Bridging the gap
Seniors show off hobbies to kids during school fair
BY GARY J. KUNICH gkunich@kenoshanews.com
In a world of iPods, cell phones and 24-hour cartoon channels, a rock and a hunk of wood might be as exciting to a child as ... well, a rock and a hunk of wood.
But judging from the faces of students from Southport Elementary School on Thursday morning, these were some pretty special rocks, and not just your everyday average hunk of wood.
A group of active senior citizens showed off the gizmos, gadgets and hobbies of what some might call a bygone era as they shared their treasures and talents with the mesmerized elementary school masses.
“I think this is awesome!” said Nathan Giese, 9, as he watched Denny Bell’s whittling and carving magic turn wood into birds, mugs and other art pieces. “I can see myself doing this for a living. I’ve wanted to be an artist my whole life.”
Bell, who only started carving a few years ago, after he retired from his engineering job from Abbott, was happy to share his skills.
“I enjoy talking to the kids,” he said. “That’s the best part.”
He and his 16 colleagues for the Intergenerational Fair were part of the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program from Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services. Students in all grade levels at the school got to rotate through the gymnasium throughout the day for demonstrations.
The idea is to introduce children to ideas and hobbies they might not otherwise know about, and gives some of Kenosha’s older generations a chance to connect with a younger one.
“We love this because it gives these kids a chance to look at yesteryear, and put their hands on it, and see what it was really like,” said Betty Hodal, a retired teacher who was showing items from the Kenosha History Museum.
She had school books that were more than 100 years old; wooden, strap-on ice skates; tops; jump ropes; and a stereograph, which dated View-Masters by quite a few years and enabled a generation to see pictures in 3-D.
“I like to tell them about our history and the pioneers of Kenosha, and tell them at one time, there were cabins right here, and they’re amazed,” Hodal said. “Something as simple as a top gets them very excited.”
That wasn’t an exaggeration as children ran all over the school’s gymnasium, taking in the fun.
At one end, 94-year-old Crystal Stoll demonstrated her needlepoint, while another person painted seashells, and another taught children how to write out their names with glue and glitter. Another person showed off her skills making bracelets and miniature pompoms.
“You can go to a store and buy pompoms, but it’s a lot funner to do it yourself!” said Makiah Bouchee, 8.
Another group of thirdgraders huddled around a mini-pool table and pumped up their skills.
“No one ever beat me at pool ... except my dad,” bragged Nick Barden, 8.
“I can beat anybody! Let me play,” added Chris Pitts, 8.
Another student tried her luck at the classic game Operation, setting off buzzes and a red light.
Third-grade teacher Courtney Gotz, 31, said his students were learning and didn’t even realize it.
“Anytime you can make it fun, and introduce them to new things, that’s great,” he said. “We’re getting them to do hands-on work, and they’re enthusiastic. They’re also connecting with people from another generation. For some of these kids, their grandparents might live in another state.”
The shiny, polished rocks and fossils of different colors and designs kept John Bush, 8, spellbound.
“I collect rocks and have my own tumbler,” he said.
“Have you ever seen a rock that floats?” asked Vern Roenfanz.
He picked a piece of white pumice — lava rock — and plunked it in a cup of water, then watched it float to the top.
“Oh, that’s cool!” John said.
“Our kids are grown, and this gives us something fun to do,” said Roenfanz, who was at the fair with his wife, Winnie. “It teaches them about something they might not know about. Then we get to go home where it’s nice and quiet.”
Denny Bell shows off his wood carving work to thirdgraders Nathan Giese, left, and Jaden Vranak during the Intergenerational Fair.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTOS BY KEVIN POIRIER Kindergartners, from left, Bailey Millimaki, Asuzena Becera and Kevin Totts take turns looking through a stereograph during the Intergenerational Fair at Southport Elementary School.
