Intergenerational service learning (ISL) is a partnership based on reciprocity and mutuality involving people of different ages working together to gain skills, values, and knowledge.  Researchers have shown through qualitative data that all participants gain a greater appreciation for one another and recognize how much they have in common through participation in ISL.

Each month (Sept-April) of the academic year, approximately 560 elementary students from our local schools visit area senior living facilities and engage in ISL.  During the summer (June-July), youth enrolled in the Mattoon Family YMCA camp programming participate in ISL with the seniors.

It is our hope and goal to have this program expand to other communities, and we welcome anyone to come and see ISL in action throughout our community of Mattoon.

If you are interested in volunteering please see our Generation-2-Generation schedule click here for Mattoon's and click here for Charleston's.