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Youth Programs

 

 

Students learn about plants at a Harvest Festival for youth at the Railyard Park. Photo: SF Prep Teen Action Program, 2010.

  • Sign Up Your School or Youth Group — If you are interested in our education programs, contact us!  Email Carol at volunteer@railyardpark.org, or call us at 505-316-3521.  We have served over 20 schools and youth groups.
  • Neighborhood Nature—Dynamic curriculum designed to incorporate math and sciences while learning about local ecosystems and urban ecology, using the Railyard Park or school yard as an outdoor classroom.  Includes collaboration with Watershed Watch program to monitor acequia water quality and report on Watershed Wiser website.
  • Growing Gardens, Growing Kids—Youth learn about traditional and sustaniable gardening practices and experience planting, tending, and harvesting from food gardens.  Experiences are designed to promote a love of local foods and healthy eating. Alvord Elementary planned and planted a vegetable garden in 2010, with participation in food gardens from Earth Care International, Santa Fe High School, and NM School for the Deaf and other schools and youth groups.  Funded in part by the New Mexico Department of Health’s Healthy Kids program.
  • Green Job Training—Provide opportunities for youth to learn skills regarding xeric landscaping, plant care, and acequia maintenance.  Partnered with YouthWorks.
  • Youth Volunteer Projects—Youth groups develop a sense of caring for the park and experience the value of community service through gardening in the park while learning about native,  xeric and edible plants. For example, The NM School for the Deaf joined us on Earth Day to volunteer in the park and plant vegetables.
  • It’s My Railyard—Tours and activities for youth groups to provide an understanding of Railyard history, park design, plants, and the role of parks in city life.

“I have only high praise for the Railyard Stewards outdoor classroom program.  Our teachers, Eliza Kretzmann and Paul Navrot, were awesome and very kind to the students.  Highlights for me were the lessons on the history of the acequias, the waffle garden, and the traditional Native American Three Sisters garden.  Planting and watering in the Community Waffle Garden was a great experience for everyone involved. It was extremely rewarding for the students to harvest and taste the vegetables they grew themselves.” – Gail Dorsett, teacher for the Santa Fe Public Schools

Click here to read the Railyard Stewards Youth Program Report.

Students learn about math, science, history, health and other topics through dynamic education programs at the Railyard Park with the Railyard Stewards and partner organizations.