The Renesan Institute for Lifelong Learning has a full array of classes, lectures and field trips scheduled for the fall and registration begins this week.

The organization began in 1995 with 35 members now numbers 650.

Offerings for the fall semester include classes in political science, history, the justice system, ecology, geology and the arts. Field trips are scheduled for the Railyard District, governor's mansion, Randall Davey Audubon Center, Georgia O'Keeffe's house and Mexico's Copper Canyon.

The kick off is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday with an orientation for new and prospective members followed by registration and book signings.

Although the organization's activities are geared to those over 50 (Renesan is an acronym for Retire and Renew in Santa Fe), it won't turn away interested people who are younger.

Page Schlely has been a member for six years. "It's fabulous; the classes really are mind-expanding. You go and meet different people and are exposed to different thoughts. It's a wonderful way to run into people of similar interests or to just take something you know nothing about," she said.

Schlely especially enjoyed taking courses such as Greek mythology and Babylonian civilization, taught by Martha and Ken Simonsen, as well as the "Reading around the World" class taught by Martha Simonsen.

Don Roberts and his wife, Lynn, have gone on Renesan field trips to petroglyphs near the Rio Grande, Tent Rocks near Cochiti and birdwatching in Las Vegas, N.M. The couple have taken classes in topics as diverse as Mozart, Beethoven and Bach to presentations on war and violence and personal finance.

"The faculty and presenters are uniformly excellent. Retired professionals speak on their area of interest. They're just top-notch. You have to be rather prompt as classes fill up quickly. That speaks to the popularity of it," Don Roberts said.

Those interviewed said the diligence of the 12-member curriculum committee ensures the quality of the group's offerings. "They've all been in Santa Fe a long time and have connections. They're always aware of the need to come up with ideas. They'll be out in town, see someone, hear something and take to the meeting," said Ron Mandelbaum, board president.

Although the slow economy has resulted in a drop in Renesan's enrollment in the past year, the organization is countering this by giving each attendee of the September meeting a free lecture coupon.

Activities are budget friendly, according to member Nathalie Love. "It's a luxury, there's a very low $7 fee per class. So if you have five classes, the fee is $35. It's simply wonderful, the best bargain I've every seen in my life," she said.

"Some members are over 90. I know some 90-year-olds sharper than anyone I've known. It's one of the highest concentrations of super-smart people who know the score," she said.

Renesan instructor Susan Brown McGreevy, an anthropologist and research fellow at the Wheelwright Museum and the School for Advanced Research, taught a seminar called "Daughters of the Desert," focusing on Mabel Dodge Luhan, Mary Austin and ConchaOrtiz y Pino de Kleven, the first woman in the New Mexico Legislature. The course will be repeated in the spring semester, this time featuring writer Willa Cather, Native American potter Nampeyo and architect Mary Colter.

"They're all connected. There are circles upon circles of people knowing each other. Mary Colter was architect of some of the iconic buildings at the Grand Canyon and collected Nampeyo's work. Nampeyo demonstrated her techniques at the Grand Canyon," McGreevy said.

This fall, a course on New Mexico nature writers will be offered. The class, taught by McGreevy, Martha Simonsen and Jack Loeffer, will feature Navajo oral traditions as well as authors D.H. Lawrence, Edward Abbey, Aldo Leopold and Mary Austin.

MORE INFORMATION

• Renesan Institute for Lifelong Learning: Dues $20 a year, classes open to members only and are $7 each individual session; lectures $7 each (members), $10 for nonmembers. Field trip fees vary.

• Classes and office are at St. John's United Methodist Church, 1200 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe.

• Phone 982-9274; e-mail: renesan@newmexico.com; Web site: www.renesan.org.

• An orientation for new and prospective member is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. John's. Refreshments will be served. All attendees will be given a free ticket for one lecture.