Thursday, July 17, 2025
72 ° Partly Cloudy
72 ° Partly Cloudy
The 42nd Annual Bucks County Senior Games offered a week-long celebration of wellness, camaraderie, and competition that brought together older adults from across the county. Organized by the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging in collaboration with the Bucks County Department of Parks & Recreation, Bucks County Community College, and the Bucks County Foundation for Aging, the games aimed to inspire seniors to stay active and engaged in their communities.
The festivities began with the Senior Games Kick-Off and Active Adult Resource Fair on May 28 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown. The event welcomed participants, introduced local resources, and provided an opportunity for seniors to connect with community organizations that offered a variety of activities, from volunteering to fitness classes. It also featured free lunch for attendees, door prizes, and a chance to collect the coveted Senior Games t-shirts and hats.
Kristin Chapin, Director of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, expressed her enthusiasm about the games’ mission. “The Senior Games gave people the opportunity to connect with one another, to connect with the community, and to learn and explore different types of activities,” she said. “There was no specific requirement for ability; everyone was welcome. We had activities for anyone ages 50 and up, and our oldest participant this year was 97 years old.”
This year, more than 420 seniors registered to participate in the games, which ran from June 5 through June 12. The events were hosted at various venues throughout Bucks County, including Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Ben Wilson Senior Center in Warminster, Northampton Senior Center in Richboro, Tohickon Middle School in Doylestown, and Warwick Township Community Park in Warwick, just to name a few.
The games offered something for everyone, regardless of physical ability or experience. Sports and recreational events included bocce, darts, chess, corn hole, billiards, pickleball, track and field, trivia, and more. Participants competed within ten-year age brackets to ensure fair play, and medals were awarded at the culmination of many games for first, second, and third place in each category.
Amanda Mayer, Community Program Coordinator and Senior Games Coordinator, noted that the diversity of events was intentional. “We tried to have an activity for every physical ability,” she explained. “For those looking for something less strenuous, we had trivia, which drew 80 participants this year, and chess. For those who wanted more physical activity, track and field events like the long jump, one-mile walk and run, and the 100-yard were popular.”
Among the inspiring stories shared during the games, one stood out in particular. “We had a gentleman who has been coming here forever, possibly since the beginning of the Senior Games, and he was 97 years old this year. He still does the long jump every year,” Mayer shared. “We also had a gentleman who was blind and participated in some track events with his seeing-eye dog. It really showed that there was something for everyone.”
Beyond the competition, the Senior Games also focused on encouraging seniors to remain active in everyday life. “We had independent events that people could do on their own, like biking or tracking their steps during the Senior Games,” Mayer said. “Even just walking around the tables at the kickoff event was a form of physical activity.”
Wanda Ritter, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, emphasized the social aspect of the games. “The goal was to promote socialization and wellness through activities,” she said. “It’s really the perfect combination of what the Area Agency on Aging tries to do: bringing people together to reduce isolation and improve socialization, as well as getting up and moving.”
The Kick-Off event was designed to build excitement and energy for the games while introducing seniors to new opportunities for engagement in Bucks County. Lisa Hall, who coordinated this year’s Kick-Off event, explained, “We put together some community organizations that had opportunities for engagement and presented them to the seniors so they could learn where they could be active in Bucks County. Whether it was the Visitor’s Center with one of their tours, the YMCA with free programming, or the nature centers with nature walks, there were lots of ways to remain active.”
Pickleball was a highlight of this year’s games, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity. “Pickleball hadn’t really taken off in the past, but last year, Middletown Parks and Rec came on board and took ownership of it for us,” Mayer said. “They brought in pickleball ambassadors to help people learn about the game and did evaluations to put everyone in the right skill level. During the Kick-Off, they conducted demonstrations to help people learn to play in a less intimidating environment.”
For those new to pickleball, Camp Curiosity in Doylestown offered a two-hour free clinic during the Senior Games, allowing participants to try the sport in a supportive setting.
While physical activity was a central focus of the Senior Games, the benefits extended far beyond exercise. “There are physical health benefits, mental health benefits of being engaged, and social benefits too,” Hall said. “Being part of something bigger than yourself and feeling connected is so important, especially as we age.”
Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, who attended the Kick-Off event, highlighted the broader impact of the games. “About half of the operations we run and half of the funding we have is for social services, and the Area Agency for Aging is a major part of what we do,” he said. “These older adults have helped build this county and this country into what it is today, and they’re getting a chance now to learn more about the services available to them while also having fun and staying active. There are lots of benefits to these games, certainly the physical fitness aspect, but also the connectedness.”
Over the years, the Senior Games had evolved to reflect the interests and abilities of participants. “We used to have swimming as a popular activity, but interest has waned, so we moved to things like corn hole and disc golf,” Mayer said. “People looked forward to the games so much that they started calling us this past February before registration even opened. We are growing every year; last year we had 405 participants, and this year we had 420.”
Mayer credited the success of the games to the support from municipal parks and recreation departments and Bucks County Community College. “We had been in a position where we had to do everything ourselves, and it wasn’t sustainable,” she said. “Having this help really expanded and supported the Senior Games, making everything possible.”
The 42nd Annual Bucks County Senior Games not only offered seniors an opportunity to showcase their athleticism and mental acuity but also underscored the importance of staying active and connected at every stage of life. As Chapin summed up, “We wanted people to come out, have fun, show good sportsmanship, connect with one another, make new friends, and learn new activities they could carry forward to continue their healthy lives.”
For many of the seniors who return year after year, the games have become a tradition, a chance to see old friends, make new ones, and celebrate the joys of aging well in Bucks County.
