John Burton already owned a drone before he visited the Virginia Tech Drone Park.

The problem was, he was afraid to fly it.

“I could just see it going and breaking into pieces,” said Burton, professor emeritus in the School of Education.

So when the Lifelong Learning Institute of Virginia Tech organized a field trip where members could safely practice flying drones with help from instructors, Burton signed up.

He wasn’t alone.

Inside the Drone Park’s netted flight cage, fellow LLI members — many retired, all curious — took turns guiding drones through the air while Virginia Tech students and staff coached them through takeoffs, turns, and landings.

Then came the rallying cry from one participant:

“Let’s fly!”

The moment captured the spirit of the Lifelong Learning Institute, a Continuing and Professional Education program within Outreach and International Affairs that offers classes, lectures, field trips, and hands-on experiences designed for older adults eager to continue learning, exploring new interests, and building community.

A woman leans forward to look at a drone controller being held out to her by another woman as a man looks on.
Participants get their first close-up look at a drone controller. Photo by Diane Deffenbaugh for Virginia Tech.

For many participants, retirement has become less about slowing down and more about discovering things they never had time to pursue before.

“It’s time to learn things I never learned before,” said Carol Heard, who joined LLI three years ago after moving to the New River Valley from South Carolina.

Heard said she originally joined hoping to meet people and learn more about the region she now calls home. Instead, she found herself continually surprised by the range of experiences available through the program.

“The more courses I take, the more enthusiastic I get,” Heard said. “There are just so many things.”

One of her favorite experiences was a course called “Learning to Love the New River Valley,” which introduced participants to local history, places, and culture.

“I thought, well, I’ll just learn about places to go,” Heard said. “But there were so many people in the course who were from the area, and even they were discovering things they hadn’t seen before.”

That sense of shared curiosity was evident at the drone park, where participants learned from Virginia Tech students and staff who regularly use the facility for outreach, education, and research.

Drew Bartley, an undergraduate aerospace engineering student, said the drone park frequently hosts middle school camps, student trainings, and senior design projects.

“We do this all the time,” Bartley said. “Over the summer, we have camps with middle schoolers where we teach them how to fly. We also help them build their own drone.”

A group of people watch a drone land on a mat in a grassy field.
Drew Bartley, an undergraduate aerospace engineering student, helps LLI members land a drone. Photo by Diane Deffenbaugh for Virginia Tech.

The LLI visit brought a different kind of energy, Bartley said.

“They’re just flying it and having fun with it,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”

For Burton, the field trip offered the chance to finally gain confidence using the drone his son-in-law gave him for Christmas. Before attending, he had already completed Federal Aviation Administration training online, but he wanted hands-on experience before flying on his own.

“It’s easier to fly over a tree and lose sight of it,” Burton said. “Once that happens, you’re going to lose your drone.”

Burton first came to Virginia Tech in 1977, joining what was then the College of Education. He became involved with LLI through colleagues connected to the program’s early years and, over time, found himself signing up for more and more classes and experiences, from history courses to a single malt whiskey tasting.

That spirit of curiosity and connection is what many members say makes the program special. Whether they are exploring emerging technology, learning local history, discovering new hobbies, or simply meeting new people, LLI offers opportunities to continue growing long after retirement.

Back at the drone park, laughter erupted as another drone drifted sideways before recovering midair. Nearby, participants compared flying strategies while instructors offered encouragement from across the field.

Eventually, the drones returned safely to the ground.

But for the members of the Lifelong Learning Institute, the afternoon represented something larger than learning how to pilot a drone. It was another opportunity to stay curious, stay connected, and, as Burton put it, “keep my head in the game.”

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Photos by Diane Deffenbaugh for Virginia Tech.

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