Road Scholar

Not to be confused with Rhodes Scholarship, Road Scholars, or roads scholar.
Road Scholar
Not-for-profit
Industry Educational travel
Founded 1975
Headquarters Boston, Massachusetts
Number of employees
 270
Website roadscholar.org

Road Scholar is an American not-for-profit organization that provides educational travel tours primarily geared to older adults. The organization is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. From its founding in 1975 until 2010, Road Scholar was known as Elderhostel. Road Scholar offers study tours throughout the United States and Canada and in approximately 150 other countries.[1]

History

Elderhostel was founded in 1975 by friends Marty Knowlton, social activist and self-described hippie, and David Bianco, director of residential life at the University of New Hampshire. Knowlton rejected as ageism the belief that one's mind must fail as one ages. After four years of backpacking through Europe and staying in hostels, Knowlton, then in his 50s, returned to the United States to direct the youth hostel program at the University of New Hampshire. There, he and Bianco, the university administrator, decided that society needed "elderhostels" in addition to youth hostels.[2]

The program started in the summer of 1975, offering older adults noncredit classes and dormitory housing on campuses in New England[3] — a sort of "summer school for retired people."[4] Elderhostel was officially established as a not-for-profit organization in 1977. Its program offerings expanded through the United States and Canada, and eventually internationally. By the 1990s, more than 200,000 people were learning with Elderhostel each year.[3]

In 2010, Elderhostel changed its name to Road Scholar in order to appeal to the next wave of older travelers: Baby Boomers. CEO James Moses explained the name change to the San Francisco Chronicle: "Hostel" no longer accurately described the lodging offered on the programs and "Baby Boomers, even when they're in their 60s, don't like to think of themselves as 'elders,'" he said.[4] For a few months during 2010, the company was called Exploritas before changing its name to Road Scholar.

Educational programs

Road Scholar now includes 5,500 programs, dividing them into the categories of theme-based, inter-generational, outdoor adventures, service learning, adventures afloat, and independent city discoveries. One program, titled Take to the Tranquil Skies as a Student Pilot may soon be ending. This program was an inter-generational trip in which participants learned the basics of flying an airplane. However, the college that sponsored that program may not continue to do so after 2016.

Scholarships

Elderhostel extends approximately $300,000 yearly in scholarships to North American participants who might otherwise be unable to attend a Road Scholar program [5]

Research and grants

Elderhostel conducts research on aging and lifelong learning.[5] Research articles include:“What Will Baby Boomers Want from Educational Travel,” and “Mental Stimulation and Lifelong Learning Activities in the 55+ Population.”

References

  1. ↑ Flinn, John (22 June 2012). "Road Scholar: Former Elderhostel still about learning". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Nelson, Valerie J. (18 March 2009). "Martin P. 'Marty' Knowlton dies at 88; co-founder of Elderhostel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 Greene, Kelly (19 September 2009). "Travelers Wanted". Wall Street Journal.
  4. 1 2 Flinn, John (22 June 2012). "Road Scholar: Former Elderhostel still about learning". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 "GuideStar Exchange Reports for Elderhostel, Inc". .guidestar.org. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
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