Elder College

We offer courses at minimal cost to individuals in the community who are 50 years plus. Courses are provided by volunteers from the community who wish to share a skill, area of expertise, or a life experience. Annual membership fee is $5.00. Course content and dates are organized by a volunteer advisory committee. Most courses are held at the Island Savings Centre (formerly Cowichan Centre), 2687 James Street, Duncan. To register for a program, print and send in the registration form or call 250-748-7529. For further information about Elder College, please call Jennifer Carmichael at 250-746-0414 or send a message to Elder College. If you wish to be notified by email when the next Active Living Guide is published, ask to be put on an emailing list for that purpose only.

FALL 2009 PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

Click on a title to see the details or scroll down the programs, listed in order of start date (September, October, November, December)

Armchair Travel France, Paris, Belgium & Holland. India Malta Mongolia San Diego & The Mexican Riviera Thailand Note: you can ask to register for all six for the price of five! Arts Afternoon Stamping 101 Basic Drawing - 2 Calligraphic Challenges and Critique Carve a One-third Life Size Snowy Owl Carving a Christmas Santa Christmas Cards - Stamped Christmas Greens and Floral Arrangements Iris Folding Cards Jig Knitting Make a Pine Needle Basket Making 3D Cards Using Photographs Making Prints from Wax Plates Morning Stamping 101 Patchwork Tabletop Tree Scrapbooking: from Beginning to Beautiful Watercolours for Beginners Computers and Computers/Photography Microsoft Excel 2003 For Beginners Introduction to Digital Photo Editing Organize Your Digital Photos and More! Fitness and Recreation Beginners Line Dancing Gentle Yoga T'ai Chi - Beginners

Financial Planning Leaving a Legacy Maximize Your Tax Savings while Preserving Your Wealth Insurance, are you at risk of not being able to collect? What Does Your Economic Recovery Look Like? Games Intermediate Bridge Traditional Chinese Mah Jongg - Game of the Four Winds General Interest An Introduction to Islam Antiques and Collectibles Dog Care and Nutrition Geology of British Columbia Native Culture Health and Well Being Getting Fit for Hip Replacement Knees Work! Men, Optimize/Energize Our Best Years Let's Talk Nutrition for the Health of It History Canadian History: Conflict, innovation and the twentieth century gospel of the great isms Canadian History: Fifteen who made a difference Fairbridge Farm History Letters from the Front in World War One

In and Around the Garden Blue Orchard (Mason) Bees Fall Gardening Language and Literature Spanish for Beginners The Wisdom Literature in the Bible and the Apocrypha Local Visits Historic Bamberton Museum and Bus Tour Providence Farm - Its History and a Tour Tour and Lunch at Ecovillage in Shawnigan Lake Tour of the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre Visit to Keating Farm Estate Music and Speech Guitar Finger Picking Lessons Play Reading Sing for Fun Out and About Exploring the Chase Woods on southern slopes of Mount Tzouhalem Hawk Migration from East Sooke Park Hiking the Cowichan Valley Nature Walk Walks in the Woods Photography Basic Photography Digital Cameras - 101 Layers for Photoshop Elements Photography and Fun Photography Part II: Review and Follow-up

We welcome your feedback. Email Elder College to tell us how you liked a past Elder College activity.
We also welcome your suggestions for the next session. To suggest an activity, email Elder College.

