Center for Creative Retirement
We offer more educational and fun classes, trips and workshops to keep you actively engaged.
How to Register
- Register online by selecting "Add to Cart" on the desired course(s) and select "Cart" at the bottom of the page when you are ready to checkout.
- The “Seats Left” information is updated every half hour and when you checkout.
- Other registration options are available.
Don’t see the course you are looking for below? Sign up to get updates and news about upcoming classes.
Courses
- American Mah Jongg
- Baseball Goes Global
- Bird Watching
- Eleanor: First Lady of the World
- Jazz Diplomacy: Cold War, Civil Rights and American Culture
- Knickerbocker Family Mansion: Ghosts, Tour and Lunch
- Learn to Use Your Apple Phone
- National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame
- Saratoga Racetrack History
- Senior Exercise Class
- Tour "The Joe" in Rensselaer County
American Mah Jongg
Whether you are a beginner or looking for a refresher, join us in learning American Mahjong. This class includes basic instruction and the opportunity to play with people of varying skill levels. Let’s play, learn to conquer the card, and delve into strategies. If you have a Mahjong set, please bring it with you. Course fee includes a $30 materials fee.
No class 3/18 & 4/22
Course will be held in
Criss Macaione, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays, 2/25 - 5/13 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm |
ZSPI-276 600 | 0 seats left | $114 | Section Full Call to be added to wait list |
Baseball Goes Global
This course will look at baseball’s development as a global sport. We will explore the history of the sport and the ways in which its expansion and popularity mirrors US presence in specific areas of the world - diplomatically, militarily and via corporations. This led to a strong baseball presence in Japan, South Korea and selected areas in Latin America, with players from those regions coming to play in the US. And there have been surprising exports of baseball to other parts of the world with less of tradition in the sport. More recently, the World Baseball Classic tournament highlights new areas of interest in the game. America’s national pastime is increasingly a global enterprise.
Course will be held in
James Ketterer, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 6/17 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-822 700 | 32 seats left | $22 | Opens 5/14 |
Bird Watching
Join a Saratoga Spa State Park environmental educator on a guided walk through Gray’s Crossing, at the southern end of the park, to spot and identify songbirds during their spring migration. The walking route is a level, one-mile loop trail that covers multiple habitats. Bring your own binoculars and feel free to use mobile devices to help identify birdsongs. Possible bird sightings include several species of warblers, sparrows and waterfowl. The program will be conducted rain or shine, so be prepared for any weather conditions. Wear sturdy shoes as the path may be wet and muddy. Bug spray will be provided. There are no restroom facilities at Gray’s Crossing.
Course will meet at Gray’s Crossing, 87 Northline Rd, Ballston Spa
Lea Darling, Coordinator
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 5/8 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-806 600 | 1 seats left | $15 |
Eleanor: First Lady of the World
One hardly has to include Eleanor Roosevelt’s last name to know who President Truman was referring to when he called her “The First Lady of the World.” Her life story and achievements are both astounding and inspiring. Her marriage to Franklin D. Roosevelt, a distant cousin, promised a bright future but was rocked with his infidelity and later, his contracting polio at 37, which left him paralyzed from the waist down, but both Eleanor and he persevered. In supporting his political aspirations during his illness, she found she had the aptitude and passion to become a skilled politician herself. Focusing on helping the poor, the disadvantaged, minorities and people of color, as well as young people, she and Franklin partnered in successfully steering the country through some of its most trying times - the Great Depression and World War II. Following the war, and Franklin’s death, Elanor became a worldwide advocate for peace and human rights.
Course will be held in
Phyllis Chapman, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 6/11 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-799 700 | 32 seats left | $28 | Opens 5/14 |
Jazz Diplomacy: Cold War, Civil Rights and American Culture
This course looks at the use of one of America’s great cultural creations - jazz - as a diplomatic tool. Starting in the 1950s, jazz was used as a way to counter Soviet propaganda, highlighting the contribution of great musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. But how did those musicians reconcile their status as global ambassadors of American culture with the challenges of the Civil Rights movement at home? The answer is manifested in the music they played, the compositions they created in response to encountering new cultures, and the musicians they inspired around the world. The course also looks at cultural diplomacy today and the continued effectiveness of American “soft power.”
