Adult Enrichment Series
Life Long Learning is a non-profit organization established in 1993 to offer community members an opportunity to hear and participate in discussions on contemporary topics such as history, the arts, health, travel, gardening, culture, cooking, literature, finance and more. A four-week educational series is offered twice each year in April and October. Everyone is welcome!
Who We Are
Life Long Learning, a non-profit corporation, was organized on March 11, 1993. Its purpose is to offer individuals residing in or near the Upper Perkiomen Valley opportunities to learn through hearing talks and participating in discussions on many topics including history, the arts, health, religion, travel, gardening, cultural diversity, cooking, literature, finance, and much more.
Life Long Learning fulfills its purpose by offering a series of seminars in the spring and fall each year. Three concurrent one-hour seminars are held before a thirty minute coffee break and three concurrent seminars are held after. Participants may choose two seminars – one from each time frame. Field trips may be planned to enhance the classroom experience. It is our hope that there will be something to interest everyone with each spring and fall session.
Life Long Learning is intended primarily for senior citizens in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas, but people of all ages are welcome to participate. There is a modest charge for the educational series to cover refreshments, facility costs, insurance, postage and equipment. The New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ graciously provides rooms and the necessary clerical and custodial services. The Upper Perkiomen School District generously assists with technology needs and printing requirements.
Life Long Learning has no paid staff. Its board of directors and all of its faculty members are volunteers, freely contributing their time, talents, and energy to what has become an important and popular part of the Upper Perkiomen Valley’s cultural life.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Eliza Mann, President
George Bonekemper, Vice President
Annette Thompson, Treasurer
Priscilla Kistler, Recording Secretary
Sharon Muntz, Recording Secretary
Maribeth Reigner, Communications Secretary
James Coffey Kathy Doyle
Carol Elias Susan Royer
Gail Gerhard Charles Shagg
Glenn Gilbert Jean Thobaben
Thomas Henry Kathie Utz
Rev. James Roth, Audio-Visual Coordinator
Dr. Allyn J. Roche, Upper Perkiomen School District Liaison
Get Involved
If you are interested in being a speaker for one of our upcoming events, please contact Eliza Mann at 610-326-3099 or via email at elizamann@comcast.net
Classes
Spring 2023 Course Listing
| SESSION 1 - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | ||
|
A. Planes, Trains, Automobiles... |
B. Nature and the Great Outdoors | C. Music in the Valley |
|
Apr. 4 – Trains: Railroading in PA: Apr. 18 – Steamboat: John Fitch-Inventor of the first steamboat company |
Apr. 4 – Growing Outdoor Recreation for Pennsylvania Apr. 11 – Green Lane Park: Then and Now Apr. 18 – Green Lane Reservoir: Important Bird Area |
Apr. 4 – Make Music Upper Perk Apr. 11 – Performance by UPHS Women’s Choir Apr. 18 – A Band Was Born--Red Hill's Cornet & Other Local Bands Apr. 25 – Performance by UPHS Select Strings |
| SESSION 2 - 11:00 am to Noon | ||
| D. Mind Your Manners: Etiquette to Netiquette *Class size limited to 24. All classes conducted by Annette Thompson, Linda, Woodley, Sharon Muntz & Candace Perry |
E. Gifts from the Garden | F. Art made Beautiful *Class size limited to 20 |
|
Apr. 4 – Historical Etiquette from Medieval to Victorian Times Apr. 11 – Manners in the Twentieth Century and Etiquette Customs Around the World Apr. 18 – Schwenkfelder Tea Items & Digital Day Manners Apr. 25 – Tea Social – “Practice What You Preach” |
Apr. 4 – Upper Perkiomen Valley Garden Club
|
Apr. 4 – Pysanky Ukrainian Easter Eggs Demonstration Apr. 11 – Creating Forever Flowers: The Art of Pressed Flowers Apr. 18 – Creating Pressed Flower Bookmarks Apr. 25 – Painting on Slate |
Class Instructors
Each instructor contributes their time to the Life Long Learning program.
We express our deep gratitude for their kind assistance.
Spring 2023 Class Instructors
Jennifer Burns – President of the Craven Hall Historical Society (Warminster, PA)
James Coffey – Retired UPSD Science Teacher
Linda Conrad - Worldwide Pressed Flower Guild member and Philadelphia Flower Show judge
Kevin Crilley – Environmental Educator, Montgomery County Parks
Marcia Grande – Retired UPSD Guidance Counselor, teacher & school principal
Jackie Jackson – Leader - Community Benefits Garden (all produce goes to Open Link)
Beverly Kalb - Self-taught artist, Sells her crafts at local art shows
Leigh Kieser - Penn State Master Gardener and Master Watershed Steward
Sharon Muntz – Retired UPSD Librarian & Teacher
Juliette O’Connor – Museum Educator, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Sandy Park - Ukrainian descendant, creates Pysanky Ukrainian Easter Eggs, Mosaics, and Concrete Leaves
Candace Perry – Curator of Collections, Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center
Nathan Reigner – PA Director of Outdoor Recreation, UPSD Graduate
Susan Royer - Co-founder of Make Music Upper Perk
Diana Rudloff – President, Upper Perkiomen Valley Garden Club
Linda Shagg – Educator and retired RN
Mark Thomas - Supervisor of Music, UPSD
Annette K. Thompson – Retired UPSD Counselor, Genealogist
Tom Wetzel - Member of the Red Hill Band
Linda Woodley – Retired UPSD Reading Specialist and Teacher
Register to Attend
All registration is by mail. Complete the registration form and mail with $20.00 non-refundable fee to:
Life Long Learning, New Goshenhoppen U.C.C.
1070 Church Rd
East Greenville, PA 18041
Enrollment is limited. Prompt registration will ensure your place in the classes of your choice. Please indicate your first, second and third choice for each hour.
Classes will be held on the following four Tuesdays: April 4, 11, 18, 25. One session of three concurrent classes will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Following a half-hour coffee break, a second session of three concurrent classes will
be held from 11:00 a.m. until noon.
All sessions will be held at New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ, East Greenville. Parking and elevator access are available in the lower parking lot next to the main church building.
On Tuesday, April 4th, the opening day, an orientation session will be held at 9:00 a.m. Please make every effort to attend.
Participants can register for one course at 9:30 for all four weeks and one course at 11:00 for all four weeks and attend the courses for which they are registered.
For further information, call Gail Gerhard at 215-679-6523
*Mask requirements will follow all Covid guidelines for New Goshenhoppen UCC.