May 24th, 2011 – Evergreen Stewardship Pictures

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

On Friday May 20, The YMCA Academy celebrated its third anniversary of stewardship with Evergreen’s Downsview Park!  Staff and students alike enjoyed our first warm sunny day in weeks as we worked together to weed, plant trees and mulch our hearts out.  We were able to entirely weed a native plant nursery (the one that we helped prep last fall), and to plant 60 trees.  As a further sign of our good fortune, an ice cream truck appeared like a mirage at lunch time, ensuring that everyone enjoyed a well deserved treat break after enjoying delicious Breakfast Club sponsored sandwiches.  What began three years ago with two classes has now evolved into a whole school fall and spring outdoor ritual of environmental stewardship. We now converge upon Downsview en masse twice year as part of our YMCA Academy commitment to service learning, community partnership, authentic learning and environmental leadership.  As always, well done last Friday on everyone’s part – you did us proud once again!

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May 17th, 2011 – Safe bike riding at Brickworks

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning, Healthy Living

Yesterday, we participated in a Bike Workshop as part of our Healthy Choices Program.  We learned about safe riding (including helmets and bike checks), hand signaling and did some safety drills.  We then took the bikes out on the Rosedale Ravine trails for a bit of a muddy tour of the surrounding area.  We not only got out into our environment – it also got all over us!  It’s a good reminder for city folks that we don’t have to go far to experience real nature.  Thanks to Shah and Brian for a great workshop and ride.

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May 10th, 2011 – Kitchen Session at Brickworks

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

For our 3rd Kitchen Session. Students, staff and volunteers mastered their cooking skills by tackling recipes for chicken quesadillas, guacamole, and fruit smoothies. Students left with an arsenal of healthy snack ideas and the skills to cook them.

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Apr. 26th, 2011 – Earth Day Cleanup Photos

YMCA Academy Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

In celebration of Earth Day on April 21, students from the Academy took to the local parkettes, looking like enviro super heros, with their arms full of garbage bags, and donning protective gloves in an effort to thwart litter.  We worked our way down through the park system as we cleaned our way to Metro Central HFR on Grosvenor St. to clean the park at our future school site.  It was a chance to think about the importance of taking responsibility for our neighborhood, and to reinforce our role as stewards in doing our part for our local ecosystem.  We ended our clean up with a tour of our future school, as we tried to imagine what our new school will look like (it is still office area, and has yet to be renovated).  Well done Academy students, and Happy Earth Day!


Check out the great panorama shot! Using Photosynth and iPhone

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Apr. 12th, 2011 – Outdoor Orienteering Pictures

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

This week at Brickworks, we learned that people can get around without relying on a GPS (no, seriously!) as we gained outdoor orienteering experience!  We learned about mapping skills and how to use a map and compass, as we roamed and explored all of the trails and habitats around the Brickworks valley ecosystem.  It was a lovely day to walk around and explore the area, as we marked native trees, waterways, animals and plants on our maps. We discovered that spring has truly sprung, as we spotted the first wild tulips of the season.

(Note: The following part works best when read with David Attenborough’s accent.)  We also spotted a rare variety of the “scampering teenager” as we traversed the slopes of the old Brickworks pit in search of the ultimate feast of “trail mix”. The young males of the species often go head to head in an effort to secure the energy necessary to make the long trek home.  Alas, today was a peaceful struggle, and the pride of students returned safely to their migrational pattern.

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