Stratford 3rd Age Learning courses for seniors open for spring registration

Social Resilience in Retirement was a men’s course offered by Stratford 3rd Age Learning. Class participants: Chris Gillan, Dave Renaud, David Spence, David Swick, Gary Austin, Pat O’Reilly, Paul Stanley, Peter Buckley, Rick Paradis, Ross Campbell, Tom Naylor. Leader Doug Peterman.

Stratford 3rd Age Learning (S33AL) is now open for April-start courses for adult learners.

Courses aim to provide seniors with opportunities for active learning. Unlike traditional passive learning methods such as listening to speakers or watching plays, S33AL emphasizes active engagement, stimulating various parts of the brain and fostering a more dynamic learning experience along with connection to others.

The ever-popular Aging with Optimism course is back, starting April 10. Leader Jean Hewitt will teach students why the body ages, what changes occur each decade, and how we can decrease the risks for mental and physical concerns people associate with this stage of life.

“This is absolutely a wonderful course. I've taken this course myself,” said Denise Winger, Stratford 3rd Age Learning registrar. “Participants will learn about what worries them most about getting older. It is clear that maintaining independence, rather than simply living longer, is the goal for most people. So this course will discuss how we can increase the chances of that happening.”

Novel Approaches to Thinking and Problem Solving is taught by leader Perry Broome and starts April 1. Participants will learn and practice creative approaches to thinking, generating new ideas and solving problems.

“It is not Sudoku and crossword puzzles,” said Winger. “In this exciting course, participants will team together and practice creative approaches to thinking, generating new ideas and solving problems.”

Another popular course, run by Louise Liu, is Balance and Focus, which starts April 7. Students will learn about breathing, mental focus and balance from a teacher who learned the gentle, fluid movements of tai chi as a child.

Liu will teach simple exercises that let participants shift their weight while maintaining focus and balance, helping to decrease the risk of falls and sharpen the mind.

Local resident David Prosser will lead a course called Hot Topics in the News. Participants will engage in lively discussions about major news stories and gain a better understanding of how pieces of the news fit together and where things may be heading.

“Whether you're a total news junkie or you feel out of touch and bewildered by the daily torrent of headlines, or if you’d just like a bit more insight into what's going on in the world, this course is for you,” said Winger. “It should be very interesting, given the situation in the United States right now.”

A second chapter to the original Write Away program, Write On will have Evelyn Scott teach students how to stay motivated and inspired in their writing journey. The course will focus on creativity through prompts, exercises and working with others in the class to offer constructive feedback.

A new addition to Stratford 3rd Age Learning is Jump In to Ukulele, taught by Doug Peterman. This hands-on course will help students understand the wide world of the ukulele. Students can expect to play music by the end of the first session. Students will also learn about various ways of writing music and how to use different techniques on this instrument.

Lastly, Winger herself will be teaching a new course called Culinary Delight – The Art of Presentation. This hands-on class will teach students how to garnish and plate appetizers. Participants will learn the artistic and practical skills required to transform dishes into visually stunning culinary creations.

Stratford 3rd Age Learning is for anyone looking to expand their knowledge, but it’s also about connecting with others, said Winger.

“We want to provide opportunities for socialization along with education in a safe and accepting environment,” she said. “There are people who take classes who have lived in Stratford from day one, and there are people who have relocated here after retiring. Maybe they grew up here and went off to pursue a career, and then came back. Some people moved here to be closer to their children, but there are many reasons they may not know many people, so we also like to foster connection.”

For more information on upcoming courses, please visit www.s3al.ca