Umoja Learning Circle

Most of our science curriculum at Umoja Learning Circle is based on environmental studies, we believe a forest is more than 'just a bunch of trees', we believe a forest is a community of magnificent complexity. Children are given hands on experience in learning about ecosystems, respecting nature and wildlife, recycling and environmental conservation and preservation. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority granted Umoja Learning Circle an area 5 city blocks squared to restore and preserve. Ways in which we have become part of the solution is pro-actively participating in Reducing waste, Reusing material, Recycling items and restoring parts of the environments:

Created and installed 7 birdfeeders on the school premises and TRCA's property. We attract blue jays, starlings, doves, sparrows, cardinals and American goldfinch.
Created and installed 10 bird houses which have been inhabited and used for nesting on the premises.
We have 4 indoor vermi compost bins which create nutrients for our 125 house plants. Most of these plants started from cutting. Two of these bins are fed North American food scraps, I is fed Caribbean food scraps, 1 is fed a mixture of both.
Our 60 guppies live in a living machine created by the students in September 2000 and has not had the need to be cleaned since.
Created a terrarium in September 2001 which has 9 species of ferns, this has not been watered since it's creation. It has to be thinned twice a year.
The Umoja Learning Circle works in partnership with Toronto Parks and Recreation who are responsible for cutting down dead trees that pose a treat to people using the site for observation as well as recreational spaces.
The school of 20 students ages 4-10 years old have been planting 50 trees each fall and spring, a total of 100 native species per year for the past 4 years on Toronto Region and Conservation Authority's West Humber site in Etobicoke Ontario. Recently our focus is on food for animals, birds and insects. We are planting shrubs, flower and berry bushes.
Created and maintained a recycling centre on the premises for 4 years. We are recycling newspaper back to soil (a work in progress), and 3 compost bins that produce compost for our generational vegetable garden and leaves and grass clipping that provide compost for our front yard flower garden.
The students along with Elders from the community practice Urban agriculture by growing a community vegetable garden. The Garden is 50 feet by 100 feet.
Lunch is cooked on the premises; The garden produce all the culinary herbs needed for lunch for the school year. The herbs are preserved by various drying methods. This includes hot peppers for pepper sauce.
A rain water barrel donated to the school by the City of Toronto Water Recycling program has provided the opportunity to reuse rainwater. We use this water to water our indoor plants.
The children takes turns growing various sprouts for salads and sandwiches on site.
In the winter the class with assistance from the Conservation Authority grow aquatic plants indoors to be planted in the pond in the spring.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has given us permission and is totally supportive of us creating a small wetland area at a small neglected pond close to the school. This project will take about five years to complete. In addition to our spring and fall planting event we invited a former student and her grade six class to join us to plant 80 berry-bearing bushes to encourage some birds to come back to the area as part of the wetland project.
Recently released 2 full grown red ear sliders turtles into the proposed wetland area and has monitored their adjustment for two months. They have since then reproduced.
Monitors the pond and nearby river water for visible garbage.
Started monitoring aquatic pond life 2 years ago.

Umoja Learning Circle works closely with other
community oriented organization and groups.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority preserves green spaces in the city.

Toronto Parks and Recreation Custodian of the parklands belonging to TRCA.

The Afri-Can FoodBasket (Co-operative Community Development, dedicated to comprehensive food security, ongoing community garden training programs and leaders in the field of Urban Restoration in the African community)

FoodShare Metro Toronto (working with communities to improve access to affordable and healthy food-from field to table.

Camp Tiamoyo a two week out of town sleep over camp proving children with a rural camp experience while teaching traditional ways and culture.

City of Toronto Greenhouse and Garden Program a youth group created to provide vegetable seedlings for various organisations interested in urban farming.