Education for Older Adults

SCOSA offers educational, socialization, and recreation programs for older adults (60 and over) that encourage vitality through physical, social, mental and spiritual engagement.

COVID-19 Precautions: SCOSA's programs are being offered in-person (masks recommended, and Stockton Health Pledge required), and/or online via Zoom. SCOSA complies with Stockton guidelines. CLICK HERE for the latest from Stockton. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) provides useful information for everyone. (CLICK HERE)

SCOSA programs are partially funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, through grants from the Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services, Cape May County Department of Aging And Disability Services, and the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. Each funding source requires us to collect basic demographic information from our participants. The NJ Division of Aging Services also compels us to inform participants about their Privacy and Non-Discrimination policies, available for review by Clicking Here.

SCOSA gladly accepts voluntary donations. Such donations are not a fee and are not required. Donations are used to develop and operate future programs. To donate directly to SCOSA please make checks payable to SCOSA and send them to: SCOSA/SOBL, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205-9441. Please indicate if you need your donation to potentially be tax deductible. If so, we will put it into one of our Foundation funds; if not, we will deposit into a revenue account that directly supports our operating expenses.

Upcoming Older Adult Education, Socialization and Recreation Events

* We also encourage you to visit our Stockton Institute for Lifelong Learning listing by Clicking Here.

Players and Playwrights Meeting

January 21 - December 16

Players and Playwrights Meeting Each third Saturday, 1-4pm, John F Scarpa Academic Center | Players and Playwrights (P&P) is a collective of playwrights and readers (aka players) who meet monthly to read original plays. Performances are organized several times a year. Interested players and playwrights are invited to attend a meeting once before committing to join.

Time to Tell Memoir Writing

February 06 - December 04

Time to Tell Memoir Writing First Monday of each Month, 10-11am, Online via Zoom | Personalized instruction with monthly meetings to help you chronicle the stories of your life. Creative writing styles, including poetry and photographs, can also be used to tell your story.

Tour of Poetry

February 11 - June 10

Tour of Poetry Second Saturday through June 2023, 11am-1pm,Otto Bruyns Public Library, 241 West Mill Road, Northfield | During each session of this monthly program, an established poet will read original work, present an engaging lecture, and encourage participants to write & share something of their own. Participants will have an opportunity to have their poetry included in the Tour of Poetry Anthology.

Players and Playwrights Meeting

February 18 - December 16

Players and Playwrights Meeting Third Saturdays each Month, 1-4pm, John F Scarpa Academic Center, Room 311 | Players and Playwrights (P&P) is a collective of playwrights and readers (aka players) who meet monthly to read original plays. Performances are organized several times a year. Interested players and playwrights are invited to attend a meeting once before committing to join.

Knit & Crochet with Lois: Summer Session 1

May 15 - July 03

Knit & Crochet with Lois: Summer Session 1 Mondays, 5/15-7/3/2023, 9-11am, Stockton at Manahawkin | This eight-week class will teach you to knit and/ or crochet like you are a pro! You will learn to read patterns and make something for yourself, or as a gift.

One Stroke Painting: Summer Session 1

May 15 - July 03

One Stroke Painting: Summer Session 1 Mondays. 5/15-7/3/2023, 11am-1pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | One Stroke Painting is sweeping the decorative painting world. It's fun! It's easy! It's quick! One Stroke is a multi-loading style of acrylic decorative painting that is very friendly to novice painters. It is equally usable on metal, plaster, glass, wood, fabric and ceramic surfaces. You will be excited too, when you find out for yourself how easy One Stroke is. Imagine, blending, shading, and highlighting all in One Stroke! Classes teach you to freehand various strokes and to build your own unique pattern.

Chair Yoga: Summer Session 1

May 19 - July 07

Chair Yoga: Summer Session 1 Fridays, 5/19-7/7/2023, 9-10am, Stockton at Manahawkin | Join Lois for Chair Yoga, for modified poses that can be done while seated, which makes the poses accessible to more people.

Adult Tap Dance: Summer Session 1

May 19 - July 07

Adult Tap Dance: Summer Session 1 Fridays, 5/19-7/7/2023, 10-11am, Stockton at Manahawkin | Join Lois Allen of Lois Allen's School of Dance to learn adult tap dancing, an exciting and social activity.

Adult Belly Dancing: Summer Session 1

May 19 - July 07

Adult Belly Dancing: Summer Session 1 Fridays, 11am-12pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | Join Lois Allen of Lois Allen's School of Dance to learn belly dancing!

