School yard audits and redesign
Shade is COOL
GreenHere’s schoolyard greening and redesign is an interpretive and educational project for the school and community, providing opportunities for the students to better appreciate the significant role that trees play in providing a number of environmental and health benefits for all. In addition the greening projects reduce the number of all asphalt play areas for children, to protect children from overexposure to UV radiation and heat stress, and create vibrant community hubs. By using a bottom-up community-based approach to environmental planning, community stewardship and citizen engagement, GreenHere aims to provide leadership in communities and work with others to pursue collective environmental goals.
GreenHere supports local school communities looking for assistance on schoolyard greening improvements, the planning, design, and development of the project, establishing tree stewardship activities for the school community, and assist with fundraising, and grant writing. In 2008, GreenHere supported 6 Catholic schools in applying and securing funding from the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Environmental Initiatives Fund. (St. Brigid, Pope Paul VI, St. Paul, St. Rose of Lima, St. Dunstan, and St. Sebastian.)
Removing asphalt, planting trees, and ensuring the long-term survival of the trees will provide a healthier schoolyard and community environment. These greening initiatives will also help foster youth leadership in environmental sustainability and raise awareness of the important role that trees play in our environment.