Course will be held in
James Ketterer, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 6/16 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-751 700 | 32 seats left | $22 | Opens 5/14 |
Knickerbocker Family Mansion: Ghosts, Tour and Lunch
The Knickerbocker Historical Society will be our hosts as they tell us about the history and ghosts of the Knickerbocker Mansion, which dates from about 1770. They will arrange for historical “ghosts” to give moving firsthand accounts of their lives and experiences, and they will explain the renovations – the not-for-profit Society rescued the mansion from certain demolition and has continued to restore it. Our visit concludes with a chance to tour the mansion and a colonial lunch cooked with authentic recipes, a delicious side to the history of the mansion. Course fee includes $30 materials fee.
Course will meet at Knickerbocker Family Mansion, 132 Knickerbocker Rd., Schaghticoke, NY
Michele Doodian, Coordinator
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 5/14 10:30 am - 1:30 pm |
ZCCR-137 600 | 0 seats left | $45 | Section Full Call to be added to wait list |
Learn to Use Your Apple Phone
What do you do when you’re left to your own devices? This course is designed to help people get familiar with their Apple smartphone and have more confidence in managing their digital device, including understanding the “cloud” for information storage and retrieval.
Course will be held in
Barbara Mento, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 6/9 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-821 700 | 32 seats left | $25 | Opens 5/14 |
National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame
Come visit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame! Enjoy a docent-led tour that will teach you all about American thoroughbred racing and its rich history in our country. The galleries are filled with paintings, trophies, historical artifacts, and much more that celebrate America’s first national sport. The tour will conclude with an 18-minute screening of our Hall of Fame signature film, “What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame.” Course includes $22 materials fee.
Course will meet at 191 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs
Lea Darling, Coordinator
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 5/9 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
ZCCR-816 600 | 0 seats left | $37 | Section Full Call to be added to wait list |
Saratoga Racetrack History
This presentation by the animated Saratoga native Charlie Kuenzel will give a historical view of the 161 years of thoroughbred racing at Saratoga, from John Morrissey to modern icons of the sport. Come enjoy the history of the topic that has been such an important part of Saratoga’s success as a vacation destination where millions of dollars are gained and lost on a daily basis during racing season.
Course will meet at HVCC North, 345 Hermes Rd. Malta, NY
Charlie Kuenzel, Director of Education Saratoga History Museum, Instructor
Lea Darling, Coordinator
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 6/17 10:30 am - 12:30 pm |
ZCCR-817 700 | 100 seats left | $33 | Opens 5/14 |
Senior Exercise Class
Over the course of an hour, students in this class for seniors will work on 18 exercises grouped in three modalities in ascending order of difficulty. Students will be provided with a sheet listing the exercises to use at home as part of a daily routine and will need to bring their own mat and one- or two-pound hand weights to class.
Course does not meet on 4/22.
Course will be held in
Ihor Evanick, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays, 4/1 - 5/13 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
ZREC-133 600 | 1 seats left | $25 |
Tour "The Joe" in Rensselaer County
The Tri-City ValleyCats are the Capital Region’s professional baseball team, set to begin their fifth year as members of the Frontier League. They are taking the field at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium for their 23rd season this year, and “The Joe” is located on our very own ܽƵ campus. Fresh off a trip to the postseason, celebrate the 2025 campaign by touring the stadium, taking a look at their great facilities, and hearing what’s new for the coming year. The ballpark holds 4,500 people, has 10 luxury suites, and features four picnic areas for group outings.
Jean Chenette, Coordinator
Directions: The Joe Bruno Stadium is located on the ܽƵ's Campus. The meeting spot with be at the ValleyCats box office.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 6/3 10:00 am - 11:30 am |
ZCCR-317 700 | 25 seats left | $15 | Opens 5/14 |
Get in Touch
Division of Workforce Development and Community Education
Fax: (518) 629-8103
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (excluding college holidays and vacations)