Green Schools
ParkWorks' Green School Program is a comprehensive outdoor learning initiative that embraces several individual program offerings. These programs are flexible and tailored to the different needs and environments of the City of Cleveland's schools and its diverse communities.

GOALS

• To promote, develop and facilitate creative outdoor and environmental education programs as effective tools to assist and reinforce curriculum objectives
• To train and assist formal and informal educators to succeed in the process of creation, development and maintenance of outdoor learning centers/gardens
• To create and/or improve green spaces on school grounds
• To raise the quality of life at schools, as well as, at surrounding communities

Depending on available funds, the following programs are offered and delivered under the Green School program.

Programs

Outdoor Learning Center Program
ParkWorks offers the Cleveland Municipal School District the opportunity to participate in a small grants program to obtain renewal funds for the use and development of outdoor environmental education as a supporting educational tool to reinforce what is taught in the classrooms. The purpose of the Green School Small Grants Program is to encourage and support educators to create activities, lessons and programs that fit their curriculum needs using outdoor learning centers and instructional gardens on school grounds. ParkWorks also offers technical assistance to conceptualize, design, develop and build new outdoor learning centers.

Workshop Series
A series of professional development workshops and training for educators are organized and delivered based on teachers needs every year. Some of these workshops (such as the annual Teacher's Institute) are annual events that are planned and delivered in partnership with other organizations such as Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Ohio State University extension service yearly. Most of the workshops and training are tailored to specific needs of different schools or communities.

Presentation Program
Due to the different fields of expertise of our staff, we are able to offer and deliver a diverse number of environmental presentations. A number of them are required and sponsored by Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Presentations are delivered at Cleveland Municipal School District (K-12), recreation centers, Cleveland Public Library branches and private schools in the City of Cleveland.

Development and production of environmental educational materials
Educational materials are developed to support formal and informal educators in teaching environmental issues. Teacher's activity guides and environmental children books such as: "The Green School Guide", "Changing Lands", "The Green School Moon Unit", and "The Family Foresters Field Guide to Tree Care" are wonderful tools for teachers and parents.

Community Outreach Programs
Community involvement is vital for the long-term survival of our outdoor learning centers and community places. This program is meant to establish or reinforce the connections between schools and communities around them in order to reduce vandalism on school property and promote neighborhood pride and ownership. Click the following link for more information on the Summer 2003 schedule.

GREEN SCHOOLS STATISTICAL OVERVIEW:
Total Number of Green Schools:...............20
Workshops:............................................10 teacher training workshops per year
Average workshop attendance:.................18 teachers average per workshop
Green Schools' Student Impact ('99):........4,096 students
Green Schools' Student Impact ('00):........3,027 students
Green Schools' Student Impact ('01)………7,600 students

For more information, please contact:
Education Department (216) 696 2122 x114, fax (216) 696 2326
email: abordelois@parkworks.org