A GrandPals National Program staff works one-on-one with a community to support the recruitment and pairing of ten older adults (55+) and a teacher (gr. 5) to work together for project-based learning through storytelling.

• Brief application or informal interview
• Vulnerable sector screening (aka police background check)
• Character reference

Host Teachers, Program Coordinators, and GrandPals receive training to prepare them to participate in the program. Trainings are tailored based on the role of the participants:

• Host Teachers → participate in training led by GrandPals National Program Staff to learn how to prepare their students to gain the most from the program and how to leverage intergenerational learning in the classroom to meet curriculum needs.
• Program Coordinators → participate in training led by GrandPals National Program Staff to learn how to organize the intergenerational program, train older adults to become GrandPals, facilitate a co-creation session and implement simple feedback loops to continually enhance the program for their community.
• GrandPals (adults 55+) → participate in training led by the Program Coordinator to learn how to identify theme-based stories and share them with students. Throughout the training GrandPals share stories, learnings and, oftentimes, form friendships.

Program Coordinators host a two-hour Co-Creation session between GrandPals and Teacher using a free step-by-step guide provided by GrandPals staff. Participants establish which sessions to host through videoconference versus in-person, the duration of the program, which themes to cover during the program, and which GrandPal(s) will take the lead on sharing stories each week (for the videoconference model).

GrandPals meet with the classroom on a weekly basis at the same time/day of the week for about 45 – 60 minutes to share stories, learning and build connections. Over the course of the program, students will work on a project that reflects the significance of their learnings from the GrandPals. Program Coordinators will take the lead on keeping the program on track by providing regular communications and support throughout the sessions and during the program.

GrandPals are encouraged to meet with one another throughout the duration of the program to share their reflections and learnings.

The program concludes with a fun celebratory event in which students present the project they’ve been working on throughout the program. GrandPals are also encouraged to share their reflections on their involvement in the program with the students. Families and members of the community, including the media (potentially) are welcome to join and celebrate the accomplishments from the program. The celebration will also include interactive activities for participants to express their experience participating in the program that can be used to enhance future iterations of the program.