Solar Youth Media Blog

Youth Summit 2011

2011-04-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

West Rock Trip

2010-11-30T17:43:00.000-05:00

Solar Youth in Action

2010-11-23T13:14:00.000-05:00

A letter from a parent...

2010-03-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

Eli Whitney Museum Hosts Solar Youth

2010-02-05T14:21:00.000-05:00

On December 11 , 2009 our trip to the Bethany Observatory was cancelled at the last minute, too late to tell all the kids and their families. With one phonecall, Bill Brown and Sally Hill of the Eli Whitney Museum invited us to come visit them. Here is a short video of that amazing trip where youth built rubber band cars.

Thank you Bill and Sally from everyone at Solar Youth.

Fall 2009 Highlights

2010-02-05T11:30:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the highlights from Solar Youth's Fall 2009 season!

Women in the Wilderness

2009-12-04T15:03:00.003-05:00

Women in the Wilderness week was a five-day wilderness adventure for young women involved in Solar Youth. Facilitated by outdoor leaders, the young women worked as a team to design and organize the logistics of the trip, including food, supplies and destinations. The goal was to provide an extreme adventure experience during which the girls could reflect on their lives and envision goals for their future. The week included hiking, back-country camping, cooking, discussion circles, team-building, journaling, singing and lots of laughing!

Solar Youth Extreme Team Explores!

2009-07-31T15:04:00.005-05:00

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!

Solar Youth Summer Camp CSAPs

2009-07-31T12:26:00.003-05:00

Check out this slideshow featuring our 2009 Solar Youth Summer Camp Community Service Action Projects!

Solar Youth Moments from Winter 08 and Spring 09!

2009-05-26T18:05:00.003-05:00

Please enjoy these photos from our adventures!

Rock to Rock!

2009-05-26T09:47:00.005-05:00

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!

Youth Do Their Own Election

2008-11-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

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 cooks for Columbus House

2008-07-30T14:55:00.005-05:00

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!

Letter to Presidential Candidates

2008-06-30T15:03:00.002-05:00

Service Crew youth send a video to the presidential candidates telling them what THEY think are important issues in the upcoming elections.

May Field Trip Highlights!

2008-05-22T12:57:00.007-05:00

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!

Raptors visit Solar Youth!

2008-05-22T12:42:00.003-05:00

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!

Youth Summit 2008: Food Justice

2008-04-25T09:30:00.004-05:00

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.

Westville Manor PSA - Butting Into Nature's Business

2007-11-09T12:34:00.000-05:00

This Public Service Announcement was developed by the youth of the Westville Manor Public Housing development Neighborhood Steward Team in the spring of 2007. This was their "Teach Project" to share what they learned about the effects of littering cigarette butts. Before this, they did a "Butt Clean-Up" where they collected over 1000 cigarette butts from their yards and streets. See C-SAP video below for footage of the clean-up. Thanks to Kim Barnes and Fran Rzenick for producing it!

Fall Trip Photos

2007-11-09T12:19:00.000-05:00

"Turtles is Really Good Friends"

2007-10-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

This is our favorite video (from Spring 2006), so we decided to re-post it! Jalana has now been in our programs for 2 years.

Spring 2007 CSAP Video

2007-06-12T11:20:00.001-05:00

Here is a montage of the Community Service Action Projects youth in our spring 2006 Neighborhood Steward Teams led. For C-SAP's, youth identify a problem, brainstorm solutions, choose a solution, develop an action plan and take action.

Spring 2007 C-SAP Slideshow

2007-06-12T11:12:00.000-05:00

SUMMIT: Energy Hike up East Rock

2007-04-20T17:59:00.003-05:00

On Day 1 of our Spring Youth Summit, we learned about different forms of energy, and used our own to get to the top of East Rock Park summit.

SUMMIT: Energy Efficiency Relay

2007-04-20T17:59:00.001-05:00

On Day 2, youth learned ways to reduce their energy consumption and increase their efficiency through fun games.

SUMMIT: Climate Change Poster Presentations

2007-04-20T17:58:00.001-05:00

On Day 3, youth taught children and parents at the New Haven Free Public Library about the greenhouse effect, global climate change and energy efficiency.

