InterAge at LLI Chesterfield
LLI Chesterfield offers an InterAge program that includes courses, volunteer opportunities, and more! InterAge celebrates the power of connection across the lifespan. It’s about bringing people of all ages together to share wisdom, spark new ideas, and strengthen community bonds. By fostering relationships that bridge age divides, InterAge helps create a culture of belonging, purpose, and growth. LLI appointed E. Ayn Welleford, PhD, as their InterAge Director and held their first round of InterAge courses in Summer 2025. Hannah Rayfield and Anna Buxmann served as InterAge Interns at LLI in 2025-2026.
InterAge Courses - Fall 2026
These course are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome! Please register using the button at the bottom of the page. Thank you!
LE263276
Balloonology 101
Monday
10:30-12:00
Sept 14
*$8
Instructor(s): Wayne Swatlowski
This lighthearted, hands‑on course will introduce students of all ages to the art and fun of balloon‑making. Students will learn basic techniques, experiment with shapes and designs, and enjoy a relaxed, creative atmosphere. The class will offer opportunities to practice new skills while exploring simple ways to bring joy and whimsy to everyday moments. The course fee will provide the pump and balloons, and the fee is optional if the student has a balloon pump to bring. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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EF263192
The College Cost Divide: Then, Now, and What It Means
Monday
1:00-2:00
Sept 14
Instructor(s): Amy Pridemore
This course will examine how the cost of a college education has changed from the 1960s to today and how those shifts affect younger generations. Students will explore how tuition increases have outpaced inflation and wages, how student loan debt influences long‑term financial stability, and how college affordability has evolved across decades. The course will invite cross‑generational perspectives to deepen understanding of one of the most significant financial changes of modern life. This will be a unique interAge opportunity, as students of all ages from the community will be invited to attend and participate.
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HS263815
Sara Allen of Deerfield, Massachusetts
Tuesday
1:00-2:00
Sept 15
Instructor(s): Wilbur Good
This course will trace the remarkable story of Sara Allen, who was taken captive by Mohawk Indians during the 1704 Raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, in the Queen Anne’s War. Students will follow her forced winter march of more than 200 miles across ice and snow to Montreal, a journey that revealed her resilience and strength. The course will describe how Allen was eventually purchased by a Frenchman, married, and became the mother of fourteen children. Her enduring legacy will be highlighted, as the instructor is her eighth great‑grandson. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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AD263334
InterAge Storytelling and Listening for Elders, Middlers, and Youngers
Thursday
1:30-3:00
Sept 24, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 10
Instructor(s): Les Schaffer and Judith Onesty
This course will bring students of all ages together in a welcoming, creative space to share, listen to, and co‑create stories that honor personal histories, cultures, and collective imagination. Through guided activities, students will explore the power of storytelling to build empathy, preserve cultural memory, and spark meaningful connections across the lifespan. The course will extend the rich experience of the InterAge Storytelling summer courses, though attendance in previous offerings is not required. LLI members are encouraged to attend with grandchildren, great‑grandchildren, or other middlers or youngers in their lives, though bringing a child is not necessary for participation. The classes will blend conversation, creative exercises, and collaborative projects, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued as students build a shared collection of stories reflecting both lived experience and fresh perspectives. This course is a unique InterAge opportunity open to the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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DE263019
A Week in the Life of Billy Good
Friday
10:30-12:00
Sept 25
Instructor(s): Wilbur Good and Carol Good
This course will introduce students to the daily experiences of Billy Good, who was born with spina bifida and lived independently with determination and resilience. Through a video presentation, students will observe Billy’s routines at home and in the community, including moments surrounding one of his many brain surgeries. The course will provide insight into Billy’s challenges, strengths, and the ways he adapted to maintain autonomy and purpose. This course is a unique InterAge opportunity open to the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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HW263552
From Screen Time to Green Time: Getting Children in Nature
Thursday
10:30-12:00
Oct 1
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Instructor(s): Dr. Dale Atkins
This course will explore the importance of children spending time outdoors and how nature supports healthy development. Psychologist and author Dr. Dale Atkins will share practical ways to guide children toward outdoor experiences, reduce reliance on screens, and strengthen family connections through time in nature. Students will also learn about her book Dear Deer and its message encouraging families to rediscover the benefits of the natural world. This course will be a unique interAge opportunity, as students of all ages from the community will be invited to attend and participate in the conversation.
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CO263235
Podcasts for All
Monday
2:00-3:30
Oct 19
Instructor(s): Rachel and Lucas Ramirez
There are countless entertainment sources these days. While screentime is the most popular, research shows that it is not the most beneficial. Enter podcasts. Podcasts are an excellent alternative to screentime and have become more popular in recent years with wonderful options from bedtime stories to news, science- and nature-themed shows to hobbies and everything in between. This course will give students insight into the benefits of podcasts for children and adults as well as provide a list of recommendations. Lucas will share his favorite podcasts for kids, such as The Cat in the Hat Cast, Silly Stories for Kids, Gardenkeeper Gus, and Nature Nerds. A few all-age podcasts will be shared with discretion recommended, such as History Daily and Real Survival Stories. This course will also give students an opportunity to share their favorite podcasts. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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EL263108
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Friday
1:00-3:00
Oct 30
*$15
Instructor(s): Rachel and Lucas Ramirez
Charlie Mackesy began sharing conversations between the boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse on his social media channels in early 2018. He published “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” in late 2019, and the book has since brought comfort and joy to over seven million readers worldwide. In 2022, the short film adaptation of the book was released on AppleTV+ alongside a companion edition of the book: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: The Animated Story.” This course will offer an opportunity for students to view the short film and discuss the book about the characters' journey together and the boy’s search for home. This quote from the author says it all, “I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved. Love, Charlie x.” The author's book, "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" is available through an optional course fee at the time of registration. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.
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