University of Wisconsin - Extension

Tailgating with Bucky Badger. Scavenger hunting to find animals and plants at Picnic Point. Taking a turn as a TV anchor. Learning how DNA is used to solve crimes. Staying in the dorms.

Nearly 160 grandparents and grandchildren enjoyed these and many more experiences at Grandparents University, an intergenerational learning event sponsored by UW-Extension Cooperative Extension Family Living Programs and the Wisconsin Alumni Association, on the UW-Madison campus July 19 through 20.

Generations learn and bond

Jerry Apps, UW-Madison professor emeritus, kicked off the conference by leading the group in an oral history-taking exercise. The room came alive as grandparents and grandchildren discussed their favorite toys as a child.

Four majors--ecology, history, science and communication arts--were offered. Deans, chosen from UW faculty, led the planning for each major and recruited other faculty members to teach. The result was a rich array of activities that allowed grandparents and grandchildren to explore a field of study together.

Even weeds are important

Judi Bresnehan described the ecology majors¿ experience. A hike through the UW Arboretum prairie taught granddaughter Heidi that "all of those 'weeds' have names and that they serve purposes." Martha Willett, 11, "learned that jewelweed got its name because when you hold it under water it looks like gold and silver." On the Picnic Point scavenger hunt, Martha thought "one of the coolest things was a leaf that a bug had chewed through so it looked like a mini-maze."

Hands-on history

Jerry and Judy Wallace and their two grandchildren, Peter and Jenna, who flew in from California to attend Grandparents University, studied history. Judy reports, "Peter thoroughly enjoyed the State Historical Museum. The World War II exhibit was his favorite. Jenna loved handling the artifacts and guessing what they were."

Catching the culprit

Bill Rowe and his granddaughters explored the nanoworld in the science major. Kristine, 11, and cousin Hannah, 10, conducted a DNA experiment, sampling blood to identify a culprit from other suspects. "It was fun for me to be next to them and listen to them giggle, ask questions and see the pride in their faces when their experiment was successful," Rowe says.

… and Daffy Duck

Communication arts majors participated in a hands-on TV studio experience and a class on vintage Warner Brothers cartoons, dramatized their own stories, and learned the techniques actors on stage and in film use to safely create action sequences.

Program to be repeated in 2002

Grandparents University was designed to enhance the positive bond of the grandparent-grandchild relationship by providing opportunities for grandparents and grandchildren ages 7 to 12 to interact in a university setting. Evaluations suggest that the conference was successful in doing this, with over half of the attendees citing the opportunity to be together as the best part of Grandparents University and 98 percent of those who attended saying they would attend again.

For information about Grandparents University 2002: 1-888-391-4255

For Grandparents University 2001 photos: http://www.uwalumni.com/grandparents/