Pacific Coast: August 17-25
Prague: September 2017
Southeast Asia: December 2017
(Free informational session for this trip is May 16)
Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy takes lifelong learning beyond the classroom in these excursions.
(Sarasota-Manatee) Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy’s popular “Academy Adventures,” a travel education program, takes participants on in-depth explorations of the history, art, architecture and culture of different regions through the United States and the world. Each excursion is led by seasoned experts well versed in the history, geography, traditions and cuisines of each area. According to Janna Overstreet, executive director of Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy, the academy launched this travel series in 2015 because “studies show that activities associated with educational travel have positive mental, physical, and social benefits for older adults. This program was a logical next step for us.”
Three adventures are on the horizon:
On the Pacific Coast Adventure, guests will explore Seattle, Portland and San Francisco with experienced insiders. Highlights include visiting Crater Lake and the Redwood National Parks, touring Oregon’s Pacific Coast, and spending time at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area with its 250-feet tall sand dunes. August 17-25, 2017. For more information or to register, call (877) 953-8687 or email kjutras@premierworlddiscovery.com.
Prague and Environs: On this fascinating 12-day tour, Jan Skalny, a native of Czechoslovakia, and a RCLLA instructor, offers an insider’s perspective on Prague’s rich cultural, historic and architectural offerings. Guests will visit art galleries and museums, cultural and architectural attractions, explore historic areas of the city, and indulge in culinary delights. The tour includes a full-day excursion to the medieval Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, an excursion to Vyšehrad with its famous churches and gardens, and a trip to Pilsnen to visit the Pilsner Urquell brewery. September 12-24. To register and for more information, call 941-309-5111 or visit www.rclla.org.
In December 2017, Academy Adventures travels to Southeast Asia, with tour leader Paul Sarno, a Southeast Asian expert and RCLLA instructor. On this two-week journey, guests will immerse themselves the colorful cities, rich cultures and heritage, of Taiwan, Thailand and Cambodia. Mr. Sarno will host a free information session Tuesday, May 16, 2:30-4 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave. To RSVP for the informational session, call 941-309-5111. The tour is scheduled for November 29 to December 13, 2017. For more information, visit www.friendlyplanet.com.
About Ringling Lifelong Learning Academy
Ringling Lifelong Learning Academy offers educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons and enrich their lives. Courses cover a wide range of stimulating topics and are taught by scholars, retired faculty members and professional practitioners. Courses are taught in an engaging, collaborative manner where learning results in the development of civic awareness, ongoing learning communities of peers and intellectual and cultural connections to our communities. As a private, not-for-profit, LLA has served the Sarasota- Manatee region for the past 18 years growing lifelong learning program offerings in number and variety as the demand for services has grown. The Academy is funded by donations and registration fees and led by an executive director and volunteer advisory board. Visit www.rclla.org.
About Ringling College of Art and Design
For 85 years, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in eleven disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive, first-year program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers. Visit www.ringling.edu.