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Atlanta’s Piedmont Park Summer Camp Experience

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It’s finally summer! Kids are out of school, the weather is great and there is lots to do. What better way for a child to spend it than in Atlanta’s beautiful Piedmont Park? Summer of STEAM offers a hands-on, fun environmental learning experience for everyone. From science experiments to afternoon fitness sessions, the Piedmont Park Conservancy gives an unforgettable camp experience instilling the importance of green space in future generations.

Mornings start with a group-wide activity and making sure everyone is ready for a day full of learning. This day of fun includes experiments, arts and crafts and other activities. Some of the campers’ favorite experiments from past camp sessions include building and launching a rocket and an exploding paint project. These experiments offer a great hands-on, visual learning experience that the kids love!

Arts and crafts time allows the campers and staff to interact even more. Sometimes the crafts are difficult and require camp staff to get down and help each kid understand the project and go through with them step-by-step.

Many campers state that their favorite part of the camp are all the new friends that they make throughout the sessions. There are many kids that do all the camps every year, and one told us she attends them annually as a family tradition. She also told us she still has friends from past years’ sessions! There are so many opportunities to make new friends during the camp, especially during the afternoon fitness sessions.

The afternoon fitness sessions are directed by NSCA certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Saidah Jones. These sessions typically begin with open playtime, where they can hold group jump-rope competitions or play four square. Then, it is time to go to the Active Oval! The best spot for fitness, campers can run around the half-mile track to get energy out then go and play various sports together. Our sand volleyball courts are always a favorite for all, as there is something for everyone. They can play a game of volleyball, or they can dig around in the sand and build sandcastles with each other.

From funny moments like bug mishaps to learning new things like bird flight patterns, Summer of STEAM offers fun for all. The campers are exposed to environmental education in real-life scenarios and are able to get active and play outside with each other, making so many new friends! Piedmont Park’s environmental education programs are so much more than just learning, it’s an opportunity for Atlanta’s youngest residents to connect, learn and become future stewards of our community.

Have young learners at home that love Piedmont Park? Check out some of our learning activity downloads.

Stay Active. Stay Healthy. Stay Safe.

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Getting some fun in the sun is so important for your mental and physical health, and Piedmont Park is the perfect space to enjoy some quality time in the outdoors. Staying safe and healthy is a top priority, and luckily we have four great tips on how to make sure we can all share the Park and feel safe!

The first tip is to remember to stay AT LEAST 6ft. away from other groups. With over 200 acres of Park to explore, everyone can enjoy. Maybe you’ll even find a new favorite spot!

The next tip is to make sure your circle is small. We’ve all been missing our friends and loved ones, and Piedmont Park is the perfect space to safely meet up with a SMALL group of your favorite people.

Getting fresh air is amazing for your well being, but remember to bring a mask and put it on when going through high traffic areas. This way, we can all feel safe and enjoy the Park!

Finally, let’s make sure we’re keeping it clean. Whatever you bring into the Park should either leave with you or end up in a trash or recycling bin. We’ve recently installed new recycling bins and trash cans to help make Piedmont Park green and clean!

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer and get outside and enjoy Piedmont Park. If we all remember these few rules, the Park will remain safe and open for everyone to enjoy.

Author: Olivia O’Brien

Testing on Treats: Children and Teens Become Scientists for Halloween

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For October’s Homeschool Day, students of all ages learned the scientific method with the help of Halloween candy.

K – 5th Grade’s White demo activity, where grade students learned about density, the scientific method and how to make a hypothesis

6th – 12th Grade’s demo activity, where middle and high schoolers learned how to apply the scientific method and create

Walker’s jack-o-lantern, featuring a hydrogen peroxide solution.

Dana Buskovitz, education coordinator, and Kaycee Walker, assistant education coordinator, collaborate together on a science lesson plan for each Homeschool Day, which started one year ago.

“We started Homeschool Day because we wanted to reach out to all students,” Dana said.

The lesson plan was Halloween inspired, just in time for the upcoming holiday. However, there was a twist.

Grade school students hypothesized which candy bars would sink or float.

Middle and high schooler students hypothesized which type of solvents would dissolve candy corn the fastest.

Students were not allowed to eat the candy! But they were able to play with their food as they performed science experiments.

Grade schoolers completed a STEM challenge to construct a cube from gummy drops and toothpicks.

Middle and high schoolers built catapults out of forks, spoons, popsicle sticks and rubber bands. They then competed in a candy corn launching contest to see whose would go the farthest.

If you would like to join the Conservancy for next month’s Homeschool Day, you can register at piedmontpark.org/homeschool. If you would like to sign up for a field trip in the Park, you can schedule a field trip at piedmontpark.org/field-trips.

Author: Jessica Vue

Piedmont Park Greenhouse Open for Education Programs

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On Tuesday morning, the Piedmont Park Conservancy celebrated the opening of a new greenhouse which was generously donated by Wells Fargo. Guests were welcomed with fresh mint-infused lemonade, cucumber water and fresh pastries. The weather was refreshingly cool for a June morning, and the clouds provided a nice blanket of shade. The greenhouse stands adjacent to the Conservancy maintenance shop, and faces out to the Piedmont Commons area. The soft sounds of ventilation fans could be heard, releasing the hot air from within the clear structure.

Representatives from Wells Fargo were welcomed with a recognition decal placed on the opening of the greenhouse. Because of a generous donation from the Northwood Garden Club, attendees were able to peruse the greenhouse which already had its first generation of plantings including peppers, squash and cherry tomatoes, and newly bought equipment to enable the house to flourish.

Mark Banta, President and CEO of the the Piedmont Park Conservancy, welcomed guests and exclaimed that the Conservancy was very excited to obtain this long-desired wish list item. Banta extended appreciation to Wells Fargo’s Kris Christy for partnering with the organization to make this dream possible, and to Chris McDaid for his dedication to the Conservancy and this project. Banta followed up with a thoughtful commentary about the Northwood Garden Club and their continuous support for our horticultural projects, and especially recognizing Esther Stokes for her involvement with the organization.

Then, Mary Yetter, Green Market Manager and the cultivator of Piedmont Park’s gardens, explained that this greenhouse will be crucial to meeting the Conservancy’s future goals of environmental education. From the vast amount of field trips that happen in the park to the EnviroVentures Summer Camp youth, the greenhouse would allow year-round exposure to gardening education. Additionally, the greenhouse opens the potential for future plant sales and member engagement.

The event closed with a ribbon cutting, with a long yellow strand creating a vibrant photo opportunity with the dedication’s special guests. Wells Fargo and the Northwood Garden Club received promising seedlings of tomato plants in soft blue pots as gifts of gratitude.

Appreciation goes to Wells Fargo and the Northwood Garden Club for making this opportunity possible for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. We are excited to give our readers an update on the greenhouse’s progress in the coming months.

Wells Fargo’s Kris Christy and Chris McDaid

 

Northwood Garden Club’s Linda Copeland and Esther Stokes

The dedication was at 10am on Tuesday, June 6. The greenhouse is only accessible by Piedmont Park Conservancy staff. Greenhouse visitation will be infused into various programming. If you have questions about the greenhouse, please email myetter@piedmontpark.org.

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