LIFELONG Shortish LEARNING Headline & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE
The Sky’s the Limit With
Astrotourism PAGE 12
+ Meet the Ladies of the Royal Order of King Kamehameha I + A New Study on SuperAging + Go Inside the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
FALL/WINTER 2026
■ LE T TER FROM THE EDITO R
Dear Friends,
A
s soon as our inaugural issue of Road Scholar’s Lifelong Learning & Adventure Magazine arrived at your homes, we began to receive warm and wonderful feedback.
I searched my internal thesaurus to find the words that could convey my response to this. “Exhilarated” and “glowing” felt close. In the end, “grateful” sums it up best. Thank you, readers. We’re on a great path to share stories that you care about — and that’s truly the goal. In this issue, our second, you’ll learn about the people who are dedicated to preserving the history of Hawaiian royalty and culture (p. 18) and read about three men who shared more than 70 years of friendship together (p. 24). We’ll give you the lowdown on why the night sky is one of the hottest destinations right now (p. 12) and introduce you to a woman
We’d Love to Hear From You! Send your letter to the editor to roadscholar.org/ magazine
who journeyed to Australia because of her love for penguins (p. 42). You’ll even get an insider’s peek at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (p. 34)! If you’d like to share your story with us — or simply tell us about topics you’d like to read about in upcoming issues — send us your suggestions at roadscholar.org/magazine. This magazine is for you, the people who love to learn, experience the world and inspire us to no end.
Erika Bouchard Editor
2 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
OUR MISSION
King penguins on Macquarie Island were just one of 18 species on Lori’s wildlife quest. Read her story on page 42.
Not-for-profit Road Scholar inspires adults to learn, discover and travel. Our learning adventures engage expert instructors, provide extraordinary access and stimulate discourse and friendship among people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime.
Road Scholar is proud to be a Travelife Partner, an internationally recognized designation for sustainable travel — reflecting our commitment to supporting the communities and environments we experience.
Road Scholar Lifelong Learning & Adventure Magazine is mailed to Road Scholar alumni and friends. All publication rights are reserved, and contents may be reproduced or reprinted only by written permission from Road Scholar. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and may not reflect the official position of Road Scholar. © 2026 Elderhostel. All rights reserved. The Road Scholar service marks, logos, website address and other marks are owned by Elderhostel, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring adults to learn, discover and travel. All paper used to produce this publication was harvested with sustainability in mind. Seller of Travel Information: Road Scholar’s Washington Seller of Travel Reg. No. 602244658. CST #2068427-40. Florida Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST35594.
■ QUOTED
When you travel, A new silence Goes with you, And if you listen, You will hear What your heart would Love to say. — AN EXCERPT FROM “FOR THE TRAVELER,” BY JOHN O’DONOHUE
4 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
Your Greek Adventure Starts Here With ancient oracles and mountain monasteries, cliff-side harbors and sun-splashed islands, Greece captures and delights the senses. Visit roadscholar.org/ExploreGreece
The historic monasteries of Meteora rise high above the town of Kalabaka and the village of Kastraki.
10
■ W H AT’S INSIDE?
5 New Reasons to Explore More
12
Look Up
26 It’s a Kick to Learn About Route 66
24
A scrapbook from a lifetime of friendship
CREDIT: THE LUCAS MUSEUM CAMPUS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK PRICE
FEATURES 8
En Garde at 75
26 12
Taking up fencing after retirement 10
5 New Reasons to Explore More Seek out something new in 2027!
Look Up
Champions of a Culture Learn about the Ladies of the Royal Order of King Kamehameha I
6 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
It’s a Kick to Learn About Route 66 Celebrate 100 years of Route 66 and road trips
Our recommendations for exploring the night sky 18
70 Years of Friendship
28
Lessons From the SuperAgers What does it take to become a SuperAger?
42
50 Every Dog Has Its Day
34
Every Dog Has Its Day
48
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 38
Safeguarding the Irreplaceable UNESCO World Heritage Sites you must see to believe
42
18 Penguin Species. 7 Continents. 1 Extraordinary Life. One woman’s journey to follow her dreams around the world
18 Penguin Species. 7 Continents. 1 Extraordinary Life.
Following Her Dreams
34
“My Name Is Idaho, But You Can Call Me …” Can you identify these states by their nicknames?
53
Learning Has Never Been So Accessible! Find your next online classroom
IN EVERY ISSUE 49
Get Social
50
Instructor Spotlight
54
Book Corner
55
AHA Moment (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 7
■ S P OTLIG HT O N LIFELO NG LE A R NERS
EN GARDE AT 75
How one lifelong learner found challenge, community and connection through fencing BY AMY HOLT | STAFF WRITER
A Second Act ... and a Third
earned an E rating through USA Fencing, a milestone
Four months after retiring from The Ohio State University,
recognizing competitive performance.
Lynne O. thought she’d enjoy a slower pace. Instead, she
Finding Community
found herself looking for a new challenge.
While she enjoys competition, what Lynne talks about most isn’t the medals — it’s the people. She credits her
The answer came from an unexpected place. Years earlier,
coach, Stan Prilutsky, and the welcoming community at
she’d taken fencing as a required physical education
Columbus Fencing and Fitness, where she trains
class, but she hadn’t picked up a weapon since.
alongside fencers of all ages.
In 2018, she walked into a local fencing club and decided to start over.
“I think it’s provided a social circle,” she says. “That’s important as you age.”
Today, at 75, Lynne competes in saber fencing, rows, serves as a rowing referee, tap dances, is learning to play the banjo
The same sense of curiosity that
and travels with Road Scholar. Each
brought Lynne to the fencing strip
pursuit is different, but they all have one
also brought her to Road Scholar. In
thing in common: They began with the
2022, she joined her first learning
willingness to try something new.
More Than Speed
adventure, exploring Italy’s Cinque Terre while hiking one of the country’s most
Lynne
WHO
scenic coastlines.
cavalry swords, rewarding quick decisions
Lynne O. from Columbus, Ohio
as much as quick reflexes. Lynne enjoys
WHAT
Looking back, Lynne’s life has been marked
Competitive saber fencer, rower and lifelong learner
career as a physiologist before becoming an
Unlike foil or épée, saber traces its roots to
the sport’s mental challenge as much as its physical demands. “There’s a lot to think about all at once,” she says. Distance. Timing. Footwork. Balance. Reading an opponent while planning your next move. The sport
WHEN
Started fencing in 2018 ROAD SCHOLAR CLASS OF
challenges coordination and balance, skills
2022
she says become even more important with age.
Always Learning by a series of reinventions. She built a ombudsman at The Ohio State University. She became a rower, then a rowing referee. After retirement, she added fencing. More recently, she started learning the banjo. Whether she’s stepping onto a fencing
strip, taking up a new instrument or exploring a new destination, she continues to embrace the challenge of
At 75, Lynne knows she isn’t the fastest person on the
being a beginner.
strip. She doesn’t have to be. “I have to be more strategic than fast,” she says.
Curiosity has always been her greatest strength.
Her persistence has paid off. In 2024, Lynne competed
“It ticks the boxes,” she says. “You stay active, you have a
nationally, finished among the top eight in her event and
social circle and you’re always learning.”
8 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
We Put Learning in Reach Road Scholar’s financial aid makes educational travel accessible for lifelong learners.
Learn more about our financial aid options and how to qualify at roadscholar.org/aid
■ TR AV EL TIDB ITS
New Reasons to Explore More As if you need a reason to make new discoveries this year! Here are five things we
CREDIT: THE LUCAS MUSEUM CAMPUS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK PRICE.
D Football Fever in South America
think might inspire you in 2026 and beyond.
If you couldn’t get enough of the World Cup this year, don’t worry — you can still hang out in the Americas and enjoy the FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Brazil in 2027. While soccer (“football” to the rest of the world) is a way of life to Brazilians, the country has never hosted the women’s competition before. The Brazilian government has already declared public holidays for any game days for their women’s team — so you can be sure the celebrations will be epic.
D May the Force Be With You … in Los Angeles Debuting in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art resembles a spacecraft that landed in South Los Angeles’ Exposition Park. Its futuristic architecture and dedication to narrative art — featuring 100,000 square feet of galleries — offers a look at comics, stories like “Winnie the Pooh” and “Where the Wild Things Are,” and of course, the George Lucas archives. There’s no better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Wars in 2027 than with a visit to this out-of-this-world museum!
