YAVAPAI COLLEGE PROVIDES GROWTH AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

by Tim Diesch, Marketing Specialist, Yavapai College
Living in the Prescott area has distinct advantages. Gorgeous weather, a tremendous variety of outdoor activities and stunning natural beauty are arguably the most obvious benefits. There is a lesser-known resource available to residents, however, to spark their curiosity, provide outlets for creativity and whet the appetite for knowledge.
Yavapai College’s Lifelong Learning division provides opportunities for enrichment and development through noncredit courses, and they are available to everyone from kids to seniors through a variety of programs.
The College for Kids program takes place every summer—one session each in June and July—and is designed for children ages 5-17. Courses and activities focus on the areas of science and technology, nature, creative arts, drama, filmmaking and writing, cooking, languages and more. Registration is required, so check with Yavapai College in the spring to see about enrolling your kids.
Prescott area residents are invited to enjoy lifestyle and leisure classes through Yavapai College’s Community Education program, featuring hands-on learning and special interest topics. Community professionals experienced in their chosen fields teach these noncredit courses. Subjects are wide-ranging and include areas such as history and cultures, arts and crafts, philosophy and spirituality, finance and retirement, and health and wellness.
If anyone reading this article has a background in an area that would interest others, or if you have an interesting hobby or pastime that you would like to share, then consider serving as a Yavapai College Community Education instructor. If interested, visit www.yc.edu/commed to submit a proposal and resume. See the area “So You Want to Teach” for application deadlines, instructions and a link to the proposal. For additional information, call 928-717-7755.
The Yavapai College EDventures program is a great way for residents to travel, engage in fun and healthy group activities, and make new and lasting friends. Accompanied by experienced guides who interpret the natural and cultural history of the region, the EDventures program provides a path to learning more about local and regional natural history.
Upcoming EDventure outings include an overnight trip to Canyon de Chelly with Navajo guides; multiple day trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon; a daylong trek along the “Mother Road” of Route 66, from Ash Fork to Oatman and a day in historic Jerome that concludes with a ride on the Verde Canyon Railway.
Next year, EDventures presents its international travel offering to a land of extremes: Iceland. Journey with world-renowned geologist, author and international expedition leader, Wayne Ranney, for an in-depth exploration of Iceland’s natural wonders from Aug. 1-14, 2018. View the stunning sights, steep yourself in the unique culture, observe the natural wildlife and even take a crash course in the Icelandic language. Please join us for an information presentation on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Yavapai College Prescott campus—please RSVP by calling 928-717-7755.
Yavapai College Lifelong Learning also features the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a means by which residents may explore, discover, develop, engage, and socialize with others. Within the OLLI framework, talents, experience and skills are shared in a relaxed environment to explore new interests, discover and develop latent abilities, engage in intellectual and cultural pursuits and contribute to a rapidly changing multicultural and multigenerational society.
There are no tests or grades in the OLLI program, and it offers a variety of events throughout the year providing opportunities for socializing. OLLI is a membership organization. Register by phone at 928-717-7634 or online at www.yc.edu/olliregister.