Thanks to a grant from the Long Island Sound Future's Fund, veteran Solar Youth campers were able to explore in depth (literally) the Wintergreen Brook (a tributary of the West River) this summer. They hiked along and IN the brook when necessary - learning its ecology as well as the human impacts on its ecosystem. In addition to a service project, they are developing a video blog of their adventure. Check out the preview below!
Check out this slideshow featuring our 2009 Solar Youth Summer Camp Community Service Action Projects!
On April 25th, 2009 Solar Youth participated in Rock to Rock, a day-long event celebrating Earth Day and the rich cultural and environmental resources that New Haven has to offer. Watch the video to learn more and see the fun experiences our youth had!
On November 4th, youth from the Westville Manor public housing development in New Haven, CT gave the children and adults in their community an opoortunity to vote to see who they prefer as our new President. Watch to see the results.
Service Crew students grew a garden to benefit the Columbus House Homeless Shelter. The pizza that they made out of their organic herbs fed over 70 people!
Service Crew youth send a video to the presidential candidates telling them what THEY think are important issues in the upcoming elections.
On May 17th, youth enjoyed a beautiful day at East Rock Park. Each child canoed on the Mill River, visited the Nature Center, and hiked to the top of East Rock to enjoy breathtaking views of New Haven.
Please watch this short video from the field trip!
One May 10th, Solar Youth participated in the Great Parks Pursuit kick-off day at Hammonasset State Park, sponsored by the CT Department of Environmental Protection as part of the No Child Left Inside campaign. The youth participated in a variety of activities such as: weather forecasting, reading, orienteering, sunscreen safety, kite making and flying, bubble blowing, bike riding and potato sack racing.
Watch the slideshow below to view pictures from both field trips!
On Friday, May 16th, Teresa Kramer of Canton Raptor Care brought three captive raptors to visit Westville Manor. Solar Youth's Citycology, Service Crew, Adventure Team, and Steward Team interns spent the rainy afternoon learning about raptor ecology, biology, and conservation. Check out the pictures!
Check out the slideshow of our favorite pictures from the Youth Summit and read about it below!
Beginning with a Connecticut farm and branching out to the global community, Solar Youth explored the topic of Food Justice in their annual Youth Summit. For three intense days of Kids Explore!, Kids Do!, Kids Teach!, youth from Citycology and the city-wide Neighborhood Steward Teams gathered to address this important issue that crosses neighborhood and national boundaries. (Please see the following slideshows for pictures from each day!)
The first day, Kids Explore!, youth visited Woodbridge Farm in Salem, CT, to learn more about how local food is grown. Youth explored the farm’s barnyard full of cows, horses, and chickens, as well as discovered a nearby forest full of vernal pools and wild plants. After helping clear stones from an unplowed field, youth learned about how different vegetables are grown and then planted potatoes themselves!
The second day, Kids Do!, youth gathered at Edgewood Park for a fun, creative day where they began making placemats for family and friends to share what they have learned about food justice. Youth visited four different stations to learn about nutrition as well as how food production effects people, the environment, and uses a huge amount of energy. Afterwards, NST interns led the group in a hunger banquet to introduce youth to the issue of global hunger. The day culminated in the youth producing their own food – homemade ice cream in recycled coffee cans!
For the final day, Kids Teach!, youth met at the New Haven Green to experience how food is made from products around the world. With a list of ingredients, youth ran from “country” to “country” to gather their chicken, soybean oil, and other goods they needed to make some of their favorite foods. Afterwards, youth walked to the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale to finish their food justice placemats and present a Food Justice Celebration for local community members. After teaching what they had learned and re-enacting the hunger banquet, the 2008 Youth Summit concluded with group pictures and games on the New Haven Green.
