Intergenerational Lunch Discussions

      On November 24th and 26th, members of the Bellingham Senior Activity Center met with Explorations Academy students as part of a new intergenerational discussion series.  This series, which began earlier this Fall, centers around questions related to the interdisciplinary curriculum at Explorations Academy.  The series continued this week as students and seniors converse regarding the concepts of Media and Revolution.
     “I am very excited that our students can be part of this exchange,” shared Daniel Kirkpatrick, Director of Explorations. “It has become rare for meaningful discourse to occur between teenagers and those with a lifetime of valuable experience.  As far as I know, we are the only school in the area with such an ongoing exchange that connects to course topics, and I could not be more pleased.”   
     The discussions have been extremely successful.  Exploration student Grayson Kernan reflected “I think it is really cool that the seniors were so interested in our points of view.”  Fellow student Lindsay Vigor added “Also, they gave us so much information that you just can’t get from a book.”
     Cameron Oliver, the director of the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, supports the program by providing a meeting room and by helping invite seniors about the opportunity.  “I think it’s great to get kids and seniors together like this.  We’re happy to help out,”  Cameron commented.
    Explorations Academy is Bellingham’s only fully-accredited, experientially-based secondary school. Explorations provides teenagers with an exciting and contemporary program through multi-disciplinary curriculum, a community atmosphere, and frequent, extended field expeditions.   The school is located at 1701 Ellis St., two blocks south of Bellingham High School.  For more information, please contact Explorations Academy at 671-8085 or visit www.ExplorationsAcademy.org.