Wylde Center Inc

FOUNDED IN 1997, WYLDE CENTER, FORMERLY THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT, IS A NON-PROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ORGANIZATION. IT FEATURES 7 ACRES OF COMMUNITY GREENSPACE. WYLDE CENTERS MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED IN DECATUR, GEORGIA SERVING RESIDENTS IN BOTH DECATUR AND ATLANTA. WYLDE CENTER MANAGES TWO GARDENS IN DECATUR AND THREE GARDENS IN ATLANTA. ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE IN METRO ATLANTA. WYLDE CENTER RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING WITH THE NATURAL WORLD FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS ALIKE AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOING SO THROUGH OUR ON-SITE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, MEMBERSHIP, IMAGINATIVE GARDEN FEATURES AND VARIETY OF NATIVE HABITATS. WYLDE CENTER ACTIVELY ENGAGES YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY THROUGH ORGANIZED PROGRAMS, CLASSES, AND EVENTS THAT DEVELOP CREATIVE SKILLS IN SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVING, ORGANIC GARDENING, HEALTH AND NUTRITION.

FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023, THE WYLDE CENTER OPERATED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:(I) YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM:THE WYLDE CENTERS EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS MISSION. THE WYLDE CENTER PROVIDES IN-SCHOOL LEARNING, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND FIELD TRIPS THAT BRING STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ATLANTA TO THE WYLDE CENTER GARDENS. 70% OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT NO COST, TO ENSURE THAT THE WYLDE CENTER REACHES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND TITLE 1 SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN LACK ACCESS TO GREENSPACE AND FRESH FOODS. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO:PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH OUTDOOR, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SUPPORT TEACHERS IN DELIVERING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRICULUMSUPPORT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES IN PRACTICES OF GARDENINGFOSTER CONNECTIONS TO NATURE TO INSPIRE LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIPENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS FOR YOUTH ACROSS ATLANTA PROMOTE WELL-BEING THROUGH HEALTHY EATING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND THE EMOTIONAL RESTORATION THAT COMES WITH TIME SPENT OUTDOORSTHE WYLDE CENTER WORKS TOWARDS THESE GOALS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:IN-SCHOOL LEARNING: EACH YEAR, THE WYLDE CENTER DELIVERS IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO 20+ SCHOOLS IN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR AND ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICTS. THE WYLDE CENTER MEETS STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL GARDENS FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LINKED TO THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM. THE WYLDE CENTER WORKS CLOSELY WITH TEACHERS TO DESIGN AGE-APPROPRIATE LESSONS THAT REINFORCE SCHOOL SUBJECTS AND INSPIRE DEEPER ENGAGEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. FOR SCHOOLS SEEKING IN-DEPTH PARTNERSHIPS, THE WYLDE CENTER OFFERS FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, WHICH FOCUSES ON CONNECTING CHILDREN WITH THE SOURCE OF THEIR FOOD. THE WYLDE CENTER EDUCATORS WORK YEAR-ROUND IN SCHOOLS TO BUILD A CULTURE OF HEALTHY EATING. THEY TEACH LESSONS IN GROWING AND PREPARING FRESH FOODS; EXPLORING THE ECOLOGY OF FOOD; AND CONNECTING FOOD TO CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: THE WYLDE CENTER OFFERS A FREE AFTER-SCHOOL GARDEN CLUB THAT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE THE BASICS OF GARDENING AND THE FOOD WEB. STUDENTS PLANT AND TEND TO BEDS, THEN HAVE THE CHANCE TO HARVEST VEGETABLES THAT THEY CAN TAKE HOME TO SHARE WITH FAMILY. WEEKLY CLASSES TAKE PLACE AT THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN IN ATLANTA AND AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WHERE THE WYLDE CENTER HAS PARTNERSHIPS TO MAINTAIN ON-SITE GARDEN PLOTS. CURRENT PARTNERS ARE THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND AMANI PLACE (EDGEWOOD, ATLANTA). FIELD TRIPS: HELD AT THE WYLDE CENTER GREENSPACES, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO EXPLORE ACADEMIC CLASSROOM CONTENT WITH A HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH THAT INSPIRES CURIOSITY AND REINFORCES LEARNING. THE WYLDE CENTER EDUCATORS CREATE A FULLY IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS LINKED TO EACH SCHOOLS CORE CURRICULUM. STUDENTS EXPLORE NATURAL SYSTEMS AND LEARN ABOUT HUMAN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL WORLD. EACH YEAR, THE WYLDE CENTER HOSTS OVER 50 FIELD TRIPS FOR 20+ SCHOOLS AND HOMESCHOOL GROUPS. (II) IMPACT OF WYLDE CENTER YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS:IMPROVING ACCESS TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION: TODAY, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CHILD SPENDS 7 HOURS A DAY ON A SCREEN AND LESS THAN 10 MINUTES OUTSIDE. SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS AND IN NATURE IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLES HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. IT IMPROVES ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, BOOSTS COGNITION, AND ELEVATES MOOD. IT GETS KIDS MOVING AND EXPLORING IN NEW WAYS THAT FUEL CURIOSITY. THE WYLDE CENTER IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES, PROVIDING GREENSPACE WITHIN DENSE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE CHILDREN CAN PLAY AND LEARN. THE WYLDE CENTER ALSO MEETS KIDS WHERE THEY ARE AT (IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS) TO