NATURE NINJAZ

Soil Science is a certification course in STEM education. In this environmental justice program in collaboration with Cicero Community Farm, youth learn how to test soil in their neighborhood, natural measures to remediate city soil by making their own fertilizers/compost teas, how to identify various fungi and bacteria, and the impact of soil health on their communities.

Program Goals:

• Showing youth the value of commitment and consistency through scheduled treatments of the soil

• Learning the importance of soil, soil health, and how they impact plant growth

• Learning how to feed soil microbiology

• Exposing youth to various careers in environmental remediation

• Gaining skills in resourcefulness, collaboration, and communication

• Developing an understanding of the importance of building on a strong foundation

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marus Garvey

Youth learn their true histories by tracing their family trees and uncovering their roots through stories, traditions, activities, time spent with elders, and projects based around ancestral healing. In order to understand ourselves and live in our path & purpose, we need to understand those who came before us and our true histories, not that which is told to us by outsiders, but by our own people.

Program Goals:

• Introduction to genealogy

• Self-discovery & knowledge of self

• Creating physical & digital family tree diagrams

• Learning basic graphic design

• Building a stronger connection to family

• Various methods of holistic healing

• Skills in research, interviewing, presenting, storytelling and public speaking

COMMUNITY GARDEN DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT (Coming Soon)