On Friday, we had the privilege of hosting an Art Garden Party with our partners at Artology. Artology is “an art and science summer learning program with an emphasis on ecology and environmental justice [that] sparks students’ curiosity by utilizing Philadelphia’s park system as a vibrant interactive classroom.”
TTF has been partnering with Artology this summer, helping students merge science and art as they explore water through the use of different artistic media. On Friday, Artology students showcased their work at the vacant lot on the corner of Clearview Street and Washington Lane in our Awbury/Cliveden Model Neighborhood. The students created an artistic rain garden by “planting” their own abstract sculptures modeled on plants they had encountered near local waterways. During the party, students gave community members very informative and entertaining tours of their work. TTF is working on turning this space into a real rain garden, but for now, neighbors can enjoy Artology students’ amazing creative expression!
TTF has been working with BuildaBridge’s Artology program over the past few weeks, teaching students about watersheds and stormwater issues. By the looks of this video, it seems like they really get the message!
TTF recently helped with planting an Audubon-certified native bird habitat at Wyncote Elementary School. You may remember the last time we assisted with a native bird habitat at Cedarbrook Middle School — it was featured in this Greenlife Pennsylvania video.
This time, the project was led by two dynamic leaders from Delaware Valley Earth Force’s Youth Leaders team. Throughout the day, Wyncote students helped in each stage of the planting, with the final result being a beautiful garden of all native plants for local birds — and people! — to enjoy.
Here are some photos from the day, courtesy of Delaware Valley Earth Force. Below, Barb Duffy from the Cheltenham Environmental Advisory Council demonstrates proper planting techniques to some very helpful student participants.
Yesterday, while Sarah was helping Wyncote Elementary School students with a planting project at their school, Ashley and I headed over to the Maritime Charter Academy High School to help out with some of their new stormwater management features.
Maritime Charter Academy’s mission is to “provide students in grades 5 through 12 a rigorous academic program with the special theme of maritime studies. MACHS students work with the latest technology to learn maritime content such as nautical science and maritime business, while achieving to high standards in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and the Arts.”
Thanks to our partners at the Philadelphia Water Department, we were able to provide Maritime with a brand new rain barrel. Because Maritime is located on a historic property without much ability to dig in the ground, instead of a rain garden, the kids built a large planter box that will be filled with plants to help absorb rainwater. It was a hot day, but with some assistance, the kids were able to create the planter.
We’ll check back in with Maritime when all the plants are flourishing and post some updated pictures of the completed project!
To celebrate the warm weather and herald in the spring, TTF hosted a container gardening workshop on Clearview Street. Residents worked with TTF staff to plant annual flowers and native perennial shrubs to beautify the block and manage stormwater. Here are some photos of the residents with their new plants:
Remember: In just two short weeks Clearview Street will be energy efficiency upgrades along with a huge celebration as part of OARC’s Urban Energy Conservation Program. Keep checking back for more information events and information on Clearview Street!
Arbor Day is a national celebration that encourages tree planting and care every year on the last Friday in April.
This Arbor Day TTF worked with the Roosevelt Middle School and planted over 150 seedlings on their campus! All of our wonderful helpers also took home a tree to plant at their house. Get inspired by these enthusiastic young kids and plant a tree in your neighborhood!
Our friend Khiet Luong from the Darby-Cobbs Watershed Partnership sent us this philly.com article from a few weeks ago. It’s all about Teens Go Green, an awesome new initiative from the Urban Tree Connection, Foundations, Inc. and MLK High School. This program has dual purposes: neighborhood teenagers learn new skills in the landscaping business and beautify the neighborhood in the process. (Another bonus, not mentioned in the article: all those new plants in the ground really help with stormwater management!)
While they are not in the TTF Watershed, there are some really great opportunities for kids aged 11-14 to participate in “Water Wonder Week” at local Out-n-About camps this summer. See the attached flyers for the Wissahickon Environmental Center [.pdf] and and the Pennypack Environmental Center [.pdf] for more info.
We were just informed of this cool opportunity for high school students. It’s in Delaware, and the application deadline is soon, but it looks like a neat program!
Science cruise, marsh exploration in store for high school summer campers
Applications are being accepted for TIDE Camp Summer 2009, which is an instructional program designed to give high school students exposure to the scientific processes at work in Delaware Bay. TIDE, which stands for Taking Interest in Delaware’s Estuary, is hosted by the University of Delaware’s College of Marine and Earth Studies (CMES).
Students attending TIDE Camp will spend 13 days living on the UD campuses in Newark and Lewes, Del. They will learn about topics such as marine animals, tides, habitat loss, species adaptation, wind power, autonomous underwater vehicles, and climate change.
Sure to be popular is this year’s addition of a research cruise aboard UD’s 146-foot R/V Hugh R. Sharp. Campers also will participate in activities that include visiting oceanographic and atmospheric laboratories, going on field excursions, and taking part in discussions and lectures. They also will have opportunities to interact with faculty, design and complete experiments, and learn about UD program offerings.
Applications, which include completing a form available on the program’s web site, are due Friday, April 17. Applicants also must submit a grade transcript and a letter of recommendation. Any high schooler with solid math and science skills and an interest in the marine environment may apply.
The residential camp runs Monday, July 6, through Saturday, July 18. Students will spend the first week at UD’s Newark campus and the second week at UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. Tuition is $1,300 and covers room, board, lab and class materials, the research cruise, and scheduled out-of-class activities.
For more details about the camp, including application information, visit: www.ocean.udel.edu.
Or contact:
Frank Newton, Assistant Dean for Student Services
University of Delaware – College of Marine and Earth Studies
111 Robinson Hall
Newark, DE 19716
302-831-2841 fanewt@udel.edu
TTF Watershed Partnership, Inc.
One Awbury Road
Awbury Arboretum
Philadelphia, PA 19138 info@ttfwatershed.org
