One of the best parts of my job is looking for things to do. I spend a lot of time on the internet trying to find academic opportunities to share. Since the catalog is due to the printer very soon, I have been looking for things to do next year.
Did you know it is only 48 days until next year! 42 days until Christmas! 15 days until Thanksgiving! Oh my!!!
This fall we started a new program called Academic Traveler. In this program, we ask an Instructor/Tour Guide to talk about events or happenings while on the trip to visit historical sites. In September we went to see a reenactment for the Battle of Chickamauga, a significant battle of the Civil War.
We also offered an Armchair Travel event of Dr. Ron Fritze’s trip to Istanbul. Many of us cannot afford to travel overseas but would like to see the sights. In this Armchair Travel event, Dr. Fritze showed the group lots of pictures of Istanbul, one of the largest cities in Turkey. He also had pictures of Sicily, an archeologist dream city, and Corinth, a major port city in Greece.
Next year we are planning more trips. On March 29 we will be going to Horseshoe Bend, AL to learn more about the Indian Wars of 1814. General Andrew Jackson leads an army of 700 mounted infantry and 600 Cherokee and Creek allies to the battlefield. A very intense battle wages on for several months. The treaty signed in August of 1814 required the Creek nations to cede 23 million acres of land which becomes Alabama and leads to Alabama entering the Union in 1819.
Join us for this trip to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park on March 29, 2014. More will be in the catalog coming out in January or on our website – www.athens.edu/CLL.
We are also planning a trip to New Orleans in May. New Orleans is an interesting city influenced by Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa, a melting pot of culture, food and music. The Battle of New Orleans in April 1862 led to the occupation of New Orleans by Union troops and the fall of one of the Confederacy’s largest cities. I know you won’t want to miss this opportunity. Watch for details in our catalog or on our website – www.athens.edu.
If you would like to volunteer to serve on the advisory group that will help us plan other trips in the coming year, please call me at 256-232-8262.
Lots of things are still going on this year at the Center for Lifelong Learning. November 23 & 24 we will host a Christmas Open House with cupcake decorating open to the public – decorate one for $1 or six for $5. Spirit of Athens will host Santa at the Center for Lifelong Learning on November 23 & 24 also. If you want to get your picture taken with Santa come to the Center between 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Children, ages 8 and up, wanting to learn how to make Fancy Cupcakes can enroll in the class Saturday, November 23, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. They will take home Puppy and Clown cupcakes as well as a few extra for the family. Fee is $45.
Center for Lifelong Learning – 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611
By: Wanda Campbell
