On the pages of Everything Elim, you’ll find an extraordinary calendar of trips, lectures, fitness and wellness classes, EPTV programs, special events and more offered every month at our community. You’ll also find the creativity, innovation and the joyous enthusiasm of our Life Enrichment Coordinator, Sharon Snow.
A former teacher, Sharon relishes her new career at Elim Park. “I am inspired by this wonderful opportunity to bring in the fun and make somebody happy every day. I start by asking residents, ‘what would you love to do or learn—where would you like to go?’ and then we make it happen. A typical month may include events such as trips to museums, local theaters, garden shows, antique exhibits, lectures or excursions to the Thimble Islands or Mystic. We’ve hosted lecturers from the Paul Mellon Hong Kong Museum of Art and sports announcer Larry Rifkin who called all the UCONN games for years. In the Fall, we’re looking forward to attending the new digital Van Gogh Exhibit in Hartford where visitors feel like they ‘walk into’ a Van Gogh and become one with his paintings.
“For residents with more limited mobility, we also bring all kinds of events onto our campus. I contact my personal network of educational directors of colleges, museums and nature organizations. Many have never taken a lecture series ‘on the road’ before and are eager to find ways to come to Elim Park. For instance, the Educational Director at White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield arranged to send one of their most popular animal lectures that featured an adorable little barred owl (that loves people) to Nelson Hall where it got up close and personal with audience members, much to their delight! The CT Historical Society brought their “From Hartford to Hollywood” program about Katherine Hepburn to Nelson Hall—and 100 people showed up. We connected with a live feed to Historic Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed a memorable look at ceramics, furniture, metals, paintings, prints and textiles in early America. This fascinating program featured Lars Tharp, well-known for his appearances on the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow.”
Sharon continues, “We also host a variety of Yale School of Music students who bring their extraordinary talents to our Oasis and play for the residents while they enjoy dinner at one of Elim’s beautiful restaurants. And, when holidays roll around (you name it, we celebrate it!) residents love our amazing, themed special events. To be honest, this is just the tip of the iceberg, so please check out Elim Everything magazine on ElimPark.org/publications so you don’t miss out on the fun!”
