What we like best about AIL is the friendly people. We enjoy their company each week. It’s an excellent educational experience, and the presenters are world-class experts.
—AIL Participant
What Is Adventures In Learning?
Classes, workshops, seminars, and discussion groups provide educational experiences covering a wide range of interests. Bridge, t’ai chi, world affairs and a health series are ongoing classes. Previous topics have included Literature, History, Music, Creative Arts/Crafts, Travel, Financial and Security Issues, Spirituality, and Computer Skills. Our AIL program was first conducted in the fall of 1998 and has now grown to over 125 participants each semester.
Who Can Join?
The Adventures in Learning (AIL) program offers adults age 50 or older a weekly program that combines a diversity of content with the opportunity to engage with their peers. Participants are welcome to attend one class or stay all day.
One tuition payment entitles you to attend any classes during the term. Create your own schedule – you may stay all day or attend only one class.
Fall 2021 Semester
Thursdays, September 30 – November 18, 9:00 am-2:00 pm.
Tuition for the 8-week series is $55 – which allows you to attend any number of the sessions. Register for the semester in any of the following ways: (1) Pay online here, (2) call the office (703) 260-9568) to register using your credit card, or (3) if you would like to pay by check, download this form, complete it and send with to the office with your check.
Each session will be hybrid – held both in person and virtually on Zoom. Locations are:
(1) Unitarian Universalist Church (2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124). Attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.
(2) By Zoom: once registered and payment received, registrants will receive a Zoom link by email. If you do not receive a link, please contact the office.
Classes will be held every Thursday (Sep 30-Nov 18) as follows. Please check the SCNOVA Events Calendar for any time changes:
9:00-9:45 Ta’i Chi (Rob Gehring). This ancient art promotes body flexibility, strength, and balance. The class is ongoing and welcomes newcomers at any time.
10:00-10:45 Health and Wellness Topics (Casey Tarr).
• Sep 30 “Is Your Family Ready to Cover the Costs?” (Lindsey Vajpe/Insight Memory Center & John Bennett/ Merrill Lynch)
• Oct 7 “Medicare 101” (Mari de Leon & Kristin Helfer Koester/VICAP)
• Oct 14 “Overcoming Roadblocks to Healthy Eating” (Diane LaHale/Registered Dietician/Nutritionist)
• Oct 21 “Modifying Traditional Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis and Promoting Better Balance” (Paula McGinnis/Body Grace)
• Oct 28 “The LITL System of Organizing Anything” (Lisa Garaci Rigoni/Owner Chief De-Clutter Officer)
• Nov 4 “Navigating Senior Living Options” (Peggy Breda/CDAL & A Family Tie)
• Nov 11 “How to Cultivate Intellect and your Creative Self” (Rick Wormell/Educator)
• Nov 18 “The Benefit of Long Term Care Planning” (Karen McPhail/RN & Executive Director Eldementals LLC)
11:00-11:55 Arts, Entertainment & Travel
• Sep 30 “Laumeier Sculpture Garden Virtual Tour” (Betsy Solomon/ED Shepherd’s Center of Kirkwood Missouri)
• Oct 7 “Medicare 101” (Mari de Leon & Kristin Helfer Koester/VICAP)
• Oct 14 “Musical Treasures – Songs, Dances and Performances discovered on the Internet” (Mark Sierakowski)
• Oct 21 “The Soundtrack of Our Lives – For the Young at Heart” (Hugo Keesing/Musicologist)
• Oct 28 “Our Adventures in Nepal” (Pat Williams & Eileen Curtis)
• Nov 4 “Our Adventures in Sicily, Italy” (Linda Lee Slesinger)
• Nov 11 “Landscapes from Finland and Estonia” (Paul Wormeli)
• Nov 18 “My Unlikely Writing Adventure – which became the Garage Sale Mystery series” (Suzi Weinert/Author)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-2:00 World Affairs: Past & Present
• Sep 30 “Current Issues Impacting the Hunter Mill District” – Supervisor Walter Alcorn, Hunter Mill District
• Oct 7 “Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America” –
Rebekah Koffler – Former DIA Officer (Author)
• Oct 14 “John Adams: The Boston Massacre – Right to Legal Representation” (Mark Sierakowski)
• Oct 21 “John Adams: The Continental Congress – Voices for and Against Independence” (Mark Sierakowski)
• Oct 28 “Mark Twain Troupe” (Mark Twain Players)
• Nov 4 “What is the 13th Amendment?” (Leigh Kitcher/Liberty Amendments Group of Vienna)
• Nov 11 “The United States Supreme Court” (Major General Bill Suter/Clerk of the Court for 12 years & Max Johnson/Falcon’s Landing
• Nov 18 “Thirty One Years of Service in the British Royal Navy” (Capt. Jamieson Stride/ British Royal Navy, Ret’d)
Inclement weather policy: If Fairfax County Schools are CLOSED due to bad weather, our classes are cancelled. If Fairfax County Schools are on a TWO HOUR delay, we will still have AIL classes (starting at 10:00 am).