Youth Summit Slideshow

2007-04-20T15:44:00.000-05:00

Late Winter 2007 Media

2007-03-21T16:09:00.000-05:00

NST Spring 2007 Staff Retreat

After two days at the Mercy Center in Madison, CT, this is what the adult and high school staff for Sprint 2007 NST had to say:

HOLA at Barnard with 2nd Graders
A glimpse of our in-school program at Barnard Environmental Studies Magnet School.

Winter 2007 Photos
Check out what we've been up to in the first few months of 2007!

2007 Winter Photos

BONUS VIDEO (from Summer 2006)
"I Really Like Solar Youth"
A student of the Citycology 2006 Youth Educators discusses what she has learned by spending a summer with Solar Youth.

Westville Manor Graffitti Project

2007-01-26T17:44:00.000-05:00

If it takes a while to load - ITS WORTH IT!!

December 2006 Media

2007-01-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

Canoeing the Mill River at East Rock Park in October 2006
Youth are from our Neighborhood Steward Team program

Youth talk about their hike up West Rock in November 2006

Youth discuss a glass clean-up they did on West Rock in November 2006

Click here for photos included in our December 2006 Newsletter. Photos include a storm drain painting project, a greenspace clean up project, a planting, plus shots from our trips (West Rock, East Rock, Sikorsky and Peabody Museum).

Media Central

2007-01-19T15:14:00.001-05:00

At Solar Youth we love to take video and photos of all of our activities. Here's the best place to find them all!

Barnard Storm Drain Party 05-23/25-06

2006-05-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

by Hanifa Washington

It was a cool breezy Tuesday morning when the participants of our Hands-on Outdoor Learning Adventure Program (HOLA) ventured out to make a difference in their environmental community.

In collaboration with the Save the Sound project, the HOLA participants from Barnard Environmental Magnet School spray painted stencils near storm drains as a community outreach project. The signs invited citizens to be responsible about their litter. Youth also learned a song created by Solar Youth’s Public Ally Gameliel Moses about point source and non-point source pollution.

WATER POLLUTION

Repeat after me...

Point source pollution!
Non-point source pollution!

What we want is clean water
For the sons and daughters

Chemicals leaking into a lake!
Tell the factories that’s not great!

So don’t throw trash on the ground!
Cause it might end up in Long Island Sound!

Water pollution we don’t need!
Let the fishes continue to breathe!

Intern CSAP Day 05-20-06

2006-05-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

Nicole Dunnaville's take on the building of Trudy and Friend:

Hey, everyone, this is Nicole Dunnaville reporting. I am an intern here at Solar Youth and I came to tell everybody about the recent Intern-Planned C-SAP (Community Service Action Project). Tragedy came upon the Solar Youth Family when we found out that our dearly beloved turtle, Trudy, that was constructed out of recycled goods by the SYI participants at the 2006 Youth Summit, had been found vandalized.

This shocking event spun our intern’s minds into thinking on how to repair our truly-loved turtle to be what we call “vandal-proof”. This means that we wanted to be able to build a strong and also move-able Trudy. After the tears, came the planning of the new and improved Trudy, but this plan was looking a little dry. We decided to make a friend so Trudy wouldn’t be alone. We made a fish to keep this turtle company.

Since this was an intern-based C-SAP, the interns were in charge of the whole process. Yeah, that means that we where the people doing everything. First we planed out the main things. We all decided to rebuild the recycled art at the original place, Edgewood Park in New Haven. The interns also thought that they should also set aside some goal that we would later use to measure our progress of our C-SAP. Next, we planned out the whole schedule and made sure that we had something to do with the kids at all times of the day so they wouldn’t be just sitting around doing nothing. Once we got the times and events we were going to do, one of the other interns (Tatiana) made plans with the bus company for the different pick ups to get all of our young artists to that day’s canvas. The Game Master was Jody-Ann and her job included leading the games.

