L.I.F.E. (Learning Is ForEver) is an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost, and enjoyable adult-education experiences.
The Macomb L.I.F.E. program is affiliated with the national organization, Road Scholar: Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN). It is independently administered by area residents who develop the courses, select the teachers, establish the fees, and promote the curriculum.
For over 30 years, the LIFE program has offered a wide array of non-credit courses on various topics. These courses are offered every spring and fall semester and there is truly something for just about everyone.
If you are looking for a trip away, check out our Community Expeditions. Instructors for these programs include university faculty as well as community members who desire to share their knowledge and time.
For more information or to register for a class please go to wiu. edu/life or call the office at (309) 298-1911.
Alignment Chair Yoga for Easy Living This introduction of core yoga principles and information about how the muscles, bones, nervous system, and connective tissue work together will help explain the way we move through life. We will discuss how what we do every day with our bodies builds deep inner strength, balance within and without, ease, and connection. The teacher, who has taught chair yoga for years, will guide the class through simple movements, both seated and standing, with chair support. This class is appropriate for all abilities.
Instructor: Kathy Ganyard, a graduate of Macomb High School and University of Illinois, was a certified and licensed yoga therapist, massage therapist, and wellness counselor. Cost: $10 Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 1 - 2 p.m.
Place: Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St.
Armchair Traveler
Thursday, September 17: Portland and Columbia River Cruise - Steve and Janet Hopper spent a few days touring Portland, Oregon and the Willamette Valley before enjoying a river cruise along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. You will be amazed by the ever-changing landscapes along the way.
Thursday, September 24: Our Beautiful National Parks - Jim and Nancy Unruh will present their recently completed several years' journey to visit and explore all 46 national parks of the continental United States.
Thursday, October 1: Springtime in Holland - Join Cindy Cavett as she shares a beautiful Springtime River Cruise of Holland and Belgium, which was sponsored by the YMCA of McDonough County in April, 2026. Highlights will include the Keukenhof Gardens (featuring more than 7 million tulips and other flowers), Amsterdam, and the picturesque city of Bruges, Belgium. Cost: $15 Coordinator: Steve Hopper has coordinated the LIFE Armchair Traveler program for several years and has traveled to all seven continents.
Dates: Thursdays, Sept. 17, 24, and October 1, from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Place: Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St.
Parking: At the site Maximum Enrollment: 35 Beekeeping: Hive Inspections Brad Wagoner will discuss how a bee colony works and what happens during a bee inspection. You will see some of a beekeeper's equipment including a smoker, a bee suit, and the frames inside the bee box. The instructor will talk about various problems and pests a bee colony encounters such as mice, skunks, varroa, beetles, mites, and various diseases. Cost: $10 Instructor: Since 2020 Brad and Jen Wagoner have owned and managed The Woods Apiary in Macomb.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place: Lincoln Room, 1st floor WIU Union.
Parking: You can park on either side of the union for free, but if you park in a metered spot, you need to feed the meter.
Fall Gardening: Preparing for the Spring Season The growing season may be over for many home gardeners, but there is much you can do to prepare for next year. The instructor will deliver timely tips on how to get your lawns, landscaping, and vegetable beds ready for spring. Cost: $10 Instructor: Chris Enroth is currently a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties.
Date: Monday, Sept. 14, from 10 - 11 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Room, 1st floor WIU Union.
Parking: You can park on either side of the union for free, but if you park in a metered spot, you need to feed the meter.
Maximum Enrollment: 25 The Middle East During the Ottoman Empire, and The United States and the Middle East Post-World War II In the first class Dr. Roberts will consider major developments in the Middle East during the 500-year reign of the Ottoman Empire, from the conquest of Constantinople through the eve of World War I. It will focus on the expansion and nature of Ottoman rule and some of the Ottomans' encounters with Europeans and Americans. In the second class Dr. Filipink will examine the evolution of American relations with the nations of the Middle East after WWII. From the emergence of an independent Israel, the decline of British and French imperialism, and through (and beyond) the Cold War, the Middle East has been a centerpiece of American foreign policy. We will examine how and why that happened and its implications for the future. Cost: $10 Instructors: Dr. Tim Roberts is a WIU history professor. Before coming to Macomb he taught history in Ankara, Turkey, where he and his family lived for six years. Dr. Richard Filipink is a WIU history professor specializing in the Cold War, US politics, and foreign policy.
Dates: Monday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Room, 1st floor WIU Union.
Parking: You can park on either side of the union for free, but if you park in a metered spot, you need to feed the meter.
Preventing Bank Fraud
Fraud is growing more sophisticated, and scammers target people of every age, background, and income level. We will offer you practical tools to recognize scams, prevent fraud, and confidently navigate your digital financial life. By the end of this session, you'll be able to spot warning signs, know when a link is legitimate, and protect your accounts with simple habits. Cost: $10 Instructors: As VP of Operations, Kara Johnson leads fraud awareness efforts, helping staff and customers recognize risks and protect accounts through proactive education and controls. Susan Baldwin, Senior VP of Retail and Marketing, focuses on customer experience while promoting fraud awareness and safe banking practices. Both are employed at MidAmerica National Bank.
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Place: Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St.
Seventy Years a Barber
This program will explore the rich history of barbering, including the origin of the barber pole, the era of barber-surgeons, and the many changes that have shaped the profession over the past seventy years. Guests will also enjoy a guided tour of the shop's unique collection of artwork, featuring pieces from local artists and artifacts from around the world.
Cost: $10 Instructor: Jerry Tyson, a barber for over 70 years, started when he was just 19. Back then haircuts cost $1.
Date: Monday, Sept. 21, from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Place: Barbershop, 110 W.
Carroll St.
________. ___ _________ ___ ________________ This is a casual tour of the university art gallery. The instructor will discuss three current exhibitions: Mayuko Ono Gray, Vincent Hron, and Joseph Jesse Ovalle.
Cost: $10 Instructor: Tyler Hennings, Director, Western Illinois University Art Gallery Date: Friday, September 18, from 10 - 11 a.m.
Place: WIU Art Gallery, behind Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle Parking: Around the gallery for free. If you park in a metered spot, you need to feed the meter.
This course explores how the comprehensive rebuild of WIU's largest division, Academic Affairs, was begun and implemented. The class will review the various aspects of the Division, the factors that led to the decision for a 'Rebuild,' and the process of the implementation of the first two phases of the Rebuild itself. In a larger sense the class will engage the following topics: the notion of the public good in higher education policy; the realities of a 'state in name only' higher education budget; the significance of a university mission; and managing expectations and identity. Cost: $10 Instructor: Dr. Mark Mossman is a Professor of English. He currently serves as the WIU Provost and Academic Vice President.
Dates: Thursday, Sept.
17 from 10 - 11 a.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 1 - 2 p.m.
Place: Lincoln Room, 1st floor WIU Union.
