Here on our Harrisonburg campus, residents and neighbors regularly gather to hear a speaker, watch a demonstration or listen to music they may never have encountered before. We call it the Lyceum, and for many in our community, it has become a favorite part of life at VMRC.
But plenty of people didn't know what the word meant when they first saw it on the calendar. One resident admits exactly that. Now, he calls it a life-enriching experience. He and his wife decided to get involved together, and they're so happy they did.
So what turns an unfamiliar word into something people don't want to miss?
What Is a Lyceum?
The original Lyceum was the school in ancient Athens where Aristotle taught. In the 1800s, the word was borrowed for a movement of public lectures that brought speakers and ideas to towns across America, built on a simple idea: learning shouldn't stop when school does.
Our Lyceum carries that same spirit. It's a series of lectures and presentations on all kinds of topics, open to the VMRC community and the larger Harrisonburg community. Some sessions feature a speaker with pictures and visual aids. Others bring musical instruments into the room. The goal is to get everyone learning about things outside their usual day-to-day.
The Afternoon a Mallet Stole the Show
One resident still talks about a presenter who brought in an enormous stringed instrument and played it with a mallet. In their words, it was just amazing. Nobody walked in expecting to be moved by an instrument they couldn't have named that morning, and that's exactly the point.
Not knowing the speaker or the topic isn't a reason to skip a session. As one couple puts it, that's part of what the Lyceum is: an educational process where your horizons expand and you learn about something you may have known nothing about.
What Is VMRC's Lyceum Series Like for Speakers?
One speaker this season is opening a new series on interracial cooperation, sharing stories of reformers in Virginia during the Progressive Era. For them, teaching has always been about the people. They love working with learners of all ages, and they're quick to point out that there is always more to learn, no matter which side of the podium you're on.
Residents notice the care behind each lineup. Speakers are well chosen and topics are selected to represent many different interests, so every season offers something new.
How Do Older Adults Keep Their Minds Active in Retirement?
For many residents, the Lyceum doesn't end when the lecture does. One attendee describes it as a way to keep their mind active and to keep having meaningful conversations with the people around them. A new topic can become a dinner table conversation or the start of a new interest.
That's why regulars encourage others to come to every lecture in the season. As one resident put it, sometimes you don't really know what you're interested in until you go and learn about it.
Looking for Educational Programs for Seniors in Harrisonburg, VA?
For some, the Lyceum started as a word they didn't recognize. Now it's a way to stay curious, keep learning and connect with neighbors over ideas they never expected to explore. Whether you live on campus or nearby, we'd love to see you at the next lecture.
