Green Exercise Days

Earlier this year, the children in our after school program surveyed the community to find out which shade-tolerant vegetables and flowers they might want to eat and admire. Using the square-foot gardening method, the children figured out how many vegetable transplants we needed to fill the raised beds. Nine children in the after school program will have the opportunity to bring their traditional school classes for field trips called Green Exercise Days this school year. The children will learn about environmental health and diabetes prevention, create butterfly art from reusable materials, plant transplants, seeds, shrubs, and trees, and exercise outdoors by raking, shoveling, and weeding for greater health. In May, children from the Police Athletic League and mentors from JP Morgan kicked off the Green Exercise Day season. The group planted vegetable transplants, including broccoli, peppermint, rosemary, lettuce, strawberries, collard greens, and cut flowers. Top Photo: two students in the after school program show off companion plants, lettuce and strawberries. Lower Photo: two students show off our first flowering broccoli florets.

This April, we embarked on a 3 -day/2-night wilderness retreat to Harriman State Park. The children hiked, took nature photos thanks to a grant from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, studied diabetes prevention education, and learned healthy cooking techniques. Jaws dropped at the views! Here: a student crosses a stream.

Through Concrete Safaris’ Green Exercise Day program, over 170 youth and their teachers from PS 182, PS 198, and Union Settlement Association’s Rising Stars program along with 70 volunteers from Citizens Committee for NYC, Computer Associates, and J.P. Morgan began installing Mad Fun Farm, the first youth-centered farm on NYCHA property citywide, over Earth Week 2009. 7-8-year-olds in Concrete Safaris’ after school program at Union Settlement Association’s Rising Stars site spent the past 4 months designing Mad Fun Farm. Each participating child who is interested will bring his or her class to continue installing the space, giving him or her an opportunity to be healthy leaders through various social networks.