Intergenerational Program Database

The Peralta Intergenerational Project' started six years ago and involves 1st - 5th grade classes from Peralta Elementary School in Oakland, CA taking monthly field trips to create art with elders who have dementia at The Bay Area Community Services Adult Day Care Center.

The Center for Digital Storytelling works at the national and international level on projects with dozens of collaborators each year. We have numerous projects that have an intergenerational orientation with our partners. We are currently working on a national program, All Together Now, that will build stories of citizenship between youth and elders. In addition, CDS works in numerous cross-generational environments, in public health settings, education, environmental, and community service, where groups are gathered representing a multi-generational perspective.

Enjoy a day at the beach with others in the surfing community, celebrate the intergenerational nature of our sport and raise some much needed funds for Pacifica’s Environmental Family (PEF). An Intergenerational Team (IT) division welcomes surfers of all ages. Each IT must be 6 surfers, represent 3 generations (one generation = 18 years), include at least 1 surfer under age 20, any length/type board can be used and can include both males and females. Teams will surf together in their own heat. This event takes place every summer.

CATCH brings children and adults age 50+ together to learn good eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. The program combats obesity by engaging adults age 50+ as mentors to teach healthy lifelong habits to kids in grades K-5. Adults in the program benefit in several ways. Research shows that volunteers have lower rates of depression and mortality and greater functional ability than those who do not volunteer. As they promote healthy habits for kids and for themselves, they also experience the rewards of meaningful community service.

CATCH brings children and adults age 50+ together to learn good eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. The program combats obesity by engaging adults age 50+ as mentors to teach healthy lifelong habits to kids in grades K-5. Adults in the program benefit in several ways. Research shows that volunteers have lower rates of depression and mortality and greater functional ability than those who do not volunteer. As they promote healthy habits for kids and for themselves, they also experience the rewards of meaningful community service.

Sages & Seekers is a non-profit organization designed to bridge the generational gap between our two most vulnerable and neglected age groups, seniors and teens, in order to generate the exchange of valuable wisdom, strengthen community, and dissolve age-related segregation. Seniors and teens spend 8 weeks sharing stories.

La Mesa's Intergenerational Safe Routes to School Volunteer Program is designed to increase safety measures near our elementary and middle schools and help ease parents' concerns about their children walking or biking to school. The program recruits active older adults (50 years and older) and trains them on pedestrian and bicycle safety and the importance of physical activity for health.

Roots and Shoots is an intergenerational gardening program that consists of the Roots, community volunteers, and the Shoots, Palo Alto third graders, who work together to learn about gardening, our environment, nutrition and community. The Shoots learn about science concepts through garden-based lessons and hands-on activities. Together, the Roots and Shoots help maintain the Edible Garden by planting, weeding, composting, and harvesting produce to prepare and enjoy a weekly healthy snack, donating the remaining harvest to local food banks. By working together, the Shoots learn the many benefits and importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. In recent years, the group has donated 300 lbs of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables annually.

The annual Walk of Ages is a family oriented event that raises much needed funds for the Jewish Home. Walkers and runners of all ages collect donations from sponsors for this fun event.

To combat the loneliness felt by individuals with Alzheimer’s, the Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s at UCLA launched the TimeOut Program in January 2016. In this program, each UCLA student is paired with a senior who has Alzheimer’s and spends time with them three hours every week at the OPICA Adult day Care and Caregiver Support Center. Together, they participate in various activities to enjoy themselves and build strong, lasting relationships.