Bringing seniors and kids together to share quality time and experiences is an important component of living well in San Diego County. The challenge can be to find activities that both the kids and seniors will find fun as well as interesting and a shared learning adventure.

When the Scripps Ranch community’s Scripps Ranch 50 Plus organization started looking into Intergenerational activities for the community, one of the first ideas was to hold an Intergenerational (IG) Games event. IG Games have been successfully held in various communities throughout the county – and indeed, a number will be held again this year. Scripps Ranch 50 Plus approached the members of a second local group, Scripps Ranch Civic Association and the leaders at Innovations Academy Charter School and found a common thread in all their work: each group has a commitment to teaching others about the importance of sustainable living.  With Earth Day coming up later this month, the idea of hosting an IG Games blossomed into the concept of having an IG Earth Day Festival.

This festival will be the first of its kind – a day when active 50+ adults will join over 340 Innovations Academy students of all ages as they celebrate Earth Day and participate in hands-on activities related to sustainability, environmental, and other public health concepts.  Presenters will tackle a variety of subjects including energy efficiency, gardening, health and nutrition, water conservation, nature, recycling, and zero waste.

Most of these activities will be coordinated and overseen by 10 local non-profit partners, including I Love a Clean San Diego, PEAK Energy, the 5-2-1-0 Campaign and the Master Gardeners Association. Targeted intergenerational experiences will be enhanced with the help of the North County Intergenerational Council, and through special arrangements, a number of adult residents from Sunshine Care – a community of memory care homes – will participate with the Innovations Academy students.

“Collaboration is key to the health and well-being of our students, neighbors and the environment,” says Beth Foster, Program Director at Innovations Academy. “It has been great to see the way that the School, the Scripps Ranch Civic Association, Sunshine Care, the North County IG Council and so many wonderful non-profits have come together to bring our vision to life. We hope you too will come and join us for the first annual Intergenerational Earth Day Festival!”

This FREE event will provide a light breakfast and lunch  and will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 9:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Innovations Academy Charter School, 10380 Spring Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92131.

Adults can still register on-line here.

Questions? Contact Rob Holmes of Scripps Ranch 50 Plus to learn more! 858-689-2179. 

Click here to see the kids from Innovations Academy introducing this event.