Intergenerational connections are important in providing mentorship to young people and a sense of purpose to the older generations. In northeastern Minnesota, the AGE to AGE Program and the Northland Foundation are working together to administer the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Program.
The Northland Foundation received a two-year AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration grant to “engage senior volunteers who will provide tutoring, out-of-school time, and summer learning activities in twelve AGE to age partner sites across rural northeastern Minnesota.” This project focuses on the AmeriCorps priority area of “Education — Intergenerational Programming”, and is designed to “engage older adults in supporting students and families for successful transitions in returning to the classrooms and/or strengthen social emotional learning of students to increase school readiness and K-12 success post-pandemic.”
Lake Superior School District Community Education has worked with the Northland Foundation for many years as a designated AGE to age station site. “The Northland Foundation has been an outstanding partner and supporter of intergenerational programs, and this is just another extension of that relationship,” Bruce Remme, Director of Community Education, said.
The AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Program enrollment is open on a rolling basis, meaning that new volunteers are accepted at any time. The current volunteer program runs through Summer 2024. To date, students from preschool to high school have benefited from the “time and expertise our volunteers have so graciously shared.”
Due to the program’s broad nature, volunteers are welcome to serve in a variety of ways. “We currently have volunteers serving on a weekly basis in elementary classrooms and the library at Minnehaha Elementary. We have volunteers working with our junior high robotics team. We have volunteers who are serving as ‘game buddies’ in our after school program. We have had several volunteers through the Lake County Master Gardeners who worked with our summer Kids & Co program providing education and experiencing various gardening techniques,” Remme said.
Interested seniors (age 55+) can get involved in volunteering by contacting the Community Education office. Prospective volunteers are welcome to stop by the office in-person Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., call (218) 834-8201 x8227, or email Bruce Remme at bremme@isd381.org.
