BRUSHWOOD CENTER AT RYERSON WOODS<\/h3>\nChicago Area Youth Learn How to Care for Urban Forests<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Forest of Health \/ Bosque de Salud<\/p>\n
Why This Project Matters<\/p>\n
The project is important because 50% of those involved will be Latino and come from communities with a 60% greater rate of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, poor mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Research shows that visiting a forest has real, quantifiable physical and mental health benefits. Some studies show that even five minutes around trees may improve health by boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing the ability to focus \u2014 even in children with ADHD.<\/p>\n
The Forest of Health\/Bosque de Salud program, led by Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods engages and educates youth to encourage understanding, appreciation, and hands-on interaction with the natural world. By reaching youth, their parents, and their community of care, this program is a creative approach to exposing urban youth to trees and woodlands and encouraging their future care.<\/p>\n
Why is SFI Involved?<\/p>\n
The SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program is supporting this project. SFI is focused on fostering an appreciation and understanding of the natural world in today\u2019s youth because it\u2019s critical to their healthy mental and physical development. But today\u2019s American and Canadian kids spend more time indoors than previous generations.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why a key component of SFI\u2019s community engagement is educating youth, through projects like Forest of Health \/ Bosque de Salud, to ensure they can be effective future leaders and have a strong understanding of the value of responsibly managed forests. The project will also use\u00a0Project Learning Tree (PLT)<\/a>materials to empower community partners to help teach youth about the value of forests. PLT is an award-winning educational initiative of SFI.<\/p>\nHow the Project Builds SFI Community Engagement<\/p>\n
The program supports underserved communities who live near urban forests. Its primary goal is to equip each community with the knowledge, skills, and tools to appreciate and care for trees in their own neighborhoods. This will be achieved by empowering the community partners through PLT training, engaging parents in the learning program, and by conducting follow-up activities with each community.<\/p>\n
Each of the communities Brushwood Center will work with will learn how to assess the health benefits of trees and how they, in return, can help trees. This program includes a field trip to the\u00a0Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/a>. The Brushwood Center has a strong history of partnership with Latino and Hispanic communities and the center is committed to culturally competent programs that respect the authentic wisdom of each community.<\/p>\nPartners<\/p>\n
This partnership includes educators, researchers, conservationists and industry.<\/p>\n
\n- Project lead: Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/li>\n
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative<\/li>\n
- Round Lake Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee<\/li>\n
- Openlands<\/li>\n
- Nuestro Center<\/li>\n
- North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)<\/li>\n
- Nature Start Alliance<\/li>\n
- Foss Park District<\/li>\n
- Roberti Community House<\/li>\n
- Cool Learning Experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Related Information<\/p>\n
\n- The Nature Conservancy – Engaging Youth in Forest Restoration<\/a><\/li>\n
- Youth Mentoring Program Helps Restore\u00a0Longleaf Pine Forests<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nevada Teachers Participate in Project Learning Tree Boot Camp<\/a><\/li>\n
- Forest Field Days to Bridge the Gap Between the Classroom and the World Outside<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Brushwood](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27300%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20300%20300%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27300%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"Grant-logos_0109_Brushwood\\"")
<\/span><\/div>About the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/p>\n
Located among pristine woodlands in the Ryerson historic home in Riverwoods, Il.,\u00a0Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/a>promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community wellbeing, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning. The center celebrates the legacy of those who came before us on this land and champions a region where people will care about and for nature.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Share<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Forest of Health \/ Bosque de Salud<\/p>\n
Why This Project Matters<\/p>\n
The project is important because 50% of those involved will be Latino and come from communities with a 60% greater rate of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, poor mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Research shows that visiting a forest has real, quantifiable physical and mental health benefits. Some studies show that even five minutes around trees may improve health by boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing the ability to focus \u2014 even in children with ADHD.<\/p>\n
The Forest of Health\/Bosque de Salud program, led by Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods engages and educates youth to encourage understanding, appreciation, and hands-on interaction with the natural world. By reaching youth, their parents, and their community of care, this program is a creative approach to exposing urban youth to trees and woodlands and encouraging their future care.<\/p>\n
Why is SFI Involved?<\/p>\n
The SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program is supporting this project. SFI is focused on fostering an appreciation and understanding of the natural world in today\u2019s youth because it\u2019s critical to their healthy mental and physical development. But today\u2019s American and Canadian kids spend more time indoors than previous generations.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why a key component of SFI\u2019s community engagement is educating youth, through projects like Forest of Health \/ Bosque de Salud, to ensure they can be effective future leaders and have a strong understanding of the value of responsibly managed forests. The project will also use\u00a0Project Learning Tree (PLT)<\/a>materials to empower community partners to help teach youth about the value of forests. PLT is an award-winning educational initiative of SFI.<\/p>\n How the Project Builds SFI Community Engagement<\/p>\n The program supports underserved communities who live near urban forests. Its primary goal is to equip each community with the knowledge, skills, and tools to appreciate and care for trees in their own neighborhoods. This will be achieved by empowering the community partners through PLT training, engaging parents in the learning program, and by conducting follow-up activities with each community.<\/p>\n Each of the communities Brushwood Center will work with will learn how to assess the health benefits of trees and how they, in return, can help trees. This program includes a field trip to the\u00a0Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/a>. The Brushwood Center has a strong history of partnership with Latino and Hispanic communities and the center is committed to culturally competent programs that respect the authentic wisdom of each community.<\/p>\n Partners<\/p>\n This partnership includes educators, researchers, conservationists and industry.<\/p>\n Related Information<\/p>\n About the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/p>\n Located among pristine woodlands in the Ryerson historic home in Riverwoods, Il.,\u00a0Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods<\/a>promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community wellbeing, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning. The center celebrates the legacy of those who came before us on this land and champions a region where people will care about and for nature.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Share<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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![\"Brushwood](\"https:\/\/forests.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grant-logos_0109_Brushwood.jpg\" "\\"Grant-logos_0109_Brushwood\\"")