10 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
CREDIT: E. H. SHEPARD, “CHRISTOPHER ROBIN AT THE ENCHANTED PLACE,” ILLUSTRATION FOR HOME CHAT, 1928. GRAPHITE, INK, AND WATERCOLOR ON PAPER, 9 3/4 X 7 IN. (24.8 X 17.8 CM). LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART, PKY.3820
D Total Eclipse of the Century If you happen to be in the neighborhoods of Spain, North Africa or the Middle East on August 2, 2027, you’re in for a celestial treat — the eclipse of the century. This total solar eclipse will be the second longest of the 21st century at 6 minutes and 22 seconds, with absolute peak viewing in Egypt. (Can you imagine watching this phenomenon over the ancient pyramids as it darkens the sky?) Swoon.
D Weave This Into Your Plans Since Instagram wasn’t an option in medieval Europe, the Norman conquest of England had to be shared with the public another way. Enter the Bayeux Tapestry, a 224-foot-long embroidery that tells the story of royalty, warfare, the last time England was defeated in battle — and even an appearance of Halley’s comet! The tapestry’s museum home has been under construction since 2025 and
When totality hits, local temperatures can plunge up to 15°F, tricking nocturnal animals into thinking night has suddenly fallen!
will reopen in October 2027, marking the millennium of the birth of William the Conqueror. (And if you’re in London from now until next July, you can also get a peek at the tapestry during its historic loan to the British Museum.)
D Orchestrating Magic for Beethoven’s 200th When Ludwig von Beethoven died at the age of 56 in 1827, an estimated 20,000 people lined the streets of Vienna to mourn the beloved composer. Now, 200 years later, orchestras around the world — from Chicago to Boston, London to Vienna — will be commemorating the works of Beethoven with special performances throughout their seasons. If you’re a classical music fan, 2027 will be a melodious year for travel! (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 11
■ TR AV EL TR ENDS
Look Up The Transformative Power of Astrotourism
BY AMY HOLT | STAFF WRITER
12 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS Far from the glow of major cities, Big Bend’s desert skies reveal the Milky Way in remarkable detail, making the park one of North America’s best spots to enjoy the night sky.
ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE The Atacama Desert’s high elevation, dry climate and exceptionally clear skies have made it one of the world’s premier destinations for astronomy and stargazing.
L
ong before telescopes, satellites and space travel, people looked at the night sky to understand the world around them. The stars guided Polynesian navigators across the Pacific. Constellations inspired myths and legends that still echo through cultures today. The movements of the sun, moon and stars shaped planting seasons, marked the passage of time and helped civilizations make sense of their place in the universe. Thousands of years later, those same stars continue to draw us outside. As interest grows in educational travel and meaningful experiences in nature, more people are discovering astrotourism: journeys centered on experiencing dark skies, learning about astronomy and reconnecting with one of humanity’s oldest sources of wonder. Whether watching the northern lights dance above Norway, peering through a telescope in the Texas desert or identifying constellations in a national park, astrotourism offers more than spectacular views. It invites us to slow down, look up and see both our world and ourselves from a different perspective.
→
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The night sky also asks something increasingly uncommon of us: our full attention.
NORTHERN NORWAY Northern Norway’s long winter nights and location beneath the auroral oval make it one of the world’s best places to witness the aurora borealis.
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Continued from page 13
The Sky We All Share For all our technological advances, the night sky remains one of the few
NORTHERN LIGHTS IN TROMSØ, NORWAY Few experiences bring people together quite like looking up. Under the Arctic sky, science, curiosity and shared wonder meet beneath the northern lights.
experiences that connects us directly with people who lived centuries — or even millennia — before us. The constellations we recognize today are largely the same ones our ancestors traced across the sky. The Milky Way that stretches overhead is the same band of stars that inspired storytellers, explorers and scientists throughout history. Standing beneath a clear, dark sky offers a rare reminder that, while the world changes constantly, some experiences remain timeless. That sense of continuity is part of astrotourism’s appeal. Looking up becomes more than an astronomy lesson. It becomes a connection to history itself. The night sky also asks something increasingly uncommon of us: our full attention. Away from artificial light and the constant pull of daily life, our eyes adjust to the darkness. We notice details we might otherwise miss — the slow rise of a constellation or the sudden streak of a meteor. Stargazing rewards patience rather than speed, inviting us to be fully present in the moment. Standing beneath a sky filled with thousands of stars has a way of putting everyday concerns into perspective. The universe feels impossibly vast, yet the experience often leaves people feeling more connected — to nature, to history and to one another. Perhaps most surprising is how often the experience becomes a shared one. Spend an evening at a public observatory or a national
Did You Know? → The Milky Way
contains hundreds of billions of stars. → The International
Dark Sky Places program recognizes parks, communities and reserves working to reduce light pollution. → The aurora borealis
is created when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere. → Some of the light
from stars you see tonight began their journey toward Earth hundreds — or even thousands — of years ago.
park star party and you’ll find strangers gathered around telescopes, quietly waiting for their turn before excitedly sharing what they’ve seen. Conversations tend to deepen, skipping from planets and galaxies to history, science and personal stories. For a few hours, differences fade into the background as everyone shares the same sky.
Where Darkness Still Exists As light pollution spreads across much of the world, truly dark skies have become increasingly rare. Fortunately, protected parks, observatories and designated Dark Sky Places continue to preserve some of the best opportunities to experience them. In Texas, Big Bend National Park offers some of the darkest skies in the continental United States, where the Milky Way can stretch from horizon to horizon. Nearby, McDonald Observatory combines world-class astronomical research with public star parties that introduce visitors to distant galaxies, planets and nebulae through powerful telescopes. Farther north, Acadia National Park in Maine became the first International Dark Sky Park
→
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Your First Night Under the Stars You don’t need a telescope to enjoy the night sky. A few simple tips make the experience even better.
Looking up becomes more than an astronomy lesson. It becomes a connection to history itself.
1
DRESS FOR THE TEMPERATURE. Even warm days often give way to cool nights.
2
GIVE YOUR EYES TIME TO ADJUST. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the dark.
3
USE A RED FLASHLIGHT. Red light helps preserve your night vision while you move around safely.
4
CHOOSE A MOONLESS NIGHT. A new moon offers the darkest skies and the best opportunity to see faint stars and the Milky Way.
5
LOOK UP — AND LINGER. The longer you watch, the more you’ll notice, from satellites drifting overhead to meteors streaking across the sky.
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Continued from page 15 in the Northeast, pairing dramatic coastal landscapes with exceptional nighttime viewing. Beyond the United States, seekers head to Churchill, Manitoba, to watch the aurora borealis shimmer across winter skies, while Chile’s Atacama Desert — one of the driest places on Earth — draws astronomers from around the globe thanks to its high elevation, clear air and remarkably dark nights. Each destination offers something unique, but the experience they share is remarkably similar: stepping away from artificial light and rediscovering the universe as generations before us once saw it.
Looking Up You don’t need expensive equipment or years of astronomical knowledge to appreciate the night sky. A pair of binoculars and a moonless evening are often enough to begin. The stars have always inspired curiosity. They have guided explorers, challenged scientists, shaped cultures and sparked questions, some of which still don’t have complete answers. Perhaps that’s why astrotourism continues to resonate with so many people. In a world filled with constant notifications and endless distractions, the simple act of looking up feels quietly extraordinary. The stars haven’t changed much over
MILKY WAY OVER MAINE Under dark skies, the Milky Way reveals thousands of stars hidden by light pollution, offering a glimpse of the night sky much as generations before us experienced it.
Come SkyWatching With Us What would you discover if you gave yourself a moment to look up? Explore Road Scholar’s astronomy and nature programs — and find your place under the stars. Visit roadscholar.org/ DarkSky
thousands of years. We have — and perhaps that’s exactly why they still have so much to teach us. ■
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INDIG ENOUS CULTUR E S ■
CHA MPIONS OF A CULTURE THE LADIES OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF KAMEHAMEHA I
H
BY JOHN WATTERS | STAFF WRITER
awai‘i’s pristine beaches and gently swaying palms seem like an unlikely backdrop for hardship,
but behind the postcard images lies a history of struggle that once threatened to erase an entire culture. Memories of that brush with extinction have energized Hawaiians of today to protect their heritage. →
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smallpox, leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) and more. The population, estimated at nearly one million at the time of Western contact, plummeted to around 40,000
Men and women of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I
Continued from page 19
R
by the 1890s.
