IMPACT For our community of supporters who believe learning is the journey of a lifetime
FALL 2026
The Naturalist Who Inspired 20,000 Lifelong Learners Honoring Road Scholar Instruc tor Marger y Spielman
T
o explore the natural world alongside someone who
deeply loves it is to see it
I’ve been greatly inspired by my Road Scholars’ spirit of adventure and passion for learning.
completely anew. For three decades, Margery Spielman has been that transformative lens for the Road Scholar community. A pioneering diver, environmental artist and brilliant naturalist, California-raised Margery didn’t just show Road Scholars the
Margery will continue making our
piggy bank to buy a wading pool.
Channel Islands — she brought
learning adventure unforgettable.
And in those shallow waters, a deep, lifelong passion was born. Donning
them to life. Now, as Margery retires at 78, we’re celebrating a career defined by curiosity, passion and an unwavering love of sharing the natural world. She is the heart
Her Journey Begins
S
a mask, snorkel and fins, young
ome love stories begin early. For
Margery spent hours immersed,
Margery, a lifelong romance
exploring her own little ocean.
with the water began before she
of what makes Road Scholar special
could even walk, buoyed by a tiny
At age eight, a National
— an expert who turns every outing
life jacket in the sunlit pools of the
Geographic photo of legendary
into a discovery. Thanks to your
San Fernando Valley. “I was drawn
oceanographer Jacques Cousteau
support, remarkable Group Leaders,
to water,” she says. By age five, she
instructors and naturalists like
had enough money saved in her
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