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UA Elderhostel Becomes New EXPLORITAS
October 21, 2009

Elderhostel, Inc., the nation’s first, and the world’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization is renaming its program to focus more on the excitement of lifelong learning and exploration. The change includes the local program at the University of Arizona, which offers several programs annually focusing on travel to Mexico, Southwest art and culture, spring training baseball, and much more.

Elderhostel, Inc. will rename its programs “Exploritas” (pronounced ek splôr´ i tahs), a name that reflects the exploration of the mind and the world that characterizes the mission of the organization dedicated to “adventures in lifelong learning.” Elderhostel, founded in 1975, provides active adults with a myriad of affordable learning/travel experiences across the U.S., in more than 90 countries, and aboard ships and sailing vessels on waterways throughout the world.

“Elderhostel participants are active, engaged lifelong learners who identify themselves by the learning adventures they pursue and not by their age,” says James Moses, Elderhostel President and CEO. “Elderhostel redefined what it means to age, and so do our participants, who do not consider 60 “old” by any means. That’s why our new program name, Exploritas, characterizes the excitement and importance of learning and exploration – both of the mind and of the world – and reflects the mindset of our participants and their passion for new experiences.”

Elderhostel recognizes that the current lifelong learner has evolving needs and desires, and is expanding their offering of programs and services in 2010 to include new programs in the U.S., more flexible international programs and a social networking tool. With these changes, the 8,000 Exploritas programs will continue to meet the needs of lifelong learners — both the participants who already travel with the organization and also the millions of adults who have never experienced the programs — by offering exceptional content and behind-the-scenes access to the world’s most fascinating places. Some examples of upcoming programs offered by UA Exploritas include:

• Travel into Old Mexico (Alamos, Guaymas, Navojoa): Its History and Landscape
• Explore and Stay at Treasures of the Southwest: Food, Salsa and Tequila!
• Under the Desert Sky: Aviation, Space and Stars
• Biosphere 2
• Arizona Diamondbacks: Arizona Spring Training Baseball in Tucson
• Golf: So Many Course, So Little Time Plus The Desert Southwest
• Cowboys and Indians: The Legends of the Old West
• Southwest Cultural Arts Plus The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
• Hiking Adventures: Southern Arizona
• Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival
• Spanish Missions of the Southwest

Exploritas will continue to create exciting learning adventures that match expert instructors and enthusiastic participants from diverse backgrounds and foster dynamic interaction, engaging discourse and warm camaraderie with new friends and fellow learners – one of the most important aspects of any Exploritas experience. For more information, or to register call 1-800-454-5768 or visit www.exploritas.org.