In summer 2014, a small group of local high school students spent five weeks studying the organisms and environments of our parks alongside experts in a pilot summer program through the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy called Young Naturalists. These students learned about plants and animals alongside expert naturalists while working to improve the health of local parks by controlling erosion, managing and monitoring invasive species, repairing trails, and caring for trees. They were given...
After-school program participation has grown dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. In fact, participation has nearly doubled in the last 10 years, and today an estimated 10.2 million, or 18 percent, of the children and youths in the country participate regularly in after-school programs. This rapid growth reflects a buildup in infrastructure that’s been built to deliver this programming—both in school buildings and via community- based organizations. And altho...
Gene McGrevin’s 11th-grade teacher, Mr. Haylen, was rearranging the classroom at Baldwin High School in Whitehall, Pa. Gene was assigned to the seat next to Carol Zord in the back of the room. Gene asked Carol for her phone number and she told him to find it in the phone book. Gene looked her up, called the number, and he and Carol are still together 50 years later. However, based on their family histories and backgrounds, one could say they weren’t destined to meet. “Carol was...
At the age of 32, Mary Goldberg has already made a significant impact on the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), rehabilitation, and higher education. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education in 2007 with an MEd in higher education management, she began working as the education and outreach coordinator in Pitt’s Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology (RST). During her time in RST, she has developed new initia...