After the event, I drew my experience over and over again. I still have a binder filled with these little drawings of people holding hands in a big line. When I think back, it was something so simple. No electronics or gear needed. I remember us all having a fun and happy time together on a sunny day. Knowing what I know now, I am sure there was an involved planning process behind creating that simple event. Their planning allowed me to have a happy memory with my family and a warmth in my heart.
When we were planning our first intergenerational Community Builders event, I never mentioned my experience with Hands Across America but we had a very similar goal. We wanted the day to bring people together and have them connect around a project they could feel good about. We wanted to give people the chance to create something that could bring others happiness and deepen their appreciation in life’s simple pleasures.
Working with Carrieanne Petrik-Huff, Engagement Manager and Thad Kubis, Volunteer Resource Coordinator, from the Trustees of Reservations, an idea was born. The staff at the Cobble had noticed a change in visitors after they installed a tire swing — families were staying longer and looked more relaxed. We decided to build a natural playground at Bartholomew’s Cobble. I remember instantly feeling excited about the idea of working to build a playground. We all noticed a similar enthusiasm when we shared the idea with others. As we planned the day, it was important to us that this project would have a clear beginning, middle and an end. We wanted whoever came to help build the playground to be able to actually play on it before they left at the end of the day. Like Hands Across America, the idea of play was a simple pleasure that many people could join in on that can benefit our community and environment. It seemed that Earth Day would be the perfect day to kick off this new program.
Our Community Builders after school program uses the history of the Berkshires as a guide to shape our virtual community in the video game of Minecraft. Both in the game and in real life there are opportunities to build, craft and explore while working in a group.
My Tuesday group of Community Builders at Undermountain Elementary love to think big. Their budding interest in helping the community has been a pleasure to witness. Their excitement about helping design and build the playground was contagious. For many, it was the deciding factor of why the wanted to be part of the Spring semester of Community Builders.
One rainy afternoon, we grabbed some ponchos, loaded into a van and headed to Bartholomew’s Cobble to plan. Between turns on the tire swing, they brainstormed ideas and thought about how it could be open to kids of all ages. Then they took inventory of the materials and sketched their ideas. We sent the completed designs to the grounds committee as a starting place for the final design.
After a week of cold, rain and (a little) snow, we were treated to a sunny, sixty-degree bluebird day on Sunday, April 22nd. The clock struck one and everyone was at their posts, wondering how many volunteers would show up. The first family came and then it was a steady flow of people of all ages. When they arrived, volunteers made a name tag and then were directed over to a Trustees crew member, in a purple shirt, so they could jump right into a project. First, people were digging holes and clearing sod. Then there were wheelbarrow trips to dump the sod. Others held shovels waiting for the wheelbarrows to return so they fill them up again. Between moments of greeting volunteers, I caught glimpses of people working harmoniously and happily. They looked engaged and relaxed–smiling and laughing as they worked.
