Growing Minds is a group of students from Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School (RAPCS) in Southwest Philadelphia. Their mission is to encourage their schoolmates and neighbors to care more about the environment including the plants, animals, and people that are part of it. They want to give the people in their community an opportunity to become a part of something positive and a chance to see how caring can change things. They looked for ways to spread their message that would have a lasting impact and inspire others to work in other parts of the neighborhood. They came up with the idea of a garden and a mural. They expressed that if they improved the way the environment looked people would feel and act differently. They could give food to people who needed it. They also hoped that seeing their efforts would encourage others to work in other parts of the neighborhood. They also wanted to send the message that they are getting an education and doing things that are important and they don't want all of the negative things in their community to continue. They went to work immediately to lead this project that would change our community.

They started setting goals, making "to do" lists, and writing letters seeking meetings with administration to get permission for fundraisers and their other plans. They surveyed the area, deciding on placement for the garden and the mural, as well as planning and drawing the details. They began to take notice of other murals and gardens around the city of Philadelphia during field trips. Their excitement was growing.

The students sold flowers that were potted in recycled milk cartons as a fundraiser on Mother's Day. We planted container gardens to beautify the parking lot and front steps of the school. We researched and met with several muralists. We worked with Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, registered as a site for Philly Spring Clean-Up, and became a litter free school zone. We cleared the garden area behind the school and began building raised beds from scraps from home improvement stores, painting them with donated paint, and planting vegetables and flowers. We took several trips to Historic Bartram's Garden where we were able to get ideas and information. I attended Garden Tenders Classes and Green City Teachers Training with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to get the support I needed to lead them in this project. We also worked out a partnership with Bartram's Garden in which a group of our students worked with the gardeners at Bartram's Garden to create the Children's Garden and tend it through the summer. The hands-on experience gained from this ongoing partnership is critical in the present and future success of our garden.

Through the summer some of the students tended our garden as a pilot summer program. They learned that they liked the food they grew, much of which they had never tasted before. They roasted, pickled, and baked some of the food. There was only a little left to donate to a local food cupboard. We plan to expand the garden this spring in order to grow more food so that we can introduce more students to the benefits and deliciousness of fresh grown produce and have more to donate to the food cupboard. We will be adding fruit trees through which students can learn about tending trees, the benefits of trees to the environment, how fruit trees produce fruit, and provide much needed fresh fruit to the community. The Philadelphia Orchard Project has agreed to serve as our partner in planting fruit. In fact, we will be starting our own orchard! We will become a certified wildlife habitat by including native plants and water elements that will invite wildlife into our space. We will also work on a service learning project with Delaware Valley Earth Force that will focus on storm water management. We will share our projects by creating five minute programs through our partnership with MindTV. The ultimate goal is for all of our students to be able to make real world connections to their learning experiences as well as pursue their interests and possible career options through their interaction with the natural world in our outdoor classroom. The possibilities are endless...full force ahead!

Partner Statement

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation commends the efforts of the Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School and their Growing Minds program. Their teamwork and coordination with community partners is the type of innovation that NFWF values and promotes in its own work. The Growing Minds program is a wonderful example of the positive environmental outcomes and improved habitats that can be achieved when you combine the dedication of experienced teachers and the enthusiastic students.