A Summer Camp That Bridged Generations

In an Orange County classroom last summer, older adults sat side by side with children, showing them how to cook, stitch fabric, shape clay, and make greeting cards. Students ages 8 to 14 learned not only new skills, but also from the life experience and patience of their older teachers.

The summer camp was held in partnership with Olive Community Services (olivecs.org) and the Golden Connections Club, which was started by high school student Leena Albinali to foster interactions between teens and older adults.

“Olive had seniors who needed youth,” said Albinali, a student at Orange Crescent School, a private Islamic school in Garden Grove.

“My school had youth who needed purpose. So why not bring them together?”

The unique gathering drew media attention across the country and was featured as a breakout session at the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) Conference in November.

Olive Community Services and Orange Crescent School formed a partnership to support Albinali, leading to the creation of the “Intergenerational Summer Camp” last summer.

The camp’s success quickly inspired others. After the media attention, groups across the country reached out to learn how it was done, said Zainab Hussaini, Program Manager for Olive Community Services.

The first step in replicating the program, Hussaini said, is identifying partners, whether a school, youth group, or organization serving older adults, followed by planning a shared calendar and clarifying roles.

“Start off with a simple four-week pilot. That way, you keep it consistent and simple,” Hussaini said. “Reflect together and adapt to changes as they arise, because that also builds sustainability.”

“The kids were so engaged in that intergenerational connection, and the seniors giving their 100-percent attention to the youth was so powerful to see,” Hussaini said. “They were not relying on any aids. They were relying on their own personal wisdom to make this happen.”

Maisa Youssef-Osman, principal of Orange Crescent School, encouraged those interested in replicating the program to reach out to schools, both public and private. “Places of worship and religious organizations can also help make connections with potential partners,” she said.

“My message is: harness the wisdom that lies in our senior generation,” Hussaini said. “Let’s not only think that we’re serving them, but give them the opportunity to serve the community, and to shape the next generation.”