This week @BFS
We are honored to have launched our work at Windsor Hills Elementary Middle School. The information below reflects our learning for the week of February 12, 2024.
WHat is BFS?
Baltimore Forest School (BFS) is a cooperative of black-led organization Temple X Schools, which is nested in Baltimore’s black church community, Maryland DNR, the USDA Forest Service NRS Baltimore Field Station, Stillmeadow Community Projects, and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. The goal of the Baltimore Forest School is to strengthen the economic, environmental, and social fabric of underserved communities, starting with black churches and local community schools.
EJ for Forestry
Our Environmental Justice Framework studies forestry from tree seed to wood product. We incorporate the knowledge of Black Foresters and engage with HBCU partners. Students engage in forest stewardship, learn about forest products, and work on Participatory Science projects.
Child Rights
Our curriculum is centralized in children's right to play and explore outdoors; per The UN Convention on Child Rights. Children in Baltimore City also have an Outdoor Bill of Rights. The goal of our program is to ensure that children know their rights and our system supports enforcing those rights.
Parent INformation
We look forward to working with all of the amazing families at WHEMS. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us at templexschools@gmail.com or call us at 4439901113.
On Thursday we will send a mandatory packet home with more information bout the program and will share documents that families will need to return by next Tuesday, February 20th, 2024.
Forest Stewardship
With over 30 students participating in our program, we are proud to say that all students were involved in the initial cleaning of our learning space.
Particpatory Science
Students engaged in the initial stages of their tree inventory. Once we know the trees around us we will invite our team from the Smithsonian to set up scientific procedures around the forest school learning area. Before we take a deeper dive with the science our goal is to provide students with a sense of space.
Forest Products
We introduced the idea or framework of products made from wood...
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