We are very happy to introduce you to our latest customer service tool, our
Quarterly Email Newsletter.
Here you will find fun and interesting seasonal news and information about NAU
Elderhostel.
In this
issue we feature:
- Janet Collins - instructor for one of our Sedona art
programs.
- Gail and Daniel Buckley, dedicated to Service.
- Ellen's excellent Elderhostel experience.
- Links to program photos and interesting tidbits about this area.
We would love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you
have a story you would like to share, or think of a topic you
would like us to cover. Just send us an email to
elderhostel@nau.edu
If you are not interested in receiving this Newsletter in the future you will
find information at the bottom on how to unsubscribe.
Wishing you peace and joy this holiday
season.
The Staff at NAU Elderhostel
|
|
Let's Talk
About... |
Janet Collins - art instructor
Drawing Fundamentals And Colored Pencil Techniques
"I love nature and wildlife. Living in Sedona
has
provided an abundance of photos reference opportunities. I work only from my
own reference photos. I work with both colored pencils and acrylics. My favorite
medium is colored pencil. It allows me to capture the details of my subjects
along with their vibrant colors. The burnishing techniques I use for my colored
pencil paintings give a very painterly quality to each work.
It is difficult to
tell whether it is paint or colored pencil.
My paintings and photography have been accepted in numerous juried shows in
California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona and have won many awards. Locally,
my work can be seen at the Sedona Arts Center and The Sedona Trading Post in the
Village of Oak Creek."
|
|
A
Story to Share |
An Elderhostel Service Commitment - Gail and Daniel Buckley
Seven years of service programs on the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations have given my husband, Daniel, and me experiences we will treasure all our lives. It started in 1997, when looking through the Elderhostel catalogues we happened to see a program for tutoring in Navajo schools in Monument Valley, Utah. Having an interest in the Southwest and Native American cultures, we signed up and embarked on an adventure that continues to this day.
 Neither of us had been
teachers in our careers but both had taught in various capacities; I as a social
worker and Dan as a personnel trainer. I discovered I loved being in an
elementary school classroom, interacting with the children and teacher. That led
me to want to learn more about teaching techniques, especially how to inspire
and motivate students.
We quickly found as we returned week after week, year after year that school staff and Elderhostel coordinators became our friends. Each year we have spent more time on the reservations. Sometimes we even come on our own when there is no Elderhostel program scheduled.
About six years ago while on a Mexican Hat service program, we met Ray Coin, a coordinator for NAU. Ray, a Hopi himself, wanted to start a school-based service program on the Hopi reservation and we said we were ready to sign up. When it became a reality the following year, we were there in the first group of Elderhostel volunteers. As much as we loved Mexican Hat Elementary School, we did find our true home at Second Mesa Day School. On Hopi, Elderhostelers are now acknowledged and much appreciated. The village culture of the Hopi allows us to more easily meet families, observe dances and ceremonies and in general feel more a part of the life on Second Mesa.
I have been going to Hopi now for 5 years and my commitment has grown to about 8 weeks a school year. Having had the privilege of following the same group of children from 2nd to 6th grade, I can’t imagine life without our Elderhostel service weeks. Dan, who likes to be more of the grandpa and teacher’s helper has opted to work with particular teachers with whom he has established good rapport.
During our first year at Hopi, we learned from another couple about Futures for Children, a non-profit organization based in Albuquerque that assists Native American children in Arizona and New Mexico. Since that organization’s goal is to encourage the children to graduate high school and go on to other educational opportunities, we felt that sponsoring Hopi children would enhance our Elderhostel experience. Dan and I now sponsor 19 children, most of whom go or went to Second Mesa Day School. We know all these children and their families personally. Other repeat Elderhostelers at Hopi have also become sponsors. Yes, there are many repeaters for the Hopi service program and we have become friends too.
For all that we give to the schools, the staff and students, we get so much more in return from the rich, fulfilling experience of being a service volunteer.
|
|
NAU Elderhostel in the News
"We have just completed another
Elderhostel. My certificate says:
“The Elderhostel of Northern Arizona University presents this
Certificate of Valor to Ellen Gardner who has not a timid soul but
journeyed forward with a strong desire for knowledge and adventure.”
My husband Jim and I drove to
Las
Vegas where the Elderhostel started on Sunday, Aug. 10, with dinner and
orientation. Monday morning the 32 of us — plus our
coordinators/naturalists, Jeff Strang and Jennifer Beltz — boarded the
NAU bus to begin our adventure...."
Read more about
"Ellen's
excellent Elderhostel Experience"
in this article published by The
Yuma Sun.
(Grand Canyon's of the West, # 2806)
|
Photo of the month
By coordinator Jennifer Beltz
Check out other NAU Elderhostel photos taken by our participants and located on their
individual websites:
Phil Frisk
(Grand
C. hiking)
Bob Yelavich
(Grand C. rafting)
|
|
|
Recommended reading
|
|
|
Tips and ideas
|
From the mouth of our coordinators:
"When in Arizona, always carry a bottle of water and
dress in layers."
Jeff Strang & Jennifer Beltz
|
Website
The latest addition to our website is a
Regional Map where you can click on a location to find the programs that visit
that area.
To the map
(Be aware that the
map is a large image and will take some time to download)
|
|
Northern Arizona
University Elderhostel
