BY Linda Vick
Every once in a while there’s a nice surprise at The Senior Connection – children! Children who accompany their grandparents for lunch and ice cream, or guests from local schools who come and perform for us. It’s always a treat to see the young ones there, and it reminds us of the wide variety of intergenerational activities that are available within our community.
There are many ways to enrich a child’s life, whether or not you’re a grandparent. Seniors have a lifetime of experiences to share – who better to share them with than young people?
Head Start believes that grandparent figures are very important in a young child’s life, and they encourage a “community of family” concept to connect generations. Do you have a special skill or talent? Can you sing, play an instrument, paint, dance or read out loud in funny voices? Present your gift to this young audience and they will be delighted! For more information or to join them for a delicious lunch, call Jen at 208-788-0082.
The Blaine County School District provides a terrific program for at-risk children in our elementary schools, in which an adult is paired with a single child as a Lunch Buddy and mentor for the full school year. Several schools participate in this program, and the grade levels range from kindergarten through fifth grade. Contact Jeanette at 208-578-5072 for more information and to learn about Reading Buddies and other volunteer programs in the schools.
Love to read? Maybe you’d enjoy reading to little children at the Hailey Public Library. Call Jeanie at 208-788-2036 and ask about participating in Storytime, perhaps on a regular basis. Jeanie also can tell you about Friends of the Hailey Public Library, the organization behind their used book sales and Christmas projects, which involve people of all ages.
The Blaine County Recreation District has many opportunities for seniors in their daily after-school program. The children choose from activity options such as arts and crafts, theater and outdoor exploration, followed by homework and tutoring. They’re assisted by adult volunteers, whether for a single afternoon or on a regular schedule. Contact Nicole at 208-578-2273 to ask how you can help,
The YMCA has three campuses in our Valley – Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue. Each has a need for help with after-school programs, particularly with reading and homework. At the main facility in Ketchum, there is a special need for advanced support for high-schoolers in higher-level subjects and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. These teen achievers can really benefit from older adults who come from fields such as economics, history and engineering. For those seniors with an agricultural or gardening background, help is needed with the Y’s greenhouse program, also in Ketchum. Teressa Johnson, at 208-928-6701, would love to hear from you and match you with a program suited to your skills.
If you belong to a church, you may want to teach Sunday School or help with church activities. A school near you might need someone to chaperone a dance or field trip. You could offer to present a talk in your field of expertise for a local organization or classroom. Perhaps you can help put on a school play or work with kids in 4-H. You worked hard to develop your talents, and there are young people in our Valley who would appreciate learning from you or just hanging out.
The executive director of The Senior Connection, Teresa Beahen Lipman, would like to encourage all seniors to share our beautiful facility with friends and family of any age. Invite them to lunch, stay to play games, tell stories or do homework together. Become a grandpal!