For the most part we were working, but once in a while I would sneak away with some kids and go to the basketball court. Yes I confess, but they thought that they could school me in basketball. So we played a game, the interns and staff against all the youth that wanted to play. Of course, we (the interns) won. That was a fun game, except the part when I broke a nail (LOL).

But other than that we go a lot done that day and we came out with Trudy the Turtle and Rudy the Fish. It was an amazing day where everybody had fun!

Excerpts from Youth Feedback Forms

Some things youth learned and liked about the trip:
Art is important.
Use the bathroom before you go to the trip or you'll have to walk a long way.
A fish has a hole in the back to poop and pee.
[I learned] how to work as a team.
Do not paint your hands
Art is a good way to show you care about something.
Recycle!
I can make things out of trash.
My favorite part was making the eyes [of the fish because] it was fun and...it was cool getting to see how it came out.

Tatiana Teaches 05-17-06

2006-05-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

Tatiana, one of our interns, taught her first environmental education lesson solo last week. Here are her thoughts:

Hello, my name is Tatiana and I am an intern at Solar Youth. My job is to help lead hands-on environmental education activities for younger children. Last week, on Wednesday, I led my first session with the help of my team educator Brandon. It was easier than I expected. My lesson was on whales, specifically beluga and blue whales and the differences they have from each other, such as the way they breathe and how and what they eat. The kids seemed to enjoy it and they respected the fact that it was my first time teaching, so they didn’t give me any trouble. Overall it was a jaw dropping experience in a good way!

2006-04-25T20:34:00.000-05:00

After an intense April vacation during the Youth Summit, we thought it'd be nice to give our interns and YAG members a treat--dinner together, followed by taking in some theater. Although it was a little adventurous for some youth's taste buds, we chose to eat Thai food, at Bangkok Gardens on York Street. The ordering of food was spearheaded by Brandon and Miss Joanne, choosing a wide variety of dishes for everyone to pick and choose. The coconut soup wasn't very popular, but the chicken skewers and shrimp were.

After dinner, we walked across the street to the Yale Repertory Theater to see Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. The youth decided that the second act, with the loud boom of the cannon and more interesting plot points, was better. Overall, it was a night of trying new things and late bedtimes.

New Team at Wintergreen! 04-24-06

2006-04-24T20:35:00.000-05:00

April 24th was a happy day at Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School (WIMS)--Solar Youth has begun a new Steward Team program there! With the school's proximity to Lake Wintergreen, it's established gardens and ample greenspace, the new partnership between Solar Youth and WIMS is ideal. The school is excited to offer this new program for it's fourth and fifth graders and Solar Youth is excited to work with a new partner school. Kim, SCA intern, and Jody, a seasoned high school intern (this will be Jody's 4th new team in two semesters!) are facilitating the group. They have plans to work on the school gardens, build the group's sense of teamwork, play some fun games and teach the youth about their environment. The youth will be attending their first Solar Youth field trip on May 6th, to the Yale Garden, so they will also have a chance to meet all the other Stewards from all over New Haven. It's bound to be a great semester!

2006 Youth Summit

2006-04-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

During April vacation from public school, Solar Youth held it's annual Youth Summit, focusing on The Wisdom of Native Americans. It was three days of fantastic weather, fun, games, learning and adventure!

Day One
On our Kids Explore Day, the youth, from Neighborhood Steward Teams based around the city, participated in an interactive tour of Edgewood Park in Westville, New Haven, CT. The youth were divided into four groups and were led by an intern-adult pair. During their hike, youth were given a scavenger hunt of specific species of trees and plants in the park, which they photographed. They cleaned up several bags of trash on their travels and stopped at four workshop stations along the trails.

There was a Nature Sit, where youth first heard poems about nature by famous poets, then other youth. Then they tried their hand at writing nature poetry, several to much success. At another station, youth learned about Native American foods and had a snack of cornbread and flatbread. Youth played a Native American game called Throwing Stick at another station. Papermaking was set up along the trail as well. At the end of the day, members of the Mohegan Tribe performed for our group at the sundial in the park.

