Street Games at Thomas Jefferson Park

The Queens Green Teens volunteered alongside the  Bronx Green Teens at Street Games on Saturday, April 25, 2015. The yearly event drew a large crowd.  During Street Games old school games were introduced to a new generation of children. The Green Teens educated the public about recycling and composting. Seventeen Green Teens helped collect and separate recyclables at stations throughout the park. Although the Green Teens volunteered they were also given an opportunity to play the different games.

Members of the public were full of questions concerning composting and recycling.

The Green Teens advised the public how to sort materials.

Green Teens from the Bronx and Queens enjoyed working together!

Ready to collect reyclables and litter.

Green Teens breaking cardboard boxes.

 







Queens Green Teens at Street Games!





Queens Green Teens Shine at the Rising Stars Award Ceremony

The yearly Rising Stars Award Ceremony highlights teens which truly make a positive impact in their recreation centers, parkland, schools, families and society at large. Each borough nominated three teens which have been an active member for at least two years and possess dedication to NYC Parks recreation centers and parkland. Three dedicated, passionate and intelligent Queens Green Teens were celebrated amongst fifteen teens citywide. The award ceremony was held on April 10 at the Prospect Park Picnic House. Parks staff, family members and friends attended the celebratory dinner and expressed their appreciation. The Rising Stars Award Ceremony was also a great opportunity  to meet their peers and share the  projects and activities the Rising Stars participate in at the NYC Parks Recreation centers. The Rising Stars shine within the centers and we are all looking forward to their future endeavors.


2015 Rising Stars- Queens Green Teens



Each Rising Star received a certificate, leaf plaque and bag of goodies from the NYC Parks Department.
Commissioners, chiefs and staff  attended and showed their appreciation to the Rising Stars.
 

Former Deputy Chief Rosemary Paul sent special  gifts for 5 Rising Stars.

 



Friends and family celebrating the Rising Stars.



 

Look Out World! These are the Leaders of Tomorrow!



Green Teens visit Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

April 7, 2015,  Queens Green Teens  attended an outing to the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 13 Green Teens learned the importance of water conservation and how waste water is treated in New York City. The Green Teens received a behind the scenes tour of the facilities including the control room  and the  digester eggs. The Green Teens completed

an exercise in water usage and were taught about different ways to decrease their usage.



An exercise in water usage highlighted
about different ways to decrease usage. 

Green Teens  ready to learn about wastewater
conservation.

 

Digester Eggs

Not everyone was a fan of the methane gas odor!

Green Teens taking notes of interersting
 information during the tour.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the month of March the Queens Green Teens were extremely busy. The Green Teens volunteered on March 7, 2015, at Al Oerter during Women ad Girls in Sports Day.
The Green Teens helped with set up and provided customer service to the public.

Bright and early! The 2015 Queens Rising Stars volunteered on a Saturday morning following a late and hectic Teens Night.

 

For the first time the Green Teens participated in the Green Thumb Grow Together Conference at Hostos Community College on March 21, 2015. The Green Teens spoke with community gardeners and participated in workshops about environmental and gardening issues.

 

Green Teens in Action: Demonstrating  the use of a weeder to a member of the public.

 

Green Teens discussing which workshops to attend.




All smiles after an informative day!

 

 

Friday, February 6 the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn was buzzing. It seemed like everyone in NYC was filing out of the cold and into the stadium! The Brooklyn Nets played the New York Knicks. The crowd was filled of excitement as the two New York basketball teams fought for the win. The Green Teens were given tickets as a reward for their continued dedication to the environment. It was the first NBA game the Green Teens attended. It was a close game and the Green Teens convinced the staff to stay till the very end. The Green Teens are environmental stewards that work hard but every now and then it is good to try something new! That night the he Brooklyn Nets won the game but we are all big winners because the Queens Green Teens are so dedicated to improving the environment for us all.

 

 

Last Saturday, January 10, 2015 was MulchFest in NYC. MulchFest is a yearly event which the public can drop off  Christmas trees to be recycled. The NYC Parks Department offers sites throughout the city. The trees were chipped and volunteers used the chippings to mulch tree beds. During the frigid winter months a nice layer of mulch can provide a warm, protective blanket for tree beds.The teen volunteers learned the importance of mulching tree beds during the winter. The mulch protects the tree beds from urine and salt which can both cause harm to tree beds.  14 teens including students from Forest Hills High School and the Lost Battallion Hall Green Teens mulched street trees near Travers Park.  The Green Teens at  times enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa to help warm up. If you are interested in joining the Green Teens please send an email to Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

Chess In Schools care for Trees in Streets!

Saturday, Nov 29 Chess in Schools participants volunteered their time to care for many young NYC street trees. Street trees need the most care during the first five years of being planted. The volunteers removed liter, weeded and loosened the soil. Many street tree beds are very compact due to foot traffic. Extreme soil compaction causes the water to runoff the tree bed instead of being absorbed. Although it was a chilly morning the volunteers worked without complaint. Many neighbors stopped by and took a look at the great work the teens were doing. Many trees in Astoria  benefited from the teens' hard work and dedication to the community.

The Green Teens visited the Sims Municipal Recycling Plant in Brooklyn last Saturday. During the visit, the Green Teens were taught what happens to recyclables after they reach the recycling plant. The Green Teens received a tour of the plant including the different machines which sort the recyclables. They learned  half of the recyclables are still being thrown in the trash which ends up in landfills. After the tour the Green Teens completed different fun and educational activities. The activities included spinning the wheel of recycling jobs, sorting through different types of recyclables and watching a magnet seperate ferrrous and  non ferrous metals. If you are interested in joining the Green Teens please send an email to Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

Trees in Jamaica received care from Build On volunteers. It was a chilly yet sunny afternoon and the volunteers worked quickly and efficiently to care for the trees. The teens cleaned tree beds, weeded and turned the soil. This is a great time to provide tree care before the winter begins. If you are interested in providing tree care in your neighborhood while earning community service credits send an email to Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

Street Tree Care in the Morrisania

Students provided some tree care for 13 street trees in the Morrisania section of the Bronx on October 30. Under the direction of the Million Trees Staff 22 Green Teens learned about tree care. Many of the students had no experience gardening and really enjoyed working in nature while still being in the city. Lookout world, these 8th graders are ready to make a big impact.