Greenagers Inc

GREENAGERS PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE FIELDS OF CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE FARMING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP. THROUGH VOCATIONAL-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GREENAGERS PREPARES YOUTH FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATION AND WORK.

CONSERVATION (APPROXIMATELY 70 YOUTH EMPLOYED ANNUALLY) TRAIL CREWS: IN THE BERKSHIRES, CONNECTICUT AND NEARBY NEW YORK STATE, OUR TRAIL CREWS MAINTAIN EXISTING TRAILS AND BUILD NEW TRAILS FOR THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY, TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS, COLUMBIA LAND CONSERVANCY AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. CREW MEMBERS WORK ON CREWS OF 6-8 YOUTH AND ONE CREW LEADER. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON, CREW MEMBERS LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO THE VARIOUS JOBS WITH WHICH THEY ARE TASKED; ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE TOOLS AND VOCABULARY REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK; RECEIVE ON-SITE TRAINING BY COMMUNITY SPECIALISTS; CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PARTNERS; DISCOVER NEW AREAS OF THE BERKSHIRES AND COLUMBIA COUNTY TO EXPLORE AND APPRECIATE; AND EARN MONEY - THIS IS A REAL JOB WITH A STARTING WAGE OF 12.75 (2020). RIVER WALK STEWARDS: THE RIVER WALK STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTS APPRENTICES WITH A UNIQUE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL, A GREENWAY ALONG THE SCENIC HOUSATONIC RIVER IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MA. APPRENTICES TAKE CARE OF WEEKLY MAINTENANCE ON THE TRAIL, HELP LEAD GROUP TOURS AND VOLUNTEER DAYS, AND RECEIVE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP BY RIVER WALK'S ON-STAFF HORTICULTURALIST AND GREENAGERS' CONSERVATION STAFF.

AGRICULTURE (AVERAGING 10-20 YOUTH EMPLOYED AND 100 PLUS FAMILIES SERVED ANNUALLY) APRIL HILL FARM AND FARM CREW: AT APRIL HILL CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION CENTER (ACQUIRED FEBRUARY 2019) WE ARE CREATING A FARM THAT SHOWCASES REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE. REGENERATIVE FARMING USES TECHNIQUES THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE SOIL, AND THAT TEACH YOUNG ADULTS' METHODS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE AGRICULTURE THAT WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENT-DENSE FOOD AVAILABLE TO ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. THE FARM AT APRIL HILL CREATES MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND ENRICHMENT. THE APPRENTICE AND CREW MEMBERS WORK UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF OUR HEAD FARMER TO MAINTAIN THE FARMS VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDENS, AND ITS ORCHARDS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ATTEND TO THE CARE AND KEEPING OF BEES, CHICKENS, AND DUCKS. THE PRODUCE GROWN BENEFITS LOCAL HEALTH CENTERS AND FOOD PANTRIES. FRONT LAWN FOOD AND FOOD JUSTICE CREW: THE FRONT LAWN FOOD PROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WITH BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, ENCOURAGES LOCAL FAMILIES TO GROW THEIR OWN ORGANIC VEGETABLES. GARDEN BEDS ARE CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED BY GREENAGERS STAFF AND YOUTH, WITH SUMMERTIME ADVICE AND PERIODIC GARDEN CHECK-INS AVAILABLE TO GARDEN OWNERS. FOR EVERY GARDEN SOLD, A GARDEN IS DONATED TO A LOCAL FAMILY IN NEED.

EDUCATION (ENGAGES APPROXIMATELY 150 YOUTH ANNUALLY) CLIMATE ACTION: WITH GREENAGERS STAFF, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FROM LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS VENTURE OUTDOORS TO EXPLORE, ENGAGE, AND ULTIMATELY GIVE BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY IN THIS AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMERTIME ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THEY TREAT THE WORLD AROUND THEM THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES INVOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION, NATURE OBSERVATION AND APPRECIATION, AND SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS FOR THOSE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR INTERNATIONAL NEIGHBORS. WORKSHOPS: GREENAGERS HOSTS A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR, WITH A FOCUS ON FARMING AND GARDENING; SUSTAINABLE BUILDING; AND TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND ARTS. VOLUNTEER DAYS, SCHOOL VISITS, AND OPEN TOURS: GREENAGERS IS DEVELOPING SITE-SPECIFIC CURRICULA FOR APRIL HILL TO AUGMENT OUR CURRENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL YOUTH AND CREATE PROGRAMMING FOR VISITING SCHOOLS AND YOUTH. WITH 100 ACRES OF DIVERSE HABITAT, GREENAGERS WELCOMES RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN YOUTH TO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE PROJECTS TO FOSTER DEEPER CONNECTIONS WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT. VISITS RANGE FROM HALF A DAY TO A WEEK. PATHWAYS TO THE TRADES: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND CONSTRUCT, INC., GREENAGERS USES ITS WORK CREW MODEL TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN VISITS TO CONSTRUCTION SITES, FARMS, AND OTHER WORKPLACES THAT SHOWCASE THE CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE TRADES IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, THE PATHWAYS CREW ENGAGES IN VARIOUS TRADE-RELATED JOBS AT APRIL HILL OFTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR FOOD AND FARM TEAM AND ASSISTS OUR TRAIL CREWS WITH VARIOUS BUILDING AND DESIGN NEEDS. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO CONNECT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH APPRENTICESHIPS IN FIELDS THEY IDENTIFY AS PART OF THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM. PATHWAYS PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE SCHOOL CREDIT AS WELL AS A WEEKLY STIPEND. CLUB - COMMUNITY LEARNING IN THE BERKSHIRES: AS COVID-19 NUMBERS SHUTTERED SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTY IN 2020, GREENAGERS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SEVERAL OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE BERKSHIRES TO OFFER A HYBRID LEARNING OPTION FOR WORKING FAMILIES. A SPECIAL FUND WAS SET UP TO CREATE CLUB, WHICH OFFERED LOCAL PARENTS A LOW TO NO-COST REMOTE LEARNING SITE FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT INCLUDED FULL-DAY SUPERVISION, SKILLED ASSISTANCE WITH SCHOOL-ASSIGNED ACADEMIC WORK AND EXTENSIVE ENRICHMENT. ENROLLMENT WAS PRIORITIZED FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND EMPHASIS WAS PLACED LARGELY ON OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND THE USE OF OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS IN ALL SEASONS. 115 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BETWEEN TWO HOST SITES, GREENAGERS APRIL HILL CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION CENTER AND BERKSHIRE SOUTH REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER.