Road Scholar & Northern Arizona University: 40 Years of Learning Together
There’s something about Arizona that captures the imagination and doesn’t let go. Maybe it’s the red rock landscapes, where millions of years of history are displayed within their layers. Or perhaps it’s the rich heritage of Indigenous cultures, whose deep connection to the land stretches back millennia. For lifelong learners, Arizona is more than a destination — it’s a place of endless discovery. From vast deserts to towering canyons, the region’s stunning landscapes and complex history invite visitors to explore both the natural world and the stories that have shaped it.
In Arizona, the land speaks to you, and it’s no surprise that it has become the heart of one of Road Scholar’s longest-running collaborations. In 1983, Road Scholar — then Elderhostel — partnered with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to create immersive programs throughout the region. Led by expert university instructors with deep ties to the region, Road Scholar participants explore national parks, urban centers and hidden gems on foot, by rail, by raft and by camera.
“It was all very grassroots,” says Lynn Gibb, the Road Scholar program manager who works with Northern Arizona University (NAU). “In the beginning, Road Scholar staff went to colleges and universities all over the country and asked if they’d like to be part of this nonprofit dedicated to lifelong learning.”
As a teachers’ college committed to building a better future through education, a partnership with an organization dedicated to inspiring adults to learn, discover and travel, was a natural one.
It’s also one that celebrated its 40th anniversary this summer. “It’s a perfect partnership,” says NAU Road Scholar director, Mary Hansen. “We’re as committed to lifelong learning as Road Scholar is.”
Mary knows firsthand the expanding and educational asset of travel and experiential learning. "I grew up in Sedona, Arizona, and lived there my whole life,” she says. “As soon as I could, I went to places I’d never been, places I never knew existed, and it changed everything for me.”
Expanding her perspective also helped Mary realize what was so captivating about the place she’d spent most of her life. “I love sharing the diversity of the Southwest with participants,” she says. “And though I’ve spent most of my life in the Verde Valley and Flagstaff areas, I’m always learning about the natural and cultural history of where I live so I can help others learn too.”
Arizona definitely puts a new spin on “lifelong learning.” The cultural and natural history run deep. “There’s so much Indigenous history here, so much to learn about Hopi and Navajo cultures. We’re lucky to have Indigenous Group Leaders who can communicate that history so beautifully.”
Participants opting for programs like Hopi Mesas & Navajo Lands of Canyon de Chelly & Monument Valley and Ancestral Homelands: Hopi, Navajo and Chaco Canyon spend time on reservations and experience the landscapes, artifacts and traditions that have shaped these ancient cultures.
“I love that Road Scholar can change people’s lives — time and time again, I see our participants visibly moved and inspired by their experiences here,” Mary says. “But it’s also true for our field staff, too. Our Group Leaders are moved by our Road Scholar participants, too. Road Scholars are just so genuinely interested, curious and want to learn. They’re welcome to new perspectives and love expanding their cultural intelligence.”
In fact, many of NAU Road Scholar experts have been leading programs for over 20 years. “Some have been here since the beginning,” Mary says. “Or they leave and do other things, but they always come back. That’s a testament to the mutually impactful nature of these programs.”
One of Road Scholar’s largest — and longest-running — partnerships, NAU programs account for twenty-two of Road Scholar’s domestic learning adventures. “We have 25-30 Group Leaders,” says Mary. “Every August we meet to talk about the year and get together.” This past August, they celebrated with an anniversary party. “It’s amazing, the dedication of our people. Until 2022, we’d had Group Leaders who had been with us since the beginning in 1983.”
There’s also an incredible diversity of experts. Eric Kee, for example, was born and raised on the Navajo Nation in Tuba City, Arizona. In addition to sharing his Navajo culture, Eric enjoys spending his spare time building Native American flutes, working with silver, and hiking, kayaking, and camping with his family. Eric met his wife Tracy in Florence, Italy, during his three years teaching English and working at Italian camps for kids. He lends his expertise on the Hopi Mesas & Navajo Lands of Canyon de Chelly & Monument Valley, Ancestral Homelands: Hopi, Navajo and Chaco Canyon and Hiking the Grand Canyon: Adventures On and Below the South Rim programs.
Or Amanda Sahli who, working with native plants and archaeology, leads groups of all ages around the Colorado Plateau. She believes that nature is the best teacher and classroom. She has worked as a ranger and a guide at Grand Canyon National Park and has experienced everything from rustic lonely winters at Tuweep Ranger Station to baking summers at Phantom Ranch to rafting the wild waters of the Colorado River. She’s also one of the experts on Treasured Landscapes: Hiking Organ Pipe and Saguaro National Park.
“What an incredible experience,” says Road Scholar participant, Yvonne from Portland, Oregon. “Our Group Leaders were immensely knowledgeable, along with being kind, competent and always available for our questions. I would mark this as one of the best experiences of my life. I saw the spectacular views I had wanted to see, and learned much more about Native American culture, which I also had wanted.”
Sandra from North East, Pennsylvania agrees and says, “Some of the places visited are only accessible by members of Native American tribes, and we were so fortunate on so many levels to have members of the Navajo and Hopi tribes as our Group Leaders. Their personal experiences and insights to their daily lives were a priceless gift that they shared.”
Road Scholar Program Manager Lynn Gibb has long worked in tandem with Mary and NAU to brainstorm projects and set itineraries, but her relationship with both the state and the university go back further. “When I was a student, and after graduation it was full time, I worked for the University of Arizona Road Scholar program,” Lynn says. “This was in the mid-1980s,” she adds, so it’s definitely an area Lynn is familiar with, and she, too, was at the anniversary celebration in August.
“NAU is so supportive of Road Scholar,” says Lynn, and Mary agrees. “They know the value of the work we do. We love Road Scholar, and we’re so glad it’s a part of our institution.”
See Road Scholar’s complete collection of learning adventures with Northern Arizona University.