Ball Room Dance: Summer Session 1

May 19 - July 07

Ball Room Dance: Summer Session 1 Fridays,5/19-7/7/2023, 12-1pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | Join Lois Allen of Lois Allen's School of Dance to learn Ball Room Dance

SILL: American History: World War I

June 06 - 28

SILL: American History: World War I Wednesdays, 6/7-28/2023, 12:30-2pm, Galloway Campus Room F-209 | WWI is often thought of as the end of the long 100-year peace, which stretched from the end of the Napoleonic wars to 1914. During the period, Germany, Italy, Britain, France and Russia all became principal players in imperial competitions one with the other. Two new powers, the United States and Japan emerged as well. The gilded age was considered an age of immense progress. No one thought it could all be torn down by a 4-year war that would result in the wholesale destruction of five empires. The peace of Versailles which ended the war is considered so imperfect as to have set the stage for the next World War just 20 years later. The ramifications of WW1 are still with us in the configuration of western Europe, Ukraine, eastern Europe and the Middle East. This course examines these major issues and helps us reflect on contemporary global issues as well.

Perspectives on Aging Through Film

June 06 - July 11

Perspectives on Aging Through Film Tuesdays, 6/6, 13, 20, 27, (skip 7/4), & 7/11/2023, 1-2 pm Online via Zoom | The relationship between society's stereotypical perception of ageing, and the ways in which it is conveyed through images in the movies, are connected. Our ideas of growing 'old' are linked to images that we see on screen: youth-obsessed seniors facing mid-life crisis, not able to handle retirement, worrying about our mortality and dealing with sickness or cognitive impairments. This course will Introduce films that challenge these stereotypes of aging. We will see Seniors who are role models that offer wisdom and years of life experiences. We will meet characters that are role models: witty, active, smart, kind, generous. caring, and talented.

Introducing American Ancestors: Webinar by The Genealogy Center

June 13

Introducing American Ancestors: Webinar by The Genealogy Center Tuesday, 6/13/2023, 2:30-3:30pm, Online via Zoom | This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors - New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) - who we are, what we do, and how we can help you! With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more. Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locations from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, AncesTrees-our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogic goals. Presented by Claire Vail, Vice President for Digital Strategy and Communications.

SILL: Ireland at Home and in America

July 05 - 26

SILL: Ireland at Home and in America Wednesdays, 7/5-26/2023, 12:30-2pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | There are some 70 million people who claim in one form or another a connection to Irish heritage around the world. The various diasporas which have connected the Irish people to politics, culture, and religions both at home and abroad are remarkable. As the publisher of the Irish Echo in one of Dr. O'Meara's works on the subject noted " to witness Rick O'Mear bring to life the trials and tribulations of an Irish American warrior who faced hardship and horror on both sides of the Atlantic but who rose again to redeem the soul of every being who ever struggled against injustice is a thrill and a treat which will strike a deep chord with Ireland's 70m strong global family."- Mairtin O' Muilleoir. These histories and tales are clearly worth telling.

SILL: American History: World War II

July 11 - August 01

SILL: American History: World War II Tuesdays, 7/11-8/1/2023, 12:30-2pm, Galloway Campus Room F-225 | The most glaring characteristic of World War II is the sheer vastness of the tallies; the numbers of people killed and wounded, the destruction of cities and whole states, the leaders assassinated and convicted, the amount of equipment first created, then destroyed in battle and ultimately abandoned as the war ended. The loss of it all-entire generations wiped out, ethnic groups disappeared, cultures disseminated, families separated...starvation, industrialized murder, torture, indiscriminate violence and the infliction of pain. The size of the destruction is so great that it often causes us to ignore it. This course helps the student to organize the information, identify the major trends and ramifications which continue to influence and shape the way global politics and culture operates today.

SILL: America and Vietnam: 1955-1975

August 02 - 23

SILL: America and Vietnam: 1955-1975 Wednesdays, 8/2-23/2023, 12:30-2pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | The American intervention into Vietnam was only one of many such confrontations the United States undertook during the Cold War, yet, it proved ot be one of the longest and bloodiest experiences the United States faced since the end of World War II. This course explores the reasons the US undertook to intervene, the intersections of Cold War and domestic politics, the military prosecution of the war, and the war's legacy regarding how America looks at itself and responds to the challenges of the 21st century. Dr. O'Meara is a Vietnam War veteran who fought in the infantry in 1969. He has published fiction and poetry regarding the experience, had returned to Vietnam to examine the war's legacy, and works with Veterans' groups regarding disability and other types of claims.