With last year’s Grandparents, Grandchildren Camp reeling in over 100 participants, GVSU will host its second annual Grandparents, Grandchildren Camp this summer with hopes of creating even more generational bonding.

Margo Dill, program coordinator with GVSU’s regional math and science center said this idea of a grandparents, grandchildren camp is not new in Michigan. GVSU is the fifth such camp following the lead of Michigan State, Central Michigan University, Albion College and Saginaw Valley. The idea originated with the University of Wisconsin over 10 years ago.

“We prefer to host a grandparent if the children have them because one of our major goals is to strengthen the family bond for the children and provide a positive college experience for them,” Dill said. “That being said, if another relative or mentor who serves in that role for a child would be welcomed.”

The camp is for children ages 8-12 and their grandparents. They will spend two nights in the living center apartments and experience other aspects of college life, like eating at campus dining halls with the rest of the GVSU community.

“We want to provide a positive learning environment for students and their families,” Dill said. “We can do that by sharing some of the best that Grand Valley has to offer through our professors from many different disciplines. The faculty are offering 90 minute class sessions that provide positive learning experiences for both generations.”

Dill said they are currently developing sessions with archeology, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, writing, art, movement science, statistics, geology, criminal justice and more, for this summer.

Participants are welcome from just about anywhere; last years participants included a few GVSU faculty and staff, community members from Ottawa and Kent Counties and some traveling around the country.

Registration is now open. Early registration, before Jan. 31, is a discounted rate. After Jan. 31, the rate will increase slightly. For more information and to see the session offerings for this summer visit www.gvsu.edu/g3.
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