Intolerance Takes a Toll
L
eprosy was particularly catastrophic,
leading to the creation of
the isolated Kalaupapa colony on the island of ecently, we sat down with Arma and
Moloka‘i. “They took individuals and entire
Kanani, officers representing Nā Wahine o
families, including several of my relatives,”
Kamehameha I, Moku I — the Ladies of the
Kanani explained. “My nine-year-old grand-
Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter 1 — to learn
uncle was taken away from the family and died
about their mission.
there two years later. If a baby was born at Kalaupapa and did not have leprosy, it was taken
Because their organization’s story is inextricably
away. Most people died when they went to the
tied to the story of Hawai‘i itself, they gave us an
colony; once you went, you didn’t come back.”
overview of Hawaiian history, beginning with the reign of King Kamehameha I (from whom they are
Amid the trauma, Kamehameha V, grandson of
both descended), who unified the islands in 1810
the first king, strove to strengthen the nation.
and went on to rule a thriving sovereign nation.
He founded the Royal Order of Kamehameha I in 1865, as the first Hawaiian organization to award
When Calvinist missionaries arrived in 1820,
knighthood to men who supported the monarchy.
they taught the islanders reading and writing, translating the oral Hawaiian language into a
The Order flourished, but it — and the kingdom
13-letter alphabet. The Hawaiian people embraced
— would soon face still more adversity.
this with astonishing speed. In 1893, American businessmen backed by U.S. “In 1820, we learned to read and write. By 1826,
Marines orchestrated the overthrow of Queen
the Kingdom of Hawai‘i was known as the most
Lili‘uokalani. The provisional government began
literate country in the world,” Arma shared.
a systematic effort to erase Hawaiian identity. In 1896, the Hawaiian language (‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i)
But contact with the West also brought devastating
was banned in schools. Hula, a living record
consequences. Whalers, immigrant laborers and
of Hawaiian history, was suppressed, as were
foreign traders introduced diseases to which the
other traditional practices. The Royal Order of
Native Hawaiians had no immunity: measles,
Kamehameha I was forced underground.
20 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
→
Statue of Kamehameha I, Honolulu
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was a movement to reclaim culture and language that energized Native Hawaiians. The Royal Order of Kamehameha I, along with other royal societies, played an important role in that reawakening, and they remain at the forefront of Hawai‘i’s cultural reclamation.
The Evolution of Nā Wahine o Kamehameha I
T
he Ladies of the Royal Order was officially formed
in 1962. Originally, as Arma described it, the wives of Royal Order members would “sit and
“If you don’t
Continued from page 23
teach our history,
“My grandparents and
or you don’t educate
parents did not speak
people that don’t
Hawaiian in public,
Eventually, they were invited to take a more
because they weren’t
active role supporting the men’s mission. In
know, then you can’t
allowed to,” Kanani said.
2019, they revamped their structure and Arma
grumble when they
“They were beaten if they
became their first appointed Pelekikena Nui
spoke Hawaiian in school.
(State President).
do something wrong. If they don’t know, then they cannot be respectful of our culture.”
wait for them, and maybe serve some food.” For decades, they participated in a limited capacity, under traditional protocols.
As adults, they would only speak it among family, or
Under her leadership, and inspired by the Native
in trusted circles.”
Hawaiian political advocacy happening across the state — such as the peaceful demonstrations
The U.S. annexed Hawai‘i
protesting construction at the sacred site of
in 1898, but the Order
Mauna Kea (demonstrations in which they
remained suppressed,
themselves participated) — Nā Wahine o
operating in secrecy
Kamehameha I began to take on significant
for years before being
community projects. Chief among them has
allowed to return. Hawaiian culture and language
been fundraising for the Kalaupapa Memorial
continued to be marginalized and discouraged well
Fund, to build a monument listing the nearly
into late 20th century. (At one point, fewer than
8,000 names of those who lived and died in
50 children under age 18 in the entire state spoke
the colony.
Hawaiian as their primary language.) “How do we give back to the community?” Arma In the 1970s, a remarkable transformation took
says they asked themselves. “The solution was to
place. Known as the Hawaiian Renaissance, it
support the Kalaupapa Memorial.”
22 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
The Ladies also offer Nā Wahine o Kamehameha I
women discuss the history of
Scholarships. The amounts are modest, but there
their names, traditional crafts and
are no deadlines, so students who face needs in
Hawaiian values and customs. Arma
real time can get quick help. “What better way
introduces the concept of ‘ike,
to give back than through education?” Arma
which refers to the understanding
asked. “It’s the best investment you can make
gained through experience and
in people.”
learning, and the value therefore
The Road Scholar Connection
S
ince 2012, Nā Wahine o Kamehameha I’s
of approaching the world with an open mind — a philosophy perfectly aligned with Road Scholar’s.
twin goals of uplifting their community and promoting awareness of Hawaiian
We asked what drives the ladies’
WANT TO LEARN MORE? You can find more about Road Scholar’s Hawai‘i programs, including Best of Hawai‘i: O‘ahu, Big Island and Maui — the one featuring Nā Wahine o Kamehameha I — at roadscholar.org/ HawaiinHeritage
culture have come together in the women’s
passion to preserve history and
interactions with Road Scholars. The honorariums
culture. Kanani explained that in Hawai‘i, history
generated from presentations to Road Scholar
is not static, but a living essence carried in elders’
groups support scholarships. In turn, Road
voices and community practices.
Scholar participants learn about Hawai‘i and Hawaiians through authentic, heartfelt
“There’s this link, a mo‘okūauhau ... a continuum
educational exchanges.
across time that we all connect to,” Kanani explained. “That’s part of the essence of our
“If you don’t teach our history, or you don’t
kupuna, of our ancestors. We are connected to
educate people that don’t know, then you can’t
them, and while we are here, we need to share
grumble when they do something wrong,” Arma
that with others, to create understanding and bind
explained. “If they don’t know, then they cannot
us together as human beings.”
be respectful of our culture.” That’s the gift Road Scholars receive from the The presentations always begin and end with
ladies — a gift of understanding about a culture
tradition. “We start with a chant and prayer,”
rescued from the brink and a people once again
Kanani said, “and we end with a chant.” The
able to honor their heritage. ■
Arma introduces Road Scholars to traditional Hawaiian instruments. Opposite page: Arma (second from left) and Kanani (near right) and other members of Nā Wahine o Kamehameha I in their regalia.
■ TR AV EL DI A R IE S
70 Years of Friendship HOW THREE MEN BONDED OVER LEARNING, LIFE & TRAVEL BY ERIKA BOUCHARD | EDITOR
When Malcolm Williams, Harvey White and Henry Steele met at the University of Missouri in 1944, they had no idea that their friendship would span a lifetime. At the age of 17, they had each
1945, these young men were
signed up to join the Army
asked to serve in active duty,
Specialized Training Reserve
with Harvey being sent to Japan,
Program (ASTRP), a program
Henry to Korea and Malcolm
that would ensure them a
to Germany. Fortunately for all
college education in return
of them, the war ended a few
for their military service in
weeks after they were stationed.
WWII. Malcolm and Harvey became roommates, and the
They returned to school and
three friends hitchhiked to the
graduated with bright futures
University of Wyoming together
ahead of them. Malcolm
obtained a degree in business
when the ASTRP program moved
majored in chemistry and later
and began working at IBM.
there after a few semesters. In
earned his doctorate. Henry
Harvey pursued mechanical engineering and eventually
Friends Are Good for Your Health
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opened a hydraulic motor business with his father. One by one, the friends began to settle down with their own families, living in different areas of the U.S. They attended each other’s weddings and kept in close contact through frequent letters, sharing news about their children, their work and daily life.
→ Improve your feelings of self-worth and confidence
Throughout it all, it was evident
→ Offer support through hard times like illness, job loss, divorce or loss
three men was a bedrock of
24 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
that the bond between the
Malcolm
their lives. “When we married our wives, we said ‘these are
Center, Lake Junaluska and
our friends — and you better
the Warwick Conference Center.
