UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Older adults who love being around children and nature are needed to join in an intergenerational environmental program at Penn State's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center.

"Intergenerational Outdoor School" is a five-day program that will be conducted weekly throughout the spring, through the week of May 26. The school brings fifth- and sixth-grade students together with older adults to learn about the natural world and gain insight into each other's lives, including their values for caring for the environment. Activities of this unique outdoor experience include natural history mini-lessons, discovery walks and community values discussions.

"For 40 years, I have had a love of the woods," says John Buzzell, a retired research chemist who participated in the program last fall. "In recent years, this has grown into a personal commitment for taking care of our forest resources. The only way I can see keeping this wonderful resource for future generations is to figure out ways to interest young people in nature and to foster in them a sense of stewardship."

"We believe that, as a society, we need to nurture opportunities for people of all generations to have dialogue about taking care of the environment," says Shih-Tsen (Nike) Liu, graduate student in Penn State's agricultural and extension education department who brought the idea to Shaver's Creek last fall as part of her dissertation research project. "We hope to start a trend in environmental education centers, where older adults regularly join young people in their learning and service experiences."

Any individuals age 55 or older who are interested in sharing their enthusiasm and interests in exploring and discussing nature with children are encouraged to join the program. Prior experience and background in education are not necessary. Schedules for volunteering are flexible.

Meals and a short training session will be provided. The nature center is approximately 14 miles south of downtown State College. (Take West College Avenue to Pine Grove Mills, then turn left on Route 26 to go over a mountain, and then follow the signs after turning right onto Charter Oak Road.)

For more information, including the dates of orientation sessions for senior volunteers, contact Nike Liu at 814-863-7877, or via e-mail at SXL234@psu.edu. Information also is available from Mark McLaughlin, program director at Shaver's Creek. He can be reached by phone at 814-863-2000, or via e-mail at mxm51@psu.edu.

###

EDITORS: Contact Nike Liu at 814-863-7877, or via e-mail at SXL234@psu.edu.

Contact:

Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-863-9877 fax #146