Lifelong Learning in Long Island NY
Harry Truman said, ‘It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.’ When pursuing individual interests and passions, life-long learning helps achieve personal fulfillment and satisfaction. We all have a natural drive to explore, learn and grow and life-long learning encourages us to improve our own quality of life and sense of self-worth by exploring and cultivating the ideas that inspire us.
Steeped in history, culture, and higher education institutions, Long Island is an ideal place to pursue lifelong learning. There are many ways to spark your imagination and stimulate your mind – especially on the North Fork.
Take a Class
For traditional college and university classes, look into Long Island’s finest institutes of higher learning. At Long Island University Riverhead, you can apply as a Visiting/Personal Enrichment Student and take a wide variety of classes.
Just down the Fork, you’ll find Stony Brook University, a flagship of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. They are a center of academic excellence and an internationally recognized research institution offering courses in journalism, marine sciences, healthcare and more. Non-degree seeking students can audit courses during certain semesters each year at no cost.
Get Your Art On
The East End Arts School is a gathering place for aspiring artists, musicians and actors. Under the tutelage of professional faculty, students of any age can study in a private or group setting. Plein air painting, jewelry making, drawing and even an adult rock band class are on the calendar every month!
Studio E offers art classes for all ages! They specialize in pottery, drawing, painting, illustration and watercolor classes. All teachers have certifications in Art Education, Masters of Fine Art, Art Therapy and/or are working professionals in the field.
Grow, Grow, Grow Your Garden
if you have a green thumb, don’t miss the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) in Riverhead, Long Island, NY. The 68-acre facility is dedicated to the research and extension needs of the horticulture industries of Long Island. The facility features agricultural fields and plots, state-of-the-art greenhouses, a nursery and container production area in support of research projects ranging from grape and vegetable production, to ornamentals and floriculture.
Lifelong Learning at Peconic Landing
While Long Island offers nearly an infinite array of avenues to learn and grow, there’s a remarkable calendar of classes, events and programs at Peconic Landing.
Norah B. is a Peconic Landing member and is busy most days of the week. “I’m learning to play the ukulele, taking Spanish classes taught by a fellow member, and volunteering at the Market,” she explained.
Peconic Landing’s life enrichment programming aims to provide members with the highest level of engagement, fun and vitality. This may take the form of exploring individual passions via community book clubs and discussion groups or attending lectures with professors and researchers from nearby universities on history, science, current events and more. Often, the members themselves serve as the main act, presenting on their areas of expertise or leading workshops to introduce their craft to others.
At Peconic Landing, the opportunities for lifelong learning are woven into the very fabric of the community.
For more information on lifelong learning opportunities for seniors on the North Fork, please do not hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable membership team.
