Contact: Diana Bakkom, assistant director of Summer Programs, Diana.Bakkom@wwu.edu or (360) 650-6821.
BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University's "Grandparents U" is a unique intergenerational program designed for grandparents and grandchildren, ages 7 to 12, with a focus on fun, hands-on learning.
This unique program will take place July 16-17 on the WWU campus with over-sight and teaching by WWU faculty.
Participants will choose one of several topics that are designed to help different generations find common ground and reconnect. Three featured topics are Heirloom Storytelling: Sharing Your Family Stories; Dancing for Joy; and World of Maps, the Science of GIS/GPS.
Heirloom Storytelling: Sharing Your Family Stories
This hands-on workshop will demonstrate creative ways to pass on your family stories to the younger generation. In the past, grandparents sat at the hearth with their grandchildren, filling the long dark evenings with stories of their lives and ancestors. Today, media, distance, and busy lives often separate the generations, and this class will help generations to connect by discovering engaging ways to build knowledge of family history. The course instructor, Rosemary Vohs, was classically trained in performance arts in her native England. Vohs has taught storytelling, performance arts and speaking courses at WWU and is a founding member of the Bellingham Storytellers Guild.
Dancing for Joy
This class focuses on creative movement for self esteem. How do you sit, stand and walk when you are feeling proud, excited, hopeful or happy? Exploration of movement in the first session will begin with words and movement. The last class will culminate with the grandchildren performing an original piece of choreography while the grandparents are the enthusiastic audience. The course instructor is Cher Carnell, the acting director of Dance at WWU. Carnell taught ballet for more than 35 years and danced professionally for 11 years.
World of Maps, the Science of GIS/GPS
This workshop will introduce participants to both the practical and recreational potential of maps and expose them to fun and important concepts of map use and other geographic tools, including GIS and GPS. Classroom sessions will entail map-making exercises and use of GIS, along with outdoor sessions using handheld GPS units for "treasure hunts" to create a lively mix of informational teaching, demonstrations, and active coaching. Course instructor Mark VanderVen, received his master's degree in Geography from WWU. VanderVen has taught Map Reading and Analysis as well as several other geography classes at WWU.
Additional topics include Marine Biology: Our Neighbors in Bellingham Bay; Adventures into the Wild and Wacky World of Water Colors; and Earthquakes and Volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.
"Grandparents U" is offered in partnership with WWU's Extended Education and Summer Programs and WWU's Alumni Association.
Space is limited and participants are encouraged to enroll early to reserve their favorite topic. The cost is $195 per adult/child pair. Details and registration information are on the Web at www.ExtendedEd.wwu.edu, or contact eesp@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3308.
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