Starting in September

Starting in October

Fall Gardening Fall in the garden is the transition from summer colour to late blooming plants, appearance of colourful foliage, planting of spring bulbs and preparing for winter. Presentation will cover these aspects of fall gardening. At Dinter's Nursery. Instructors: Bernie Dinter and Staff Thur 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Oct 1 1 session/$10 Code: 14196	Basic Photography Covering the basics of camera technology, film or digital, Q & A session. Composition and colour theory basics, photo assignment. Basics of critiquing photographs, yours and others, review of photo assignment with class. Instructor: Harvey Elbe Thur 9:30 - 11:30 am Oct 1 - Oct 15 3 sessions/$28 Code: 14198	Visit to Keating Farm Estate Tour includes the main house with its Great Hall (1894) and the dairy and hay barn (1949 and earlier), with information about the families who lived and farmed here. The Land Conservancy purchased the property, and The Keating Community Farm Coop guides the agricultural activities, as part of the movement towards greater food security. Instructor: Nicole Haddad Fri 9:30 - 11:30 am Oct 2 1 session/$10 Code: 14199
Watercolours for Beginners Watercolour study will research the intensity of colors, washes and staining. Color opposites, objectives, and planning will be included. Supply list available at registration. Instructor: Bernice Sutton Fri 9:30 am - 12:00 noon Oct 2 - Oct 23 4 sessions/$35 Code: 14432	Armchair Travel: San Diego & The Mexican Riviera A slide show of a brief visit, in January 2009, to San Diego followed by a 7-day cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan & Cabo San Lucas. Bird and whale watching side trips were taken Presenter: Eric Marshall Fri 1:30 - 3:30 pm Oct 2 1 session/$12 Code: 14200	Tour and Lunch at Ecovillage in Shawnigan Lake An illustrated presentation on the history of Ecovillage, zoning, etc, will be followed by a question and answer period, a guided walk around the Ecovillage and finishing with a lunch. ($7 to be paid to Ecovillage for lunch) Instructor: Brandy Gallagher, ED, Mon 9:30 am - 2:00 pm Oct 5 1 session/$15 Code: 14201
Layers for Photoshop Elements Demonstration of use of layers to edit and enhance photos and to create composite images Instructor: Nancy Oliver Mon 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Oct 5 1 session/$12 Code: 14202	Exploring the Chase Woods on southern slopes of Mount Tzouhalem Mostly gentle slopes, a few short steep sections; includes coastal Douglas fir forest, Garry oak meadows and panoramic views of Cowichan Bay and mountains to south. Eagles, hawks, heron, and migrating Canada geese, maples and dogwoods displaying their fall colors, and dramatic rock formations. Leader: Terry Phillips Tue 9:30 am - 12:00 noon Oct 6 1 session/$10 Code: 14211	Armchair Travel: France, Paris, Belgium & Holland. Enjoy the sights and sounds in video as we travel through west central France into Paris. Continue into Belgium and Holland. We focus on Chartres, Rouen, Central Paris, Antwerp, Ghent, Brugges and Amsterdam. Video presentation. Presenter: Shane Davis Tue 1:30 - 3:30 pm Oct 6 1 session/$12 Code: 14203
The Wisdom Literature in the Bible and the Apocrypha A critical study and development of glossary. Job as the "patient/impatient" in a poetic dialogue; Ecclesiastes and Proverbs (folly and a "way of looking at the world"); Apocrypha writings-Ecclesiasticus and Wisdom of Solomon; Song of Songs-discourse of love, metaphoric riddle. Instructor: Daniel Gerwing Tue 9:30 - 11:00 am Oct 6 - Oct 27 4 sessions/$32 Code: 14204	Play Reading Come and have fun reading a variety of published play scripts, working with characterization and dialogue. Instructors: Jean Davis and Christine Bennett Tue 10:30 am - 12:00 noon Oct 6 - Nov 10 6 sessions/$40 Code: 14205	Nature Walk An easy walk with frequent stops to examine typical fall fauna and flora of Cowichan Valley. Meet the instructor in the Island Savings Centre lobby at 9:30 am near the ticket centre to discuss plans and organize car pools. Leader: Val George Wed 9:30 am - 12:300 noon Oct 7 1 session/$10 Code: 14206
Native Culture Understanding the Cowichan people's ways and lives. A presentation with DVD/ Instructor: Philip Joe Wed 1:00 - 3:00 pm Oct 7 1 session/$12 Code: 14207	Armchair Travel: Thailand Treat yourself to an arm-chair travel experience to "The Land of Smiles," sampling the sights of the country, and touring the North, South and Central regions of Thailand. Cultural and religious aspects of the country will be considered. Presenter: John Wheelock Fri 1:30 - 3:30 pm Oct 9 1 session/$12 Code: 14208	Spanish for Beginners Language for poets, romance, travellers and all those who enjoy learning new languages. Come to roll your R's and drop your H's. Bienvenidos beginners. Instructor: Blanca Stead Tue 1:30 - 3:00 pm Oct 13 - Nov 24 7 sessions/$44 Code: 14209
Gentle Yoga A gentle yet challenging class suitable for beginners as well as those with some Yoga experience. The class will focus on balance, strength, and flexibility, using Yoga poses. Instructor: Shirley Mura Tue 9:30 - 11:00 am Oct 13 - Dec 1 8 sessions/$52 Code: 14210	Fairbridge Farm History Newcomers to the Cowichan Valley think Fairbridge is merely a housing development. They are surprised to learn of the rich heritage: the farm, school, people who lived there, and founder, Kingsley Fairbridge. Learn about this place in our history. Instructor: John Hardy Wed 10:00 - 11:30 am Oct 14 1 session/$12 Code: 14212	Geology of British Columbia A presentation on the geology & building of BC with an explanation of how Vancouver Island came to be what it is today; illustrated by maps and diagrams. Instructor: Bud Fulton Wed 1:30 - 3:30 pm Oct 14 1 session/$12 Code: 14213
