Colleges Open Doors to Textbook Summer Vacations : Senior Ventures operates classes in California and other Western states from Texas to Washington.

Travelers 50 and over who are interested in combining travel and education may want to check out Senior Ventures, a network of educational institutions offering programs this year in seven Western states--California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico.

In all, nine colleges and universities are part of the Senior Ventures continuing education network, which started in 1983. Each institution operates independently, but all programs are coordinated through the Senior Ventures Network Office at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, Ore., where the idea began in 1983.

The range of topics taught at the colleges and universities are designed to appeal to active seniors and may include courses in sailing, Shakespeare, music, Southwestern art and cuisine, computers, chimpanzee communication, river rafting, fly-fishing, bridge playing, Victorian architecture, geology, wildflowers and many other subjects.

Several of the participating schools also offer international Senior Venture programs, with excursions to Ecuador, Costa Rica, Zambia, Russia, Zimbabwe and other overseas destinations. Recreational vehicle enthusiasts can join a special 23-day program, “Tracing the Oregon Trail,” which follows the historic route across six states, with experienced faculty to teach and interpret along the way.

Senior Venture programs vary in length from one to four weeks. Participants live on campus, where accommodations range from residence halls to university apartments. In addition to the academic courses, the programs are interspersed with recreation and sightseeing. There are no tests, final exams or homework, and no actual college credit is awarded to participants.

All program prices include all meals, housing, field trips, classes and activities. Prices vary with the length of the course selected and the type of accommodations. Transportation to and from the college is the responsibility of the participant. Most courses include complimentary tickets or side trips to local theatrical productions, lectures or other activities.

Some examples of colleges and available courses (note: There is usually a choice of several dates for most of the programs listed):

* Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif., on the Redwood Coast: There are courses on photography, regional foods and history, wildlife and the environment. Several dates available. $495 per person per week.

* Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, Ore.: Trout fishing for beginners. Oct. 10-16. $525 per person.

* College of Santa Fe, Taos, N.M.: Southwestern art, literature, theater, galleries, museums, cooking, American Indian and Hispanic cultures, day tours. Aug. 14-28. $1,195 per person.

* Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Wash.: A choice of 50 subjects, including ceramic art, conversational Chinese, Japanese or Spanish, “how to gamble,” drawing, memoir writing, tennis, nutrition, the Bill of Rights and how to use computers.

* College of the Tehachapis, Tehachapi, Calif.: A grandparents/grandchildren Western camp program. One week. Grandparents, $340 each; grandchildren (ages 6-12), $290 each.

For full program information, contact the Senior Ventures Network Office, Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, Ore. 97520, (800) 257-0577.