Project Title
Windermere Secondary Orchard Revitalization (Continued)
Organization Name
Keywords
School garden, urban agriculture, community engagement, public orchard, youth leadership
Related Course Concepts
Food justice, Food security, Asset based community development, Indigenous food sovereignty
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
The leadership program at Windermere Secondary School is a five-year program designed to provide challenges and opportunities to students in the classroom, the community, and in our natural environment. Students that attend our program are part of a community network that prioritizes social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Throughout the program, students fully participate in a variety of school, community, and outdoor activities that provide them with a diverse range of experiences. It is through these experiences that students learn to be active citizens. Our inclusive approach and ability to engage the community have made our classroom a dynamic place for learning while providing opportunities for students to get involved in many vital issues.
Guiding Principles + Values
Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom, but is a dynamic and lived experience involving our identities and the communities around us. In order to facilitate life-long learning, students need to engage in opportunities that have perceived value and allow for long term sustainable change.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Petra Rempel
- Email: prempel@vsb.bc.ca
- Phone: 604-713-8180
- Address: 3155 East 27th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
- Website: https://www.windermereleadership.org/
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact:Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons
Project Description
Windermere’s Orchard has struggled with having food taken away, garbage, and lack of community presence. The goal of this project would be to find ways to better engage our community with the orchard space; to make the space visible as a community space. Ideas such as art projects/installations, signage, and community events are just some of the opportunities available through this place making project. This work is a continuation/extension of work done by LFS350 students in the Fall of 2018 You will also be working with our Environmental Science 11 class to assist in the research and implementation.
What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
The challenge is to reinvigorate the existing orchard to make it usable for school and community events, and to foster community stewardship
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Interest in doing hands-on work with high school aged youth
- Capacity to work with the community to find meaningful ways to better activate space
- Interest in asset based community development
Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)
- Facilitation skills
- Asset based community development skills
Is a criminal record check required?
Yes
If a criminal record check is required, when should the process be initiated?
At the first community partner meeting (September 18, 2019)
Project Location
Windermere Secondary School 3155 East 27th Ave Accessible by bus; about a 15 minute walk from 29th Skytrain Station
Preferred Days of Week and Hours
TBD
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:
- About the Windermere Leadership Program
- Farm to School Vancouver Area Regional Hub (video)
- Windermere Orchard and Garden Dinner (video)
- Cullen, T. et. al (2015). Food literacy: Definition and framework for action. Perspectives in practice, vol. 76. DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2015-010
- Sumner, J. (Ed.) (2016). Learning, food, and sustainability: Sites for resistance and change. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Available from UBC Library. Students should read the Introduction before the first community partner meeting
- Request the relevant past LFS350 student reports from your TA
Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials
The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:
- Site visit of the garden and school cafeteria, in-person meeting with high school student groups
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- Volunteer in our neighbourhood and get to know our community through the Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute
Expected Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
I hope students will learn about...
- how to create multidimensional spaces
I think students will come to appreciate...
- the complexity of a food system and how there are many ways to expand and grow relationships
Through this project, students will develop...
- a stronger skill-set regarding community engagement
Organizational Outcomes
Intended Project (Short Term) Outcome
- Increased student engagement in understanding of food system through hands-on learning opportunities, showcasing to students how sustainability comes in many forms
Medium Term Outcome
If the student project is part of a larger project at your organization, how will the students' work contribute to the goals of this larger project?
- Meaningful experiences that high school students will remember, including the opportunity to connect with and be mentored by students from a university can lead to longer-term community engagement and leadership development
How does the student project contribute to your organization's mission and long-term vision?
- The project contributes to the Windermere Leadership Program goals by promoting social responsibility and youth volunteer involvement. Through community based experiential learning, and opportunities to actively engage in local/global issues, we push students to integrate their past, present, and dreams for the future; resulting in a realm of potential, where a student’s values, experiences, and knowledge, direct academic pursuits and future goals.