Camp College - A CHAH Summer Tradition

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From July 15-17, CHAH high schoolers attended Camp College, a 3-day weekend where the kids lived in the residence halls at Canisius College.  They attended lectures by college professors and participated in workshops about admissions and financial aid. Students also took a trip to Niagara Falls!

A member of this year's senior class, Maria Velez, said "Camp College is definitely something you need to experience if you are planning on going away for college."  She added that "the best part of the weekend was definitely the classes you take with the professor.  They give you an idea of how the college classes will be."

Incoming junior, Yocasta Fanas admitted that college requires a bit of selfishness, explaining that "I learned that when it comes to your future, you'd have to be selfish and make choices that will always benefit you."

Senior Justyn Santana said that, "Camp College is something i would really recommend for next year's upcoming seniors and juniors.  It was a huge success."

Annual Staff vs. Students Basketball Game is Another Win!

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This week, the CHAH Staff took on the Students in the Annual Staff vs. Students Basketball Game!  The middle school girl's team beat the CHAH Staff for the second year in a row, while the high school boy's team, although incredibly talented, was defeated by the coaches. 

The evening was about community, comradery, and fun.  A good time was had by all!

AP Environmental Science Students and CHAH Food Ambassadors as Urban Farmers

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On June 2, CHAH students ranging from sixth through eleventh grade took the Governors Island ferry to an urban learning garden, maintained by GrowNYC. This trip brought together current and future Advanced Placement Environmental Science students and the Food Ambassadors, CHAH's healthy cooking club. They spent the day exploring topics in ecology, environmental stewardship, and the use of garden-fresh produce in our daily meals.

One section of the tour involved harvesting radishes and arugula for a spicy and crunchy salad. Students snipped off arugula leaves and dug up radishes and ate them only minutes later. Talk about fresh!

Another tour guide led students through the garden, discussing the interaction between bugs and plants. We learned that worms, bees, and ladybugs are our friends, while aphids and caterpillars are our garden foes. APES students impressed the tour guides with their knowledge of ecosystems.

The compost station allowed students to smell, feel, and see compost in its multiple stages. Students learned about the interaction of carbon and nitrogen as well as bacteria and fungi in creating a nutritious addition to gardening soil. Food Ambassador and seventh grader Lisbeth P. said, "We should start saving our food scraps when we cook in Food Ambassadors so it can be turned into compost." Great idea, Lisbeth!

Finally, students got their hands dirty at the planting station. They helped transplant herbs from small containers that had been in a greenhouse to outdoor planters where they can soak in the sun.

Students had a great trip and hope to visit again soon!

6th Graders Go Camping for Memorial Day Weekend!

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CHAH 6th Graders had a wonderful time hiking, canoeing, and playing outside at Manice Education Center in Massachusetts!  The outdoor experience was provided by Christodora, a non-profit organization founded in 1897 to get New York City youth out of the city and into the great outdoors.  Their mission is to provide a "transformative experience that allows youth to better understand the natural world and shape their role within it."

Students participated in team-building games in the woods.

They went on a hike overlooking the valley.

They went on a canoe trip down the river. 

The world is a wonderful place and, although we love New York City and our community here in Washington Heights, sometimes a weekend outdoors is a great way to feel more connected to our entire planet!