This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I have worked nearly a decade with inner city urban youth. Many of these students are very limited to problems outside the city limits and have very little appreciation for the environment or nature. My students will go on a variety of weekend trips to learn hands on in nature.
My students attend University Prep School in the City of Pittsburgh School District.
This school is around 800 students 99% African American and 98% of the students are below poverty. I introduced a outdoors club this past year and had to fund raise every cent to take students rock climbing, hiking, rafting etc. During these trips I worked with conservancy groups in that area to learn about their surroundings and do a community service project, trash removal, intrusive plant removal etc. These trips have truly changed many of my students lives and has given them a new perspective, it has given them positive attitudes at school and has bring them closer together as students. Nearly all my student have never been exposed to the outdoors and have now gain a great respect and love for nature and protecting the environment.
My Project
My students are trying to get supplies together to build our own camp to support 20-25 students at a time to do weekend camping trips. We are looking for the following resources:
Tents
Coolers
Water Coolers
Sleeping bags
outdoor cooking equipment
Being able to set up our own camp will cut down tremendously on costs of renting cabins at various state park locations and allow us to put our fund raising dollars toward additional trips allowing us to take and expose more students each year to the wonder of mother nature.
I have spent the majority of my life in education and the outdoors in my summer free time as a camp director.
I have found the amazing impact the outdoors have on young aged students especially urban youth. Exposure to the outdoors and adventure change the live of my students and I see it everytime I take a new group and give them a new challenge. When they are able to achieve group and personal goals it has direct impact on them in their personal lives and in the classroom.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Geiger and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.