Summer School Experience for Odyssey Travellers

Small Group Summer School Experience for Odyssey Travellers.

Over the last twenty-five years, Odyssey’s Small group Summer School experiences has given countless travellers an unforgettable educational and travel experience. Each summer, we offer numerous special interest courses and programs. Courses are designed to educate and inform travellers about history, religion, Australian culture, and the arts, among many other topics. These courses are designed in such a way that enthusiasts can deepen their knowledge of a particular topic. Or other participants can be initiated into new understandings on a subject. Last year, our courses included programs devoted to;

• Tasmanian Art,
• garden design and horticulture.
• the history of convicts and migrants in Tasmania,
• exploring the golden age of Hollywood film,
• Ancient Egypt,
• John Monash and the history of WWI,
• as well as a program devoted to world cinema.

So these programs offered are tailor-made for senior travellers who are eager to explore a particular topic in more depth. Often these courses underpin our European small groups tours for seniors that are offered each year. Finally, catering to numerous intellectual interests, hobbies, and pursuits, our 2020 program offers something for everyone!

Summer School Participants

Summer School participants comprise of a diverse range of ages and previous educational levels. From middle-aged students to over-65 single travellers. A wide array of courses means that there is something to suit almost everyone. From the armchair Renaissance historian to the devoted film enthusiast. Each year, our students include ex-lecturers and university staff, eager to keep their minds sharp through continued education. They are joined by retirees from many other professions who are keen to explore a particular topic. The diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and ages make for dynamic classroom environments. A benefit to the teaching programs is how the students bring different attributes to the classroom. Invariably, students learn as much from one another as from the lecturers. As a result conversations continue well beyond the set teaching times into other parts of the week.

Teaching Philosophy

Odyssey’s teaching philosophy is centred around the idea of an educational gift. Odyssey believes that each lecturer can impart a profound gift of greater knowledge and understanding. Sharing the ability to deepen participants’ enthusiasm for a particular topic. Our lecturers have themselves received such gifts at earlier points in their own education. Lecturers remain passionate about keeping the gift moving, by passing it along to others. Lecturers and guest instructors are renowned for communicating their passion for the subject matter. As well as a deep knowledge on their subjects.

Summer School classrooms are designed to encourage participation. Regular discussions and tutorial exercises, as well as various group activities. Interactive lectures allow instructors to present material in ways that is engaging and informative. Questions and responses from the class are always encouraged. Excursion-centred programs include the chance to talk with local on-site experts, as well as the gardeners or artists whose work is being explored by the group.

Lecturers are always careful to pitch material in a way that is as inclusive and accessible as possible. Designed as general overviews of particular topics. Odyssey’s courses impart specialised knowledge and also open new intellectual pathways for students to travel on.

Excursions and Visits

The majority of our courses feature memorable educational excursions, which take full advantage of all that Hobart has to offer. Our “Art in Tasmania” course, for instance, features visits to numerous local galleries, artist’s studios, and museums, as well as a full-day excursion to the Museum of Old and New Art, which is now a major international art attraction. Our “Tasmanian Wilderness” tour, likewise, features daily excursions to numerous walking destinations, while “Convicts and Migrants” takes participants to many of the region’s most historically significant sites, including Port Arthur and Runnymede House. Other programs feature outings and excursions to sites of cultural significance, in order to blend classroom learning with more interactive and hands-on educational experiences.

Each year, we also offer several programs that are based mostly (or else exclusively) at our state-of-the-art conference centre facility, to cater for participants with mobility restrictions.

Night-time Activities

In the evenings, many of our participants meet up informally with others in their particular course, as well as students doing other programs. They often head off together to explore Hobart’s spectacular restaurants and cuisine, or else explore the range of evening entertainment options available in the city. Hobart in Summer often features numerous festivals, theatre shows, and other events, which participants can take advantage of when the day’s teaching time has concluded. The historic, art-deco State Theatre is also well worth a visit, as is the local player’s theatre, where local actors put on impressive productions.

Lecturers and Instructors

Lecturers and instructors are current or retired university lecturers. Or experts with a particular passion for teaching their chosen subject. Many of our lecturers have extensive teaching experience, and are gifted educators with the ability to adapt material based on the group’s needs. Many of them have taught with us for several years. They have fine-tuned their courses to allow for deep engagement on the part of participants. Others tutors, who have joined more recently, bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their chosen topics, be it Tasmanian gardens, art and visual culture, or Renaissance history. For more about our Summer School lecturers, please visit the relevant program pages.

Our teaching rooms are located in a state-of-the-art conference centre in central Hobart. This location enables us to screen relevant documentaries and films, and to maintain engaging teaching environments. This conference facility is perfectly situated, just a a short walk from the hotel.

Student Feedback

Each year, we have many students write in to tell us how much they enjoyed the summer school experience, describing the many new things they learned and the ongoing benefits of continuing education. Our participants invariably speak especially highly of our expert and passionate lecturers, with whom they often stay in touch over the course of the year.

As well as learning many new things, and discovering new ways of thinking about history, art, and culture, our students also get to meet other like-minded travellers. Some might choose to join others on a subsequent Odyssey tour overseas, or remain in contact to share their fruits of their learning and reading after the course has come to an end.

An Unforgettable Experience

Finally, for more details on our unforgettable Summer School programs, please click through to the relevant program page and take a look at the itinerary or highlights. If you’re keen to book your place on one of these programs, please call or send an email. Alternatively, you simply fill in the form on the right hand side of the program page. Since Spots are limited, hence Odyssey suggests early bookings to reserve your place on one or more of our educational programs!

Finally, as a result of reading this article if you would like to participate in next years summer school programs please click here for more information on the courses offered and how to book your place.