Fwd: Re: Boyscout/Cubscout contact

[Rob Stephany]

Hi Beth.

My name is Rob Stephany and I am a volunteer for the Lawrenceville tree
tenders. We met last week to go over a project we're working on and
discussed with some excitement the notion of a partnership with our
local scout troop on the project.

The Project is the development of a Tree Park on a vacant lot on
Stanton Avenue. The objectives of the project are many. Some include:
1) transform Blighted poorly managed vacant lot into a community asset
2) Create a designed boutique native landscape in an urban condition
3) Deal with storm water runoff in creative ways.
4) educate the neighborhood on the benefit of a vibrant urban tree
canopy.
5) etc.

I should add that there appears to be a real convergence of interest
and energy around this idea. While conceived by a handful of
volunteers, others have been jumping on the bandwagon to lend their
support. The Lawrenceville Corporation purchased the site from its
former owner to support the idea. Local Architect have pulled together
pro-bono designers and local professional construction cost estimators
are determining costs. The Mayors office has targeted this project for
support from their green team ( a subset of the Public Works Department
focused on greening Pittsburgh where there is neighborhood support for
it). And we have all had technical support from the germination of the
idea from a small, but resourceful local non-profit call Friends of
Pittsburgh's Urban Forest.

It looks like there's enough energy to get the project built. We know
that if this project is going to be great and sustainable, it will need
stewards over the long haul. The Lawrenceville Tree Tenders and the
Neighborhoods Green-up volunteers have proven their ability to galvanize
support multiple time during the course of a year for maintenance of our
green assets. For this project we have been engaging nearby property
owners and block clubs for added "ownership." That being said, we've
said from the beginning that this project could be a great way to
engaging some our future urban tree canopy stewards, and we would love
the having the scouts be at the table, if that make sense.

Our group would like to meet with yours to discus in more detail our
project and hear from you how we might engage and educate your scouts on
our activities in an age-appropriate way. One of our members did the PA
Forest Stewardship program through PSU and knows about is a "Junior
Forest Steward" program aimed at 10-12 yr olds that may be of interest
for the troop. It is flexible and as long as some basic areas are
covered, it can include a variety of topics. (Because it is flexible,
it may possibly be adapted for the older scouts). They receive a patch
when they finish and all training materials are provided by PSU and
DCNR. It is a good winter activity. So this could be a part of our
dialogue with you.

Is there a time in the coming month that we can meet with you and maybe
other parents to go over the project and receive some coaching on what
if anything we can present to the troop(s) and how we might be able to
move forward.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

Rob



>>> molly dimond-stephany <moll...@gmail.com> 11/19/2009 3:05 PM >>>
Christine,

Rob asked me to forward him the contact info. for boyscouts and I just
cc'd
you so you know he is going to contact her and try to move forward.

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 2:26 PM, christine brill
<christi...@gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi there!
>
> It was a good meeting yesterday!
>
> I would be happy to meet with scouts about the Tree Park but don't
remember
> asking for the contact info. Did Bob ask for it? Was he going to
contact the
> parent group?
>
> --
> Christine Brill, AIA
> 412.443.4210
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 10:32 AM, molly dimond-stephany <
> moll...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Per your request for a contact to set up meeting with the parent
group
>> regarding tree park, please see below;
>>
>> Beth McKinstry
>> EMCKI...@aol.com
>> 412-661-2963
>> Troop 73
>> They meet at Stephen Foster on Mondays from 7:00 to 9:00
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>


--
He that plants a tree loves others besides himself. -Thomas Fuller