Elderhostel Lets Seniors Go Back to Schools Where the Learning Is Fun : Vacations: Inexpensive weeklong programs on college campuses give travelers a chance to meet people and take classes in a variety of stimulating subjects.

There are rewards to advancing age, and one of them is Elderhostel. For the uninitiated, it is an inexpensive back-to-campus program for travelers age 60 and over seeking intellectual stimulation, new friends, fun and even a taste of adventure. For example:

--In Arizona, participants explore old Fort Apache and the Apache Indian reservation, learning tribal culture from an Apache guide.

--In Florida, they examine the nature of hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms, and pick up insights on forecasting the weather.

--At the College of the Redwoods, 270 miles north of San Francisco, travelers can study bird-watching in the Humboldt Bay region.

--At Loma Linda University near Riverside, a class is offered on the origins of popular American music and its effects on the culture.

--At Cal State Los Angeles, there is a class on how the movie industry turns classic American stories into films.

--In New York City, they discuss the always intriguing concept of love in literature.

--In Maine, they hike remote woodlands for a firsthand look at current conservation issues.

--In Wisconsin, they study the history of the American circus in the little town of Baraboo, where the great Ringling Brothers circus began.

--In Virginia, they retrace the path of the Civil War as it raged through the state to its end at Appomattox Courthouse.

This is only a sampling of the diversity of weeklong classes in the liberal arts and sciences offered year-round at 1,600 colleges, universities, museums and other educational institutions throughout the United States and in 40 other countries.

To some Elderhostelers, the variety is addictive. Earl and Anna Kragnes of Gaithersburg, Md., signed up last summer for their fourth Elderhostel vacation. They ventured to Nova Scotia, where their introduction into the local culture included a lobster banquet. In other classes, Earl has indulged a passion for opera by studying the works of Verdi and Anna has tried her hand at watercolor painting.

Arthur and Ruth Wolff of Washington completed their third Elderhostel stay last summer in Maine, studying an offbeat combination of classes that included a look at the Supreme Court and Yiddish humor.

Founded in New Hampshire in 1974, Elderhostel has been an amazing success, growing annually in recent years at a rate of 15% to 25%. Last year, 220,000 participants enrolled. The quarterly catalogue of U.S. and Canadian classes, published in the form of a tabloid newspaper, now runs to more than 165 pages, with 12 pages alone devoted to California programs. The international catalogue is another 85 pages.

Elderhostel is a real vacation bargain, which accounts for a good bit of its popularity. A typical week on a U.S. campus this year, Sunday evening through Saturday morning, costs just $275 per person. This rate includes six nights’ lodging in campus dormitories, five days of classes, all meals, field trips and evening excursions and entertainment. Participants usually enjoy free access to the campus swimming pool, tennis courts and other facilities.

And not the least of Elderhostel’s appeal is the opportunity of spending a vacation with a group of 30 to 40 like-minded individuals, sharing classroom discussions, communal meals and evening get-togethers.

The program draws Ph.Ds as well as seniors who never earned a high school diploma. The only qualification is an inquiring mind. In these classrooms, however, there are no examinations or final grades, and the only homework is what participants assign to themselves.

During a typical week, three subjects are offered, each in 90-minute class sessions, Monday through Friday. Sometimes the subjects are related, but more often each topic is different, a sort of “intellectual smorgasbord,” as Elderhostel’s material puts it. Participants generally attend all three classes, but this isn’t required.

To pick a campus program, the Wolffs say they consult each year’s catalogue, looking for an appealing combination of subjects in a destination that interests them. Elderhostelers usually have plenty of free time for sightseeing. Many spend a week on campus as an introduction to an unfamiliar part of the country, and afterwards they go touring on their own.

The Kragneses spent their summer week at Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro, where the school day gets under way early. Breakfast is served at 7 a.m., and the first class begins at 8:30 a.m. After a coffee break, the second class gathers at 10:30 a.m. and continues until lunch at noon. The third and final session is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., followed by free time from 3 to 5 p.m., when dinner is served.

The couple enrolled in separate courses on the literature and history of Nova Scotia, and part of their class time was spent visiting nearby museums and historic sites. And one night after dinner, their group was bused to a local harness racing event. Their class was equally divided between couples and singles, although most of the singles were women.

Traditional hosteling means simple, inexpensive lodgings, and this is the Elderhostel way. In most cases, participants stay in modest campus dorm rooms furnished with two twin-sized beds. Inevitably, toilets and shower rooms are down the hall. But some sponsoring institutions house Elderhostelers in motels. If a private bath is important, you may want to consider a program where motel lodging is available.

Meals are quite unpretentious, as might be expected in a campus cafeteria. The emphasis, rather, is on wholesome and nutritious food, which suits Kragnes fine. “We’ve not had a bad experience,” he said.

One major drawback to the Elderhostel experience is that the quality of instructors and material is not always first-rate. Classes usually are taught by the college’s cadre of professors and other experts, but both the Kragneses and the Wolffs say that they have attended sessions they found disappointing, either because the topic proved uninteresting or the teacher was uninspired.

One tough critic is Mildred Hyman, author of “Elderhostels: The Students’ Choice” (John Muir, $15.95). Now in its second edition, the paperback is a very helpful guide to programs on 220 campuses in this country and abroad. Some financially struggling schools turn to Elderhostel for extra income, she warns, and when it comes time to describe their courses, they “are not apt to be forthright about their frugal cafeterias or their inhospitable terrain.”

Based on reports contributed by other Elderhostelers, Hyman evaluates instructors, housing, food and campus environment. On the whole, her comments are quite favorable, and many campuses are cited for outstanding teaching staffs.

For the latest Elderhostel catalogue (free of charge) and registration information, contact Elderhostel, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass. 02110-1941, (617) 426-8056.