Lifelong Learning BC3 offers classes popular with people over 50
Butler County Community College offers more than 200 noncredit Lifelong Learning classes at the main campus and other locations that are popular with people 50 and older.
Classes that give people an opportunity to try to experiment with new hobbies, improve health and learn modern technology are the most popular, said Paul Lucas, Lifelong Learning program director.
“We have a lot of seniors that like to come,” Lucas said.
Classes that teach hobbies such as scuba diving and kayaking allow people to try new activities using the school's equipment so they can see if they like them before investing in equipment, Lucas said.
“If you don't like it, you don't have to buy the equipment,” he said.
Yoga, tai chi, dancing, aroma therapy and other fitness and health classes are popular.
“One of the main stays people like is the dance class,” Lucas said. “Gardening is really popular.”
Technology classes draw a lot of older students who want to learn how to use or improve their ability to use computers and smart phones.
The smart phone class includes one-on-one time with the teacher who shows students how to download and use apps, he said.
Digital photography is a separate class to help people who used to use cameras to use phones to take pictures.
The ancestry class is a hit with people interested in researching their family history.
Culinary classes give students a taste of making pierogies and strudel, and the pasta class, taught by a native Italian woman, teaches students how to make pastes and sauces from scratch, Lucas said.
He said the gourmet chocolate and candy apple class was so popular when it was introduced a couple years ago that additional classes were added to accommodate all the people who registered.
Most classes have six to 20 students, but some like computer classes have limited space because of the number of available computers.
A lot of classes are taught by experienced laypeople.
Conversely, the elder law class, which teaches people about wills, living wills and other issues they or their parents are dealing with, is taught by a lawyer, Lucas said.Some classes last only one or two sessions.The real estate class, which prepares students to take the real estate license test, runs for an entire semester, he said.Ideas for new classes come from research Lucas conducts into trends, potential students and people interested in teaching.Class costs vary, but the school tries to make them affordable while covering its costs, Lucas said.
