Image: UW-Eau Claire

Smartphones. Zumba. Social media. None are topics that one might immediately associate with senior citizens – or, to be more specific, with the stereotype of seniors as knitting grandmas and whittling granddads whiling away the hours in their rocking chairs. Those stereotypes are just that – stereotypes – which explains why the annual Senior Americans Day at UW-Eau Claire has included sessions about social media and smartphones alongside more “traditional” senior-sounding topics such as golf and gardening.

Senior Americans Day will mark its 30th anniversary next summer with the theme “Pearls of Wisdom.” If you’re not familiar with this big day and you’re in the 55-plus demographic, here’s the scoop: Billed as the largest senior event in Wisconsin, Senior Americans Day is an all-day conference on the UWEC campus that will be held next June 5. Each year’s event features about 50 workshops in a wide range of categories, including hobbies, health and wellness, history and current events, entertainment, cultural diversity, and spirituality and final affairs. In addition, there are more than 75 exhibitor booths, health screenings, food (a continental breakfast as well as lunch), and a keynote address (next year’s speaker is still to be announced).

While the lineup of workshops for 2018 hasn’t been determined, past schedules have included the aforementioned high-tech topics plus dozens more, including everything from tai chi to travel to local history to charitable planning to therapy dogs.

Registration will begin in March. Admission is $50, but discounts are offered for those who register online, and scholarships are available for those who can’t afford the fee.

To join the mailing list and get a copy of the brochure and registration information when it becomes available, visit www.uwec.edu/ce. And if you’re interested in getting involved as a presenter, sponsor, or volunteer, contact the university’s Continuing Education office at (715) 836-3636.