Intergenerational Fun and Learning at Camp Villages
Camp Villages, a beloved summer program in The Villages, Florida, has once again brought joy and excitement to Villagers and their grandchildren. This nine-week-long event, hosted by the Villages Recreation and Parks Department, offers a diverse range of activities designed to create lasting memories and foster meaningful connections between generations.
Bridging the Generational Gap through Engaging Experiences
Outdoor Games: Friendly Competition and Camaraderie
The Outdoor Games event at Saddlebrook Softball Complex was a highlight of the fifth week of Camp Villages. Inspired by the upcoming Summer Olympics, the event featured team-based activities such as relays, a 50-meter dash, a pickleball shot put, and the long jump. Linda Shepard Dodds, the recreation supervisor at Chatham Recreation, noted the infectious energy and camaraderie among the children and their grandparents. "They're cheering for them and pushing them on. Seeing that camaraderie makes it a great event," she said. The organizers ensured the participants' comfort by modifying the schedule based on the heat, providing ample shade and water breaks, and ending the event with refreshing ice pops.
Engineering Design Challenge: Intergenerational Collaboration and Learning
The Engineering Design Challenge, held at Chatham Recreation, invited children and their grandparents to work together in creating devices that could catch an egg dropped from a height of four to five feet without cracking it. The event was led by Vice Principal Kelly Colley of The Villages High School, who expressed her delight in witnessing the children and their elders collaborating and having a good time. "It gives them something to do and to work together as a team," Colley said, emphasizing the valuable learning experience that emerged from the intergenerational interaction.
Bug Camp for Kids: Fostering a Love for Wildlife
The Bug Camp for Kids event, a staple of Camp Villages for over a decade, brought a diverse array of creepy crawlies for children to learn about. Led by Jim Davis, the county extension director at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension office in Bushnell, the Wednesday session at Eisenhower Recreation aimed to instill a love for wildlife in the young participants. Davis introduced over 30 different species, including butterflies, cicadas, beetles, and grasshoppers, and even allowed the children to hold preserved samples and engage in activities like a grasshopper race. Each child received a net and bug catcher to explore and discover their own insects, further enhancing their hands-on learning experience.The enthusiasm and joy expressed by the participants, from the children to their grandparents, are a testament to the success of Camp Villages. These intergenerational events not only provide fun and engaging activities but also foster meaningful connections, bridge the generational gap, and create lasting memories for all involved. As the summer program continues, the Villages Recreation and Parks Department remains committed to delivering a diverse range of experiences that cater to the diverse interests and needs of Villagers and their grandchildren.
