The Badge Archive

Learn from a Senior Citizen

*Inspired by an activity choice in the GSUSA 1980s program for Across Generations

Older adults have lots of experience and stories to share! You can learn something new by talking to a senior citizen about a topic they know well, like gardening, art, travel, or history. If you don’t know someone to ask in person, you can read or watch interviews online where seniors share their knowledge.

Learning from older people helps us understand the world in new ways and shows respect for their wisdom.

Take Action

Learning Worksheet:

Step 1: Choose a Topic
What subject or activity do I want to learn about?
☐ Gardening
☐ Art
☐ Travel
☐ Local History
☐ Foreign Language
☐ Other: ___________________________

Step 2: Learn from a Senior Citizen
Choose one way to learn:
☐ I talked to a senior citizen I know
☐ I read or watched an interview with a senior citizen online

Who did I learn from?
Name (or article/video title): ___________________________
Topic they shared: ___________________________

Step 3: What I Learned

  • Something interesting I learned:
  • A tip or idea they shared:
  • How I might use this knowledge:

Possible Online Teachers

(For scouts who don’t have a senior citizen to talk to in person)

Art Skills Taught by Seniors

  1. Drawing with Clive Turner: Seniors’ Still Life
    Clive Turner, a senior himself, leads a still life drawing session. While the audience is primarily seniors, his instruction is clear and beginner-friendly. Scouts can follow along and learn directly from his example.

Gardening Skills Taught by Seniors

  1. Gardening Tips for Seniors (Because Green Thumbs Never Age)
    A senior gardener shares tips for safe, effective gardening, perfect for scouts learning about planting, harvesting, and garden design.

Travel Skills & Stories from Seniors

  1. Road Scholar: Educational Travel for Older Adults
    Seniors share their experiences traveling through Road Scholar programs. Scouts can learn about geography, planning, and cultural exploration.

Local History Shared by Seniors

  1. Get Unstuck: Break Down Brick Walls; Learn Family History
    A senior citizen shares how they research and teach Family History Research Skills. Scouts can learn about archives, storytelling, and historical thinking.
Tia Kennard