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.

The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World's Happiest People

January 19 - February 23

The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World's Happiest People Thursdays, January 19- February 23, 2023, Online via Zoom | What is Happiness? Can you describe or define happiness? Let's learn from other people's happiness! This book will help you identify the areas in your life where you could improve and be happier. Since Happiness is different for each person, this book, "Blue Zones of Happiness," will help you identify your own recipe for happiness. You will be able to identify what is most important for you to be happy and how you can find joy and fulfillment as you create a better life.

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.

Knit & Crochet with Lois: Winter Session 1

January 23 - March 13

Knit & Crochet with Lois: Winter Session 1 Mondays, January 23-March 13, 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: Winter Session 1

January 23 - March 13

One Stroke Painting: Winter Session 1 Mondays, January 23-March 13, 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.

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.

Greeting Card Workshops

February 07 - May 02

Greeting Card Workshops Tuesdays, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4, & 5/2/2023, 11am-12pm, Stockton at Manahawkin, 712 E Bay Avenue | 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.

The Making of a Mosaic: European Migrant Journeys during the Age of Steam: 3 Part Series

February 07 - 21

The Making of a Mosaic: European Migrant Journeys during the Age of Steam: 3 Part Series Tuesdays, 2/7, 14, & 21, 2023, 2:30-3:30pm, Stockton at Manahawkin, 712 E Bay Ave | The Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center and the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society are excited to welcome Dr. Nicholas J. Evans, a Senior Lecturer in diaspora history at the University of Hull, for a series of free virtual programs. Dr. Evans, a migrant historian, will explore questions such as 'why did so many Europeans leave?' 'What was the journey really like?' Why when an ancestor arrived at Ellis Island did they settle in the mid-west?' He will illustrate how one can piece together the gathering of ancestors from their village/town of birth to the moment they commenced their journey west.

Live Well Lived Film & Discussion of Project

February 08

Live Well Lived Film & Discussion of Project Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 8:15-10am, Campus Center Trustees Room, 101 Vera King Farris Dr, Galloway | Based on the PBS documentary, "Lives Well Lived," students in Gina Maguire's Therapeutic Arts with Older Adults course would like 20-25 people over 60 who are creative (writers, cooks, dancers, painters, knitters, etc.) to meet 4-5 times during the semester. The first session is February 8th , 8:15- 10am, Campus Center Trustees Room. We will discuss the project, watch the documentary, and the be paired.

Life Drawing with Art Club

February 09

Life Drawing with Art Club Thursday, 2/9/2023, 7:30-8:30pm. Stockton at Hammonton, Kramer Hall 30 Front Street | Grab some paper and a pencil! It's time to draw!! This hour-long life drawing session is great for any level of artist. Free from the expectations of a rigid class structure, we will draw the clothed figure through a series of 8 timed poses of increasing length. After the final pose, attendees are encouraged to share their successes with the group. This is available as a hybrid session; live or through Zoom.

Heart with Handle Basket

February 11

Heart with Handle Basket Saturday, 2/11/2023, 10am-12pm, Swan Bay Folk Art Center, 300 Sooys Landing Road, Port Republic | One heart shaped basket will be completed in this class. It is about 10" across

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.

Love After Loss (Echoes and Reflections Webinar)

February 13

Love After Loss (Echoes and Reflections Webinar) Monday, 2/13/2023, 3-4pm, Online via Zoom | In time for Valentine's Day, this webinar, facilitated by Sheryl Ochayon, will reveal the love stories behind survivor's attempts to "return to life" after the Holocaust. Just as love often allowed survivors to retain their humanity during the Holocaust, love after liberation also helped them recover their humanity in the face of destruction. We will tell their stories and discover lessons about resilience and the human spirit.

The World-Famous Harlem Gospel Choir

February 17

The World-Famous Harlem Gospel Choir Friday, February 17, 2023, 7:30pm, Stockton University Performing Arts Center | Performing contemporary gospel with a touch of jazz and blues, The World- Famous Harlem Gospel Choir is synonymous with power vocals, glorious sound and infectious energy. For over two decades they have been America's premier gospel choir and have toured the globe thrilling audiences with the inspirational power of black gospel music. SCOSA has partnered with the PAC to offer a limited number of SCOSA sponsored tickets to the older adult community, online registration by 2/13/2023 required.

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.

The Contemporary American Novel

March 03 - 31

The Contemporary American Novel Fridays, 3/3,10, (skip 17), 24, & 31, 2023, 12:30-1:30, Galloway Campus | This course will outline the status of the contemporary American novel in the first session. Participants will select one to three recent American novels for the remaining three sessions, with a specific focus on contemporary American women writers as March is Women's History Month. The remaining three sessions will focus on the novel(s) selected, with lectures focused on genre, historical and cultural context, and other writers who explore similar themes. There will be time in each session for discussion of the lecture and novel. Participants are encouraged to read the novel prior to the session or use the course for enrichment of future reading. Novel list (participants will pick 1-3 for sessions 2-4): The Vanishing Half (2020) by Brit Bennett, A Children's Bible (2020) by Lydia Millet, A Woman is No Man (2019) by Etaf Rum, The Idiot (2017) by Elif Batuman, The Round House (2012) by Louise Erdrich, Salvage the Bones (2011) by Jesmyn Ward.