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People Helping People: The Generation Connection
As a child growing up in Ohio, the strong connection between Joel Daunic and his grandparents initiated the idea of The Generation Connection (TGC), a cross-generational summer day camp in Gainesville where volunteer seniors serve as mentors to a diverse group of campers ages 8-12. Don’t let the term senior fool you, however, because the seniors involved in this camp are as active as any savvy young person.
Each day is a fun-filled experience for this “camp on wheels,” as participants are transported to various locations by minivans. Highlights from a previous camp included learning about African dancing and drumming, a service project for Keep Alachua County Beautiful, cleaning invasive plants from the Ichetucknee River (while swimming and canoeing), building trust and confidence at the Gainesville Rock Gym, touring a television station and improvisational fun at the High Springs Community Theatre. All campers go home with a video memento.
Daunic, a financial representative with The Guardian Life Insurance Company, founded TGC after discussions with basketball coaches at Manhattanville College, near New York City, where he was athletic director in 2002.
“The discussion always boiled down to good times we personally enjoyed with grandparents or other mentors and memories of how much our elders seemed to enjoy those times, too,” he said. “We concluded that it was that ‘winwin’ feeling we wanted to capture.”
In its sixth year, the camp, set for July 21-25, has grown from a few campers to more than 35. The ratio of one mentor to four campers ensures lots of opportunities for everyone to communicate, learn and just have fun.
“Our goal is to enjoy a variety of unique, quick-hitting adventures that are educational, connected to nature and community, captured on video and, most importantly, fun. Our idea is working because many of the seniors, as well as young campers have come back every year,” Daunic said.
Volunteers include Daunic’s wife, Ann, a University of Florida Department of Special Education faculty member and tennis coach; Malcolm Sanford, a retired professor of apiculture at UF; Sue Johnson, a retired elementary school teacher and artist; Neil Johnson, a retired engineer whose current passion is making furniture; Wes Corbett, a professor emeritus of the UF College of Education; Hazel Jones, an associate professor in the Special Education Department at UF; and John Ward, a local accountant.
As campers and older adults take part in traditional and non-traditional formats, connections are made between generations, diverse backgrounds and cultures. Mentors teach and model skills that promote physical and mental fitness and lifelong enjoyment. While seniors share their knowledge and experience, young campers gain, and provide, fresh insights.
Safety is an integral part of TGC experience, and campers are protected from the threat of any unsafe environment that might lead to physical, social or emotional harm.
Two-thirds of the campers attend by scholarships, awarded on the recommendation of teachers, guidance counselors and community youth leaders. Donations are necessary to cover expenses other than tuition. By making a donation, you can help give a child the chance to experience lifelong benefits.
For more information, to register for this year’s camp or to make a donation, visit the Web site at www.thegenerationconnection.com. You can send a tax-free donation to The Generation Connection 602 S. Main St., Suite A-3 Gainesville, FL 32601