Thanks to a major gift from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, and also in partnership with NY Sun Works, BUGS will be able to build a hydroponic lab in our 8th grade science classroom! Beginning this fall, we anticipate students to have the opportunity to grow food year round and experience deeper hands-on, real world learning in science and climate education, as well as food justice and community service.
"The Green Mountain Energy Sun Club is thrilled to work alongside an organization that is such a positive force in the community. We invest in projects that show that sustainability is more than environmental stewardship. In working with groups like BUGS, together we help create opportunities that not only benefit the planet, but benefit the people on this planet too,” said Stacy Mehlhoff, Executive Director, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club.
The state-of-the-art hydroponic lab will help bring BUGS sustainability curriculum to life. The 8th grade Living Environment Regents class will be able to complete their hands-on laboratory requirements with the hydroponic systems increasing their preparedness for high school science and study of plant biodiversity, cell structures, and ecology.
The hydroponic classroom will also provide 6th and 7th graders with a resource to study food, nutrition, and sustainable communities. Students will be able to grow food and learn science through urban agriculture throughout the entire school year, greatly expanding educational opportunities beyond the seasonal limitations of our outdoor garden. BUGS looks forward to featuring produce from the lab at our student-run Community Market and Farm Stand, using it in cooking and gardening classes, and hopefully getting approval from the DOE to be able to supplement the cafeteria salad bar.
"Our partnership with Green Mountain Energy Sun Club is a dream come true. The hydroponic lab, designed and developed in coordination with NY Sun Club, will provide access to cutting-edge technologies, encourage new ways of learning, and inspire curiosity and innovation. It is part of our commitment not just to use NYC as our living classroom, but to bring life from the outside world into our classrooms. BUGS students will be prepared for high school and beyond and to tackle sustainability and climate challenges with sound scientific method and innovation." — Susan Tenner, Executive Director, BUGS
The hydroponic lab will not just be for students! We plan on making it a resource for staff, families, neighboring schools, and our many visitors to learn about nutrition, water resource management, efficient land use, climate change, biodiversity, conservation, contamination, pollution, waste management, and sustainable development. We are also excited about how the lab will greatly enrich our arts and social studies curriculum by connecting nature to culture, and fostering awareness about the intersection of people, planet, and profit.
Photo credit: NY Sun Works