ROAD SCHOLAR

ROAD SCHOLAR 
MAC’s mission of providing educational activities extends to adult audiences and working with Road Scholar is a way to fulfill that mission. Affordable, all-inclusive programs are offered nearly year-round and include experienced group leaders, lectures by experts, field trips and excursions, accommodations and meals. Four-day, three-night “Snapshot” programs are offered as well as the traditional five-night, six-day programs. The minimum age to participate is 55, though companions may be younger.

ROAD SCHOLAR programs are now available to commuters. This can be especially beneficial to Cape May County residents and second home-owners. You can enjoy the learning and camaraderie without incurring the costs of overnight accommodations. Commuter pricing included instruction, lecture, field trips and all meals.

MAC offers programs from Spring through Fall. See below for dates and descriptions.

A Victorian Primer in Cape May, the Nation’s First Seashore Resort
This is the program that MAC offers most frequently throughout the year and it’s a great way to learn about the Victorian era and Cape May’s heritage. Content changes slightly, depending on the season of the year and what’s going on in Cape May. It’s earned Elderhostel’s “most popular” program designation due to its strong enrollment.
• 2012 Dates: April 29-May 4, May 20-25, June 3-8, June 10-15, August 19-24, August 26-31, September 9-14, October 7-12, October 21-26 & November 4-9
Get to know Cape May as you immerse yourself in the history and ambiance of this quaint Victorian town. Cape May is a museum without walls, with its unique collection of Victorian structures. Local experts and educators bring the fascinating seaside town to life as they introduce you to Victorian social history, customs and traditions. This course is a primer on all things Victorian: architecture and the secrets that old houses hold, literature, decorative arts, antiques and pastimes. Enjoy visits with living history characters, guided walks of Victorian architecture (including a visit to the Frank Furness designed Emlen Physick Estate), a visit to the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and an elegant tea lunch at the Carriage House Tearoom.

Cape May Maritime Sampler (Snapshot)
• April 10-13, May 29-June 1, September 4-7, September 30-October 2, 2012
The nation’s first seaside resort exudes Victorian charm where the Delaware River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Study Cape May’s development and human character to see why it endures as a destination for today’s visitors. Explore the third-largest harbor on the East Coast, home to the US Coast Guard recruit training center. Musicians perform tunes of the 40s, 50s and 60s to highlight the music of a generation, and World War II Cape May comes alive at sites significant to the wartime defense of the East Coast. Veterans from Cape May discuss their roles in wartime, and a lighthouse fact-and-fiction lecture precedes a chance to climb the tower. See how wine is made at the Cape May Winery, and savor local vintages at a barrel tasting.

From Dock to Dish and Grape to Glass
• April 22-27 & September 16-21, 2012
Mouth watering delicacies await you in the gourmand's paradise of Cape May. See why the New York Times has listed Cape May as 'the restaurant capital of New Jersey.' Experience the tastes of southern New Jersey, and learn about food production and preparation with guided field trips to the docks to meet the charter fleet captain; a local winery, where the vintner takes you to the vineyard and cellar and conducts a wine tasting; and area restaurants to learn the secrets and techniques from the chefs. Cultivate your culinary skills through demonstrations on food preparation, presentation, nutrition and even pairing wines with foods. As a special feature, enjoy meals with Victorian characters from Cape May's Victorian past.

Transparent Watercolor by the Sea with Barbara Cox
• May 6-11 & September 30-October 4, 2012 
The historic city of Cape May becomes a studio without walls to help you develop your skills in transparent watercolor. Each morning and afternoon, instructor Barbara Cox, will demonstrate techniques for the group and then give one-on-one instruction as you paint. Evening activities include critiques, videos and lectures. Weather permitting, classes will be conducted on location outdoors to capture the drama of sunlight and shadow. In the event of rain, class will be conducted in the hotel with still life vignettes. Program includes field trips to the beach, lighthouse and Emlen Physick Estate, where you'll paint on the newly restored grounds of Cape May's only Victorian House Museum. Beginners and intermediate painters welcome.