Malcolm’s wife, Elaine,
get along with them!’” laughs
They rode the rails through
created scrapbooks of all their
Malcolm. “And I guess our
the Canadian Rockies and
adventures together. “I’m an
wives decided, ‘We can put up
journeyed to Austria to learn
only child,” says Malcolm.
with them.’ But we actually all
about European history
“Harvey and Henry had siblings,
got along very well.”
and Mozart.
but I didn’t. Their friendships
So well, in fact, that when
They favored programs that
retirement approached, the
offered multiple topics of
Malcolm, now 99, is the last
three couples decided to make
study, allowing each friend to
remaining of his friends. (Harvey
sure they spent time together
choose the courses that were of
lived into his 90s and Henry
each year. This is when they
interest to them. “We were all
passed at age 89). He fondly
discovered Elderhostel — now
interested in learning things
remembers the impact that these
Road Scholar — programs.
we didn’t know anything about,
Elderhostel programs had on
Together, they learned at places
and we were adaptable,”
their retirement years. “They’re
like Montreat Conference
says Malcolm.
very happy memories.”
meant a great deal to me.”
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■ HIG H WAYS & BY WAYS
It’s a Kick to Learn BY CAROL MILLER | STAFF WRITER
Many know that November 11 is the annual observance of Veterans Day, but in 2026, we’re honoring something else that’s proudly served our country — Route 66! ■ “The Main Street of America” was officially commissioned on November 11, 1926. This 2,448-mile stretch that connects Chicago to Los Angeles found its place in history as the definitive symbol of 20th-century Americana. ■ Let’s celebrate Route 66’s 100th anniversary with some fun facts. →
Kicking the Iconic Anthem Into Gear
→ Bunion Derby: Walk a Mile (actually, 3,400) in Our Shoes
While driving cross-country to Hollywood in 1946 to pursue a music career, World War II Marine veteran Bobby Troup began drafting lyrics that mentioned landmarks along Route 66. Later that year, the Nat King Cole Trio recorded Troup’s song, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” creating the anthem that is forever synonymous with the highway.
In 1928, to promote the new highway, sports agent C.C. Pyle organized a 3,400-mile footrace from Los Angeles to New York City. The press quickly dubbed it the “Bunion Derby.” Participants started off by negotiating the entire 2,448 miles of Route 66 before continuing east. Out of 199 runners, only 55 finished. A 20-year-old Oklahoman of Cherokee descent named Andy Payne (a fitting last name), won the staggering $25,000 grand prize.
Santa Los Angeles Monica
→
At a (Literal) Crossroads
Route 66 was pieced together from pre-existing state roads, which meant it had lots of twists, turns and sometimes even loops. Due to a realignment in 1937, the road passed through Albuquerque, New Mexico — and crossed over itself. To this day, you can stand at the corner of Central Avenue and 4th Street and literally be at the intersection of Route 66 and Route 66.
Santa Fe San Bernadino
Flagstaff
26 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
Albuquerque
About Route 66 Rebirth of Another Roadside Attraction →
→
In 1984, the final section of Route
66 was bypassed by Interstate 40 in Williams, Arizona. People were traveling on the newer interstates, so Route 66 was left to the wayside. Businesses that had thrived were now forced out of business. Then, in 1987, Angel Delgadillo, a small-town barber, co-founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Having the road designated as a historic landmark sparked a global preservation movement, paving the way to proving that Route 66 was (and is to this day) culturally valuable to America’s heritage.
→
A Bridge Thus Far
The Mighty Mississippi separates Illinois and Missouri, so to make crossing it more convenient as a vital connecting stretch of Route 66, the Chain of Rocks Bridge was started in 1929. The bridge stood 55 feet above the water and featured a sharp 22-degree bend in the middle, which was necessary to accommodate river navigation at the time. The Chain of Rocks Bridge closed to vehicular traffic in 1967, but preservationists have since brought it back into use. It remains open today as the world’s longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
Celebrating 100 Years of an American Icon
The Path of Wrath
During the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, more than 210,000 farm workers and refugees used Route 66 to head west toward a hopeful Chicago new life in California. John Steinbeck coined the term “The Mother Road” in his Pulitzer Prize-winning 1939 novel, “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Springfield
St. Louis
If you’re ready for your next great road trip, find inspiration at roadscholar.org/RoadTrip26
Joplin
Tulsa
Amarillo Oklahoma City
Springfield
Photos (from left to right): Santa Monica, Calif.; Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M.; Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River; Route 66 passing through Albuquerque, N.M.
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 27
E
FROM S N
S
T
E
R
H
ERA P U S G
What Researchers Are Learning About Living Well
O S
as We Age BY AMY HOLT | STAFF WRITER
L
E S
28 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
AG ING W ELL ■
Meet the SuperAgers Adults over 80 with exceptional memory are helping researchers learn more about cognitive health and what’s possible as we age.
S
cientists have spent more than two decades studying older adults whose memories remain remarkably sharp well into their 80s and beyond. What they’re learning is changing how researchers think about cognitive aging, and offering a hopeful glimpse of what aging well might look like.
Rethinking Aging: What’s Possible
Known as SuperAgers, these adults,
these interventions,” Dr. Maher says.
all aged 80 or older, perform as well
“Now we’re aiming to understand the
ost research on aging focuses
on certain memory tests as people 20
healthspan piece of it. Particularly
on decline. Researchers study
to 30 years younger. By studying this
as rates of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of
rare group, researchers hope to better
increase, we want to understand what
dementia, searching for ways to slow
understand not what’s lost with age,
contributes to cognitive health and
memory loss and better understand
but what’s possible.
cognitive success in later life.”
for more than two decades, researchers
“We’re flipping the question,”
Researchers identify SuperAgers
at the University of Chicago’s
says Dr. Amanda Maher, a lead
through extensive neuropsychological
SuperAging Research Initiative have
neuropsychologist for the initiative.
testing, evaluating memory and
asked a different question.
Rather than focusing on disease,
cognitive performance among adults
this team is studying exceptional
age 80 and older. What surprised
cognitive aging.
Dr. Maher and her colleagues
M
what happens when the brain ages. But
Instead of studying what happens
wasn’t simply the participants’
when memory fades, what happens if we study people whose memories
“In the medical field, we’ve gotten
test scores. It was the people
remain remarkably strong?
folks to live really long lives with all
behind them.
→
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 29
them. They continue learning, maintain meaningful relationships, stay involved in their communities and approach life with curiosity and purpose. One participant in particular embodies many of those qualities.
One SuperAger’s Story — Meet Sandy
“I
think Sandy is a great example,” Dr. Maher says.
“Traveling to Greece, Africa and Thailand and everywhere else that she goes, she sends pictures from all of her adventures. She and our other SuperAgers are really challenging this notion of decline and showing us what’s possible, age 80 and beyond.” For years, however, Sandy worried she might someday develop dementia.
Continued from page 29 “This work shows that cognitive
When I was younger, I never
“My mother lived until she was 94,” Sandy says. “But for the last 10 years of her life, she had dementia that
suspected that some of
got worse and worse. As people get
Dr. Maher says. “And that’s exciting, but the thing that’s kept
the best years would lie
if this happens to me?’ If they lose
ahead. But I enjoy being
starting? And I had the same feeling,
decline isn’t an inevitable course,”
me involved is the SuperAgers themselves. They are warm and they are full of life.”
older. This world is
Some continue to embody those
such an amazing place,
qualities well past age 100. The
and now I take the
study’s oldest participant lived to 111. What does living well look like? According to Dr. Maher, many SuperAgers maintain remarkably full lives. “One thing is that their schedules are
time to see the beauty of each and every sunrise. — SANDY
older, they start worrying, ‘what their keys, they wonder, is dementia especially since I’d seen what my mother had gone through.” But Sandy’s story took a different turn. Researchers invited her to participate in this study of exceptional cognitive aging. When she learned she qualified, it came as a relief. “It gave me hope,” she says. “It gave me a feeling of freedom, of wanting to go out and use this gift I’d been given — and that’s what it is, a gift.”
so packed, it’s hard to bring them in for visits,” she says, laughing. “It’s
While researchers haven’t uncovered
amazing just how socially active and
a magic formula for becoming a
In many ways, Sandy had already
engaged in life these folks are. If my
SuperAger, certain patterns have
spent a lifetime embracing the
calendar looked like theirs, I would
emerged. Many remain deeply
qualities researchers now associate
be exhausted.”
engaged with the world around
with many SuperAgers.
