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Happy Holidays from the Academy!

Thank you for sharing the fun of learning and camaraderie during 2013!  As we close another year, sincere appreciation is due to those that taught, those who participated, and those that helped build new opportunities for people, like us, who simply enjoy exposure to new and different learning experiences.  Happy New Year!

Watch for the New Program Guide!

The Spring and Summer 2014 Program Guide has gone to press and we have continued to pursue free and engaging educational opportunities.

Here's a preview of some compelling program offerings:

Japanese Gardens - April 9, 2014

In April 2010, Doug and Joann Meyer traveled with a group from Japan House at the University of Illinois and toured 35 Japanese gardens in 10 days. This visual experience will focus on the Japanese garden as an art form, its sacred/secular beauty, key elements of garden structure, and the primary principles of Japanese gardening. 

The Mountain Dulcimer - June 12, 2014

The Mountain Dulcimer is an American folk instrument originating from the southern Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States around the time of the Revolutionary War. The instrument has been featured in recordings by Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, and Cyndi Lauper. Please join us to learn about the dulcimer and enjoy beautiful songs performed by Bill Lovecamp. 

EIU Garden Tour - July 17, 2014

This walking tour of the beautiful EIU campus will introduce you to a variety of plants and flowers and provide inspiration for your own garden. Learn some secrets to creating a beautiful garden in central Illinois. It's not just about growing plants, it's about the gardeners' labor of love.

January Dates to Mark on Your Calendar Now

January 16 - Day trip to the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice

January 22 - EIU Booth Library Resources available to you

January 23 - Learn About Your New Digital Camera

January 29 - Opening Reception for Muslim Journeys

Looking for a good book for the holidays?

Some current good reads you might consider:

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

The Weather Makers:  How Man is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Read and most of all, enjoy!