This project explores the intersection of two critically important issues: greater social integration among older persons and concerns about environmental sustainability. Awareness of environmental challenges is increasing at local, regional, and national levels, featuring critical issues such as water quality, air pollution, and toxic waste, all issues that are directly associated with health of individuals and the quality of life within communities. At the same time, there is a need to create opportunities for older adults to become involved in meaningful roles and social relationships. Research shows that volunteer activities lead to better mental and physical health. However, many older people experience a long period of comparative “rolelessness,” accentuated by recent trends toward earlier retirement ages. We are developing innovative ways to engage older persons in environmental volunteering, which has several benefits: environmental organizations bring together older and younger people in shared activities; environmental volunteerism involves physical and outdoor activities, which provide health benefits; environmental volunteerism allows older persons to express generativity (activities for preserving the world for future generations); and environmental volunteering successfully involves men as well as women, because it is consistent with older men’s lifelong patterns of outdoor activities.

Older persons constitute a vast but untapped resource for society and represent an increasing segment of the population. They are seeking new, meaningful pathways to more engaged retirement years; and mature volunteers are needed by environmental organizations to contribute to maintaining the health of nature and to participate in outdoor research environments. The Retiree Environmental Stewards Program (RESP) is specifically designed to involve retirees age 60 and over in environmental stewardship activities. The success of the program will be evaluated both in terms of its impact on individual participants and on the agencies that host program participant internships. Goals for participants are: provide environmental venues where older persons play important volunteer roles; provide opportunities for older persons to remain physically active and socially engaged; and provide opportunities for seniors to contribute to their communities’ environments through education, outreach, and/or research based upon their interests, skills, and availability. Environmental goals are: protect the health of the surrounding ecosystems and increase levels of knowledge about environmental issues and policies; preserve resources for future generations; provide the basis for older persons to make a clear impact on their surrounding communities; and provide conservation training, resulting in the reduction of wasted resources.

We have successfully sought funding for the project from College of Human Ecology funds as well as Federal Formula Funds. A strong collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in the Capital Region resulted in a grant proposal that is under consideration by the funder. We undertook a research project in summer 2007 to assess the level of environmnental volunteerism of older adults in organizations throughout New York. This work was presented at a national conference in fall 2007. A recent workshop (February 2008) in Schenectady brought together 50 practitioners in the Capital Region to consider implementation of the program. A multiservice organization for older adults has partnered with us to seek funding from Sarasota County, Florida. The program is being piloted in Tompkins County in spring 2008.

This program will achieve full implementation in several locations in New York state and beyond in 2008.