A message from the Green Schoolyards Manager: |
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| It’s been a hot summer so far and I hope you are enjoying some refreshing breezes and a bit of rest. I have been reflecting on the first ever Regional Green Schoolyards Summit held at the beginning of June at Aiken High School. I was blown away by the diversity of expertise and backgrounds represented by the speakers, vendors, attendees, and our hosts of the Farm to School lunch and student guided tour of the Aiken Farm!
If you were able to attend the Summit and have not completed the survey to help us plan for future events, please do so HERE. If you were unable to attend, many of the session materials are now available in this packet: 2024 Green Schoolyards Summit Resources.
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Building relationships and developing collaborative partnerships with school district staff members and administrators in facilities, curriculum, and foodservice has the potential for great and widespread impact on green infrastructure, educational, food, and environmental systems. Imagine how we can mitigate climate change, increase nutritious food access and better prepare students for the demand of a green workforce just by supporting whole district sustainability projects and programs! Every school garden, greenhouse, outdoor learning classroom, tree planting, high efficiency school building, and nutrient rich food delivery from local farmers make up a green schoolyard and help us tackle the needs our regional communities have to support healthy and engaged families.
The Green Schoolyards Action Network (GSAN) recognizes the potential to have greater and widespread impact through the tri-state region–to that end, beginning fall 2024, we will begin mobilizing a GSAN Regional Plan to expand our reach into more communities in Greater Cincinnati. Stay tuned for information! |
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| In collaboration, Cynthia Walters Green Schoolyards Action Network Manager |
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The four teams who drive Green Schoolyards projects and programs are dedicated to green workforce development, standards-based integrated curriculum, Career and Technology Education, and joint funding mechanisms. These groups are composed of and represent stakeholders and decision-makers as a result of a collaborative partnership between Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), partner organizations, and the City of Cincinnati. |
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Check out the top priorities laid out by each of these teams:
Green Schoolyards Workforce Development Committee - Expand the 7-12th grade green career pathway to include Pre K-6th grades.
Green Schoolyards Curriculum Team - Complete the CPS District Green Schoolyards Curriculum and Resource Guide
- Design Green Schoolyards Professional Development and School Team Training Modules
Green Schoolyards Joint Funding Committee - Raise $1.5M for adding outdoor learning spaces and special projects for the 2024-25 school year (the committee has achieved close to $300K in funding to date)
Green Schoolyards CPS Facilities & Maintenance Team Install two outdoor classrooms, three nature playscapes, five learning gardens, three orchards, and three traffic gardens by September 2024 Complete the CPS District Green Schoolyards Facilities and Maintenance Manual Create site maps of built and natural features and maintenance plans.
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Green Schoolyards Action Network Reaches National Audience for Local School Wellness Policy |
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| Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit
Facilitated by a partnership encompassing Slow Food USA, Whole Kids, and Green Umbrella, GSAN is in the final stages of completing the Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit. Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) is a systems-change approach for stakeholders that invites collaboration between city, school, and community members to address high priority health issues. The Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit is a roadmap for individuals and organizations to get involved at the school district level in policy that can be amplified through Diversity Equity Inclusion and Justice practices.
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The forthcoming toolkit is for school district stakeholders who are advocates for health, food, and the environment. Whether working in a school district or as an external stakeholder, engaging in the Wellness Policy process empowers you to create greater impact within your community and beyond. |
Local School Wellness Policy Committee Webinar
September 10, 4:00-5:30 pm Local School Wellness Policy Committee Webinar September 10, 4:00-5:30 pm
In anticipation of the release of the Wellness Toolkit, GSAN will be holding a webinar series with our partners, beginning with Slow Food Live - The Local School District Wellness Committee on September 10, 2024. Join national experts from Boston City Schools, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Cynthia Walters to navigate and unpack the dynamics of a diverse school district Wellness Committee. Click here for registration.
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Collaborations & Connections |
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| Introducing the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights
On May 30th, 2024 the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBR) resolution was introduced by Councilmember Meeks Owens and passed by Cincinnati City Council. The resolution was spearheaded by Isacc Smitherman in Meeka Owens office to accumulate youth voices into the language of the COBR. The Green Schoolyards Action Network played a role in providing consultation and gathering student voices to be incorporated into the resolution.
More information can be found in this blog. |
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August 16th, 3:00-4:30: Meet A Greenspace: Hike at Camp Ernst, 2588 Camp Ernst Ln, Burlington, KY 41005
September 10th, 4:00-5:30 pm: The Local School Wellness Policy Committee Webinar, Registration Link September 19th, 5:00-8:00: Cultivate + Connect, A Celebration of our Regional Food System
September 30th, 5:00-8:00 pm 2030 District Network Annual Summit Kickoff Reception, 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Road, Cincinnati OH 45206 October 10th, 3:00-4:30 pm : The Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit Launch Party
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Bond Hill Community Garden Planning + Implementation |
Partnerships and collaboration are essential in everything we do as stewards of the environment and making sure everyone has a place at the table. An upcoming example of this is the Bond Hill Community Makeover and Community Garden Planting event with the Cincinnati Reds on August 1-2nd. Partners are collaborating on all aspects of the make-over that will expand over six projects being installed at Bond Hill Academy, Bond Hill Park, and Xavier Jesuit Academy. The Reds Community Fund has supported and coordinated similar projects at Rockdale Academy and John P. Parker Elementary.
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The new partnership attends to community involvement, educational components, nutritious food access, and a long term plan for the care and maintenance of the new spaces by the schools and community. Partners involved are Green Umbrella, Players for the Planet, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Bond Hill Community Council, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Cincinnati Zoo, and the Civic Garden Center.
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Green Umbrella leads cross-sector collaboration to accelerate climate action across Greater Cincinnati. |
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