By Cole Bedics*
Larry let out a big sigh in exclamation; he had not gotten many points so far. We were playing Hitster, a card game where you scan a QR code to play a song, then guess the artist and year of release (there are more rules than that, but you get the gist). Larry had been burdened by the bad luck of having only pulled up songs that came out in the past 15 years, which was most definitely not in his musical repertoire. It was hard for the younger generations at our table to hold our tongues when we heard the songs of our very recent childhoods. Finally, he pulls a card playing Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones. He smiles, “Ohhh, I know this one. This came out when I was a kid.” He rattles off both the name of the song and the year and gets several points. This was the turning point that Larry needed; he started a hot streak of correct guesses, and we cheered louder after each. He would go on to come from behind and win the game. The game was more than music; it was about the personal connections that could be stretched across decades. Learning about what has changed, what has stayed the same, and most importantly, about each other.
My experience playing Hitster with Larry was incredibly enjoyable, but it was by no means a unique expirence for this event. We had 34 people show up for the event split half and half between OLLI members and Auburn University Students. Most people I talked to too also walked away with the same experience of joy and expanding perspective!
An intergenerational group playing the game Hitster.
The Office of Sustainability hosted its first-ever Intergenerational Game Night on March 17, in collaboration with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Tabletop Gaming Club at Auburn University. A night where generations from Gen Z to Baby Boomers could come together and share perspectives and stories; a rare opportunity to gain some knowledge from those who came before and after.
There were many games to choose from, ranging from the classic card games of “Gin Rummy” and “Oh Hell,” contemporary games like Scattergories, and even a storytelling game provided by the Tabletop Gaming Club. The storytelling games were new to me – a collaborative, verbal, world-building and improvisation exercise that developed a story through the evening, a deeply engaging form of communication, and fun that I would recommend to anyone. Our prize table was also fully stocked with St. Patty’s Day gifts including green socks, chocolate coins, Lucky Charms, and Irish butter, the last of which being the by far the most popular gift. Intergenerational Game Night was not all about winning prizes, though; it was created as an event that could provide opportunities for generations of people to come together and learn from and about each other.
OLLI members hold up their valuable prizes of cabbage and matcha!
When we were planning this event, I had in my mind it would be something similar to the stereotypes of playing games with your grandparents. This can bring up ideas that range from enjoyment in a great time getting to know your elders, but also sometimes it can be as bad as pulling teeth. The difference in life experiences and between generations can seem like a huge challenge, but this was the whole point of the event. Personally, I was concerned that this would be a barrier between the two groups, but in fact, breaking down these barriers enabled this event to provide an exceptional experience for both Auburn Students and OLLI members alike. Fortunately, during and after the event, I found my concerns to be completely unfounded. I am confident in saying that this event was a complete success, filled with laughter, conversation, and burgeoning relationships between generations.
I would offer this event as evidence in the appeal to people of all ages that interacting with each other is an experience that can enrich community and foster the development of new perspectives and understanding that can lead to a better world.
Click here to check out our event recap video!
Cole Bedics is the Engagement Coordinator.
