Gloria J. Parks Summer

Urban Environmental and Sports Skills Center

Final Report

The Summer Urban Environmental Science and Sports Skills Center served Buffalo youth from July 6  – August 20, 2010. Organizations brought  youth who were participating in their summer programs to Gloria Parks for a week of Urban Environmental science and/or sports. Sessions were held in the morning and afternoon. The program was facilitated through a partnership between Science Firsthand/First Hand Learning, Gloria J. Parks Community Center and Houghton College/ WNY AmeriCorps.

We started planning the program not knowing what response we would receive from the organizations we were targeting. Explaining the structure of the program was challenging – it was an unusual project and an untested model. But as more organizations learned about the program, we began receiving requests to register groups from throughout the city. Organizations from the west side, Seneca Babcock and throughout the east side of Buffalo participated. Anticipating the reaction from youth engaged in the program was also an unknown. The level of enthusiasm and engagement that developed was beyond anything we could have expected.

The staff for the program was comprised of recent Houghton graduates who were involved in a Houghton service project. They chose to work in the city of Buffalo for 10 weeks during the summer. They were trained by two senior staff from the Science Firsthand project. The sports program was lead by the Athletic Director at Gloria Parks assisted by the Houghton students. High school volunteers helped in both parts of the program.

The success of the program was in part due to the creativity of all staff. They were able to respond to each group and their youth individually, adapting and adjusting the program components to meet the needs of the group. They found that each group was unique and came with different abilities and interests. The sports program focused on fitness, sports skills, sportsmanship, team work, and rules. Youth who were prepared to learn new sports or improve their skills had opportunities to do both.  Youth who had very little experience in organized sports started with fundamentals, learning the rules of games, how to play as a team, and taking turns.

The science program had very diverse approaches. Youth gained skills with equipment.  They learned about and learned to appreciate the urban landscape they live in. Through outdoor investigations of the neighborhood, they found that there are rich explorations available everywhere, everyday. Youth were amazed at the behaviors of insects, snakes, birds and other city wildlife as well as the variety of plant life. Many overcame their fears of insects and nature and spent considerable time theorizing on how and why phenomenon occurred. Watching spiders spin webs was more engaging than computer games.

Daily journaling was an integral component of the program. Each youth began the program by making their own journal. They named them and then recorded their investigations through drawing, writing and measurement each day. Each journal was unique. All captured the individual child’s focus and interests. Staff encouraged the relationship between science and art, and science and language. Youth became accustomed to using field guides as tools for their investigations.  Posters, songs and games were created to record and illuminate the explorations. A favorite activity was “fishing” for water critters from wading pools filled with pond water that were housed on the roof of the center. Minnows, tadpoles, snails and water beetles became pets for the week, as youth had the time and tools to observe, theorize and learn. All living collections were released at the end of the week, stressing the importance of maintaining the natural environment. The week long sessions culminated with trips to Glen Park or Squaw Island, meeting scientists, or participating in mini science festivals at the center, reinforcing the possibilities for investigations.

The objectives of learning by doing, direct experience and inquiry were central to all of the activities. We found that these produced authentic learning and that using these methods resulted in a very high level of engagement and improved behaviors. The youth and staff from the participating organizations noted that their interest was heightened as the week continued and that at the end, they were ready to continue. Some youth and staff stopped by throughout the summer to bring in things they had found or to see what new things were being investigated at the center.

Gloria J. Parks Community Center, the participating staff and youth and the participating organizations all  benefited from this program. We learned from each group that joined us in this program, and are appreciative that they shared their summer here at Gloria Parks.

Participants: Child & Adolescent Treatment Service 21^st Century Program

My Kids Day Care Center

Holy Ghost Temple Flaming Fire Ministries

HOPE FLY program

Concerned Ecumenical Ministries

Seneca Street United Methodist Church

Schiller Park Community Services

Living Water Fellowship Church

First Shiloh Summer Fun Camp

4-H Summer Stars Camp

Number:      235 youth in grades 1 – 8 in sports and science

Contributors and partners: University of Buffalo

First Hand Learning

Houghton College/ AmeriCorps

Buffalo Area Pregnancy Prevention

Dates: Wednesdays August 25, September 1^st, 8^th

Time: 6:00-8:00pm

Location: UB South Campus Main Street front lawn

http://www.buffalo.edu/community/ub_on_the_green.html

UB on the Green is a free, outdoor, family-friendly festival of music, dance, and fun, celebrating summer in the South Campus neighborhood. Picnic with your neighbors at UB and enjoy great entertainment, hands-on activities, and dynamic demonstrations and workshops for all. Feel free to bring food and beverage to this family friendly, alcohol-free event. Refreshments also will be available for sale. 

