A Love of Lifelong Learning
/
Paula Withrow, dressed as Mata Hari, teaches her class, “These Spies wore silk” at the Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning.
During a recent Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning course, instructor Paula Withrow did more than just teach history. She brought it to life.
The veteran history teacher from Weaverville was teaching a BRCLL course called “These Spies Wore Silk” about the history of women in espionage. Dressed as Mata Hari, Withrow recounted the life and exploits of one of the most famous female spies in history. Her mastery of the subject material was captivating and her sartorial commitment to the topic gave additional life to an already fascinating subject.
A dozen BRCLL students listened in rapt attention as Withrow walked them through a series of fascinating accounts of female spies in the 20th century. Sitting in on the lecture, it was hard not to lament the bone-dry history courses I took in high school and college. That perception, as it turns out, is a common reaction in Withrow’s classes. “People often come up after class and say I wish history had been taught this way when I was in school,” says Withrow. “People enjoy learning and I feel good being able to share the knowledge I’ve acquired through the years.”
This symbiotic benefit to both instructor and student lies at the heart of the success of BRCLL. Participants learn in a relaxed and stress-free environment without testing and grades. Instructors are provided a platform to share their passions and expertise.
—-
The Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning was started in Henderson County 31 years ago. The course topics are designed to cater to adults over 50 - the great majority of whom are retirees. The classes are taught on weekdays with no evening classes. From the start, the objective of the program was to provide participants with several core benefits:
If you are interested in strengthening your mind, expanding your knowledge, learning about your community, making new friends and staying active, the Blue Ridge Center of Lifelong Learning will be of interest to you.
Today, BRCLL has nearly 1000 members and offers an intriguing and wide-ranging array of courses. The breadth of offerings makes it a near certainty that members will always be able to find current course offerings that appeal to their particular interests. Upcoming courses include a program on Ruth Bader Ginsberg taught by someone who knew her personally, a discussion of the novel Life of Pi, a study of Carl Sandburg, and a guide competitive strategies employed in the Tour de France - just to name few.
Board Member, Mary Johnston, explains that members are surveyed to determine which course topics might be of most interest. The board also networks with area instructors and local “experts” to find people to teach each course. Mary finds western NC to be fertile ground for finding interesting people to share their knowledge. “We have a really good resource of retired or not-retired professionals that want to come to the campus to teach and share their knowledge.”
Some of the most popular topics covered include:
BRCLL course offering for May to August.
Local and Appalachian History
Current Events
International Affairs
US and International History
Science and Technology
Literature/Music/Art
Nature/Outdoors
Mary is also quick to point out that BRCLL benefits from the support of Blue Ridge Community College. “It is rather rare for a community college to have a lifelong learning program like ours. Our offerings supplement their continuing education programs, but with a unique structure that allows us to control the programming.”
Classes are taught on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College but BRCLL is a stand-alone entity. The program partners with the community college but is not administered by the college. BRCLL members select the topics for upcoming courses, find instructors to teach the courses, and handle all aspects of class registration. The community college provides access to classrooms and the necessary AV and computer technology to facilitate the instructor’s presentations.
Classes are typically only one to three sessions to make it easier to fit each course into the student’s schedule. In a typical month, BRCLL will offer 3 to 4 courses and the curriculum is updated monthly with classes announced and open for registration about 4 months in advance of the start of class.
BRCLL member Joanne Wilkinson is relatively new to the program and Henderson County, but is already a passionate advocate for all things BRCLL. “Every single class that I’ve taken has had an excellent teacher. The instructors are so invested in the subject matter they present and they are good instructors.”
BRLCC member, Ron Hollmeier also appreciates the quality of the programming. “I’m thankful that Henderson County has an organization like BRCLL. Classes are conveniently scheduled, and participation provides opportunities to meet and converse with interesting people.”
Interested individuals can find more information about the program at brcll.com where the current curriculum is posted and updated as new classes are offered. Interested individuals can also sign up for BRCLL’s monthly newsletter.
Adults 50 and older having an interest in the mission and activities of BRCLL can also become lifetime members of the organization for a one-time fee of $70. Membership benefits include the wide range of courses offered throughout the year, the monthly BRCLL newsletter, and discounted registration fees.
Joanne Wilkinson originally thought she would live in Asheville to be close to the lifelong learning program at UNC-Asheville. She was very pleased, therefore, to have discovered such a robust option for lifelong learning so close to her home in Flat Rock. “This is a great facility and opportunity that is right on our doorstep. There really is something for everyone. “
As an instructor, Paula Withrow embraces the full range of benefits offered by participation in BRCLL. “It’s educational in a fun environment with a strong social aspect. There’s a sense of returning to school but not having to be in school. You are just doing this for the fun of it.”
After two challenging years of pandemic protocols, Mary Johnston is energized about the future of BRCLL. “A lot of wonderful things are falling into place and I’m excited about our program going forward.”
—-
Learn more and see the current course schedule at brcll.com.
