Green Street Afterschool Program

This sixteen-week course, co-taught by artist Fred Elmore and scientist Jenny Royer, occurred twice a week in the Green Street Arts Center’s afterschool program and aimed to explore and promote an understanding of global climate change issues. Using common household items and recycled waste, students simulated climate change phenomena such as the greenhouse effect, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels and produced artwork that was displayed at the Feet to the Fire Festival on May 10, 2008.

"Feet to the Fire afforded Green Street an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with the University’s Center for the Arts (CFA) and Environmental Studies department to engage our afterschool Art and Science students (grades 1-5) in global climate change issues. In addition to increasing our students’ understanding of, and stimulating their interest in, global warming, this collaboration ultimately helped to strengthen the connection between Green Street and Wesleyan. Overall, through the Feet to the Fire project, the Art and Science students gained a great deal of knowledge about global climate issues and built up their sense of self-esteem. For the most part, they have a much better understanding and appreciation of global climate issues and are able to effectively communicate that to others. "

Excerpt from Partner Report by Fred Elmore and Jenny Royer