Neighborhood & Community Sustainability Grant

Congrats Jordan and Alex on the
2011

Neighborhood and Community Sustainability Grant!

The Outdoor Learning Center Draft Proposal:

The Learning Center (TLC) at Linlee is a school that designs integrative programs which include students, teachers, parents, professionals, and community representatives in providing meaningful opportunities for real world experiences in an empowering environment.  Impact on the community is a vital part of the TLC philosophy.  Students interact with community representatives through hands on projects.  The projects provide exploratory and real world opportunities to expand and enhance the whole student within a secure and nurturing environment.

Middle and high school students currently attending TLC have the opportunity to grow and prepare fresh vegetables while exploring growing processes, scientific impact, diet, nutrition and entrepreneur opportunities.  The school empowers students to design activities that have them problem solve ways to increase disease-free organic food production from ground to table and sustain a healthier lifestyle for those living in the community.  Students will use the fresh vegetables within the school cafeteria/bistro projects. 

The students have surveyed the school's land and conducted soil sample analysis in planning locations for rain gardens, flower beds, tree farm (arboretum) and an area for planting/harvesting crops.  They will take part in scientific experimentation that focuses on variables (climate changes, insect/pest management, and community attitudes) that will affect the longevity of the targeted programs.  They will be the ambassadors for district students at all levels to help young minds change the practices of adults and teach them ways to better utilize land and improve land development.

The school has support from community schools, businesses and organizations.  These contributors have supplied TLC with seed, soil, materials and some monetary support.  TLC’s commitment to sustainability and empowerment is interwoven into its educational mission.  Some students are currently involved in an Environmental Club and focus groups that collect and evaluate data in order to expand and improve the sustainability of TLC’s Outdoor Learning Center.  Students attending TLC will use the food garden to grow vegetables as part of elective class currently offered at TLC.  Also members of the student developed Environmental Club will partner with local garden club to assist with the production and dispersal of food.

Some key points:

·         Students will utilize the fresh vegetables within the school cafeteria and Bistro project.  Food will also be distributed to other agencies (for example: local churches, Women/Children’s Shelter, MASH, or local soup kitchen).

·         Students will work with volunteers from local garden club and utilize donated materials from local suppliers which will strengthen the value of volunteerism by example and through participation.

·         A vital part of all student activity is empowerment to improve their community through service.  Students work to "pay it forward" to those less fortunate.  This philosophy empowers not only the students but the community.

·         Design and implement new projects

·         Revise, improve and extend existing projects through sustainability commitment

·         Organize community involvement projects

·         Collect feedback from participants, stakeholders of project

·         Initiate adoption of a healthier lifestyle

·         Collect data on student driven projects / evaluate

·         Promote healthy lifestyle through personal experiences

·         Increase awareness of procedures involved in food production and preparation

·         Increase civic responsibility through community involvement

Through the development of the TLC gardens, students will impact the community by donating surplus crops to local charitable organizations.  Students are stakeholders and participants in developing, documenting, and evaluating hands-on, real-life experiences while connecting through established curriculum guidelines.  They will use successful experiences to assist/train others with the implementation of similar projects.  The students’ vision is to have a global, sustainable impact…

Click on the link below to see the actual grant!

2011 Neighborhood and Community Sustainability Grant