30 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
What Is a SuperAger? A SuperAger is someone age 80 or older whose memory performs as well as that of people 20 to 30 years younger. Researchers at Northwestern University’s SuperAging Research Program identify participants through extensive neuropsychological testing. Rather than studying memory loss, they’re seeking to understand what contributes to exceptional cognitive aging. Scientists haven’t identified a single secret to becoming a SuperAger. Instead, they’re examining the biological, psychological and lifestyle factors that may help support cognitive health later in life.
As a teenager, the launch of Sputnik sparked her interest in Russia. She enrolled in Russian language classes and later added Latin, Spanish and French in high school, eventually earning a university degree in Russian. “I’ve always wanted to be a good student and always tried to learn,” she says. That curiosity never faded. Over the years, it led her to volunteer at her local hospital and church, sew pillowcases for seriously ill children and counsel older adults on the intricacies of Medicare. It also led her to Road Scholar, where she’s completed 19 learning adventures, both on her own and with each of her five grandchildren.
→
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 31
Common Threads Among SuperAgers
Sandy shares with many SuperAgers.
While there’s no formula for becoming a SuperAger, researchers have observed several characteristics that appear again and again among participants. SuperAgers tend to:
meaningful relationships. It’s not
→ Stay curious
and continue learning. → Maintain strong,
meaningful relationships. → Remain engaged
in their communities. → Have a sense of purpose. → Demonstrate resilience
in the face of life’s challenges. Researchers are still working to understand whether these characteristics help support exceptional cognitive aging or simply tend to accompany it.
Researchers have found that SuperAgers often report strong, necessarily the size of someone’s social circle that stands out, but the quality of those connections. And Sandy’s openness to new experiences extends to the people she meets along the way. “When you think about someone like Sandy, she’s out there making new connections everywhere she goes,” Dr. Maher says. “Every trip she goes on, she’s meeting new people, and the relationships she has at home are rather remarkable. Sandy’s not sitting around. She’s out there exploring the world and continuing to learn new things.”
The Role of Resilience
R
esilience is another common theme among SuperAgers.
“The folks that we see in our study tend to be really resilient,” Dr. Maher capture scientifically, but there tends to be some struggle — there tends to be something they’ve overcome.”
Continued from page 31
For many SuperAgers, resilience isn’t an abstract concept. It’s something
Whether she’s exploring a new place
Our
says. “Resilience is a little bit tricky to
they’ve experienced.
or learning about another culture, Sandy is less interested in checking
Earlier in her life, Sandy unexpectedly
destinations off a list than in
found herself raising three young
understanding them.
children on her own. She entered a
SuperAgers are showing us that you can live long and live well. — DR. MAHER
career in financial planning despite
my kids,” she says. “I wanted to do
“One of the things I love about Road
having no background in the field and
something where I could determine
Scholar,” she says, “is that I can pick
navigated both financial hardship and
our destiny.”
a general area and say, I’d love to see
the challenges of working in a male-
Southeast Asia, but then I leave it up
dominated profession.
about, what Cambodia and Vietnam
“I figured I could learn,” she says.
vacations to Europe. “Hard? Yes, it was hard. But it made me a
are about. I learn things I would never otherwise know and think about
The early years were difficult,
things I’ve never thought of before.”
but Sandy remained focused on
But curiosity isn’t the only trait
By the time her children finished high school, the family was taking
to them to tell me what Thailand’s
strong person.”
creating opportunities for her
That tenacity appears again and again
family. “I had all these dreams for
among the SuperAgers researchers
32 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
The Power of Purpose
“O
These days, she says, she
ften when we look at
spends less time rushing and
the literature, folks say
more time appreciating.
things like spending time with grandchildren can be an asset
“I do what brings me joy,” she
to cognitive health,” Dr. Maher
says. “I value things more. I didn’t
says. “They give you that sense
do enough of that as a younger
of purpose.”
person. I was seemingly always in such a hurry and so worried about
For those of us aging — and we’re all
accomplishing one thing or another.
aging every day — perhaps that’s the
But it’s all come together.”
most encouraging finding of all. Most of the time, though, Sandy The SuperAging study isn’t offering
doesn’t spend much time thinking
a blueprint for living longer or
about aging or why she qualified for
guaranteeing protection from
the study. She thinks about where
dementia. Instead, it invites us to
she’d like to go next.
think differently about aging itself — not as a story defined by loss, but
“It’s a good time,” she says.
as one that can continue to include
“When I was younger, I never
curiosity, connection, resilience
suspected that some of the best
and purpose.
years would lie ahead. But I enjoy being older. This world is such
“The best thing is that you can start
an amazing place, and now I take
today,” Dr. Maher says. “You can
the time to see the beauty of each
start moving your body. You can
and every sunrise.” ■
study. Their lives haven’t been free of
start moving your brain. You can quit
hardship, but many have found ways
smoking. You can add these healthy
to adapt to life’s inevitable challenges
habits now, at any age, and it’s still
while remaining engaged with the
helpful. People have more control
world around them.
than they realize.”
Curiosity, strong relationships,
She hopes the research challenges
purpose and resilience are themes
assumptions about what aging has to
that surface repeatedly throughout
look like.
the study. Researchers are careful, however, not to claim that those
“These SuperAgers are really
qualities directly cause exceptional
showing us that age-related
cognitive aging. What they can
cognitive decline isn’t necessarily
say is that these patterns appear
the case for everybody,” she says.
consistently among SuperAgers and
“Learning how to live long and live
align with findings from broader
well, that’s our goal.”
research on healthy aging. “I always feared aging would be “Lifelong learning absolutely
something horrible and terrible and
contributes to cognitive health,” Dr.
scary,” Sandy says. “And it’s not. It
Maher says. “Things like traveling,
helps, of course, that I’m healthy and
exploring the world and learning new
comfortable financially. Those factors
things can all contribute.”
color my perception. But overall, I have a feeling of peace, a feeling
So, too, can a sense of purpose.
that life is good.”
Help Advance SuperAging Research Could your experiences help researchers better understand healthy cognitive aging? The Northwestern SuperAging Research Program is launching a new online research cohort. Interested adults can sign up to receive updates when enrollment opens. Scan here to express your interest in participating. (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 33
■ W E S TMINS TER DO G S HOW In 1887, 35 breeds were recognized in the very first show. By 2025, there were over 200 breeds being recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Every Dog Has Its Day Behind the Scenes at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show What does it take to be top dog at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Skilled breeders, talented groomers and more than 3,000 pups who are ready to show the world their agility, intelligence and style. Each year, we bring Road Scholars behind the scenes to experience the pageantry of America’s biggest canine competition! →
34 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
Every official breed (like the Welsh Terrier shown here) has an idealized profile created by its parent club. Judges evaluate how closely each dog conforms to its breed standard.
Scottish Terriers have won the Best in Show title at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show eight times.
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 35
Looking for the Best in Show? Join Road Scholar at the Westminster Dog Show and other special events. Learn more at roadscholar.org/special-events
36 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
Looking for the Best in Show? Learn how you can experience unique festivals, holidays, special events and more at roadscholar.org/special_events
Best of Breed winners within one of seven Groups (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding) go on to compete in Best in Show.
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 37
■ PR E SER V ING HER ITAG E
SAFEGUARDING THE IRREPL ACE ABLE UNESCO World Heritage Sites
P
BY JOHN WATTERS | STAFF WRITER hilo of Byzantium was the first to write about
As a society, we’ve begun to appreciate that many
the Seven Wonders of the World, in 225 BC. He
of the great wonders of nature and humankind
said they stood apart from all other sites because
are as fragile as they are priceless. Recognizing
“beauty, like the sun, makes it impossible to see
that, the United Nations Educational, Scientific
other things when it is itself radiant.”
