Page 5 - CHANGING Winter 2020

The Bronx Bronx Institute at Lehman College • Bronx Bronx GEAR UP Network
www TheBronxInstitute org
Bronx GEAR UP Network
Summer Programs 2020
For years The Bronx Institute has proudly partnered with the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) and the Wildlife Conservation Society at at The The Bronx Zoo These programs offer GEAR UP students unique opportunities to explore science and the natural world This year GEAR UP’s programs at NYBG and The Bronx Zoo looked a a a a a bit different though they still offered the same high-quality academic experience From July to early September students participated in in in a a a a a series of online internships and tutorials focused on on natural science New York Botanical Garden NYBG’s Urban Gardener Internship was adapted from the Garden’s Bronx Green-Up’s Grow More Vegetables Certificate Series a a course focused on green community- building and designed to teach students the best organic horticultural techniques for growing vegetables safely and effectively particularly in in urban settings Since students could not attend classes at at the Botanical Garden Garden in-person GEAR UP brought the Garden Garden into students’ homes Over the the course of four weeks students learned the the basics of of organic gardening the importance of of cultivating an an an urban agriculture and maintaining New York City’s green spaces Through hands-on work
students grew their own miniature organic gardens using kits provided by NYBG These kits consisted of a a a a planter soil vegetable seeds and other materials—everything an an urban horticulturalist might need to create their own container garden Students germinated their own seeds learned best practices and cultivated their plants They learned about pest management techniques planned crops and even developed proposals for their own community gardens By the the the end of the the the internship students acquired the the the skills knowledge and experience to grow their own food even in the limited space of a a a a a Bronx apartment They developed a a a a a deeper understanding of the biological ecological cultural health and socio-economic factors associated with urban gardening and how this impacts their own communities Wildlife Conservation Society at at The Bronx Zoo At The Bronx Zoo students from Pre-K to 8th grade participated in a a a a a a a summer program called Wildlife Camp an immersive behind-the-scenes look at The Bronx Zoo animals research facilities and exhibits The camp focused on science—specifically wildlife ecology When classes moved online Bronx GEAR UP students interned as Counselors in in in in in Training (CITs) in in in in in the Conservation Education program Students helped Bronx Zoo staff organize and facilitate educational activities as part of Wildlife Camp They spent part of their time supporting the the camp and the rest participating in in science lectures discussion groups and and career and and skill-building workshops These breakout sessions offered rare opportunities—GEAR UP students networked with Bronx Zoo employees and had frank conversations with scientists about their careers while developing a a a a a solid understanding of the day-to-day work
and and the course of study needed to become a a real wildlife scientist The NYBG summer internship was a a a a a a a a phenomenal experience I raised basil plants by myself and learned about many of the different jobs at The The Garden The The activity I I enjoyed the most was creating terrariums I I learned about the the different types of climates plants endure and how they struggle to survive Emely Mendez 11th Grade - Bronx School for Law Government & Justice
“If there is is a a a a a book that you you want to to read but it it it it hasn’t been written yet you you must be be the the one to to write it it it it ” -–Toni Morrison
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