Never Too Old Elderhostel Programs Go Beyond The Usual Tourism Experience And Into The Pursuit Of Knowledge

Don’t let the name confuse you. Elderhostel is not the opposite of youth hostel. It’s not simply a hostelry where older travelers stay the night on the cheap.

Elderhostel serves a much higher purpose, offering short-term academic experiences throughout the United States and Canada, and in 72 countries around the world and in such diverse locales as Antarctica and Western Samoa.

The elder part of the name doesn’t mean really old, only that you have to be at least 55 years old. And if you have a spouse or companion younger than 55, that person is eligible to participate, too. The hostel part of the name means that virtually every program includes modest accommodations that are in college dorms, private homes, hotels, ships and barges.

Elderhostel programs run the gamut. In the U.S., for example, you can study beginning watercolor, American Indians of the Southwest, alternative medicine, women at sea, country and western dancing, pencil drawing, the value of life, Ta’i Chi, early legends of jazz, rag rug weaving, painting on silk, black and white photography and the philosophy of Socrates.

Travel abroad and you can plunge into just about any subject you want - Aegean civilization and contemporary Greece, New Testament Jerusalem, Irish history, 20th century Catalonian painters, art in Paris, the natural and cultural history of the Galapagos, nature in Antarctica and vineyards and wine in France - 1,053 programs in 1996.

Participants in Elderhostel swear by these educational programs that can run from five days to three weeks. And just think, no homework, no exams, no grades and no college credit. Last year 295,000 older learners signed up for programs, and more than 300,000 are expected to participate this year.

“Elderhostel has enriched our lives,” said Helen Heyrman, 75. Heyrman, and her husband, Don, 76, a retired regional manager for Unisys, have taken three overseas trips. On one, they studied art in Paris for two weeks and visited all the museums. On another, they spent three weeks in Warsaw, Prague and Budapest, studying the culture. On the third, they spent two weeks in northern Italy at Lake Garda, studying the region.

“We learned so much,” she said, recalling museum tours in Paris and concerts in Warsaw - “glamorous, exciting events.” There were visits to schools and to farms and lectures on politics, she added.

“We find this kind of travel ideal,” Heyrman continued. “We didn’t have all the worries and frustrations of making arrangements. The accommodations are fine, but not classy. We haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like it (Elderhostel).” She also noted that the 30 to 40 people on each trip were nice, adding the possibility that there might be one “lemon” in the group.

Elderhostel, a non-profit organization based in Boston, was founded 21 years ago by Marty Knowlton, a social activist and former educator, and by David Bianco, a University of New Hampshire administrator. While in his mid-50s, Knowlton embarked on a four-year walking tour of Europe.

He stayed in youth hostels, and during his travels became acquainted with folk schools in Scandinavia, where older adults taught younger ones about folk arts, music, lore and dance. When Knowlton returned home, he talked about his experiences with Bianco. Their talks led to the birth of Elderhostel, learning programs that combine inexpensive lodging with classes on just about every subject imaginable.

Elderhostel works with some 2,000 educational and cultural institutions - colleges, universities, state and national parks, museum, theaters and environmental/outdoor educations centers.

Who are the 295,000 people that find Elderhostel their cup of tea? According to a recently compiled Elderhostel profile, 18 percent are between 55 and 64 years old; 29 percent are between 65 and 69; 26 percent are between 70 and 74; 17 percent are 75 and older; and the remaining 10 percent are spouses or companions under 55. The majority are women - 64 percent.

Average income of hostelers is $46,000. Also, 67 percent of hostelers are married, 20 percent widowed. And 83 percent of them are retired. Hostelers are well-educated: 64 percent have graduated from college and 53 percent attended graduate school.

What gives the program a ringing endorsement is the fact that 70 percent to 75 percent of the hostelers are repeaters. Well over 90 percent of the first-time participants had traveled abroad.

Prices also attract people to Elderhostel - $340 per person for six-day domestic programs and $320 for five-day programs, exclusive of air fare. The foreign programs, which include air fare, are pricier - from approximately $1,500 for a weeklong program in Britain to about $7,000 for nearly a month in Australia, depending upon your departure city. The trips include accommodations, meals, academic instruction, course-related field trips, transfers, and tips for service personnel.

Free seasonal catalogs of Elderhostel’s programs are available from Elderhostel, P.O. Box 1959, Wakefield, Mass. 01880-5959.

For people who love to learn and combine those classes with in-depth travel, Elderhostel provides great opportunities. If you’re old enough.