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) began its list of World Heritage Sites in 1978 to highlight such
He was certainly right about the Great Pyramids
sites and encourage measures to preserve and
of Giza, which still stand today. The others have
protect them.
been lost to time, however, leaving it to our imaginations how the Colossus of Rhodes or the
A dozen sites comprised the initial list and
Hanging Gardens of Babylon might have looked.
included natural wonders like Yellowstone and
38 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
CREDIT: MARIO ROBERTO DURÁN ORTIZ/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0, CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY-SA/3.0
the Galápagos, along with human creations like the L’Anse Aux Meadows Viking settlement and Germany’s Aachen Cathedral. The list has grown steadily since then. Today there are over 1,270 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While most are single locations, others are more far-ranging geographically. For instance, “The Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula” is composed of 727 locations throughout Spain. The far-flung works of Frank Lloyd Wright are on the list, as are several different villages in Transylvania with fortified churches. Not surprisingly, many of the sites are well-known (and well-visited). The Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China are listed. The Pyramids of Giza and Mount Fuji. Victoria Falls and the Palace of Versailles. Many others, however, are not so well-known. Here are some we find especially fascinating:
→
Did You Know? → The largest UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in the Pacific Ocean. At more than 157,000 square miles, it’s larger than Norway.
→ Italy has the most sites of any country, with 59. China is next with 57.
→ Twenty-six new sites were added in 2026, ranging from modernist architecture in Uzbekistan to migratory landscapes in South Sudan. (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 39
Continued from page 39
STONE CIRCLES OF SENEGAMBIA
F
JOYA DE CERÉN
T
our large groups
he “Pompeii of the Americas,”
of stone circles in
El Salvador’s Joya
West Africa were created
de Cerén was buried
over the course of more
under volcanic ash in
than 1,500 years, with
AD 600, when the
some likely dating back
Laguna Caldera volcano
as far as the 3rd century BC. The circles, some with stones weighing as much as seven tons, are spread out over more
THE SEMMERING RAILWAY
O
erupted. Undiscovered until 1976, it includes well-preserved
ver six years in
dwellings, religious
the middle of the
sites and many of the
NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK
T
his remote park in Canada’s Northwest
19th century, Austria
tools, pottery and other
Territories features a
UNESCO notes that the
created the engineering
accoutrements of a
spectacular wild river,
sites, associated with
tour de force known
Mayan farm community.
the South Nahanni. Its
burials, “bear witness to
as the Semmering
Happily, unlike their
deep canyons are fed
a prosperous and highly
Railway, covering 25
Pompeiian counterparts,
by waterfalls including
organized society.” (The
miles across a stunning
the residents of Joya
Virginia Falls, with a
stone circles are among
Alpine landscape,
de Cerén apparently
drop of 360 feet — twice
several UNESCO sites on
from Gloggnitz to
had time to escape
as high as Niagara Falls.
the Road Scholar program
Mürzzuschlag. The
before their village
Grizzlies, caribou and
A West Africa Voyage:
quality of its tunnels
was consumed.
wolves abound in the
Wildlife, National Parks
and viaducts has allowed
region, but people are
& Human History.)
the railway — built by
few and far between.
20,000 workers — to
The park only receives
be in continuous use for
an estimated 800-1,000
nearly two centuries.
visitors each year.
than 23,000 square miles.
CREDIT: MARIO ROBERTO DURÁN ORTIZ/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0, CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG LICENSESBY-SA/3.0
40 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
MOUNT EMEI SCENIC AREA, INCLUDING LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA SCENIC AREA
M
MONARCH BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE RESERVE
S
ount Emei was
It’s also the home of the Giant Buddha of Leshan. Built in the 8th century,
100,000 acres
northwest of Mexico
the site of the
City, the reserve is
first Buddhist temple in China in the first century.
panning over
SURTSEY
T
where as many as a billion butterflies
wenty miles off
make their way from
the coast of Iceland
North America each
sits Surtsey, a volcanic
autumn. The migration
statue in the world, at
island formed just last
takes eight months,
233 feet tall (and it’s
century, in the 1960s.
and UNESCO notes
seated, no less). That
It is protected, which
that inasmuch as four
also makes it by a wide
allows scientists a
successive generations of
margin the world’s tallest
unique opportunity to
Monarchs are born and
pre-modern statue. It’s
observe the process
die during that journey,
reported that two people
of colonization by
it is a mystery how later
can fit inside one of the
non-native plants
generations are able to
figure’s 23-foot-long
and animals. Early in
find their way back to
ears, and one person can
the island’s life, they
the site. You can ponder
comfortably sit on its
observed seeds arrive
the mystery yourself
smallest toenail.
carried by currents,
at the reserve on the
followed by the
Road Scholar program
appearance of molds
Mexico’s Monarch
and fungus. By the early
Migration: Butterflies,
2000s, 60 different kinds
Local Heritage & More. ■
it’s the tallest Buddha
Inspired to Explore? There’s a growing trend among modernday explorers to make UNESCO sites the focus of their travels. Why not include a few on your next adventures? Road Scholar can bring you to dozens! Find your UNESCO journey at roadscholar.org/ UNESCO-RS
of vascular plants and nearly 100 bird species could be found there and it was home to hundreds of invertebrates.
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 41
■ A PENGUIN O DYS S E Y
18 Penguin Species. 7 Continents. 1 Extraordinary Life. She made a list. Then she checked it twice. Then she kept going. The story of Lori Fleischmann, a retired New York City teacher who turned an unstoppable childhood obsession into one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife quests. BY MARION McPARLAND | STAFF WRITER
42 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
W
hen eight-year-old Lori Fleischmann’s parents took her to Radio City Music Hall to see the world premiere of “Mary Poppins” in 1964, her life was forever changed in a whimsical, waddling way. “I loved the whole show — but when the animated quartet of penguin waiters
served tea, sang ‘Jolly Holiday’ and danced on screen with Bert (Dick Van Dyke), something inside me clicked,” says Lori. “I couldn’t contain myself,” she recalls. That moment was the start of a lifelong love affair with penguins — one that has carried her on journeys across all seven continents, from the frozen shores of Antarctica to the Galápagos Islands, with its coastlines cooled by the Humboldt Current, in pursuit of every penguin species on Earth. In 2023, after nearly three decades of dedicated penguin travel, she finally saw her 18th species. But don’t think for a moment that she’s done. →
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 43
I started a bank account in 1980 and labeled it ‘Antarctica.’
Continued from page 43
I
hundreds of young scientists into her
n 1978, Lori read an article
room — kindergartners through fifth
in National Geographic about
graders, wide-eyed and wonderstruck
fter that magical evening at Radio
scientists and conservation groups
— class after class, day after day. She
City, young Lori went home and
The Lists Begin
A
A Dream Kept on Ice
working in Antarctica studying
taught them to question, to observe,
started doing what she does best: write
penguins, and the seed was planted.
look closer and dream. What her
lists ... lists of places to go, penguins
When she started teaching in 1979,
students didn’t know was that their
to see and dreams to chase. She began
she found out that after 16 years she
teacher had a dream, too — one she’d
reading every book she could find about
would be eligible for a sabbatical, and
been holding onto for a very long
the tuxedoed birds. One of her favorites
she knew exactly where she wanted
time: Antarctica.
as a child was “Willy Nilly” by Marjorie
to go. “My plan was set and my
Flack. She also took every opportunity
dream began,” says Lori. “I started
she had to write about penguins for
a bank account in 1980 and labeled
school reports.
it ‘Antarctica.’”
Three Months, Seven Species
T
hat first purposeful penguin trip wasn’t a weekend getaway — it
was a three-month odyssey. For her
Her parents fueled the fire, traveling
For 32 years, Lori was there for New
sabbatical, Lori found an expedition
constantly all over the United States
York City’s kids. She walked the
boat sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina
and Canada. “We collected rocks
halls of PS 165 in Queens through
on a 28-day journey down the
and loved being out in nature,” she
every season of her career — from
peninsula to South Georgia Island and
says. She fell in love with whales
the tender, deliberate work of special
the Falklands. “Our instructor was
and dolphins too — inspired, like so
education where she shared Helen
Peter Harrison, author of ‘Seabirds, An
many kids of her generation, by the
Lester’s “Tacky the Penguin” books
Identification Guide,’” explains Lori.
TV show, “Flipper.” Lori says, “In
with her children, to the creative
another era, I would have become
energy of gifted and talented
In January 1996, after 16 years of
a marine biologist.” Instead, she
classrooms and finally, to her favorite
saving and planning, Lori flew to
became a teacher — and poured every
chapter of all: hands-on science labs.
Chile and boarded a ship bound for
ounce of that scientific curiosity into her classroom and her travels.