August 25 
The Rockas with special guest Caitlin Albe Koch

Chunky horns, on a bed of spicy Riddims, topped with a nutritious blend of melodic and soulful vocals.
 
September 1
N’Dias

West African inspired local dance and drumming group
 
One World Tribe

Afro-beat, funk, reggae, latin and world beat orchestra with a myriad of musicians, dancers and extra’s 
 
September 8
Scott Celani

Melodic pop songs with full band performance

 
Black Widow

One of WNY’s top rock bands; The latest and best of rock, party, dance, country, alternative and classic music

For more information contact UB Community Relations at 716-829-3099.

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The University Community Farmers Market is a community event to bring fresh produce and market goods to the neighborhood, and support local business. It takes place on the front area of the UB South Campus; on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue.

ATTENTION: Now more than ever the University Community Farmers Market needs your help!

Please try to Volunteer for a few hours.
http://www.ourheights.org/farmersmarket.html

Volunteers are Needed for University Community Farmer’s Market!!!!

To keep the University Community Farmer’s Market (UCFM)  operational we need volunteers for the planning committee and people to be present for
2 or 3 Saturdays while the Market is open (8:00 AM – 1:00 PM).

For 2010 the Market will be open from June 5 to October 15.

We especially need UB employees to volunteer to be on site –
“Market Managers” for 2 or 3 days.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact:
Gail R. Willsky,
Market Manager 2010
at 829-2969 or
gwillsky@buffalo.edu

The future of the Market depends upon getting a core of volunteers to help with the running of the Market.

The next meeting of the University Community Farmer’s Market Planning
Committee will be 10:30 AM in 109 Allen Hall on the UB South Campus on
Tuesday May 25.  All are welcome who would like to help with the UCFM!
***
* Dates: Saturdays June 5th-October 16th, held rain or shine
* Time: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
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Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk 2010 Information • Date: Saturday July 17th, held rain or shine • Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm • Location: Various homes in the University Heights/District, Buffalo, Eggertsville, Amherst neighborhoods • Maps available at: 22 Larchmont Rd; 135 Capen Blvd; 17 Maynard Dr; 38 Brinton St; 201 Minnesota Ave and 178 Minnesota Ave from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Also at the University Community Farmers Market, Main St. near Kenmore Ave. – Saturdays, 8 am – 1 pm. (Farmers Market dates to be announced soon)

This year, the Samuel P. Capen Garden walk will be a participant in the National Buffalo Garden Festival, a five-week long garden celebration from June 18 – July 25 with tours, workshops, special events, concerts and plant shows all around Western New York. Find out more about this exciting garden festival.

For more information on the Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk contact UB Community Relations at 716-829-6145.

ALSO CHECK THE UHC WEBSITE AT     www.ourheights.org  for more info

The new date for the next Capen Garden Walk meeting is Thursday May 13 at 6:00 PM Allen Hall

Join your friends and neighbors on Saturday May 15^th for the 2^nd Annual UB Community Day, where UB students and staff and community residents volunteer together to beautify the neighborhood. The event is from 9:00am-3:00pm in the neighborhoods around the South Campus, with a celebration after the work is done with a chance to win an ipod shuffle.  For more information and to volunteer, call UB Community Relations at 829-3099 or visit http://ubcommunity.blogspot.com/2010/04/volunteer-at-ub-community-day.html

Problem Properties Reporting Form

Now that the weather is getting warmer, you know what that means! Time for the planning of the neighborhood summer programs.

Now is your chance to get involved in the planning and coordination of the University Community Farmers Market and the Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk, two of our favorite events.  Please see below if you are interested in volunteering on the planning committees for either event, or both!

University Community Farmers Market

Our neighborhood farmers market began in 2007 and was held on Saturdays on the UB South Campus.  The first planning meeting of the year will be this Wednesday April 21^st at 6:00pm in 109 Allen Hall on the South Campus.  If you are interested in having a hands-on role with the market, are interested in supporting local business and healthy living through fresh food sales, or have ideas on the market, please come to the meeting this Wednesday.

Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk

The planning for the 2010 Garden Walk is underway! The Walk will be held on Saturday July 17^th.  Be a part of the planning committee, which meets on Thursday April 29^th at 6:00pm in Allen Hall on the South Campus.

For more information on the planning committees for these events, please contact Jessica Biegaj in UB Community Relations at 829-6145 or jbiegaj@buffalo.edu.

Please click here for the sign up form:

Summer High School Basketball League