Ages: 11-13 yr. old
Location: The Franklin Center of Beaver County
Since 1995, the “Green Team” has been a visible summer presence in downtown Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Fifteen students from the Aliquippa Area Middle School participate yearly in a six week summer program that introduces them to the work environment. After an interview process, students are paid a small daily stipend and spend their days participating in community service projects along Franklin Avenue, receiving math, science, social studies and language arts enrichment, and participating in field trips to Pittsburgh attractions such as the Carnegie Science Center and the Mattress Factory. The Green Team is run by the Franklin Center of Beaver County, a nonprofit multipurpose agency that was formed in 1984 in response to the closing of J&L Steel’s Aliquippa Works.
The Green Team, like all of The Franklin Center’s education programs, has three components, community involvement, culture, and classroom. Participants can be seen regularly in July completing service projects along Franklin Avenue, including working on the community park, planting flowers, mulching, and canvassing for trash and recyclables. Additionally, participants also visit a local nursing home for an afternoon of singing, reading, and socializing with residents.
Students also benefit from a Wednesday afternoon speaker series, where they learn about at-risk behaviors and healthy lifestyles. Other academic enrichment is provided regularly. Students practice basic math skills and have DEAR time (Drop Everything and Read) daily. Students journal about their day’s experiences and these are expanded when they go on cultural field trips, the last component of the program.
The Green Team is a very popular summer program in Aliquippa. It seeks to provide support in academics and foster a sense of teamwork and responsibility. It also provides a safe place for kids in the summer and allows them to use their summer constructively, and teaches them the importance of making a difference through helping others
Download the Green Team Application .doc
If you are interested in supporting, joining or learning more about the program please contact our Director of Education, Sandy Edwards-Curry, at The Franklin Center.
Phone: (724) 378-2882
Fax: (724) 378-9809
Email: sedwards@aaud.org