.D.,
assistant director of education, Elderhostel and Lifelong Learning, Virginia Center on Aging. "And with
Elderhostel, you get into places you would never get into and experience history and sites you would never
uncover on your own."
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| Members of a VCU Elderhostel group explore Natural Bridge, Va. VCU has been offering Elderhostel programs since 1979 in Richmond, the Hampton-Yorktown area and Natural Bridge. A new program begins this spring in Staunton. Photo by: Jane Stephan, Ed.D., assistant director of education, Elderhostel and Lifelong Learning, Virginia Center on Aging. |
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| VCU Elderhostel’s new Staunton program takes place at the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's original indoor theater. Travelers will learn about two Shakespeare plays as well as the language of Shakespeare’s time. They’ll attend two evening performances and meet the actors. Photo by: the American Shakespeare Center. |
The Sterns admit they could have easily arranged a visit to Richmond on
their own but the VCU Elderhostel program allowed them to get much more out of the trip.
"They take care of all of the arrangements from the hotel to restaurants to tours," Nancy Stern said. "They
provided us with an instructor to learn about the area’s history and architecture. We received plenty of
inside information and behind-the-scenes opportunities that we never would have gotten trying to do it on
out own."
Nancy Stern remembers Richmond as a wonderful and beautiful city full of history and nice people, none of
them nicer than Catherine Dodson, Richmond’s Elderhostel director. Dodson arranged to get a cake for Nancy
to celebrate her birthday, which took place during her week in Richmond.
Dodson said older travelers appreciate the special touches of an Elderhostel trip.
"They enjoy the structured experience of Elderhostel, which also offers safety and adds opportunities for
socialization and learning," Dodson said.
VCU’s Elderhostel programs began in 1979. Over the years, programs have been offered in Richmond, the
Hampton/Yorktown area and Natural Bridge, attracting thousands of visitors and adding millions of dollars
to the state’s economy.
"We recently hit a milestone," said Edward F. Ansello, Ph.D., director of VCU’s Virginia Center on Aging. "
In 2006, we welcomed our 30,000th Elderhosteler to Virginia."
A new program being introduced this spring in Staunton is expected to generate additional interest. "The
American Shakespeare Center: Blackfriars and the Bard” offers Elderhostel travelers the opportunity to
study two Shakespeare plays as well as the language of Shakespeare’s time. Travelers will attend two
performances and meet the actors.
To register for Elderhostel programs, call toll free at 877-426-8056 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or
visit www.elderhostel.org. To learn more about
VCU’s Virginia Center on Aging, visit www.vcu.edu/vcoa.
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