Making Prints from Wax Plates Using the reduction method, create 3-colour prints with non-toxic paraffin wax plates. The workshop will be held at "the STUDIO...down by the Bay". Bring a brown bag lunch. $10 to be paid to instructor for supplies. Instructor: Beverlee McLeod Wed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Oct 14 - Oct 21 2 sessions/$20 Code: 14214	Guitar Finger Picking Lessons Travis finger picking alternate -bass style. Style used by Paul Simon, James Taylor, Leo Kottke, John Renbourn, & others. Some playing in alternate tunings. No finger picking experience required, but some chord playing ability. Bring foot stool if you have one. Instructor: Graham Edwards Thur 1:00 - 2:00 pm Oct 15 - Nov 26 6 sessions/$38 Code: 14453	Men, Optimize/Energize Our Best Years Retirement or Refirement as a project manager (own or other), Volunteer, Aging, the changing role of Father and Grandfather, Social Networking and Wisdom + the role of Elder, Death and Dying, each will be covered from a men's perspective. Presentation and discussion. No class Nov 11 Instructor: Roger Kimmerly Thur 1:00 - 3:00 pm Oct 15 - Nov 26 6 sessions/$38 Code: 14215
Organize Your Digital Photos and More! New to digital? A beginners Workshop to learn a Free Photo program on your lap-top. Master organizing your photos, improve your photography skills and have fun doing it. Bring camera with manual, and laptop. (Two classes a week.) Instructor: Bonnie Hayward Mon, Thur 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Oct 19 - Nov 5 6 sessions/$38 Code: 14216	Morning Stamping 101 This is a chance for you to personalize your greeting cards by creating them yourself using rubber stamps. In this class you will learn the basics of stamping and make three projects. $10 to be paid to instructor for supplies. Instructor: Sharon Annis Tue 9:30 am - 12:00 noon Oct 20 1 session/$12 Code: 14217	Getting Fit for Hip Replacement With demonstration and group participation, a new hip joint owner will share a program of developing upper and lower body strength and mobility, and optimum nutrition and weight control-all contributing to the best preparation in the months between first X-ray and surgery day. Instructors: Page Porter and Stephen Shumka, RMT Tue 1:00 - 2:30 pm Oct 20 1 session/$12 Code: 14219
Afternoon Stamping 101 This is a chance for you to personalize your greeting cards by creating them yourself using rubber stamps. In this class you will learn the basics of stamping and make three projects. $10 to be paid to instructor for supplies. Instructor: Sharon Annis Tue 1:00 - 3:30 pm Oct 20 1 session/$12 Code: 14218	Dog Care and Nutrition Covering matters of dog care, such as nutrition, pros and cons of a raw diet, vaccinations, calorie count of treats, nail clipping, massage, travelling with a dog, and other really important dog lore and tails from 63 years of dogs! Instructor: Carla Boe Thur 1:00 - 3:00 pm Oct 22 - Oct 29 2 sessions/$22 Code: 14220	Photography Part II: Review and Follow-up Review of images taken at photography course in Spring 2009 Instructor: Cim MacDonald Fri 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Oct 23 1 session/$12 Code: 14221
Knees Work! Bringing flexibility and mobility to your stiff and sore knees. UK Sports and Rehab Therapist will teach you the biomechanics of the human knee and offer a program of exercise for pre and post op care. Please wear loose fitting pants or shorts and come for some "hands-on" work. Instructor: Bernie Musto Fri 1:00 - 4:00 pm Oct 23 1 session/$12 Code: 14249	Digital Cameras - 101 Are you thinking of getting a digital camera? Do you have one and want to learn more about using it? Bring your questions, your camera and instruction manual. A discussion session for novices. Instructor: Eric Marshall Fri 2:00 - 4:00 pm Oct 23 1 session/$12 Code: 14222	Armchair Travel: Mongolia Off the beaten path travel. Visit Ulan Bataar, Jalman Meadows, Gobi Desert, Hustai National Park, Hongo Khan Mountains, Kharjhorin and the Naadam Festival - slide presentation. Presenter: Carolyn Prellwitz Mon 1:30 - 3:30 pm Oct 26 1 session/$12 Code: 14225
Maximize Your Tax Savings while Preserving Your Wealth Are taxes taking an ever-increasing share of the nation's total income? (The average Canadian family pays more in taxes than it spends on food, shelter and clothing.) Although current tax laws make it extremely difficult to accumulate significant tax-sheltered assets, we will explore different opportunities for lowering your taxes. Instructor: Ray Sapergia Wed 10:00 - 11:00 am Oct 28 1 session/$12 Code: 14226	Tour of the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre A 40-50 minute walking tour of the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre and the woodworking workshop facilities. See the model boats on display; learn some of the local history; see boats being restored; and how the maritime centre came to be. After the tour look at displays in more detail. Instructor: Suzan Lagrove Fri 10:00 - 11:30 am Oct 30 1 session/$13 Code: 14227
Blue Orchard (Mason) Bees The life history of these efficient pollinators of fruit trees will be described. Various types of bee houses and their care will be discussed. The over-wintering cocoons will be displayed. Instructor: Eric Marshall Fri 1:30 - 3:00 pm Oct 30 1 session/$12 Code: 14228		Sing for Fun Join with others who enjoy singing favorite songs around a piano. No experience necessary. Instructor: Beverly Medford Fri 1:00 - 2:30 pm Oct 30 - Dec 11 7 sessions/$44 Code: 14229

