Are you mature enough for Elderhostel adventures?

If you’ve ever dreamed about training to be an astronaut, learning the harpsichord or working in a dig alongside professional archeologists – Elderhostel is here for you.

The only catch – you have to be 55 or older.

Elderhostel is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing learning adventures for people 55 and over. It has more than 8,000 programs in all 50 states and more than 90 countries abroad.

From North Carolina to New Zealand, South Africa to Montana, Elderhostel offers a world of educational opportunities.

Many of the 6,000 programs presented in the United States and Canada have some kind of accommodations for RVers.

The cost for each program covers accommodations and meals. Participants selecting to stay in their recreational vehicles usually receive a discount. Programs vary.

Here are just three examples:

•One of the most extensive slates of regional craft and music classes is offered by the John C. Campbell Folk School, which is tucked into the rolling mountains of western North Carolina.

Among the Appalachian specialties the school offers are wood turning, storytelling and quilting.

“Our wooded campground is open year-round,” says Keather Weideman, marketing coordinator for the folk school. “We have a dozen spaces with full hookups that can accommodate RVs up to 34 feet.”

A couple of upcoming programs are: “Learn to Play the Bagpipes” and “Ceramics: Scottish-Inspired Handbuilt Pottery.” Both run Sept. 3 to 9. Regular cost for each of these hands-on courses is $775 per person with meals. The RV discount is $200. Campers have the option to purchase meals separately.

•The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, Kan., offers a unique program for folks who can remember the thrill of watching astronauts Neil Armstrong and ‘Buzz’ Aldrin take “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“Our most popular offering is the five-day ‘We Have Liftoff! Astronaut Training,’ ” says Helen Unruh, director of membership and special projects.

Among other activities, “each participant has the opportunity to take a whirl on the multiaxis trainer and fly a space shuttle mission aboard our shuttle simulator,” says Unruh.

Regular cost for the training is $593 a person. RV discount is $100 with camping on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Upcoming sessions are Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 and Sept. 24 to 29.

•Explore closer to home with programs being offered by the University of Montana-Western, headquartered in Dillon.

“We’ve been organizing Elderhostel programs for 30 years,” says Deborah Henningsen, program assistant. “When you select the RV component, it usually pencils out to $30 to $40 less than what others pay.”

Two of the programs this summer are:

“Montana Discovered: Gold Rush Era, Fur Trade and Corps of Discovery” takes place Aug 6 to 11 in Dillon. Registration is $600 per person with an RV discount of $40. Meals included.

“Service: Preserving Virginia City’s Treasures,” from Sept. 5 to 11, runs $619 per person with an RV discount of $30. Again all meals are included.

“This service program is so neat,” says Henningsen. “Virginia City was Montana’s third territorial capital and a major gold rush site in southwestern Montana. People in this program work on an actual archeological dig looking for relics from the gold rush era.”

More information

•Elderhostel, 11 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111-1746; toll free (800) 454-5768; www.elderhostel.org.

•John C. Campbell Folk School, One Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC 28902; (800) 365-5724; www.folkschool.org.

•Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, 1100 North Plum, Hutchinson, KS 67501; (800) 397-0330; www.cosmo.org.

•University of Montana-Western Elderhostel, Campus Box 40, 710 S. Atlantic St., Dillon, MT 59725, (406) 683-7302; www.umwestern.edu/elderhostel.

Weekend plans

This Memorial Day weekend Jaci and Todd Zimprich of Spokane are camping in their 1997 34-foot Dolphin motor home in Glacier Campground, a private campground on 40 acres just a mile south of Glacier National Park.

“We’re having a family get-together,” Jaci said before leaving for the long weekend in Montana.

“We’re an RVing family and try to do this at least once a year,” said the Spokane librarian. “There’ll be 20 of us spread across six RV sites and one hut.”

Jaci said the group selected the private campground over the national park because the campsites are larger and they have easy access to facilities such as showers, laundry and free dump station.

RV rates for two are $26 with water and electric hookups; sleeping cabins are $35 to $45, depending on size.

Glacier Campground is pet friendly and has senior, military and AAA discounts. Call toll free (888) 387-5689 or www.glaciercampground.com.

For more information on camping in Montana go to www.visitmt.com.