GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT INC

PLACE BASED SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMOUR SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM CATERS TO HIGH-SCHOOL YOUTH WHO RESIDE IN OUR PROGRAM CITIES. THE PROGRAM TAKES PLACE YEAR-ROUND DURING 4 DIFFERENT SESSIONS. YOUTH CAN PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR FOUR (4) SESSIONS STARTING IN JANUARY (WINTER), APRIL (SPRING), JULY (SUMMER), OR OCTOBER (FALL) EACH YEAR DEPENDING ON AVAILABLE SPACE. THE PROGRAM COMBINES CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT WEEKS. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS YOUTH SKILLS IN LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND PLACEMAKING WITH A FOCUS ON PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN REVITALIZE A COMMUNITY.DURING CLASS TIME, PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS RELATED TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT, DESIGN, AND PRESENTING TO AUDIENCES AS WELL AS TOPICS RELATED TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PLACEMAKING INCLUDING LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE, STORYTELLING, AND OTHER SUBJECTS. CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IS SUPPLEMENTED WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS THAT TIE BACK TO WHAT WAS TAUGHT AND ARE DRIVEN BY STUDENT IDEAS.BENEFITSYOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES PROGRAM WHICH TAKES PARTICIPANTS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TRIPS TO NATIONAL PARK SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY SUCH AS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IN MONTANA, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK IN WYOMING, ACADIA NATIONAL PARK IN MAINE, AND OTHERS.STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMURBAN RANGERS IS OUR YEAR-ROUND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGED 14 TO 18 THAT PROMOTES STEWARDSHIP OF THE CITY'S PHYSICAL SPACES AND OF SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY SUITED FOR THOSE YOUTH WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED WITH GROUNDWORK'S MISSION BUT WHO ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS OR OTHER TIME COMMITMENTS SUCH AS WORK, SPORTS, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES.SIMILAR TO THE SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM, YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM CITY THAT AIM TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN ACTIVITIES THE BUILD A SENSE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION.OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES PROGRAMOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM TAKES HIGH-SCHOOL YOUTH ON TRIPS TO NATIONAL PARK SITES LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE AND ARE GIVEN THE TIME TO ENJOY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND FORM NEW CONNECTIONS. WHETHER HELPING TO RENOVATE A BUILDING, IMPROVE A TRAIL, OR SET UP FOR A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, PARTICIPANTS WORK WITH NATIONAL PARK STAFF ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS WHERE THEY LEARN PRACTICAL STEWARDSHIP SKILLS THAT THEY USE TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.DAY IN THE LIFEGROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT'S DAY IN THE LIFE SERIES BRINGS IN SPEAKERS ON THE 2ND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONS TO DISCUSS THEIR CAREERS AND LIVES. THE SERIES WAS BORN OUT OF A DESIRE TO EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO MANY DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, RECOGNIZING THAT THEY MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE CAREERS BEFORE THEY CAN CONSIDER THEM AS POSSIBILITIES IN THEIR OWN LIVES. WE ALSO WANTED OUR STUDENTS TO KNOW HOW CIRCUITOUS AND INDIRECT MOST PEOPLE'S CAREERS REALLY ARE, SHOWING THEM THAT IT IS OK NOT TO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BY THE TIME THEY'RE IN HIGHSCHOOL. THE SERIES HAS SINCE EXPANDED IN SCOPE, AND WE NOW CONDUCT OUTREACH TO STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF OUR PROGRAMS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS MORE BROADLY.