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Enrich Your Life

I loved the concept of Elderhostel when I first heard about it 20 years ago. I still do today. Elderhostel describes itself as “America’s first and the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over.” Elderhostel is a not-for-profit organization that provides exceptional learning adventures to nearly 200,000 older adults each year.

Elderhostel corporate headquarters are in Boston, but the programs are developed and overseen by more than 600 independent educational and cultural institutions. Examples of these organizations include colleges, universities, museums, arts centers, national and state parks and many others.

Ten Elderhostel programs are scheduled in Arkansas. For example, one can spend 6 nights at Devil’s Den State Park and experience:

Bats! Few animals are maligned and misunderstood like bats; some are nearly extinct. Focus will be on Arkansas bats, cave and crevices of Devil's Den. Opportunity to see bats in unique habitat.

The Ozarks: The Land And Its People Take a step back in time and discover the history, traditions, folklore and stories of this unique region. Guest speaker from the Shiloh Museum in Springdale brings the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks alive with enthusiastic stories, slides and humor.

The Civil War And The Ozarks Consider and assess the role of the Ozarks during the Civil War. Find out how the civilians were affected and how they coped with battles in their front yards. Field trip to Prairie Grove Battlefield brings this part of our history to life.

All this for $392 per person. Elderhostel tuition is all-inclusive and covers registration, accommodations, meals, lectures, field trips and cultural excursions, and often a variety of extracurricular activities and social functions.

Want to venture out from Arkansas. No problem. Elderhostel offers over 10,000 programs a year in more than 90 countries. From Paris to New Orleans, Delhi to Council Bluffs, Elderhostel offers unique educational experiences infused with the spirit of camaraderie and adventure that enrich, and enhance, the lives of its participants.

The folks at Elderhostel believe learning is a lifelong pursuit that opens minds and enriches lives, “We believe sharing new ideas, challenges, and experiences is rewarding in every season of life. Our participants come from every walk of life to learn together, to exchange ideas, and to explore the world.”

Elderhostel has recently launched a new initiative entitled Road Scholar. The Road Scholar catalog features 22 domestic and international programs that have been specially developed for very independent travelers.

James Moses President & Chief Executive Officer of Elderhostel for the past 25 years says, “ The programs offer challenging learning experiences that meet our high educational standards and are priced to offer good value. Program schedules are very flexible with fewer scheduled activities, and more opportunity for independent exploration apart from the group. These programs are designed for individuals who prefer more time to travel and explore on their own, independently, while still enjoying the excitement of learning with experts and their fellow travelers. ”

Elderhostel also offers intergenerational programs—programs in which Elderhostelers bring along a grandchild or other young companion. Time Magazine reported on Bill Abler’s story about his 7 year old granddaughter, Sadie. Sally Stich reports that when Abler visited his granddaughter she would say hi and run off and play. He wanted be closer, but didn’t know how. That all changed when they went to Grandkids and Me camp for a weekend. They hiked, canoed, built a bird house and talked--a lot. Sadie also had plenty of time to play with other kids, while her granddad relaxed with in the company of his peers. Here’s the best part: When they returned home, Sadie asked if they could do something together again next year. “Now when I go visit she hugs me, and then often we’ll sit and talk or read a book together,” Abler says. “We’re building a wonderful bond.”

More recently Elderhostel introduced Family programs, which brings three generations together for a shared experience.

Elderhostel publishes seasonal catalogs which are provided free of charge to all interested persons. You can request to be added to Elderhostel's mailing list by calling 1-800-895-0727. They have an extensive web site, which includes descriptions of all programs: http://www.elderhostel.org/.