Day Two
During the Kids Do Day, we separated into two groups, rotating between building Trudy the Trash Turtle from all the trash and recyclables collected and putting together an album of photographs from the previous day, information about each plant or tree, and copies of everyone's nature poems. The youth had a great time making art from trash to show others how much trash is littered in the park.

Day Three
For the Kids Teach Day, youth practiced speeches about different species of plants and trees they had photographed in the park, some rehearsed their poems, some memorized bits about Trudy the Trash Turtle. Then, around 3pm, the youth presented what they had learned during the summit at the gazebo in the park, then leading their audience of friends and families into the clearing where Trudy resides. Several of the youth acted out Hanifa's, the Director of Education, narration of a turtle myth and then explained the purpose of Trudy. After a little BBQ, we sent the Summit participants on their way, after a long and successful three days.

Jalana Kelley discusses the creation of Trudy the Trash Turtle

Photo in the New Haven Advocate of Trudy the Trash Turtle

Hill Central C-SAP

2006-03-29T21:29:00.000-05:00

by Gamaliel Moses, Public Ally Intern

During the spring season of Solar Youth’s Steward Team after school program, the students decided to plant flowers and clean up an area behind their school as a Community Service Action Project (CSAP). They were indeed excited to see that the tulip bulbs that they planted during the fall were now growing into plants. They wanted to beautify the area even more through their spring project. As a team we developed an action plan through which we delegated tasks and organized the flow of the day. We then sang the C-SAP song to the sound of drums and percussion. Yes, it was C-SAP time again, a time to have fun and to also do something helpful for the environment and community.

On C-SAP day it was a bit rainy, but we were fully prepared with our ponchos. First we did a clean up of the area by picking up litter and leaves. We dug up the soil and added compost, organic manure and more soil. We then added a little water for moisture. After an explanation and demonstration on how to plant the flowers, the students jumped right in and began planting. Team work was in full effect, it was happening, students working “side by side” singing repeat-after-me songs and working towards a common goal.

The flowers were all transplanted into a full bed and it was now time to water the plants. We did not have a watering hose but had a bucket and a watering can. The team turned this task into team effort by creating a water line, where the bucket was passed from one person to the next until it reached the bed of flowers. The project was now done and the students were very proud of what they had accomplished. They had now cleaned up the area, maintained flowers they planted last year and planted a new bed of flowers. It was indeed a beautiful site.

The students can now look down from their classes and see the difference that they made through doing their Community Service Action Project.

Astronomical Society of New Haven

2006-03-25T21:28:00.000-05:00

Photo Courtesy of Daily Astronomy Picture featured on February 10, 2006

For more information about the Astronomical Society of New Haven, click here.

Westville Manor Food Pantry

2006-03-23T15:39:00.000-05:00

Our new Westville Manor Food Pantry has finally started! Our first day went great. We helped to feed over 170 people. We gave out basically all of the food with the exception of some of the onions and carrots. All in all, it went great. We only had a problem with people trying to come back twice and with people taking to much of certain items. I think it went great because we fed a lot of people they were all happy that something like this was finally happening in the community. They said that they couldnt wait until the next month!

Eddie's Garden

2006-03-22T15:27:00.000-05:00

Joanne Sciulli and Kim Barnes with Westville Manor youth at "Eddie's Garden"

March 22, 2006 was a day off for public school in New Haven, CT, but in Westville Manor, Solar Youth had fantastic plans to engage youth in a community beautification project. With a little help from Patricia Bender, who donated Japanese irises, day lilies and lamb's ear to the project, and a little knowledge from Solar Youth's resident farmer and Student Conservation Association intern, Kim Barnes, youth helped plant flowers in their neighborhood. Afterward, several of the youth joined Brandon Ballengee in a hike to the West Rock Nature Center.

Youth were eager to participate. The event was not set to begin until 1pm, but youth knocked on the door of the Solar Youth office all morning, the youngers ones asking, "Is it one o'clock yet?" Everyone in the office took turns telling the youth to wait just a couple more hours, another hour, another half an hour, just another ten minutes...until one o'clock arrives and we opened the door to a group of energetic and enthusiastic youth.

