Learning is Grand: Lynn R. is Thankful for Road Scholar’s Grandparent Adventures
- Lynn R. shared her lifelong passion for learning and travel with her grandchildren, Jacquelyn and Sterling, through 12 Road Scholar Grandparent Adventures.
- These educational journeys fostered a love of exploration and broadened the
grandchildren's worldviews, creating lasting memories. - Road Scholar programs strengthened family bonds and allowed Lynn to connect deeply with her grandchildren through shared learning experiences.
- Lynn's dedication to Road Scholar extends to her generous support, ensuring others can benefit from these transformative learning adventures.
“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.”
— Lois Wyse
When Lynn R. from Virginia married her husband, Elton, in 1959, she didn’t realize this would be the start of her travel bug. Within six years, they had moved to Germany, where he was serving in the military. “My husband did his share of traveling with the Army over the years — to Fort Carson, Colorado, Vietnam and Germany — where we lived twice,” says Lynn.
Living in Germany sparked Lynn’s love of travel and desire to learn. Her daughter was born in Germany. “When our children got a little older, we took them to Spain, the Netherlands and West Berlin. “Because we did so much with our children, I wanted to give that experience to my two grandchildren, Jacquelyn and Sterling,” says Lynn.
"I had heard of Elderhostel (as it was known at the time) and began checking out the programs offered,” says Lynn. In 2008, Lynn and Elton took their first Road Scholar program to explore Virginia’s Barrier Islands. “We hadn’t been to the Eastern Shore. We saw the wild Chincoteague ponies, and it was a great trip!” Next, she enrolled in a watercolor program in South Carolina.
Snorkeling with Sterling at the Great Barrier Reef.
A Generous Husband
Having done his share of traveling with the military, Elton was very content to stay at home when Lynn took her Road Scholar adventures with Jacquelyn and Sterling. “He enjoyed the peace and quiet when I was gone,” says Lynn. “He was generous and wanted me to spend time with our grandchildren. Elton always unlocked the door for me when I returned home,” jokes Lynn. “He passed away in 2018, nine weeks short of our 60th wedding anniversary — what a record!”
Close to Home
Lynn chose a Road Scholar grandparent program in 2008 close to home at a zoo in Wheeling, West Virginia, as her first experience with her granddaughter, Jacquelyn. “Seven years older than her brother, Jacquelyn went on these adventures with me first. I figured I could drive home easily if things fell apart,” she says. The learning adventure turned out to be a great success! Lynn went on to participate in a total of 12 Grandparent Adventures over the years — six with her granddaughter and six with her grandson, Sterling.
“I began giving Road Scholar grandparent programs to Jacquelyn and then, Sterling, for birthday and Christmas presents,” says Lynn. After her first program with Jacquelyn, the two went on to experience Park City, Utah, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park — where they hiked three miles at an elevation of 7,000 feet — and Hawaii, where they snorkeled. “Jacquelyn remembers all of our adventures, but Yellowstone and Hawaii were her favorites,” says Lynn.
Lynn with Jacquelyn at Yellowstone River Falls.
Sterling’s Turn
“By the time Jacquelyn had aged out, Sterling was ready for a Road Scholar experience,” says Lynn. In the summer of 2014, Lynn and Sterling embarked on the same Road Scholar program in West Virginia where Jacquelyn had begun. Another great success, the pair went on to explore alligators in Florida and Mount Rushmore.
The pair went on to explore the space program in St. Louis and Minnesota — where they learned about bears and wolves — and last but not least, Australia, in 2019, before Sterling aged out of the Grandparent programs. “Australia turned out to be Sterling’s favorite Road Scholar program,” says Lynn. “I surprised him with it!” One of their highlights was riding a camel together in the Australian Outback near Alice Springs.
Sterling and Lynn atop a camel in the Australian Outback.
A Great Way to Grow Closer
“Since I always lived near my grandchildren, I already had a close relationship with them,” says Lynn. “But for grandparents who don’t live nearby, Road Scholar’s Grandparent Adventures are a great way to get to spend time together and get to know each other better.”
At the time, Lynn wasn’t sure that Jacquelyn and Sterling knew how lucky they were. “They may have thought that every kid gets to do all of this stuff,” she said. “But they realize now how fortunate they were to meet people, broaden their view of the world and be more open. It also instilled a love of travel, learning and adventure in both of them.”
During the Mount Rushmore program with Jacquelyn, Lynn met a woman and her granddaughter from Brisbane, Australia. “We kept in touch and years later, when I traveled to Australia with Sterling, we met her and her granddaughter in Sydney.”
Lynn and Sterling in Sydney, 2019.
Giving Thanks to Road Scholar
To express her gratitude, Lynn began making undesignated gifts to Road Scholar nearly 20 years ago, including contributions from her IRA. “My grandchildren and I have gotten so much out of the programs. I want my donations to help where there is the most need,” she says. “We’ve broadened our horizons, met interesting people and made lasting friendships,” she says. “Everyone is very social and open to new ideas.”
Lynn also loves to spread the word about Road Scholar’s learning adventures. “Whenever I have an opportunity, I share my catalogs and encourage my friends to travel,” she says.
What’s Next
While Lynn has visited 47 states, 25 countries — and participated in 15 Road Scholar programs since 2008 — she’s not done learning and exploring. “I’m likely to look at the Road Scholar catalog and stick a pin in my world map,” she says. “I may also investigate the Choose Your Pace and Adventures Online programs!”