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After-School Nature Classes

Winter Nature and Survival classes in Prospect Park 
We offer school pick-ups!
January - March 2023
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 1st.  
Kids are picked up from school (or dropped off to the park) and will learn about nature and survival skills!   What do you do if you're on a nature walk and you get lost?  Kids will learn to start a fire, whittle, use a compass, make shelters, send signals, make tools, identify trees and find food (no animals) while exploring the last remaining forest in Brooklyn.  Kids will learn about edible winter berries and poisonous lookalikes.  If there's heavy snow, we will use sleds to explore different areas of the  park.  On insanely cold days, we have hot chocolate and/or hot apple cider while we explore.   We will use monoculars and binoculars to bird watch and explore while learning about some of the oldest trees and how they've been used for millennia by Native Americans for food, shelter and beauty.  If we have time, and weather permits, we will walk to and learn about some of our other local green treasures, like the Gowanus Canal, nearby community gardens and local trees. This class requires snowsuits, hats, gloves, good boots, a balaclava, a sturdy backpack for all supplies and hand warmers EVERY single class.  This class is NOT for children who don't like cold weather. But we will be moving around and moving fast!  If anything, they will probably sweat!   Brooklyn Seeds will provide the following gear:  headlamps, monoculars, magnifying glasses, a sled, a compass, a rope, binoculars and a kid-friendly multi-tool. 

GRADES: K - 5.   Older kids will have more challenging activities.  In order to make sure younger kids do not feel left out or overwhelmed, we recommend kindergarteners sign up with a buddy or pod member (sibling, best friend, etc.)    Pods will work together in small groups and we will keep classroom buddies, siblings and age groups together.   Parents and babysitters also have the option of dropping children off at the park, including pod drop-offs.   

HEALTH AND SAFETY
We have fun outdoors safely with face masks on, follow relevant COVID protocols and will communicate regularly about staying safe and healthy while having a blast outdoors!   

TRANSPORTATION:
We pick kids up from schools (PS 321, PS 133, PS 9, PS 282, PS 118, PS 39, St. Ann's, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School).  We also pick kids up from school bus stops and walk them to Prospect Park.  Parents also have the option of dropping kids off to Prospect Park.  Dismissal is at Prospect Park at 5:30pm, usually at the corner of Garfield Place and PPW.  When there is heavy rain, dismissal may be at Grand Army Plaza.

SCHOLARSHIPS
We offer scholarships on the registration form!  Please email brooklynseeds@aol.com and we will make sure we include as many kids as we safely can! 

NO HANGRY KIDS
Please pack a full water bottle and a snack (or two or three because they sometimes eat them during lunch!) for your child. Some outdoor water fountains may be out of order and/or have been closed due to COVID.  

WHAT TO WEAR
All kids must wear face masks and dress appropriately, including snow pants, rain coats, rain boots, snow boots, long underwear (best investment ever!), sneakers.  NO SANDALS.  No fancy outfits because they will absolutely destroy them when they jump into that mud puddle or that slushy snow!  Please dress for easy and comfortable outdoor movement.  We will sometimes be running or walking long distances as we learn important life skills (which way is north?) while incorporating social-emotional learning in snow suits!  This class is an absolute blast!

REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 1
Please click on your child's school below for more details about school pickups.   Go to the Prospect Park link if you are dropping off or if your child pickup is at a bus stop.  If your child attends United (PS 305/Arts & Letters), we do offer pickups from the bus stop on Fridays, and an after-school garden program onsite Thursdays.  If your school is not listed or you have a creative idea on how we can include your school and/or child, please email brooklynseeds@aol.com. 

* On days when there is pouring rain, and/or dangerous weather, and/or we have a positive COVID case, we will switch to remote. Supplies will be sent home to prepare for this possibility.  This will include plants, soil, jars, and possibly animals (worms, snails, pill bugs, etc..)   
**A maximum of 14 kids will be accepted to maintain small groups.   Kids will be paired up.  Already existing pods/comfort levels will be taken into consideration when determining the pairings.  Classes will be canceled if we do not reach a minimum of 8 kids.
***We do NOT have classes when public schools are closed.  This includes school holidays, snow days, etc...   But if schools or classes close due to COVID, we will continue classes in the park once a child tests negative for COVID.  

WHO WE ARE
We pay our staff a THRIVING wage (25% higher than a living wage), include generous scholarships and hire from the communities we work in.  We strive to be economically, racially and LGBTQ diverse.   When you sign your child up for our Brooklyn Seeds nature program, you are supporting a community.
Brooklyn Seeds Winter 2023  --  Please click on your child's school
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Developed by Brooklyn Geek  •  Brooklyn Seeds and Brooklyn Geek - Proudly in Park Slope!