Kim Barnes and a Westville manor youth splitting day lilies in preparation for planting

The youth were split into two groups: the planters and the painters. The planters first had to split the day lilies from their bunches, find ideal planting locations, clear the ground and finally, plant. The painters were responsible for creating signs that would make others aware of the planting project, and hopefully prevent the vandalism of the flowerbeds, as well as encourage others to water and care for the flowers.

In the winter, a neighborhood youth was shot and killed. A memorial appeared on the corner of Wayfarer and Level Streets. In an effort to create a more permanent place of remembrance for Eddie, the youth scoping out locations for flowerbeds suggested they plant a garden on that corner. The planters set to work, and a youth from the painter group, Khalil, said, "I want to make the sign. Eddie was my friend."

Elvin Santiago holding up a flower in transit to Eddie's Garden

At the end of the day, Eddie's Garden was planted, the pieces of the former memorial incorporated into the bed, decorating around it. Other flowerbeds were planted and plenty of signs were painted to remind others to mind the plants.

And now no one will ever forget Eddie, every time the flowers bloom.

NEGEF Conference, Boston

2006-03-17T21:26:00.000-05:00

Cheryl King Fischer (Executive Director of NEGEF), Shakila, Mary Ann, Javaughn, Joanne with award

Road Trip! YAG members Shakila McKnight, Mary Ann Calo and Javaughn "JJ" Harris, packed up their things into Miss Joanne's car and the four of them set out for Boston on March 17, 2006. They were hosted by a personal friend of Joanne's when they arrived after dark outside of Boston.

Bright and early the next morning, the group of four headed out to the New England Grassroots Environment Fund conference, together with the Toxics Action Center, Environmental Action 2006. JJ and Shakila went to a workshop entitled, "Live Consciously, Buy Wisely and Join with Others to Make a Difference," while Joanne and Mary Ann attended another workshop about environmental action.

At 11:45am, the group convened to present for a workshop about "Up and Coming Activists: Young People Making a Difference." The YAG members discussed the CSAP (Community Service Action Project) process and some CSAP's that have been conducted by Solar Youth participants in the past. Did you know that Solar Youth participants have completed 105 CSAPs since 1999?

After another workshop session, the group joined the rest of the attendees for the day's wrap up. At the reception, NEGEF and the TAC presented awards to various groups for their work in the field of environmental activism. Joanne, JJ, Mary Ann and Shakila were surprised when Cheryl King Fischer (Executive Director of NEGEF) was talking about an organization that sounded an awful lot like Solar Youth. Yes, it's true! Solar Youth received an Outstanding Activism Award "for engaging youth as leaders and environmental stewards in their community."

"We won a Grammy," JJ joked. Everyone was very proud of the recognition Solar Youth received for all the hard work the staff, interns and youth do, all year round.

And the road trip? Ended with the four tired travelers winding their way down the I-84, then I-91, to arrive in New Haven, safe and sound.

Reunion Hike: Sleeping Giant State Park

2006-03-11T15:40:00.000-05:00

On March 11, 2006, a bright and slightly breezy spring day, Solar Youth Steward Team participants and alumni, plus Solar Youth alumni from the 2005 Citywide Steward Summer Program and 2005 Hands-on Outdoor Learning Adventure (HOLA), came together for a trip to Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, CT.

After lunch, the group started out, led by Joanne, the Executive Director and one of the founders of the organization. The easily sloping trail gave way to a steep rocky climb that some youth were sure they couldn't complete--but they were wrong! Every youth made it to the very top, where the castle stood. Feelings of pride and enthusiasm flowed through the group.

Rushing to the top floor of the castle, youth looked out at a spectacular view of New Haven County and the Long Island Sound. After some rest, the youth split into two groups--the Rigorous Hike and the Take It Slow Hike. The two groups departed and wandered down. The Rigorous Hike group took a trail covered in rocks, requiring dexterity and preserverance. The Take It Slow Hike stayed on a winding wide road to the bottom of the mountain.

Once at the bottom, the youth loaded up on the bus, heading home. Many of the youth said they had fun and were proud of themselves for making it to the top. Way to go!