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 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 and Cape May County Department of Aging And Disability Services. Starting in January 2022, the Ocean County Office of Senior Services will partially fund our programs in Southern Ocean County. 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.

May Walks in Atlantic County

May 04 - 25

May Walks in Atlantic County Wednesdays, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, & 5/25/2022, 11am-12pm, Location Varies Weekly | Meet Michaelle at 11am on Wednesdays for a walk. All levels welcome! The location varies each time (click on title for details). You can attend one walk or all! Let's get moving and take in some fresh air together. Please bring water and comfortable walking shoes.

Knitting & Crocheting

May 16 - July 11

Knitting & Crocheting Mondays, May 16, 23, (skip 30), June 6, 13, 27, & July (skip July 4) 11, 2022,10am-12pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | This six-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

May 16 - July 11

One Stroke Painting Mondays, May 16, 23, (skip 30), June 6, 13, 27, & July (skip July 4) 11, 12- 2pm, Stockton at Manahawkin, 712 E. Bay Avenue | 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. 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.

Poetry Collaboration

May 24

Poetry Collaboration 5/24/2022, 10am-12pm, Online via Zoom | Join a group of amateur poets in reading, writing, and appreciating the written art of poetry. Each month, a member will share an activity and a poem with the group.

Chair Yoga

May 27 - July 01

Chair Yoga Fridays, May 27. June 3, 10,(skip 17) , 24, July 1, 2022, 9:30-10:30am, Stockton at Manahawkin, 712 E. Bay Avenue | Join Lois for Chair Yoga, for modified poses that can be done while seated, which makes the poses accessible to more people.

Preserving Your Family's History Through Scanning

May 31

Preserving Your Family's History Through Scanning 5/31/2022, 2:30-3:30pm, Online via Zoom | Don't be afraid! Open that scanner and scan. Join us as we talk about scanners, scanning, and things associated with scanning which might help you in your journey toward archiving your family treasures. Presented by Kay Spears.

ASA Webinar: Keeping your Brain in Shape: The Importance of Proactive Brain Health

June 01

ASA Webinar: Keeping your Brain in Shape: The Importance of Proactive Brain Health 6/1/2022, 1-2pm, Online via Zoom | Join SCOSA and The American Society on Aging. The brain is an important organ that often doesn;t get the attention it deserves. It is our body's command center and as we age, we are at an increased risk for cognitive impairment. However, research is finding that there is much we can do proactively to keep our brain in shape as we age and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment later in life. Join us for this webinar in the month of June, which is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, to learn more about proactive brain health.

June Mini SILL: An Introduction to the Holocaust in Nazi-Occupied the Netherlands

June 02 - 09

June Mini SILL: An Introduction to the Holocaust in Nazi-Occupied the Netherlands Thursdays, June 2 & 9, 2022, 11am-12pm , Stockton at Manahawkin |

Time to Tell Memoir Writing

June 02

Time to Tell Memoir Writing 6/2/2022, 12-1:30pm, 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.

SILL: Exploring your Spirituality: Finding Meaning Across the Lifecourse

June 03 - 24

SILL: Exploring your Spirituality: Finding Meaning Across the Lifecourse Fridays, June 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2022, 9-10am, Online via Zoom | Across four zoom sessions, we'll define and explore "spirituality" through both secular and religious interpretations; and discuss how we all search for truth, values, and meaning in our lives. Participants will learn ways to enhance their spiritual literacy, draw maps of their spiritual journey, and engage in exercises/rituals to enhance their creativity.

Classic Film First Friday: My Man Godfrey

June 03

Classic Film First Friday: My Man Godfrey 6/3/2022, 1-3pm, Stockton at Hammonton and Online via Zoom | Join Nick at Hammonton for this tale starring William Powell and Carole Lombard where a scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler- but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye!

2nd Wednesday: Make a Friendship Bracelet for Pride Month

June 08

2nd Wednesday: Make a Friendship Bracelet for Pride Month 6/8/2022, 11am-12pm, Stockton at Hammonton, 30 Front St. | Staff from the Noyes Museum and Kramer Hall will show you and a loved one how to make a friendship bracelet in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

6 Key Elements to Understanding Dementia

June 09

6 Key Elements to Understanding Dementia 6/9/2022, 1-2pm, Online via Zoom | Join SCOSA and the American Society on Aging. It is estimated that one out of six women and one out of ten men older than age 55 will develop dementia. Today, there are 5 million older adults who have been diagnosed with dementia, and that number is growing. While the diagnosis is a result of a physician's assessment, often the care falls to a paid or unpaid caregiver, which can be overwhelming. Understanding the unique behaviors associated with dementia and gaining tips to help manage the behaviors of loved ones/patients can play a huge role in a caregiver's success. This webinar will give participants a better understanding of potential cognitive changes and healthy suggestions on choosing appropriate activities for loved ones and patients. This webinar also will identify signs of caregiver burnout, to help alert caregivers of the risks.

Square Gift Baskets

June 11

Square Gift Baskets 6/11/2022, 10am-12pm, Swan Bay Folk Art Center, 300 Sooys Landing Rd, Port Republic | Create two of these practical baskets in one class. These 6"square baskets have colored reed woven through them with a reed bow. This is a great basket to fill with your favorite candy or cookies. Keep one and give one as a gift.

Tour of Poetry

June 11

Tour of Poetry 6/11/2022, 11am-1pm, Otto Bruyns Public Library of 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 & Playwrights

June 18

Players & Playwrights 6/18/2022, 1-4pm, Stockton University John F. Scarpa Academic Center Room 210 | Players and Playwrights (P&P) is a forum in which accomplished and aspiring Playwrights can propose original plays to be read by Players - with the aim of presenting public reader's theater productions, annually. The meeting is open to anyone who wishes to participate in reading, writing, or enjoying plays.

Greeting Card Workshop

June 20

Greeting Card Workshop 6/20/2022, 11am-12pm, Stockton at Manahawkin | Join us for greeting card classes. We will make two creative greeting cards, suitable to send to your friends or family. Bring scissors, glue, and either colored pencils or markers to each class.

Disability in the Brothers Grimm

July 08 - 29

Disability in the Brothers Grimm 7/8, 15, 22. & 29/2022, 12-1pm, Online via Zoom | This course will look at the Grimm Nursery and Household Tales through a disability studies lens. Our approach will include a discussion of narrative prosthesis, the practice of using disability to further a plot. Disability or deformity is often presented as an obstacle to "wholeness," a signifier of nefarious character, or a punishment for wrongdoing. This representation becomes problematic when we look at the Grimm's Nursery and Household tales as a socialization tool for 19th century middle-class German children. We will also look at the Brothers Grimm and their own battles with poor health and disability and how these experiences may have affected their fairy tale projects. The oral tales the Grimms collected did not contain instances of disability at nearly the same frequency as the final Nursery and Household Tales. Cinderella's step-sisters kept their vision at the conclusion of the first edition, but had their eyes plucked out (as punishment) in the second and subsequent editions. We will look at possible explanations for that and other changes.