Feb. 10th, 2011 – Brickworks Healthy Choices Pics

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

On Monday February 7th, the first group of students and teachers attended the Healthy Choices program at Evergreen’s Brickworks. We had an introduction to the program and to our facilitator, Aimee, and were introduced to the concept of Food Literacy and Healthy Active Living. Aimee taught us about food safety and oriented us to the kitchen. Afterwards, with some students practicing knife skills, and others doing measuring and mixing, we prepared healthy granola bars. The bars cooked as we took a tour of the historic Brickworks site, seeing where the bricks were made and the current Brickworks facility, including the outdoor ice rink. After our tour outside, we went back in to enjoy warm and gooey granola bars – delicious! The second group of students will go for their orientation next week. Everyone had fun, and we all look forward to continuing this amazing cross curricular project this term, and all of the students gave the afternoon a resounding “thumbs up” on the shuttle bus afterwards.

YMCA Academy students preparing healthy granola bars.
YMCA Academy students at Evergreen's Brickworks
YMCA Academy students touring the historic Brickworks site.
YMCA Academy group participating in the Healthy Choices program.

For the full gallery check our Facebook page!

Oct. 7th, 2010 – Pics of tree planting at Evergreen

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

Here are the pictures from our Environment Stewardship day at Evergreen’s Downsview Park, we planted dozens of baby trees and moved mountains of mulch!

YMCA Academy students tree planting at Downsview Park
Moving the mountain of Mulch!
Moving more mulch
Academy staff and students working hard!
Students at Evergreen's Downsview Park
Group photo for Environment Stewardship 🙂

For more information on Downsview park: http://www.downsviewpark.ca/

Sept. 30th, 2010 – Environmental Stewardship Trip

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

Tomorrow the Academy will be fulfilling its commitment to the environment by participating in environmental stewardship at Downsview Park. The YMCA Academy is one of evergreens environmental stewardship schools and we will be participating in this twice yearly environmental service project. We will engage in environmental rehabilitation projects such as tree planting and mulching we will also take a guided tour of Downsview Park. Downsview Park used to be a military base and has been rehabilitated by Evergreen. Some of the things we will learn about include the local ecosystem, native plant species, the importance of wetlands, and the necessity of humans taking an active role in protecting our environment. Check back for pictures tomorrow evening!

http://www.evergreen.ca/

http://www.downsviewpark.ca

Sept. 17th, 2010 – Shoreline Cleanup Pictures

YMCA Academy Environmental Stewardship

Here are the pictures from the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup that the Academy participated in, more to come later!

Student's cleaning up garbage at Budapest Park on the Lakeshore
Filming the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 2010
Studen't participating in garbage pickup at Budapest Park
Cleaning up at Budapest Park on the Lakeshore
Staff and Student's cleaning up at Budapest Park
People participating in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 2010
Academy student's working throughout the afternoon to cleanup Toronto's shoreline!
YMCA 🙂

Sept. 17th, 2010 – Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

YMCA Academy Environmental Stewardship

Academy Student’s will be participating in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Budapest park this afternoon.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a grassroots direct action conservation program that aims to promote understanding and education about shoreline litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups. The program influences Canadians to act, becoming better environmental citizens.

Check back this afternoon for pictures!