Sharing Travel Adventures at Pennswood Village

When David Swain and his wife, Caroline, moved to Pennswood Village about 10 years ago, they were excited to begin their active community lifestyle. They explored many of the resident organizations and events, but found none that revolved around one of their favorite passions: traveling. That’s when the two decided to start a group, now known as the Sharing Travel Adventures group, where residents can share their travel adventures with one another.

One of the great aspects of life at Pennswood is that residents are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the community and start their own organizations or events. Although many communities have a staff member dedicated to creating resident activities, Pennswood residents direct their own interests and passions, turning them into active resident organizations or events.

Like other residents who start community groups, the couple soon discovered that they weren’t alone in their love of travel. Many other Pennswood residents also share the same love of travel, and collectively, they have seen much of the world. The group has grown to be a popular one, and throughout the year, members from the community share their own travel adventures with fellow residents.

“We host several kinds of activities,” says David. “We have a monthly travel program in the auditorium presented by residents, and sometimes we invite outsiders. These events usually attract 100 or more of the 400 residents at Pennswood. We also host an event called Travel Tables, a dinner event where residents share a meal together around a table and tell travel stories. The third activity is the annual exhibit of travel photos in the Resident Art Gallery.”

Delicious Travel Dinners

Naomi Lennox, a resident who plans the Travel Tables events, says, “I started about two years ago when I did a presentation for the travel group, and David asked me to take over the dinner group. We usually set a theme for the discussion, and then go around the table.”  One interesting example of a theme used recently is “unusual places where you have slept while traveling.”

At Travel Tables, 8 to 10 residents gather in the Pennswood dining room for one of Pennswood’s delicious chef-prepared meals and amazing conversation. Together, they eat, sip drinks and share their travel stories – the good and the bad – all of them adventures. They talk about the places they’ve been and the places they’d like to go. Often residents have visited the same places, so they share their respective experiences.

“People here have traveled far and wide. They have good stories to tell. It gives people the opportunity to talk about the places they’ve been, their reactions, what’s unique about them, and what they like and didn’t like,” adds Naomi.

Stunning Travel Adventure Photos

Each year the group solicits fine resident photography depicting places all around the world. The photos submitted are not only stunning, but also have great stories accompanying them. The annual exhibit always turns into an invaluable, one-of-a-kind collection. Here’s a sampling of adventures from 2018. For the story behind each photo, you’ll just have to ask the photographer!

“We exhibit 30 to 35 superb images that tell interesting travel stories.  We also publish a booklet that includes the stories, as written by the photographers. And, for two months, the Pennswood Resident Art Gallery displays the exhibit of travel photos, along with copies of the booklet,” says David.

“Arm-Chair Travel”

Although many residents don’t intend to stop traveling anytime soon, the Sharing Travel Adventures group gives residents the chance to learn more about the world around them without leaving Pennswood. The opportunity to socialize, share, learn and stay active is a beneficial aspect of community living.

For more information about resident-run organizations at Pennswood Village, call us today at (215) 968-9110, or visit us online to request a personal tour.