Learning Lakeside

Retire Everything But Your Mind

Do you long to sharpen your music skills or become computer-savvy? Dream of speaking and understanding another language? Well, jump on the bandwagon! Shenandoah’s retirees and those approaching retirement are moving seamlessly from their careers to learning of a different kind.

Most people think of the Shenandoah Valley as a haven for fishermen, hikers, and Civil War buffs, but the area boasts some excellent institutions of higher learning. Shenandoah University is only a twenty minute drive from the Shenandoah community. Lord Fairfax Community Campus in Middletown is about 10 miles away, and Washington DC’s campuses — and its fabled Smithsonian Institution — can be reached in less than an hour and a half. Most of these offer adult education classes, some year-round.

Not all learning is done in a classroom. A visit to a Civil War battlefield, the Shenandoah National Forest, or the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley will surely excite your brain cells. The area also boasts theaters, concerts, history pageants, instruction in woodland and water safety, book fairs, nature exhibits, gardening demonstrations, wine tours, and much, much more.

Don’t want to travel for tutelage? You can also learn new things and gain new skills without leaving the Shenandoah community! Many events and activities are organized by residents and held right on the campus. The History for Fun series attracts so many folks the group has to keep looking for larger and larger venues. Instruction in Photoshop Techniques draws a crowd of avid photographers. And the denizens of Lake Frederick learn from residents who are experts in the art of fly fishing. Learning is a big part of living at Shenandoah. Minds expand here.