Antarctica. She spent the entire In those last five years, she welcomed
44 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
austral summer exploring the
Go Wild
peninsula, then continued to the
“Macquarie Island was a revelation,”
rugged shores of South Georgia and
says Lori. The island hosts a
the windswept Falklands, before
huge population of king penguins
heading to Alaska in February and
— rivaled only by South Georgia —
the Caribbean in March, where she
along with gentoos, a few macaroni
swam alongside whales. Across the
penguins and the star attraction:
Antarctic Peninsula and the sub-
royal penguins, who breed almost
Antarctic islands — South Georgia,
exclusively on Macquarie Island.
day, completely unfazed.” And the
the Falklands — Lori encountered
“They look like clowns,” Lori says,
scene got even better: A leopard seal
seven species of penguins — the
“with thick yellow, orange and
lounged just across the inlet, mere
Adélie, chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni,
black crests extending behind
yards from its favorite meal. “The
rockhopper, king and Magellanic.
their eyes. The largest colony of
penguins carried on as if this predator
approximately 500,000 pairs is
— who literally dines on them —
found at Hurd Point.”
wasn’t even there,” explains Lori.
One moment etched itself deeper.
Visit our collection of wildlife adventures at roadscholar.org/wildlife-journeys
“Our Zodiac captain dropped us on shore and said, ‘See you in three
With that sighting, Lori joined a tiny,
hours,’” Lori remembers. “I found a
unofficial club of perhaps two or three
rock, sat down and just watched as a
other people in the world working on
pair of gentoo penguins tended to two
seeing all 18 species. “We don’t have
fuzzy chicks. One parent waddled up
a group,” she says. “But we know
from the beach, and the two swapped
each other.”
places on the nest — a seamless,
Little Blue Penguins, One Giant Adventure
wordless changing of the guard. The muddy one shuffled off toward the
S
ocean for a rinse. I sat in the Antarctic sun for hours, completely still, watching this quiet domestic scene
and there to keep going until I’d seen every species in the wild, and I started
She credits the organization with
Lori, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia.
saving again,” she says.
The Other Side of the World
W
hen Lori retired in 2011, she
penguin expeditions — Lori has
completed 15 Road Scholar programs.
unfold,” she says. “It was incredible.” “Returning home, I vowed right then
ince retiring — and in between
shaping her entire approach to travel. Lori had spent a week in New Zealand in 2012 watching little blue penguins. In 2024, Lori observed African black-footed penguins in
The Final Waddle: Species Number 18
A
South Africa before joining her Road Scholar safari in Botswana. She made her latest Road Scholar adventure, An
fter her original plans were
Australian Odyssey: From the Outback
paused by the pandemic, Lori
to the Great Barrier Reef, in March
this time from the New Zealand side
finally completed her extraordinary
2026, to see for herself if Australia’s
to the sub-Antarctic islands south
quest on December 17, 2023 —
little blue penguins were, in fact, the
of the country. “I set out from Bluff,
spotting her 18th species, the
same species or a subspecies. “To my
New Zealand, sailing into the Ross
erect-crested penguin, on the remote
untrained eye, they looked the same as
Sea stopping at Macquarie Island,
Bounty and Antipodes Islands off
the little blue penguins I saw in New
Enderby Islands and Campbell Island
New Zealand. Guided once again
Zealand,” says Lori. “Scientists are
in the South Pacific Ocean, where I
by Peter Harrison, she had no idea
still debating whether they represent a
saw little blue, yellow-eyed, gentoo,
what awaited her on those far-flung
distinct species or subspecies. They’re
king, royal and one emperor,” she
shores. “It’s literally a chunk of rock
in the process of figuring it out.”
says. “On the way back, we were
in the middle of nowhere,” she says,
able to get to Snares Island to see the
“but there they were — standing
With Road Scholar’s special access,
Snares penguin.”
on bare stone, going about their
Lori had a truly unforgettable
began planning her next
28-day journey back to Antarctica,
→
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 45
46 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
Continued from page 45 encounter at Phillip Island Nature Parks. It’s home to the world’s largest colony of roughly 40,000 little blue penguins. These charming creatures, the smallest of all 18 penguin species, stand just 12 to 13 inches tall. Each evening, they waddle ashore in a spectacular ritual known as the Penguin Parade — a moment of pure wonder unlike anything else in the natural world. “Watching the penguins emerge from the sea at dusk, scramble up the beach past a viewing grandstand bathed in soft red light (designed not to disturb them) and call out to find their mates … it was the most extraordinary nightly ritual imaginable,” Lori says. “Truly remarkable.”
Follow Your Dreams
L
ori retired at 55 to travel full time and she has no plans
of slowing down. She’s tracked snow leopards in India, watched orangutans swing through the canopy
The Great Penguin Debate — It’s Not Black and White Scientific uncertainty is part of what keeps Lori fascinated. For most of modern history, scientists recognized 17 species of penguins worldwide. In 2006, the rockhopper was split into the southern and northern rockhopper, bringing the count to 18. But the debate hasn't stopped. On her 2023 “Birding Down Under” expedition — led by legendary seabird expert Peter Harrison — fellow penguin watchers spent evenings debating whether the true number might be as high as 22. “The northern rockhopper is on my list,” she says. “It breeds on Tristan da Cunha, a remote cluster of islands in the middle of the South Atlantic. Few travelers make it there, and rough seas can prevent landings even when they do.” The bigger picture, though, is what captivates her. “It's like Pluto getting kicked out,” Lori says with a laugh. “They had to define a planet, and Pluto didn’t fit. Now scientists have to define a species — organisms that can't interbreed — but we don't always know that. On the Antarctic Peninsula, rockhopper and macaroni penguins have bred and created a hybrid that hasn’t been officially named yet.” She pauses. “The scientists can’t agree. That's what makes it so interesting.”
in Borneo, stood in awe of polar bears in the Arctic and listened to whales sing just about everywhere. She’s
in Australia. “Tomorrow is not
and Snow Hill Island in Antarctica,
been to Alaska a dozen times. And
promised,” she says simply.
where emperor penguins raise their young and where the beloved-by-all
she always adds extensions after her programs, “because I want to see as
Most recently, Lori ventured to
much as possible.”
Patagonia with Road Scholar and
“March of the Penguins” was filmed.
continued on to Puerto Madryn where
Lori’s advice? “Follow your dreams.
Last summer, Lori was diagnosed
she saw Magellanic penguins. And she
Keep your mind open. The more you
with lung cancer. She regained
dreams of reaching Tristan da Cunha
learn, the more places you’ll find you
her strength just in time for her
— a tiny speck in the mid-Atlantic —
must go. If you’re like me, your list
Road Scholar learning adventure
to see northern rockhopper penguins,
will never stop growing.” ■
Follow your dreams. Keep your mind open. The more you learn, the more places you’ll find you must go. If you’re like me, your list will never stop growing.
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 47
■ K NOW YOUR S TATE S
“My Name Is Idaho, But You Can Call Me …” A S TAT E N I C K N A M E Q U I Z Every state has a nickname — some more than one. A few are self-evident (“The Aloha State” isn’t exactly a head-scratcher!), but others are a little harder to pin down. Can you guess which states bear these nicknames?
1
2
The Yellowhammer State
5
3
The Centennial State
4
Vacationland
The Gem State
6
7
8
The Pelican State
The Palmetto State
The Nutmeg State
9
10
11
12
The Garden State
The Ocean State
The Beehive State
The Old Dominion
The Bay State
ANSWERS: 1. ALABAMA 2. COLORADO 3. MAINE 4. IDAHO 5. MASSACHUSETTS 6. LOUISIANA 7. SOUTH CAROLINA 8. CONNECTICUT 9. NEW JERSEY 10. NEBRASKA (JUST KIDDING. RHODE ISLAND!) 11. UTAH 12. VIRGINIA
48 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
G E T SO CI A L ■
Making Friends Across Generations Friendship has no age limit
A
t Road Scholar, we’ve seen it happen time and time again. On a hiking trail in Yosemite. Around a dinner table in Tuscany. In a lecture hall in New England. A 72-year-old and a 35-year-old discover they share the same love of jazz, history or a really good pun — and just like that, a friendship is born. Have you
made a meaningful friendship with someone from a different generation — through travel, a shared passion or a chance encounter? This is what we asked people on our Facebook Group pages. We loved the responses!
