Intergenerational

Intergenerational Chair 2023-2024: Bev Reitinger 
The  Intergenerational Committee meets with students and their special guests four times a year at the Beach Haven School and Long Beach Island Grade School to create beautiful flower arrangements and to learn from each other.

Thanksgiving Celebration 2023

Photos by Gale Garfinkel & Joyce Lubach (click on images to enlarge)

Submitted by Bev Reitinger, Intergenerational Chair

It was a wonderful morning at the Beach Haven School on Friday, November 17, 2023. Twenty eight students, ranging from preschool to third grade, met with the Garden Club of Long Beach Island’s Intergenerational Committee.

Thirty-five guests, which included grandparents and other family members, joined forces with our club to assist the children in decorating Thanksgiving flower arrangements. This was the first time since 2018 that our club was able to invite family members to this special group!

Our club supplied greenery and vibrant colored mums for embellishing their holiday floral arrangements. We also distributed an array of traditional holiday stickers, brown paper bags and markers for the students to decorate. The arrangements were placed in the decorated bags that truly showcased their creativity.

The collaborative effort fostered a truly intergenerational experience!

FLAG DAY ARRANGEMENTS JUNE 2023

Photos by Gale Garfinkel (click on images to enlarge)

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Submitted by Diane Macrides

The Garden Club of LBI’s Intergenerational Committee met with LBI schools on several occasions during the 2022-2023 school calendar year for hands-on workshops to learn about flower arranging.

On Monday, June 5, 2023, the committee, led by Bev Reitinger, met with twenty seven 4th graders at the Long Beach Island Grade School in Ship Bottom, NJ. The committee discussed the upcoming Flag Day and the symbolism of the flag and its history. The children designed patriotic buckets with greens and red, white and blue flowers. This project allowed the children to express their creativity and feel personally satisfied with their carefully-crafted arrangements!

GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY APRIL 2023

Photos by Olga Perlman & Diane Macrides


Submitted by Diane Macrides

The Garden Club of LBI’s Intergenerational Committee along with the Arbor Day Special Committee expected to plant an evergreen at the Beach Haven School on April 28, 2023. Due to the rain, the tree will be planted at a later date. The students, grades 4 – 6th, started off the event by reading their beautifully written poems and essays about Arbor Day. Next on the agenda, the children sang tree themed songs presented by each grade. Lastly, the classes repotted Beach Plum Tree plants in buckets to take home to plant in their gardens. Beverly Reitinger, Intergenerational Committee Chair and Kathy Mignanelli, Arbor Day Special Committee Chair, passed  handouts of the History of Arbor Day, information about the Native American Beach Plum Tree (Prunus Maritima) and details of how the trees grow in South Jersey. The handout also described the origins of the tree, the proper planting process and the fruit it produces.

With their smiling faces along with their cheerful voices, it was evident the students were very proud of their work! A successful hands on experience was enjoyed by the students, staff and Garden Club members!

BEACH HAVEN SCHOOL NOVEMBER 2022

Photos by Olga Perlman & Diane Macrides


Submitted by Bev Reitinger

The Intergenerational Committee of the Garden Club of LBI met with first, second and third grade students from the Beach Haven School on Friday, November 18, 2022. Beverly Reitinger, Intergenerational Committee chair, and Garden Club members provided students with fresh flowers, greenery and Thanksgiving themed containers. The members administered their insights in design methods to further understand flower arranging. From their smiling faces and happy voices, it was evident the students were very proud of their work. A successful hands on experience was enjoyed by the students, staff and Garden Club members!