NRCS

1

NRCS

2
URBAN CONNECTIONS PROGRAM

• Urban Connection Cities
• Detroit, MI
• Boston, MA
• Minneapolis, MN
• Chicago, IL
• Milwaukee, WI

3
Milwaukee Outreach Projects

• Betty Brinn Childrens Museum
• Great Outdoors Weekend
• National Public Lands Day
• Journal Sentinel Sportshow
• Neighborhood House Partnership
• Conservation Education Intern Program
• Urban Treehouse Program

4
Milwaukees Urban Treehouse Program

5
National Urban Treehouse Program

• A cooperative environmental education program in
  an urban green space.
• Goals
• provide opportunities for environmental education
  and partnerships
• improve understanding of natural resources from
  backyard to federal lands
• create awareness of natural resource career
  opportunities
• Urban Treehouse Sites
• Atlanta, Washington DC, Salt Lake City,
  Portland, Milwaukee

Salt Lake City Urban Treehouse
Atlanta Urban Treehouse
6
Milwaukee Urban Treehouse Program

• 1998
• Americas Outdoors Center solicited site
  proposals
• 1999
• Lynden Hill selected for its strong partnerships
  and community interest in saving open space
• 2000- present
• Lease signed with city of Milwaukee
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Year-round UTH coordinator
• Curriculum
• Annual events
• Interpretive Plan
• Fundraising
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

7
Milwaukee Urban Treehouse Partners

• 2008
• Americas Outdoors Center
• Neighborhood House
• Milwaukee High School of the Arts
• City of Milwaukee
• Carter Charter School
• Lynden
  Hill Garden Club
• Lynden Hill
  Block Club
• Urban Waldorf School
• Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
  

8
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee

• Nature part of all programs- infant to senior
• Green playspace, gardens, compost bins
• Shared curriculum
• MPS children to UTH site
• Nature Center
• Graduated experience

9
Urban Treehouse Program Elements

• Year-round Programming
• Conservation Education Interns
• Neighborhood and Partner Site Use
• Annual events
• Graduated Experience

10
Year-round Programming

• Challenge Cost-share Agreement
• MPS Schools
• FS, BLM resources
• Neighborhood House -Americas Outdoors
  curriculum

11
Conservation Education Intern Summer Program

• Visits UTH site 2x/week
• Also visit schools, YMCAs, Boys/Girls Clubs,
  events
• Repeat visits
• Program Topics water, energy, conservation,
  recycling, value of forests,

12
Neighborhood and Partner Use of Site

• Garden Club meetings
• Events
• Farmer markets
• Family picnics
• Natural playground

13
Annual Partner Events

• National Public Lands Day
• Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful Cleanup
• Great Outdoors Weekend

14
Graduated Experience

• Exposure to nature in local greenspace
• Exposure to a nearby nature center
• Exposure to a federal land unit

15
Stewardship

• I ride my bike here but, I dont ride over the
  plants and flowers cuz I dont want anyone
  messing up all the hard work I did.
• 8
  yr old Demitrius
• 
  Lynden Hill Neighborhood Resident