Greater Newark Conservancy facts for kids

Greater Newark Conservancy is a non-profit organization located in Newark, New Jersey. Its main goal is to teach people how to care for the environment. They want to make life better in New Jersey's cities. The Conservancy offers many helpful programs. These include classes for young people, projects to make neighborhoods greener, gardening tips, healthy eating advice, and job training.

Learning Programs

The Conservancy has fun and educational programs for young people. They also teach about healthy eating and cooking.

Cooking and Nutrition

In the Demonstration Kitchen program, kids and families learn how to cook tasty meals. These recipes use healthy ingredients and are good for you!

Youth Leadership

The Newark Youth Leadership Project (NYLP) is a special internship program for high school students in Newark. It runs all year long. Interns work with staff in different areas like gardening, education, and even media. They also learn important skills like managing money, public speaking, and understanding good nutrition.

Growing Food in the City

Greater Newark Conservancy helps create and support urban farms right in Newark. These city farms grow fresh, healthy food that is affordable for everyone.

Community Gardens

Through the Plot-it-Fresh program, people can even grow their own fruits and vegetables. In 2011, the Conservancy's urban farms grew an amazing 5,000 pounds of produce!

Youth Farm Stand

This fresh produce is sold at local farmers' markets by the Youth Farm Stand. This stand is run by the student interns! Some of the yummy crops grown include arugula, beets, cucumbers, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, lettuce, and corn. The Conservancy also helps with raising chickens and keeping honey bees.

School Partnerships

Schools in Newark, like Hawthorne Avenue School, work with the Conservancy and FoodCorps. Together, they teach students about healthy eating. Kids learn how to grow their own food and how to use it to make healthy, delicious meals.

Helping People Find Jobs

The Conservancy works with the New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC). They offer job training and support to help people who are returning to their communities after being away. This partnership helps them find jobs and build new lives.

Clean and Green Program

This partnership started in 2009 with the Clean and Green workforce program. By 2015, the Conservancy became a full partner with NJRC. Many people complete a one-week training each week. This allows them to continue getting help from NJRC.

Success Stories

About 68% of the people who get training at the Conservancy find jobs. Others go on to get more education, like college degrees or special driving licenses. This program helps many people succeed and stay on a good path.

Outdoor Learning Centers

The Conservancy has several places where they hold their educational activities.

Judith L. Shipley Urban Environmental Center

Many learning programs happen at the Judith L. Shipley Urban Environmental Center. This center is named after Judith Shipley. She and her husband, Walter Shipley, were big supporters of the Greater Newark Conservancy.

Prudential Outdoor Learning Center

The Prudential Outdoor Learning Center is a 1.5-acre outdoor space on Prince Street in Newark. It has many outdoor exhibits, themed gardens, and a small fish pond. You can even see turtles and frogs there! This center is on the site of the old Prince Street Synagogue. You can still see signs of its history from the Jewish community. The Prudential Foundation helped fund this center. This foundation is the charity part of Prudential Financial Life Insurance Company, which is also in Newark.