PROVIDE STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATURE-BASED LEARNING. FOOD EQUITY: COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPENDS ON EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, YET 1 IN 7 CHILDREN IN ATLANTA TODAY ARE FOOD INSECURE. THIS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHERE RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE FOOD INJUSTICE THE UNEQUAL ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS BASED ON SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT. FOOD INJUSTICE RESULTS IN NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT CAN LEAD TO PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESS AND CHRONIC ILLNESS. THE WYLDE CENTER WORKS TO PROMOTE FOOD EQUITY BY EMPOWERING NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS WITH COMMUNITY GARDENS WHERE THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. CHILDREN IN THE WYLDE CENTERS PROGRAMS GAIN ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS AND LEARN TO ENJOY THEM THROUGH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND COOKING. THEY LEARN TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES, PRIMING THEM FOR A LIFETIME OF HEALTHY EATING. MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS: THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) HAS DECLARED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FOR YOUTH, WITH UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF HOPELESSNESS, DISTRESS, AND SELF-HARM REPORTED AMONGST CHILDREN. SPENDING TIME IN NATURE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. IT FIGHTS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, RESTORES EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND ELEVATES MOOD. WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE IMMERSED IN NATURE, THEY EXPERIENCE DECREASED STRESS AND IMPROVE THEIR CAPACITY TO REBOUND FROM PRESSURE AND WORRY.(III) COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EVENTS:THE WYLDE CENTERS OUTREACH AND EVENTS SERVE THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH ITS GREENSPACES ARE LOCATED. THE WYLDE CENTER HOSTS SEVERAL PUBLIC EVENTS PER YEAR INCLUDING THE SEED AND SCION EXCHANGE, PLANT SALE FESTIVAL, AND BEER GARDEN & SILENT AUCTION TO NAME A FEW. IN ADDITION, THE WYLDE CENTER OFFERS GARDENING CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS NATURE PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES. (IV) WYLDE CENTERS GREENSPACES: THE WYLDE CENTER ACTIVELY PRESERVES 7 ACRES OF GREENSPACE IN METRO ATLANTA ACROSS 5 DIFFERENT GARDENS. THE WYLDE CENTER ACTIVELY USES ITS GREENSPACES TO SUPPORT ITS SCHOOL PROGRAMS THROUGH HANDS-ON FIELD TRIPS SERVING MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR FROM SCHOOLS IN THE METRO-ATLANTA REGION. THE GREENSPACES ARE ALSO VITAL TO ITS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE GARDEN CLASSES, NATURE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, AND FUNDRAISERS. IN ADDITION, THE GREENSPACES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PERSONAL USE DAILY. MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE VISIT WYLDE CENTERS FIVE SITES PER YEAR.MULBERRY FIELDS GARDEN: IN JULY 2016, WYLDE CENTER STARTED MANAGING MULBERRY FIELDS GARDEN (MFG) LOCATED IN ATLANTAS CANDLER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. MFG WAS STARTED IN 1998. IN 2016, THE OWNERS CONTRACTED WITH THE WYLDE CENTER TO MAINTAIN THE SPACE, MANAGE THE PLOT HOLDERS, SCHEDULE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS ON THE SITE. MFG IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC COMPLETE WITH VEGETABLE PLOTS, CHICKENS, AND GOATS. EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN: LOCATED IN ATLANTA, THE WYLDE CENTER STARTED MANAGING THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN (ECLG) IN AUGUST 2012. ECLG'S LAND IS OWNED BY THE ZEIST FOUNDATION BUT MANAGED BY THE WYLDE CENTER. THE ZEIST FOUNDATION IS DONATING THE PROPERTY TO THE WYLDE CENTER IN DECEMBER 2023. NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH GARDEN, EAT WHAT THEY GROW AND LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AT THE ECLG. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, 1,000 STUDENTS VISIT THE EDGEWOOD GARDEN FOR EDUCATOR-LED FIELD TRIPS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.HAWK HOLLOW GARDEN: DONATED TO THE WYLDE CENTER, INC. IN 2012, HAWK HOLLOW GARDEN IS LOCATED IN THE KIRKWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD IN ATLANTA. THE SITE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WYLDE CENTERS OTHER GARDENS IN THAT IT IS SHADED WITH A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON RESTORING THE LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTS. IN 2022, THE WYLDE CENTER WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE TWO ADJACENT LOTS TO HAWK HOLLOW THUS DOUBLING THE GREENSPACE NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, 1,000 STUDENTS VISIT HAWK HOLLOW FOR EDUCATOR-LED FIELD TRIPS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.SUGAR CREEK GARDEN: LOCATED IN DECATUR, THE WYLDE CENTER HAS MANAGED THIS PARCEL OF LAND SINCE 2010. THE SITE IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND IS CURRENTLY BEING USED TO GROW PRODUCE, HERBS, AND NATIVE PLANTS. OAKHURST GARDEN: STARTED IN 1997 AND LOCATED IN DECATUR, THE OAKHURST GARDEN IS THE FLAGSHIP GARDEN FOR THE WYLDE CENTER. THE SITE HOSTS THE WYLDE CENTERS OFFICES, COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS, AN EDUCATIONAL FARM, AN EVENT RENTAL SPACE, A CHILDRENS PLAY AREA, A CHICKEN COOP, AND A NATIVE WOODLAND GARDEN. IT IS ALSO HOME TO THE WYLDE CENTERS PLANT-GROWING OPERATIONS WHICH IS ITS LARGEST PROGRAM. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, 4,000 STUDENTS VISIT THE OAKHURST GARDEN FOR EDUCATOR-LED FIELD TRIPS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.