LIB536
Travel and Transitions: Exploring the Transformative Power of Journeys in Later Life
As we grow older, questions around vitality and purpose take on new significance. Research shows that travel can play a vital role at this stage in our lives. For many, travel also becomes a powerful way to navigate transitions and shifts in identity such as retirement or loss. We’ll explore the relationship between travel and vitality through an academic and reflective lens, taking into account research, personal stories and individual reflections about the deeper purposes of journeying in our later years. We’ll examine how travel can influence our decisions and impact our cognitive health, emotional well-being and sense of meaning in later life.
This course is offered in person.
A $50 discount is available during check-out for adults 55+.
Overview
Location: Vancouver
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $180 plus GST
Can be applied to:
Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
- Tue, Jan 13, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Tue, Jan 20, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Tue, Jan 27, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Tue, Feb 3, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Tue, Feb 10, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Tue, Feb 17, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
Course outline
- Week 1: Travel and the aging brain—why it matters
Travel is a lifelong learning opportunity. We’ll review the current neuroscience on the importance of building cognitive reserve through novelty, curiosity and maintaining a growth mindset. - Week 2: Navigating transitions through travel
We will look at how travel has historically served as pilgrimage. We’ll discuss the impact of life transitions and the choices we make about how and where we travel during challenging times. - Week 3: The joys of long, slow, gentle travel
Slow, gentle travel is growing in popularity, especially among older women. Beyond the physical and emotional benefits, we will look into the practicalities as well as the ethical concerns that impact the planet. - Week 4: The power of travelling solo
In recent years, the travel industry has seen a rapid increase in solo travel amongst female baby boomers. Autonomy, increased wealth and a host of new opportunities have made this possible. We’ll also look at some strategies for navigating solo travel’s common challenges. - Week 5: Lightening the load—packing and letting go
Packing is both a practice and a metaphor. We will discuss how to let go of our attachment to “stuff” in order to enjoy the benefits of travelling light. - Week 6: Travel as our legacy
In this final week, we will be forward-looking. We will discuss the intergenerational impact of our journeys and consider what future generations might learn from our actions and contributions.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Understand how travel can support personal growth in later life
- Explore how journeys help us navigate life transitions and discover new purpose
- Reflect on the deeper meaning of your own travel experiences
How you will learn
- Lectures
- Participation in discussions
- Guided reflections
- Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Technical Requirements
Handouts and other course resources will be available on Canvas, SFU’s online learning system.
To access the resources, you should be comfortable with:
- Using everyday software such as browsers, email and social media
- Navigating a website by clicking on links and finding pages in a menu
- Downloading and opening PDF documents