Training Student Organizers (TSO) motivates high school and intermediate school students to organize and participate in environmental improvement projects in their neighborhoods, schools, and homes.

Participating students learn about specific environmental issues -- water, energy, solid waste, noise, etc. and develop citizenship skills: needs assessment, public speaking, letter writing, knowledge of how city government functions, etc. Students are prepared for the future by their development of both stewardship skills and academic knowledge in science, math and social studies.

Most recently, 30 NYC and upstate high schoolers met with experts at the Ashokan Center for the 2010 Watershed Youth Symposium, "Student to Student: Understanding the New York City Watersheds, on March 16.   

Building on hands-on restoration work they had done during the year, teens led dynamic presentations ranging from the disappearance of trout to the hot-button issue of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The keynote speaker was Deborah Meyer DeWan and experts included Min Kan and Jonathan Schwartz from New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Education program, Marilyn Wyman of Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Diane Galusha from the Catskill Watershed Corp.  The event is part of GrowNYC’s Watershed Education program and is made possible with a Watershed Education grant from Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Click HERE for pictures. 

TSO is still unique in environmental education because it engages students in learning and acting on a broad range of environmental issues and services across an area from Jamaica, Queens to the Catskill Mountains. Students plant trees, get the city to fix broken fire hydrants and sidewalks, work with the transit authority to lower noise on the trains, educate others about eating healthy, locally grown food and conserving energy, etc.

Hundreds of participants have gone on to become involved in green projects in their own neighborhoods, study environmental science in college and graduate school, pursue green careers and simply participate more in the life of their communities.

"I really feel our project made a difference in our community, and that by doing these projects I am a better citizen. TSO changed my outlook on the city and the environment"

TSO Participant

For more info, please contact Mike Zamm at mzamm@GrowNYC.org