A conference designed for individuals working with or experiencing midlife issues has been developed by the faculty and staff of the West Virginia University Extension Service, along with Extension colleagues from the University of Maryland, Ohio State University and Pennsylvania State University.

“Celebrating Midlife: The Best Is Yet to Be!”is scheduled for April 3-5 at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, Pa. The conference is for anyone who is in midlife or about to enter that adventurous phase, and for people who work with that age group.

At the heart of the conference are 31 workshops organized in six subject tracks: family caregiving, financial security, health and wellness, family connections, housing and personal development. Participants can attend up to four workshops in any track. Extension educators from county, state and national levels will present most of the sessions.

In addition to participating in educational workshops, participants can enjoy Pennsylvanias Maple Festival, shop in the nearby historic town of Ligonier, relax at the resort, hear two outstanding keynote speakers and meet people from four states.

There are a lot of things that you can be doing during midlife that can help lead to a healthier, happier retirement,said WVU Extension Specialist Allison Nichols.The Extension Service has a lot of programs that fit into this midlife arena,she said, citing the cardiac and diabetes education programs as just two examples.

But health is just one of the many issues that will be discussed at the conference.

Financial planning is important, too,she said.The largest numbers of people caring for the frail elderly are women, many of whom are daughters in midlife themselves.

Dr. Nichols said that it is never too early to start planning for the future.It is good to remember that the tastes you develop during the midlife years will carry through the rest of your life,she said.

Setting the conferences tone will be keynote speaker Karen Vadino, a nationally recognized humorist, trainer and consultant. Her presentation,All Stressed Up and No One to Choke,will officially open the conference at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3. Vadino, who has a masters degree in social work, will discuss tackling stress with laughter.

The second keynote presentation,Nourishing Our SoulsThe Spiritual Invitation of Midlife,will be given by Dr. Sam Quick at 9 a.m. Monday, April 4. The University of Kentucky professor emeritus will talk about the essence of midlife that goes beyond the material and physical world.

If paid by March 18, the registration fee for the entire conference packageSunday through Tuesdayis $65 per person. This fee includes dessert on Sunday night and lunch on Monday. The partial conference package, covering Sunday and Monday, is $50 per person. Late fees apply to registrations postmarked after March 18. A 48 -hour notice is required for conference registration cancellations.

Participants must make their on housing arrangements. To make room reservations at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort, call 1-800-452-2223. Register as a West Virginia University”Celebrating Midlife”conference participant and ask for the conference rate, which is $95 per room per night.

More details and registration forms are available on the conference’s Web site ( www.celebratingmidlife.org ). For additional information, contact Allison Nichols ( AHNichols@mail.wvu.edu ; or 304-293-2694, ext. 3451). Printed copies of the workshop descriptions and registration forms also are available at WVU Extension Service county offices.