Educational Trips & Tours

The school bell is ringing for even more offerings at today’s community colleges. Take a look at the trips and tours that are being organized by various local and regional organizations.

For example, the McHenry County College (MCC) "Retired Adult Program (RAP) for Life-Long Learners” offers hassle-free outings, trips and excursions. Recent examples include:

  • Dog shows in Chicago (Kennel Club of America)
  • Weekend trips to Minnesota
  • Oak Park tours of Hemmingway and Frank Lloyd Wright
  • An 8 day tour of the California coast
  • Chicago Polish tour
  • 12 days in the SouthWest
  • Lincoln’s Springfield
  • Chicago’s Chinatown
  • Alaska tour
  • Broadway plays, etc.

The full description of RAP is found at the MCC website: http://www.mchenry.edu

Click on Continuing Education, then on Retired Adult Program (RAP) for their programs, then click on Trips and Tours for trip listings (or call 815-455-8782). Trips are open to RAP members and non-members.

Many national organizations offer great educational travel as well:

  • The not-for-profit Elderhostel organization offers more than 8,000 all-inclusive learning adventures in all 50 states and more than 90 countries abroad. Unlike tour companies, Elderhostel offers in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning experiences for almost every interest and ability. Topics include history, culture, nature, music, outdoor activities such as walking and biking, individual skills, crafts, study cruises. Visit the Elderhostel website at: http://www.elderhostel.com/
  • Local and regional all-inclusive Elderhostel programs might include Chicago experiences, a Lake Michigan nautical adventure, art institute programs, baseball across generations, Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain seminars, jazz festival, Taste of Chicago and others possibilities. See the up-to-the-minute listing of Illinois programs at the Elderhostel site http://www.elderhostel.com by selecting Illinois on the pull-down menu under “Where do you want to go?”
  • “Adventure Travel for People Over 50” is the focus of a site that lists off-the-beaten-path small group tours for active adults. They offer three categories of trips: Small Group Adventures, Expedition and Adventure Cruises, and Individual Adventures. Learn more at: http://www.50plusexpeditions.com