Starting in November

Armchair Travel: Malta Placed strategically in the Mediterranean, Malta has been occupied by every major civilization since ancient times. This slide show and talk will document the history and current circumstances of this island nation Presenter: Val George Mon 1:30 - 3:00 pm Nov 2 1 session/$12 Code: 14230	Make a Pine Needle Basket Using the long needles of the ponderosa pine weave a small, decorative basket. $2 cost for raffia to be paid to the instructor. Instructor: Brenda Hicks Mon 1:00 - 3:30 pm Nov 2 - Nov 9 2 sessions/$24 Code: 14231	An Introduction to Islam We will take a look at Islam's beginnings and its spread around the world. We will also look at the difference between Shia and Sunni sects, Islamic law schools and the role of Sufism. Photographs will be used to illustrate the lectures. Instructor: Gwyneth Kingham Mon 9:30 - 11:00 am Nov 2 - Nov 16 3 sessions/$28 Code: 14232
Introduction to Digital Photo Editing For beginners. Topics will include: Resolution and pixels, re-sizing, cropping, reading histograms, colour adjustments, Levels and Curves, and adding text. Although we will be using Photoshop CS3, skills taught will be common to most digital photo editing programs. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of MS Windows. Instructor: Bruce Kingham Mon 2:45 - 4:45 pm Nov 2 - Nov 16 3 sessions/$36 Code: 14233	Traditional Chinese Mah Jongg - Game of the Four Winds Dust off those antique Mah Jongg sets and learn to play this classic Chinese tile game. Steeped in tradition and similar to card games such as rummy, combines elements of strategy and luck. Played with 144 solid tiles comprised of "suits," "honours" and flowers (flowers are optional). Both beginners and experienced players welcome. Instructor: Judi Baker Tue 1:30 to 3:30 pm Nov 3 - Nov 24 4 sessions/$32 Code: 14234	Insurance, are you at risk of not being able to collect? How the right insurance can preserve your wealth. (W-5 reported recently on the risk of not being able to collect mortgage insurance) - Leaving a legacy on a shoestring budget - Long term care and the importance of coverage. Instructor: Ray Sapergia Wed 10:00 - 11:00 am Nov 4 1 session/$12 Code: 14235
Patchwork Tabletop Tree Perfect for your table of to pack flat for mailing. This wooden tree will be dressed in holiday paper and trimmed with your choice of finishing touches, photos, decorations. $14 to be paid to instructor for materials. Instructor: Sharon Curtis Wed 1:00 - 4:00 pm Nov 4 1 session/$12 Code: 14236	Let's Talk Nutrition for the Health of It Want to learn more about why good food is good for us, nourishing the body as it helps fight off disease; and bad food is bad and can create disease?. A focus on nutrienting the body through food for optimal energy, reduced stress on the body, weight (and waste) management, and overall health. Interesting new topics in nutrition as well. Hosted by kinesiologist, current Director of Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services. Instructor: Chris Wilkinson Fri 11:00 am - 12:00 noon Nov 6 - Nov 20 3 sessions/$28 Code: 14239	Letters from the Front in World War One Roger's uncle went off to war in 1916 aged 19. He wrote home every week for 18 months until the Battle of Passchendaele. Excerpts from this correspondence will be read telling of conditions, events and places long forgotten. Instructor: Roger Lamont Mon 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Nov 9 1 session/$12 Code: 14241
