A unique partnership between neighbors Evergreen Retirement Community and the Davis Child Care Center has created new opportunities for area children and seniors to mutually experience and celebrate the worlds of the young and the old. The pre-kindergarten classroom on the Evergreen campus provides daily intergenerational activities and thus offers a program that makes Evergreen and Davis different from other facilities in the Fox Valley.

Together the residents and children bring a new and different type of energy, fun, and laughter to our campus. The classroom for 4- and 5-year-old pre-kindergarten students, known as the Evergreen Pioneers, is located on the lower level of the main Evergreen building. The classroom featuring scenic murals, two restrooms, a kitchenette, and four computers can be viewed through the three hallway observation windows.

The Evergreen Pioneers use Evergreen’s new playground that offers great interaction possibilities as residents are encouraged to visit with the children at play or simply watch as they sit on the nearby observation benches.

The newest intergenerational program, Special Pals, designed to develop meaningful one-on-one relationships between the children and Evergreen residents, matches one or two students with one resident volunteer. The small groups meet twice each month from January through May to share special projects together.

A special kiss from one Special Pal to another will be long remembered. During an afternoon reading time, an Evergreen resident kissed a child on the cheek and left a lipstick mark. “I was kissed by a grandma!” replied the little girl who excitedly shared the story with her mother.

Evergreen residents are heard to say, “Those kids make me so happy.” The children ask, “Do we get to see our grandmas and grandpas today?” Such comments are powerful reminders of the success of the Special Pals program.

Evergreen looks to develop this partnership as a model for other organizations. “We will share what we learned so more children and older adults can share their worlds with each other.”