Your Virtual Senior Center

Virtual programs are offered through the Senior Learning Network, and other partners.

Senior Learning Network Virtual Programs can be viewed at home or at The Thompson. Please indicate your preference when registering in advance.

North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, SC

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Tuesday, September 19, 2:00 pm

Shortly after it was completed, it became apparent that the 1812 Cape Lookout Lighthouse was ineffective. Almost half a century later–following administrative and policy changes in the Light House Board–the second Cape Lookout Lighthouse was completed. This new, taller tower was better suited to warn  mariners of the dangers of Lookout Shoals. However, shortly after the improved tower was activated, war broke out between the states. The light was extinguished to prevent Union ships from using it to navigate the treacherous North Carolina coast. The light was reestablished with a third order Fresnel lens in 1863 and shone for most of the remainder of the war. Join us as we learn more of the history of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, an iconic landmark of Carteret County, known as “The Diamond Lady”.

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Art Collection at The Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters

National Historic Site

Tuesday, September 26, 2:00 pm

The Longfellow House is well known for the depth of its history and literary connections, but did you know that there’s also an incredible art collection? The fine art collection numbers about 2,000 works on exhibit and in storage. It includes paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture that range in date from the seventeenth to the early twentieth century. Ranging from marble sculptures to drawings by the Longfellow children, the collection spans multiple continents and centuries. Join Ranger Kate for a virtual tour of what’s on display in the house and a conversation about what makes art worth preserving.

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Fort Frederica: History Comes Alive on Beautiful St Simons Island!

Tuesday, October 3, 2:00 pm

Three years after founding Georgia in 1733, Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica to defend the fledgling colony against Spanish attack from Florida. The first settlers in Georgia arrived in 1733. Sailing up the

Savannah River, they established a settlement on a defensible bluff that General Oglethorpe selected for that reason. He would spend the next ten years working to make the colony succeed. Georgia’s fate was decided in 1742 when Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island. Fort Frederica’s troops defeated the Spanish, ensuring Georgia’s future as a British colony. Today, the archeological remnants of

Frederica are protected by the National Park Service. Join us as we learn about this beautiful island that is both a popular vacation spot as well as an important time and place in US History.

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Music of the Sea at The Mystic!         

Tuesday, October 10, 2:00 pm

“What shall we do with a drunken sailor?”  Join us with one of our favorite partners, The Mystic Seaport Museum as we listen and learn!  We will hear all about the history of sea chanteys and their use, as we listen along in interactive songs with a live musician!

Sing along with one of the museum’s renowned musician educators, as the chantey staff can make sailors’ work come alive with stories told through music. We will join with crew members as they sing a chorus, picture the events in a ballad or use a chantey as a tool to help accomplish hard work like raising the sail or swabbing the deck!

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American History, Alive in Stone: Mt Rushmore!

Tuesday, October 17, 2:00 pm

Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South   Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of The United States. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share. Join us as we discover the carving history and current conditions of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

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Wind Cave National Park: Discover Two Parks in One!”

Tuesday, October 24, 2:00 pm

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds – one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America’s oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Join us as we learn more about this beautiful national park!

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Suspended until further notice

Strength, Stretch and Stability Class with Instructor Liz Hatfield

Thursdays – In person and on Zoom 10:30 – 11:30 am

Tuesdays – Zoom Class Only 10:30 – 11:30 am

Cost: $5 per class for in-person payable to The Thompson Center

For those who wish to continue classes via Zoom, Thursdays will be a hybrid class and you can continue to exercise from home. A zoom link will be provided upon request and newcomers are welcome.