WOODSTOCK — Linda Maxham and Finley Peterson faced the emerging mural with their paintbrushes poised.
“We’re painting just shapes that we find, any color,” Peterson, age 10, told me as she filled in a circle with a dark purple she’d mixed on her palette.
“You’ve got a nice one going there,” Maxham, 77, told to Peterson.
The duo was one of many senior-citizen-and-child pairs working together Tuesday morning at the Thompson Senior Center in Woodstock as part of Generation to Generation Week, which took place 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday of last week. About 20 kids and more than 30 senior citizens participated; some seniors made a short cisit and some were there all week.
“It’s always been important to me to bring the older generation together with the younger one,” said Deanna Jones, Thompson executive director, who started the program three years ago along with Barbara Leonard, lead teacher of Generation to Generation Week and a retired second-grade teacher. “It means so much to all of them.”
“I’ve always been interested in multigenerational relationships,” Leonard said. “What can we learn from each other? Why is it important to have other generations together?”
The answers are vast: Kids can learn a lot from their elders, who Leonard describes as “treasures.” They can hear about history firsthand and compare life experiences. Both generations can learn to respect each other, growing a deeper appreciation for members of the community.
“This is fun,” Maxham said. “This is how I stay young.”
Activities include art projects directed by South Pomfret-based ArtisTree Community Arts Center, games and lunch. The week concludes with an ice cream social and a performance by the Island Time Steel Drums.
Tuesday morning’s activity was portrait painting.
“Boys and girls, I would like you to sit next to a senior,” Leonard said and the children ranging in age from 8-12 quickly complied, taking seats at two long tables underneath a tent set up on the back lawn of the senior center.
Finnie Trimpi, outreach coordinator at ArtisTree, gave instructions and the campers quickly got to work.
Bonnie Atwood, 78, was sitting across from Gianni Blanchard, 11. Both were returners to Generation to Generation Week.
“I like interacting with the seniors and I love the activities they have here,” said Blanchard, of Bridgewater.
The two had already discovered similarities: They are both the oldest grandchildren in their families.
“We talked about animals and the pets that we have,” said Atwood, of Woodstock. “I think we found out we have a lot in common.”
They helped each other choose which colors to use to paint their portraits, from skin tone to eye color.
What do they like about the camp and the new friends they’ve made?
“They teach you a lot and it’s fun to be friends with them, and I think it’s good for them and good for me,” Blanchard said.
“I think it’s important for us to be mentors to the younger children,” Atwood added.
Over at the murals, Maxham, of Bridgewater, and Peterson, of Pomfret, were also discovering their similarities.
“Purple is my favorite color,” Maxham told Peterson. “Is it your favorite?”
“Yes!” Peterson enthusiastically replied.
“That’s why we like each other,” Maxham — who sports purple hair — said knowingly.
Then they went back to painting. There was a mural to finish and other similarities to discover.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
