subject: What are Lifelong Learning Centers in the Carolinas? [print this page] What are Lifelong Learning Centers in the Carolinas?
When you think about it, lifelong learning is not just some new educational buzzword or lifestyle fad. For many of us it's long been a way of life. After all, we live in a time when the world we know is changing rapidly and often forces us to change with it.
How many of you are in professions or occupations that require you to constantly learn new things and develop new skills just to do your job?
How many of you have recently lost your job and are now learning new skills?
How many of you expect to spend your retirement still working or pursuing a more active lifestyle than your parents did?
If the people who study retirees are to be believed, there are a good number of you that will. One of the responses to these converging trends of rapid change and active retirement is the emergence of Lifelong Learning Centers and those of you looking to relocate or retire to North Carolina or South Carolina will be surprised at the number of lifelong learning opportunities and programs available to you.
What are Lifelong Learning Centers? Generally speaking, they are programs sponsored by institutions of higher learning or community centers focused on providing classes and other programming to older adults.
Joining the program requires a yearly membership fee and classes are non-credit. Once you become a member you join a new community of like-minded learners and have access to everything from clubs, workshops and special events to various forms of vocational training, all taught and organized by college faculty and others.
One of the beautiful aspects of Lifelong Learning Centers is they are affordable and all about offering an alternative life model to the people they serve. If you don't believe me, check out the website for the world famous North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement in Asheville, NCand see all the things you can do for only $50 a year!
Lifelong Learning Centers really do their homework. They understand the latest trends affecting older adults and curriculum varies from place to place according to the needs of their members. For instance, a retiree who values leisure has access to social or recreational clubs while someone else seeking leisure but also intellectual stimulation can take any number of interesting classes.
If you're retired and want to continue working in your chosen profession or thinking about a second career they got you covered with any number of technology and professional skills classes to help you keep up with a rapidly changing workplace.
So where are all these Lifelong Learning Centers in North Carolina and South Carolina that I've been talking about?
Well we've already mentioned the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement in Asheville, NC but you'll also find Center for Creative Retirement programs at the Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC and the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC.
Also, keep an eye out for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes or "OLLIs". They are the brainchild of philanthropist Bernard Osher who set up a foundation to fund and encourage the growth of lifelong learning centers. If you go to their National Resource Center website (www.osher.net) you'll find there are OLLIs all over the Carolinas; at Duke University in Durham, NC, at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, NC, at Coastal Carolina University in Pawleys Island, SC, at Furman University in Greenville, SC, at Clemson University in Clemson, SC, at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort in Bluffton, SC.
Check out the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services website (www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/life.htm) to see a list of other programs like those at North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC or Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC.
Also, the South Carolina Information Highway (SCIWAY) website's Senior Citizen Education page (www.sciway.net/edu/colleges/sc-senior-citizens-education.html) has a great list of lifelong learning centers and other info on continuing education for older adults.
If you are looking for new challenges, enrichment and community as you consider starting that new phase of your life in either North Carolina or South Carolina, take the time to look into a Lifelong Learning Center.
