Atlanta, GA 30316
404-522-4097
BeltLine School: KIPP Strive Academy
Click here for Background information on KIPP Strive Academy.
May 2010 We headed to Warehouse Row to meet up with Brown Middle School's G-Force to climb trees! It was amazing! Tree Climbers International came out and took us higher in the BeltLine Arboretum. We enjoyed hanging out and experiencing trees like we never had before.
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| 'Treeman' and 'Mantis' taught us how safe and easy it is to climb. Anybody can do it! Now that we've climbed, we need climbing names, too. |
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| We had lots of fun climbing together! |
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May 2010 Atlanta Audubon returned again to teach us how to combine observation, art, and nature study through nature journaling. Long before Facebook and Twitter, journaling was how we captured and shared nature's status update and tweets, speaking of birds. Katherine brought us our very own journal and taught us journaling techniques and how words, pictures, and feelings are scientific.
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April 2010 Now that Phase II of the West End trial is complete, KIPP's environmental club has been using the BeltLine as a learning laboratory to study Atlanta's birds, wildlife, and native plants. Also in April lots of community support came together during Earth Day for more projects, cleanups, and BeltLine improvements. The BeltLine trial now connects Rose circle to I-20 and you can reach Westview Cemetery. Check it out and see some of the new specimens in the West Connection Natural Neighborhood.
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| Kippsters are some of the first Atlantans to hit the new trail along Muse St in search of birds. | Emily from Atlanta Audubon Society taught us how to operate our binoculars. She is really passionate about birds and can identify birds by their songs! We learned many of the songs on the BeltLIne too and so can you |
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| We had to pay really close attention to details and work together to identify birds accurately. Like us, birds come in all shapes, forms, colors, and sizes... natural and cultural diversity rock! | Emily brought field guides, posters, and lots of materials to share with our club. We like learning outdoors! |
April 2010 Spring time is grow time! Who's hungry for fresh local healthy food? Thanks to help form Eugene Cook at Gebsite and Robert Thompson from CVC Farms, Kipp’s learning garden is growing strong. We had students, parents, and the community helping to install the garden. Make sure to check back to see our harvest!
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| Special thanks to Farmer D for the plants! |
February 10, 2010 In celebration of Georgia Arborday, KIPP Stive Academy environmental club members and other students were inspired by a presentation from Tim Womick about the importance of trees and our urban forest. Tim was really funny, had a powerful message, and made us think about our role as young environmental leaders. After the presentation, we planted a tree with Robby unique to the West Connection natural neighborhood BeltLine Arboretum, which features trees with ethnobotanical value. Come to our school and we'll show you the new Eastern red cedar.
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| We shared with Tim why trees are important and all the cool goods and services they provide. | Joe Burgess from the Georgia Forestry Commission helped dig the 'bowl and not the hole' for the tree we planted. |
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| We helped Robby plant and each of us one- by-one filled in the soil. The cedar smells so good and has a long history of use with humans: fence posts, pencils, food, medicine, oils, and prevents moths from eating clothes. Does anybody have cedar moth balls, a chest, or a cedar closet at home? | Joe Burgess from the Georgia Forestry Commission helped dig the 'bowl and not the hole' for the tree we planted. |
October 24th, 2009 We completed our first planting on Lucile Ave with KIPP students, community volunteers and SAP employees. The BeltLine Arboretum goes right under Lucile Ave where the new BeltLine trail is being built right now! Many interesting and important species with ethnoboanical value were planted in our West Connection Natural Neighborhood. Thanks to everyone who helped!
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We planted many symbolic trees in the BeltLine Arboretum:
- Serviceberry
- Amelanchier laevis 'Snow Cloud'
- Amelanchier arborea 'Autumn Brillance'
- Amelanchier laevis 'Spring Flurry'
- Shagbark Hickory, Carya ovata
- Sassafras, Sassafras albidum
- Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana
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| This is a map of where the new trees are. They look even better in person! We were lucky to be joined by BeltLine photographer Christopher T Martin. Click here for a larger view. |
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| Lucile Ave before | Lucile Ave after |
Lots of people are taking notice to our trees:
Atlanta Educator Story
Examiner.com
The Pulse of Progress
Please help and spread the word share why trees are so important!
Please support our efforts to keep Atlanta Public Schools Green! Your donation helps to sustain environmental education programs and projects.
Yes! I would like to contribute!
Yes! I would like to be added to emails to learn about volunteer projects!
Protecting & improving our urban environment by planting & conserving trees.