By Jennifer Paffi
For the second year in a row, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is partnering with the Detroit Leadership Academy to provide our Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program, commonly known as Y Readers. This is also the second year that we have partnered with Wayne State’s FoodCorps to provide science and nutrition lessons utilizing the school’s garden. Both the rising first- and rising second- grade classes head out to the garden two times per week for a half hour lesson with Angela Hojnacki and Lauryn Hong, two volunteers from FoodCorps.
This past week, children learned about the six plant parts (root, stem, leaves, flower, fruit, and seeds) by making a salad that contained an ingredient representing each part. Radishes (root), spinach (leaves), red peppers (fruit) and nasturtium flowers were harvested right from the garden. Celery (stem) and sunflower seeds were brought in to complete the salad. The children helped prepare the salad and then were immediately able to enjoy it!
“Gardening is inherently fun,” said Food Corps volunteer Angela Hojnacki. Angela has been the main staple at the DLA garden since its inception and works with the students during the school year as well. “During the summer, things are growing and it’s amazing to see how things change so quickly from week to week. Being in the garden allows for great learning opportunities and helps the students be active. They are also more likely to try foods that they harvest themselves. Every student tried the salad, and most said they liked it.”
The Y is dedicated to ensuring that kids in our communities have ongoing access to nutrition all year long—that means healthful meals and activities that support healthy decision making. In order to strengthen our communities, we must help our kids grow to be healthy, active adults. The Ys summer food programs are just one of the many ways we support youth from cradle to career!