Project Description
Green Beans Environmental Education
| Project Lead: | YMCA of Greater New York – Greenpoint YMCA |
|---|---|
| Project Partners: | NYC Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Project Location: | 178 Bayard Street |
| 2014 GCEF Grant: | $22,750 |
| 2014 Matching Contribution: | $21,100 |
| TOTAL INVESTMENT: | $43,850 |
| 2014 Project Completed: | October 2014 |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In 2014, through a competitive process, the Greenpoint YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater New York, received a GCEF grant of $22,750 (and provided $21,100 in matching funds) to support their “Green Beans” environmental education program for young children. Green Beans is a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program, focused on environmental science, nature, gardening, and technology. The afterschool program took place in and supported Lentol Garden, a public GreenThumb garden in Greenpoint.
GCEF funding was used to create lesson plans and learning objectives, and to support teacher access to training held by Bank Street College and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Greenpoint YMCA students learned about urban gardening, recycling, conservation, composting, rainwater collection systems, plant biology, and maintenance.
Community partnerships with neighborhood green spaces were also developed by the program. In addition to Lentol Garden, participating YMCA students visited Greenpoint’s 61 Franklin Street Community Garden and the Queens County Farm Museum.
PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Educated 150 Greenpoint children, ages 3-12, about urban gardening, recycling, conservation, composting, rainwater collection systems, and plant biology and maintenance
- Increased students’ STEM learning, especially related to plant biology and gardening, for an average of 8 additional hours per month
- Provided teacher access to training in STEM from Bank Street College and Brooklyn Botanic Garden
RELATED MEDIA
Two Youth STEM Efforts Get $20K+ From Environmental Fund (Technical.ly Brooklyn, March 11, 2014)
