Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy looks to expand youth environmental programs
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The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is looking to create young naturalists with the help of a $100,000 federal grant.
The nonprofit said Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency grant will help it develop a Junior Young Naturalist program for middle schoolers across the city.
Participants will learn about environmental careers and complete projects that “help create green neighborhoods and mitigate the effects of climate change,” according to the conservancy.
The program will include a one-week “intensive environmental educational summer initiative” for a dozen students between the ages of 13 and 15, the conservancy said.
“This funding to Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is a true investment in America’s future because educating youth and building strong leaders are essential to creating healthy, more resilient places to live, work and thrive,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.
The conservancy’s STEM education programs use thousands of acres of Pittsburgh parkland as their classroom, helping students learn scientific concepts in nature rather than inside a classroom.
The conservancy said it hopes to use the EPA funding to build upon its existing efforts.
That includes providing regular environmental education to middle schoolers during Propel Schools’ five-week summer camps and bolstering its Junior and High School Young Naturalist programs in 2024, the conservancy said.
“The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is honored to work with new local education partners to engage youth around urban ecosystems and the need to increase urban tree canopy to mitigate climate change and improve air quality,” Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO Catherine Qureshi said.
The conservancy’s efforts will “focus directly on neighborhoods disproportionately affected by air pollution and tree canopy loss,” she added.
The organization plans to partner with at least five out-of-school partners during the school year to engage up to 100 local youth in environmental education programs. The nonprofit also is aiming to increase diversity in its Young Naturalist programs.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy said the goal is to increase interest in STEM careers, sustainability and green technology, while bolstering awareness of the benefits of an urban tree canopy and mitigating climate change. The conservancy said it also hopes to support tree planting and maintenance activities to improve tree canopies in city neighborhoods.