Lancaster Region

What better way is there to be blessed by the abundant gems of nature around you than to wake up on a fresh first of June morning to join with others on an hour-long walk in the Wetlands sponsored by Pathways Institute.  The early morning sunlight will plant sparkles of dew on every emerging green leaf. It’s a good time to notice delicate cobwebs constructed by tiny spiders practicing their newly learned engineering skills with the plan to catch lunch nuggets before noon when the dew will have evaporated and disappeared. You will see some of the early birds who may be actively adding their last piece of straw to fashion their new nest just right, looking like ones made by their ancestors, generations earlier. There is beauty all around: flowers, grasses, reflections, critters and insects. Join us, appreciate the beauty, new life and the warm breezes that coax our world to wake up and join in on all the things that make our Wetlands on campus a wonderful environment where wildlife can flourish.  The group will meet at the main entrance to the Crossings building at Landis Homes and will leave for a walk promptly at 9:00 am. Please wear comfortable shoes. We will be walking on smooth paths, sidewalks and roadways. Feet will stay relatively dry.   

The course will present the stories and the backgrounds of 6 persons who assassinated U.S. presidents and two other political figures (Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy).

In Mary Lou’s Part I Pathways presentation, “A Story of a Garden,” she provides background for her passion, as an artist and spiritual director, of gardening to nurture community/biodiversity - within the city or in our natural world. Part II will be an in-person tour of the Botanical Native Plant Garden that she oversees at the Wolf Museum. In addition to the registration fee: a suggested $10 donation towards the garden is appreciated. Please bring cash on the day of the tour, the donations will be collected at the garden. 

Gregg Scott, FAIA Architect, will be hosting a walking tour of Historic Downtown Lancaster. This 90-minute tour will highlight a diverse mix of commercial, civic and residential buildings reflecting a myriad of architectural styles, all within a few blocks of the city square. Many of the featured buildings are the direct result of the impressive architectural career of Lancaster’s own C. Emlen Urban. Bus will leave promptly at 9:00 am from the main entrance of the Crossings building. 

Gregg Scott, FAIA Architect, will be hosting a walking tour of Historic Downtown Lancaster. This 90-minute tour will highlight a diverse mix of commercial, civic and residential buildings reflecting a myriad of architectural styles, all within a few blocks of the city square. Many of the featured buildings are the direct result of the impressive architectural career of Lancaster’s own C. Emlen Urban. Bus will leave promptly at 9:00 am from the main entrance of the Crossings building. 

The course will be conducted in five sessions. Each one-hour session will include a display of a few of the “inventions” created by the presenter since moving to Landis homes (participants guess their function), discussion of at least one aspect of creativity, a tale of how that aspect applied in the presenter’s life, and a hands-on creative challenge.  Questions and other interactions are encouraged. The person who has the most correct identifications of the displayed “inventions” (over all five sessions) will receive free consulting (and possible construction assistance) on solving a problem of personal interest.

Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center has created a unique horsemanship program for Pathways Institute participants. Four weekly unmounted horsemanship sessions will allow participants to experience the incredible bond between humans and horses, enhance physical and cognitive stretching and strength, facilitate positive exchange of experiences and consider future equine opportunities. The sensory nature of the horse is good for the inside and outside of people!  The group will be led by PATH certified instructors. Activities will include a moderate level of exercise. Additional forms will need to be filled out to participate in the program, including a release form from your doctor. Please register before April 28. 

In Mary Lou’s Part I Pathways presentation, “A Story of a Garden,” she provides background for her passion, as an artist and spiritual director, of gardening to nurture community/biodiversity - within the city or in our natural world. Part II will be an in-person tour of the Botanical Native Plant Garden that she oversees at the Wolf Museum. In addition to the registration fee: a suggested $10 donation towards the garden is appreciated. Please bring cash on the day of the tour, the donations will be collected at the garden. 

In Mary Lou’s Part I Pathways presentation, “A Story of a Garden,” she provides background for her passion, as an artist and spiritual director, of gardening to nurture community/biodiversity - within the city or in our natural world. Part II will be an in-person tour of the Botanical Native Plant Garden that she oversees at the Wolf Museum. In addition to the registration fee: a suggested $10 donation towards the garden is appreciated. Please bring cash on the day of the tour, the donations will be collected at the garden. 

Collage is an experimental process, visual journaling, combining photos, images – things you have saved can be reused, arty-recycling. Collage is a form of self-discovery that truly links the heart and mind. Collage lets you understand your thinking process, learn new skills while having fun. Using simple tools – scissors and a glue stick, writing exercises, words and images, you can see the artwork develop and spark new possibilities. Book Arts will encourage you to tell a story and learn what makes a book a book. You will learn how to create a few surprise books, books made from a single sheet of paper – this is all an experimental process plus its fun, and you can continue using these skills after the class is over. Bring with you: copier paper (or a notebook), pen or pencil, glue stick or Mod Podge, scissors, crayons, markers, etc. You can also bring mementos of activities, ticket stubs, stamps, bits of ribbons, magazines, an old book, something you will cut up.

Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center has created a unique horsemanship program for Pathways Institute participants. Four weekly unmounted horsemanship sessions will allow participants to experience the incredible bond between humans and horses, enhance physical and cognitive stretching and strength, facilitate positive exchange of experiences and consider future equine opportunities. The sensory nature of the horse is good for the inside and outside of people!  The group will be led by PATH certified instructors. Activities will include a moderate level of exercise. Additional forms will need to be filled out to participate in the program, including a release form from your doctor. Please register before April 28.