“Leap” Into Volunteering With GTECH In 2016!

2016 is a leap year, which means there will be 366 days this year instead of the ordinary 365. The Egyptians were the first to come up with the idea of adding a leap day once every four years to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year. Later, the Romans adopted this solution for their calendar, and they became the first to designate February 29 as the leap day.

Fast forward a few thousand years and this means you have an extra 24 hours to volunteer with GTECH this year! To help you out, we have identified 4 (in honor of this quadrennial event) ways that you can lend a hand and get outside this spring with GTECH.

1. Green Playces: McKeesport

This spring, kids at Trinity Church of God in Christ will be implementing a green playspace on a vacant lot adjacent to the church. We held the first design charrette with youth from McKeesport Area School District coordinating with their after school programs on January 26, 2016.  We will hold our second design charrette with community partners in the coming weeks. So far, themes from the kids have included outdoor adventure, music and a math world art garden. Contact Ian Brown at [email protected] to volunteer for the McKeesport Green Playce!

 

2. Green Playces: Hilltop

Next up is Green Playces: Hilltop, an outdoor playspace that will be constructed in partnership with the Brashear Association’s ALEC Program on Warrington Avenue. Ideas generated from the kids at the first design charrette on February 22nd included a gardening space, a treehouse and an area to run and play. Contact Ian Brown at [email protected] to volunteer for the Hilltop Green Playce!

 

3. ReClaim South Ambassador Projects

Sticking with our Hilltop theme, there are 7 ReClaim South Ambassador projects that can use your help this year. ReClaim South: Sustaining Momentum Ambassadors have been busy the last few months planning out their project upgrades for 2016. Ambassadors will be hard at work planting new gardens, building trail heads and holding celebration events at their sites. To learn more about how to get involved and make a difference in the Hilltop, email James Snow at [email protected].

 

4. Northside and McKeesport Ambassador Projects

Finally, our nearly two dozen other Ambassadors in Northside neighborhoods and the City of McKeesport will be busy maintaining their projects this spring. Spread out across 10 communities, these projects will need some additional love and spring cleaning after a long winter. Projects range from yoga gardens to reading corners and could benefit from your support. Lend a hand by contacting James Snow at  [email protected] or Lydia Yoder at [email protected].