Center of Activity… News from Circle Square Commons

A WORLD OF LEARNING POSSIBILITIES
Adult Community’s Education Center Represents a New Approach to Senior Living

The award winning 55+ Ocala, FL community, On Top of the World, has fostered education and learning as the future of retirement amenities and their Master the Possibilities Education Center exemplifies that. With Master the Possibilities and its lifelong learning opportunities, it’s anything but retirement as usual.

Master the Possibilities represents a new emphasis to senior education.  Many communities operate on an “activity center model,” using the same space for classes as for card games, dinners or other group activities.  “While several communities have multi-use activity centers, Master the Possibilities is a free standing facility whose sole purpose is education,” explains Daniel Dowd, Education Director. “We promote opportunities to grow, be creative, contribute and continue the learning process we call life. To this end, our Master the Possibilities Center is a valuable component of our vibrant community.”

On Top of the World is very likely the first adult residential community in the nation to have a dedicated education building.  “We’re at the forefront of a genuine revolution in how people perceive and experience the next phase of their lives,” explains Dowd.  “Today’s 55+ adults are the most educated to date and rather than simply retiring to a quiet, uneventful life, they are striving for new levels of personal fulfillment, having choices and opportunities. They are also comfortable with the continuing education model throughout their lives.”

According to Dowd, senior lifestyles have become more active.  Communities must anticipate and respond to this change. “Ongoing education is increasingly important to today’s 55+ adults.  Learning is still incredibly fulfilling to them.  On Top of the World began planning this facility six years ago. We’ve been ahead of this curve.” 

Master the Possibilities’ student numbers do indeed suggest a growing trend in lifelong learning.  Once the center opened in 2006 and curriculum developed, the enrollments soared from about 3,000 to a current estimate of 17,000 in this its 4th year of operation. Dowd attributes this to the “idyllic combination” of challenging classes and outstanding faculty and of course, the consummate curiosity of current retirees. For example, the 2009 offerings include presentations by a host of emeritus professors, noted experts such as a former US Surgeon General and the current Director of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies. With over 60 faculty and 600 opportunities to learn and grow, this center is a focal point of activity and inquiry.

A recent exhibit at Master the Possibilities included just about every variety of bonsai trees on display during the Bonsai Exhibit at the Circle Square Cultural Center. This year’s exhibit was offered by the Marion County Bonsai Society in conjunction with Master the Possibilities Education Center. More than 42 Bonsai specimens were exhibited during the week long show.

For more information about the Master the Possibilities Education Center and On Top of the World Communities, visit www.OnTopoftheWorld.com or www.masterthepossibilities.com.