See the World Without Leaving Santa Clarita

It is 10:00 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. Michelle Rogers is strolling along the cobblestone streets of the historic Le Marais neighborhood in Paris. She peers around corners, taking in the many art galleries, local boutiques and authentic bistros. This street is often described as the most picturesque of all of Paris and it is a place Michelle has dreamed of going to for decades. Unfortunately, there was never the time or funds for such a trip – but she never gave up on the bucket list desire to travel.
Fortunately for Michelle and the other participants in the “Timeless Travels” class at the Canyon Country Community Center – they are getting to explore the world, thanks to the power of Virtual Reality. Staff at the Community Center had long heard participants wistfully talking about the trips they never got to take and the travel dreams that never became reality. However, with the power of VR, they can sit comfortably in the classroom while the headset takes them wherever they want to go in the world. The controls allow them to navigate through medieval castles, explore the Colosseum in Rome, walk along the beaches of San Tropez and embark on an exotic safari in Africa.
Participants express that this virtual experience allows them to visit places that have always piqued their interest. One participant stated, “It opens up the world to me, in a way that I could only dream of.”
This is one of many classes available to seniors at the City’s Community Centers. Seniors can also play Bingo while getting in a workout in Bingocise, get their boots stomping in line dance class and engage in a little friendly competition with Bridge and Bunco games.
To learn more about the senior programming offered through the City of Santa Clarita please visit SantaClarita.gov/Seasons. Happy travels!

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