You can now travel the world with SUU
By Haven Scott
This new year, southern Utah residents, adults and youth alike, can resolve to learn something new in fun, affordable, and exploratory ways made possible by Southern Utah University’s Community on the Go and Community Education program.
In 2018, Community on the Go took 72 adult travelers on global adventures. Destinations included ancient ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru; timeless villages, hamlets, and castles throughout Transylvania and western Romania; and Broadway plays and art museums in New York City. Like a study-abroad experience for adults, trips are designed for adult community members with SUU faculty serving as trip leaders and guides. Additionally, trips benefit SUU student scholarships
The university’s new Community Education program has also brought exciting, educational experiences in the form of social-based classes. Favorites include the popular Southern Utah Chef, a class where local chefs teach participants how to cook a recipe from their restaurant menu; a Master Astronomer’s Program taught by Cedar Breaks National Monument staff; and several parent/youth art and science classes. More than 500 residents have participated in SUU’s new Community Education program since its launch one year ago.
“We’ve experienced such a positive start,” said SUU Community and Academic Enrichment executive director Melynda Thorpe. “Community response to our first year of operation is more than we expected, and we are all excited to continue growing SUU’s elective learning and travel programs in 2019.”
Not all of SUU Community Education participants are from Cedar City. Lori Hanna, owner of Perks Espresso & Smoothies in St. George, said that she and her husband enjoyed getting away from their busy life as business owners and escaping to Cedar City where they took the Art of Wine Tasting class offered through SUU.
“The instructor is so knowledgeable and made the class fun,” Hanna said. “The whole class was an amazing experience, the atmosphere, making new friends with classmates — it was the perfect little distraction for us, and we looked forward to making the drive to Cedar City each week.”
Last November, SUU director of ethics and compliance Ann Marie Allen made the journey to Normandy with her father, former Utah House Rep. Kay McIff, to retrace the steps of her grandfather Eldon McIff with SUU Community on the Go experts.
From London’s Churchill War Rooms, where WWII missions were planned, to beaches in France where Allied troops came by sea and shops offering French pastries that cannot be found in the U.S., Allen said the best part of the trip was the opportunity to spend quality time with her father while traveling and learning.
“The staff at Community on the Go did an excellent job planning,” she said. “In terms of travel arrangements, transportation, the sites that were selected — it was so seamless that it allowed us to really enjoy each other’s company without the burden of those logistical details.”
SUU Community Education continues its learning opportunities with more affordable, short-term classes beginning in January and February, including social dance, adventure hiking, Southern Utah Chef, cake decorating, travel French, art classes, financial strategies, gardening, landscaping, and several other classes designed to be active, social, and fun. Community on the Go trips in 2019 include China in April, Paris in May, Europe in October, and Christmas in London in December.
For additional information on SUU Community Education classes or to receive a copy of the spring 2019 class schedule, email bewise@suu.edu or visit suu.edu/wise. For help registering for a class, call (435) 865-8529 or stop by the SUU Office of Community and Academic Enrichment at 136 W. University Blvd., suite 3, in Cedar City. For information about Community on the Go trips, visit suu.edu/onthego.
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