Microsoft Excel 2003 For Beginners Learn the basics of this powerful spreadsheet application. Build a spreadsheet from scratch and learn to use some of the built in calculations and formulas. Create a graph to highlight your results. Your spreadsheets will be easier to use and look more presentable. A working knowledge of Windows is required Instructor: Doug Perkins Tue 2:45 - 4:45 pm Nov 10 - Dec 15 6 sessions/$40 Code: 14186	Christmas Cards - Stamped Using stamping, embossing, and related techniques, make 6 different styles of Christmas cards to give to special people on your list. $15 to be paid to instructor for materials. Instructor: Sharon Curtis Thur 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Nov 12 1 session/$15 Code: 14243	Antiques and Collectibles An open forum to discuss antiques and collectibles. Each participant is welcome to bring a small item for group discussion or for identification. The instructor, who is a member of the Diggers' Club, will bring unusual items to identify. Instructor: Herb Hlady Thur 1:30 - 3:30 pm Nov 12 1 session/$12 Code: 14242
Canadian History: Fifteen who made a difference A personal look at nineteenth century historian Thomas Carlyle's supposition that 'great men always emerge at critical moments in history' (the Great Man Theory) as applied to the history of Canada, 1608-1984. Instructor: Nick Prowse Thur 10:30 am - 12:00 noon Nov 12 - Nov 26 3 sessions/$28 Code: 14246	Carving a Christmas Santa Carvers have a choice of style of Santa Claus they carve - old world or modern from wooden blanks supplied. Suitable for beginner carvers. $5 to be paid to instructor for wooden blank. Power carvers accepted if they bring a dust collector. Instructor: Rollie Holland Mon 1:00 - 3:00 pm Nov 16 - Dec 14 5 sessions/$38 Code: 14245	Leaving a Legacy A well crafted estate plan can insure your legacy provides the maximum benefit to the ones you care about, saving money, time and conflict within families. The speakers introduce and describe important issues relating to wills, probate, estate administration, tax planning, charitable giving and life insurance. Instructors: Fran Kirby and Richard Friedrich Thur 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Nov 19 1 session/$12 Code: 14244
Christmas Greens and Floral Arrangements Class 1-Holiday Season Door Wreath: 18", made with fresh seasonal greens, moss, baubles and bows. Class 2-Table Top Christmas Tree: decorate your pot using a hot glue method and create a mini Christmas tree (approx 16" high) with fresh Christmas greens and mini ornaments. Class 3-Fresh Flower Table Centrepiece: oblong, with candle, sumptuous ribbon, and seasonal decorations. Supply list at registration. $20 to be paid to instructor for supplies. Instructor: Pat Spezowka Tue 9:15 am - 12:00 noon Nov 24 - Dec 8 3 sessions/$32 Code: 14237	Jig Knitting Learn this knitting method using loom and pegs from Quebec pioneer days, now being rediscovered. Easy even for those with arthritic joints, inexpensive hobby. Make a scarf with a ball of wool, in single session. (Purchase jig from instructor for $15.) Instructor: John Ripley Wed 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Nov 25 1 session/$12 Code: 14238	Armchair Travel: India Start in Delhi & go to Jaipur Ragasthan for the Festival of Holi, then Kanna (tigers), Gujarat (the last Asiatic lions); Kerala (wild elephants), and Mysore & Bangalor with their temples, gardens & markets. Assam & Meghalaya & the Asiatic Rhinos on the edge of the Brahmaputa River. Presenter: John Dufton Thur 1:30 - 3:30 pm Nov 26 1 session/$12 Code: 14248

Starting in December

Canadian History: Conflict, innovation and the twentieth century gospel of the great isms The doctrines that shaped the twentieth century combined with parallel advances in science and technology resulted in death and destruction on an unprecedented scale. Instructor: Nick Prowse Thur 10:30 am - 12:00 noon Dec 3 - Dec 17 3 sessions/$28 Code: 14247

To register for a program, print and send in the registration form or call 250-748-7529.

We welcome your feedback. Email Elder College to tell us how you liked a past Elder College activity.
We also welcome your suggestions for the next session. To suggest an activity, email Elder College.

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