→ Both my sons and daughters-in-law have
wonderful friends, and I always enjoy our time together. One invited me to join her book club, which reads books unlike those in my other book clubs, and I’ll be going for the first time next month. When I said that I’d be worried I’d be the oldest and most stodgy among the members, she said, “Maybe, but that’s okay.” Refreshingly open! — Susan C.
→ I was standing next to an older lady yesterday.
She said to me, “I’m going to be 96 in a few days. I don't know whether to buy a new dress or a casket.” I said, “You could outrun me (I’m 61), so I think you should get two new dresses!” — Julie G. → All the time. → Yes!!! I feel this
way with every Road Scholar adventure I’ve had so far! The people are so uplifting and kind! — Amy G.
Call it karma. Just cool, soul-satisfying conversations that make me smile and say, “I love that person!” — Kathleen W.
→ In St Andrews,
Scotland last month, I had 45 minutes to spare before meeting the group bus. So, I found a small cafe across the way and shared the last available table with a young lady from Iceland. We talked about her home, and she told me my home, San Diego, was one of three cities in the U.S. she wanted to visit. I treated her to her drink and made it to the bus with a minute to spare. Special! — Kathy M.
→ I have become close friends with two
different individuals in their 30s (I’m 68). One is a tattoo artist I met years ago at an art exhibit for volunteers of a cat rescue; we were both exhibitors. I bought one of their paintings and much later scheduled a tattoo session with them. We bonded over art and our love for animals. We now live in different states, but we keep in touch and get together regularly, and we take a trip to an animal sanctuary annually. The other was my personal trainer. We also share a love for animals, and we still hang out together a couple of times a month. They also joined me for my most recent trip to the animal sanctuary last month and expressed interest in becoming a regular on those trips. — Leslie C.
LET’S BE SOCIAL!
Our online communities are where you belong. Who knows, you might kindle new friendships! (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 49
■ INS TRUC TOR SP OTLIG HT
FOLLOWING HER DRE AMS
Margery Spielman turns her passion into a lifetime of learning BY MARION McPARLAND | STAFF WRITER
WILD BLUE ENCOUNTERS Swimming with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, 1989 Below, Margery filming in Florida, 2016
T
here’s a quiet bravery in chasing your dreams. Naturalist Margery Spielman of Ventura, California, found hers when
she was eight — captivated by a National Geographic article by the legendary Jacques Cousteau. From that moment, she knew that scuba diving was her future — and being part of
his team was her goal. From her backyard wading pool to the deep blue sea, Margery followed her dream.
50 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
A
t 16, she entered the male-dominated diving world and four years
later was managing a dive shop. From there, she became a certified scuba instructor, Hollywood stunt diver,
UNDER THE SEA (clockwise from top): Margery at Catalina Island, 1985; Margery leading an intergenerational program, Ventura, 2018; “Real Treasures,” watercolor painting, 1992; Diving with Jean-Michel Cousteau, 1992
accomplished artist and, finally, one of the first three women on Cousteau’s Diving Team. In 1995, Elderhostel founder Marty Knowlton invited Margery to bring her passion to a bigger stage. Over the next 31 years, she shared the magic of California’s Channel Islands with more than 20,000 Road Scholar participants. Each chapter of her journey didn’t replace the last — it built like a wave, each one rising from the strength of the one before.
S
ince childhood, Margery’s channeled her love for the sea into artwork.
An accomplished artist, she’s exhibited her work in numerous marine art expos, including those in Maui, Santa Barbara and Paris. Her paintings are in the collections of the late Jacques Cousteau, JeanMichel Cousteau and Mikhail Gorbachev. She’s also just been inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame™.
to me, ‘I always wanted to learn to dive, but I have this one little problem — I can’t swim.’”
Newly retired from Road Scholar at age 78, she just finished writing her book,
“Then I’ll teach you!” Margery said. “Turns
“Wrapped in Blue: The Art and Memoirs of
out, she taught me a lesson too: You’re never
a Landlocked Mermaid,” and is now caring
too old to follow your dreams.”
for her husband John, a Marine veteran and former underwater cinematographer who has dementia. “I married a merman,” Margery laughs. “An 80-year-old woman once joined my scuba class and said
Read more about Margery on our blog at roadscholar.org/ Margery
Margery’s message remains optimistic. “Be positive and create your own reality,” she says. “Always believe you can — your passion for following your dream will attract those who will
FIND YOUR OWN ADVENTURE in the Channel Islands at roadscholar.org/ ChannelRS
help you.” ■
(800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 51
■ ONLINE LE A R NING
Learning Has Never Been So Accessible! JOIN US FROM HOME Sometimes new discoveries feel out of reach. But with Road Scholar At Home online learning adventures, you can bring educational experiences directly to the comfort of your living room. All you need is a strong internet connection, a computer or mobile device. Try one of our free lectures to see if online learning is right for you!
52 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
1
Upcoming Free Lectures
2
3
Georgia O’Keeffe — Visions of the American Southwest (Program No. 24420F27)
Polar Bears — King of the Arctic (Program No. 25076F27)
Love in Greek Culture (Program No. 24868F27)
Wed., Dec. 2, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET
Wed., Feb. 10, 2027, at 12 p.m. ET
FEATURED EXPERT:
FEATURED EXPERT:
FEATURED EXPERT:
Amanda Hunter, marine biologist
Eleni Petroutsou, local expert
Matthew Palczynski, art historian
Tues., March 9, 2027, at 2 p.m. ET
Find your next great online adventure at roadscholar.org/free-lectures26 (800) 454-5768 | ROADSCHOLAR.ORG | 53
■ BO O K CO R NER
Reading Between the (Generational) Lines Intergenerational relationships, whether between family, colleagues or friends, offer valuable connections. Turns out, they’re actually good for your health, too. Here are some books on the subject. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom
Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time by Brad Ryan Seven years, 63 national parks, a lifetime of memories. That’s the short summary of the adventures of Brad and his grandmother, Grandma Joy. Their journeys together not only explore America’s national parks but also grow their relationship with each other.
A classic example of intergenerational friendship, this story follows a mentee reconnecting with his mentor, Morrie. Morrie, a former professor, was in the last months of his life due to ALS, and he was inspired to impart his knowledge. Their relationship and time together result in a final “class” on how to live.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Raft by Jim LaMarche Looking for a book to read with your grandchild? This beautifully illustrated picture book revolves around the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, and their growing connection over the course of a summer. It’s all thanks to the raft — a discovery that brings them together over an appreciation for art and wildlife.
It’s the unlikeliest of friendships — a woman and an octopus. But as Tova, a 70-year-old aquarium employee, learns more about Marcellus the octopus and finds him escaping his enclosure, she discovers the intelligence of his species. And Marcellus uncovers a mystery in her past that he’s determined to solve.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi In a renowned debut work, this novel follows two half-sisters through several hundred years of history. It captures the family’s legacies and strong generational themes, defined by the impact of slavery across both Africa and North America.
Find us at Bookshop.org Find all these books and many more online at roadscholar.org/intergenerational-reads, or scan the QR code at right. P.S. Did you know that your Bookshop.org purchase can benefit Road Scholar’s efforts to support lifelong learning? Explore our variety of booklists to find even more recommendations and continue to learn while supporting Road Scholar!
54 | LIFELONG LEARNING & ADVENTURE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2026
A H A MOMENT ■
T
he ocean has always made me feel most alive — but the moment I stepped aboard the 95-foot windjammer, Angelique, something shifted.
Calm waters, moonlight and stars above — it was thrilling and deeply peaceful all at once. After two years of caring for my mom, bottling everything up, here was this beautiful explosion of possibility. So touched by the moment, I shared an e.e. cummings poem with my shipmates. One line was especially profound: For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea. (FROM THE POEM, MAGGIE AND MILLY AND MOLLY AND MAY)
And in that singular, quiet moment, the tides of my life finally aligned. I returned to the person I was always meant to be. My spirit has always been anchored in the vast depths of the sea, and sailing is the adventure I will follow toward every horizon yet to come. — DEBORAH COCONIS, NEW YORK, ROAD SCHOLAR CLASS OF ’24
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Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Elderhostel
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IN THIS ISSUE PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Priceless Memories Get a peek at a scrapbook commemorating 70 years of friendship and lifelong learning.
A Penguin Odyssey Learn how Lori Fleischmann turned her childhood obsession into a remarkable quest.
Ode to a Mermaid Meet Margery Spielman — diver, writer and naturalist in the Channel Islands.
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