Building on the success of our signature aquatic, garden and forest science education programs, New York Restoration Project’s (NYRP) Nature in My Neighborhood represents our most innovative and comprehensive educational programming to date of curricula, activities and events for educators, students and youth groups – targeting schools and neighborhoods in close proximity to NYRP green spaces and empowering urban youth and communities to identify, create and care for nature in their neighborhood.
Designed to facilitate environmental education among New York City schoolchildren – Nature in My Neighborhood provides a menu of educational programming that takes place at Swindler Cove Park in Upper Manhattan, as well as in NYRP’s 55 community gardens and public schoolyards located citywide.
Touching on all aspects of NYRP’s mission to revitalize underserved parks and community gardens, key goals of Nature in My Neighborhood include:
To increase community involvement in the use, creation and stewardship of neighborhood open spaces through recreational, cultural and educational programs.
With a variety of exciting seasonal events and programs – including NYRP’s Harlem River Festival and Little Red Lighthouse Festival, NYRP Summer Camp and Family Day and summer campouts at Swindler Cove Park – Nature in My Neighborhood seeks to reach over 10,000 local residents throughout the year.
To promote student mastery of New York City and State environmental science standards through activity-based, interdisciplinary learning experiences in the natural sciences.
In single- and multi-session programs, students learn foundational science concepts, such as life cycles and food chains. Other essential components of Nature in My Neighborhood are RespecTree – NYRP’s in-depth, tree-education initiative, as well as our NatureMania Spring Break program and NYRP’s Summer Camp at Swindler Cove Park, where students have more intensive, sustained encounters with nature and environmental stewardship.
To promote leadership skills and healthy lifestyles among community members by fostering environmentally friendly and socially responsible decision-making.
This portion of Nature in My Neighborhood addresses nutrition, physical fitness and teen health. Cooking, gardening and health workshops – including bilingual sessions – are provided in NYRP community gardens to help accomplish this particular goal.
To provide professional development to build the capacity of New York City schoolteachers by conducting and enhancing active learning experiences that foster knowledge and skills in the environmental sciences.
NYRP conducts seasonal Teach Green workshops throughout the school year, introducing educators to the suite of NYRP’s green programs and highlighting the importance of teaching students about the significance of having and respecting nature in their neighborhoods by connecting them to New York City’s urban forests.
To view Nature in My Neighborhood programs, click here.