enlarge Press Herald file/2001

Picking strawberries is a kind of activity children will remember doing with their grandparents.

enlarge Press Herald file/2005

A grandmother and granddaughter walk along Ferry Beach in Scarborough. Modern grandparents often say they like to be more active with their grandchildren than they remember their grandparents being with them.

Roasting hot dogs outdoors in the dead of winter probably doesn't come to mind when boomers think about the activities they shared with their own grandparents. But the adventure, which capped off building an enormous snow cave at their home in Sebago a few years back, seemed like a perfect way for Ron and Susan Hall to spend time with their grandchildren.

The Halls, who now live in South Portland, are like many boomer grandparents these days. The more they see their five grandchildren, the better.

Like many of their own grandparents, boomer grandparents try to be present for their children's kids. Like many of their own grandparents, boomer grandparents try to offer love, time and attention to their children's kids.

The difference today? As work, school and activities fill the lives of all ages, boomer grandparents are now weekend sports spectators, child-care providers, even travel companions. Boomers have put a new face on being Grandpa and Grandma.

Consider child care. Joanne Girard, 62, of Scarborough spends two days a week with her 14-month old granddaughter, Fiona, whose parents work full time. "It's the most exciting thing that's happened to me in my life," said Girard. "She made me younger."

Fiona and Joanne are errand and shopping buddies, but many of their activities are "very impromptu," Girard said. "We sit on the floor and look at books constantly. We listen to music, and we dance like crazy. I like to surprise her and keep her interested. She's a very sharp little cookie."

Fiona spends Tuesdays and Thursdays with Girard and her husband, Jim. On Thursdays she's there from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. "I'm tired when she leaves, but five minutes later I miss her to death," Joanne Girard said.

Girard knows what it's like to share her life with a grandparent. Her own grandfather lived with her family when she was a child.

"He was incredible," Girard said. The Girards' two daughters never knew their grandparents, nor did Jim Girard know his. Fiona is helping to make up for that. "Nothing makes us smile more than she does," Girard said.

Linda Caouette, 61, of Buxton said she and her grandmother were close, but the activities they shared were on the sedate side.

"My grandmother was always in a dress," said Caouette, who is more likely to wear jeans and sweaters. "Lifestyles were more confined to the home," she said. Like Girard, Caouette's role as a grandmother is active and varied. She is self-employed and arranges her schedule so she can drive to Portland's Waynflete School every afternoon to pick up her granddaughter Emily, 12. Living next door to her daughter and son-in-law makes the arrangement work even better.

"My job allows me to do this," Caouette said. "I'm privileged to help." Her involvement began when Emily was born; she has been on board every since. "The time I spend with her is absolutely wonderful," she said.

Some of that time is spent on the soccer sidelines watching Emily's travel soccer games -- rain or shine.

Other boomers find themselves on the grandparent sports circuit as well. Bill and Teresa Schulz of Freeport work full-time and make the most of weekends to see their two grandchildren, who live in greater Portland. That includes numerous Saturday mornings on the soccer field watching their grandson Cameron, 8.

Meanwhile, Ron and Susan Hall spend many hours in local gyms as their only grandson, Teddy, 15, plays basketball. In addition, the Halls' school-aged grandchildren often spend nights with them. "We get to know them and can be a help to their parents," said Susan Hall. That's a bit different from her experience as a granddaughter. Although she was a "huge part" of her grandparents' lives, Susan said their time together was quiet and indoors.

"They were elderly, and they acted elderly," said Hall.

In contrast, the Halls' roles as grandparents are based on activity.

"We both decided...