Birding Cape May with Mark Garland
•  May 13-18 & September 23-28, 2012
Cape May has earned a reputation as one of North America's best birding locales. Situated at the Southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May features a diverse set of protected natural areas and the intersection of two major migration flyways. Local experts lead field trips to the most important birding locations at peak seasons for migratory birds. Spring brings warblers and other songbirds onto the shores of the Delaware Bay. Autumn highlights are often hawks, falcons, eagles and other raptors over land and skeins of sea ducks, cormorants and other water birds along the coast. The backdrop for the birds is the charming seaside town of Cape May with its Victorian architecture and scenic lighthouse

Cape May: Adventures on Water (Snapshot Program)
• September 4-7, 2012
From your base in one of Cape May’s famed Victorians overlooking the beach, dive into the waters and seaside history of this 200-year-old community first settled by whalers from the Plymouth Colony. As you kayak, cruise and float the local waterways, experts narrate the history of the area where the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay meet. Learn the basics of kayaking, then join a local instructor on a kayak exploration of Cape Island Creek and Cape May Harbor, and see the principles of wetland ecology up close. Come closer to marine life on a whale- and dolphin-watching cruise, then try your luck landing fluke, croakers and weakfish on a fishing expedition. A haunted trolley ride and evening of music brings Cape May’s past to life.

Cape May Hawk Migration with Mark Garland (Snapshot)
•  October 14-17, 2012
Featuring several protected natural areas at the intersection of two major flyways, Cape May is one of North America's best birding locales. Amid Victorian architecture and seaside charm, go birding in Cape May Point State Park, and listen as a local columnist and amateur birder details the other birding opportunities in the area. Enjoy pre-breakfast beach bird walks and test your skills on a field trip to Higbees Beach Wildlife Management Area and the New Jersey Audubon Morning Flight Project Platform. Well-known naturalists provide illustrated, interactive lectures with birding tips and tricks, and then accompany you on field trips to local hot spots where you can watch the hawk banding process and hone your birding skills.

Cape May Victorian Christmas (Snapshot)
•  November 25-28, 2012
Each winter for more than 35 years, Cape May has transformed into a Victorian Christmas Village featuring award-winning holiday programs. Embrace this charming setting to learn about treasured holiday traditions that date to the reign of Queen Victoria. Learn Victorian etiquette to prepare for a visit to the 1879 Emlen Physick estate, where during lunch you’ll take part in the debate over the merits of drink between a local saloonkeeper and a temperance union member. Later enjoy a visit with the Physick Family as it describes its preparations for the holidays and discusses its neighbors’ foibles, and be inspired by the historic district’s holiday finery in a hands-on workshop to create heirloom ornaments for decorating your own home.

A Dickens Christmas in Victorian Cape May
•  December 2-5, 2012
Where better to get into the spirit of a Victorian Christmas than Victorian Cape May, the nation's first seashore resort. The city becomes a true Christmas village, with garlands, trees and twinkling lights. The customs and traditions we celebrate today all originated during this era, as local experts and educators will tell you as they bring a Victorian Christmas to life. Enjoy programs on Charles Dickens, author of the beloved "Christmas Carol;" a workshop on Victorian ornaments; performances; visits with living history characters; a guided walk of the Frank Furness designed Emlen Physick Estate, authentically decorated for the season; a trolley ride to enjoy the holiday lights and an elegant luncheon at one of Cape May's fine restaurants.

Cape May Shore Life Arts & Crafts Sampler
•  October 21-26  & November 11-16, 2012
Experience the more artistic element of a classic seaside resort and vacation destination. On visits to Cape May studios, explore the workspaces of local artists and artisans and observe demonstrations that acquaint you with the materials and know-how needed to create pieces in a variety of media. Learn how stained glass is made, practice weaving baskets, get a lesson in shearing, spinning and knitting at an alpaca farm on Cape Island, learn the art of marbleizing, make jewelry from sea glass gathered on a beach walk, and much more. Additional highlights include a showcase of your work at week’s end, an evening session of music and history with a local musician, and a visit to a vineyard to see how grapes are grown and turned into wine.

Space is limited in these programs and they fill up quickly. For details or to register, visit www.roadscholar.org or call 1-877-426-2166 for a catalogue.

For more information, contact:
Mary Stewart 
Chief Outreach Officer
mstewart@capemaymac.org
609-884-5404, extension 1-131