The $25,435 grant will fuel the Pathways to Environmental Learning Project

Buffalo, NY – Friends of Reinstein Woods received a competitive grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to support a program that will connect local students to their environment and science-based careers. The Pathways to Environmental Learning (PEL) program will connect 10 teenagers at Cheektowaga High School with local community leaders working on climate action, show them job opportunities and empower them to act as environmental leaders.

“It is our duty to equip our youth with the knowledge, connections and resources to strengthen the environmental community,” said Friends of Reinstein Woods President Eric Gallo. “We intend to build pathways for youth from racially diverse backgrounds to engage with their environment and gain the confidence to pursue environmental careers.”

This program will provide personal, face-to-face interactions between students and government and nonprofit staff, increasing the likelihood that students will consider these types of jobs in the future. This Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo grant is a critical investment in stewarding our significant environmental resources and preparing the next generation of environmental advocates.

“The New York State Department Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders to explore exciting and rewarding careers in the climate and environmental field, especially those whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented in these careers,” said Reinstein Woods Center Director Meaghan Boice-Green. “We are excited that this program will build a pathway for local students to connect with DEC and encourage them to pursue careers in conservation, as a diverse and empowered workforce is key to meeting the greatest challenges of our time.”

During the school year, students will meet once a week with environmental professionals, learn about local climate resiliency efforts, and explore and test local waterways. The students will have opportunities to put their new knowledge to immediate use by leading science activities for elementary students in a local after-school and developing and leading an Earth Day community service project.

“We are pleased that this program will connect students with their local environment, introduce them to real scientists working in their community, and broaden their science and communication skills,” said Karin Cyganovich, Cheektowaga High School Principal. “We are eager for our students to have this unique opportunity outside the formal school setting.”

Friends of Reinstein Woods is considering this effort to be an inaugural year for what they intend to be a long-term program. The PEL program will compensate its participants, which allows students to fully commit to the program and attend all sessions instead of seeking other after-school employment options that may not have an educational focus. The grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ensures that this pilot year will provide the students with ample opportunities and interactions to make the program a success.

About Reinstein Woods:

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve is a 292-acre complex of wetlands, ponds, and forest. Friends of Reinstein Woods is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that supports the environmental education programs offered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at Reinstein Woods. We provide vital financial and volunteer support for programs aimed at school children, teachers, youth from underserved neighborhoods, and the general public. We also support stewardship projects designed to protect and restore the natural habitats at Reinstein Woods.

About Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.

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The expanded market will host more than 45 vendors and food trucks

Buffalo, NY – Friends of Reinstein Woods invites the WNY community to its annual Artisan Market on Saturday, July 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free, rain-or-shine event will take place at Reinstein Woods, 93 Honorine Dr. Depew, NY 14043. This year’s market will feature more than 45 artisans and vendors selling handmade jewelry, soy candles, paintings, photographs and more.

“We are always excited to spend a day at the woods, enjoying nature’s harmony, and this event also lets us support local businesses at the same time,” said Friends of Reinstein Woods President Eric Gallo. “We hope to see a lot of familiar faces and new families come out to support these local artisans, as well as discover everything that Reinstein Woods has to offer them!”

The event, sponsored by M&T Bank and West Herr, will also feature kids crafts, a basket raffle and five different food truck vendors. All proceeds go to furthering Friends of Reinstein Woods’s mission: to promote knowledge of nature through awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the unique and diverse environment of Reinstein Woods and its programs.

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve is a 292-acre complex of wetlands, ponds, and forest. Friends of Reinstein Woods is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that supports the environmental education programs offered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at Reinstein Woods. We provide vital financial and volunteer support for programs aimed at school children, teachers, youth from underserved neighborhoods, and the general public. We also support stewardship projects designed to protect and restore the natural habitats at Reinstein Woods.

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Yesterday, AM Buffalo hosts Emily Lampa and Mercedes Wilson came to Reinstein Woods to learn how to cross-country ski! Educator Mike Adriaansen showed them the equipment and gave them some tips before they got into their skis. Check out the action here!

Friends of Reinstein Woods is hiring a Development and Marketing Associate to work closely with staff and volunteers to promote the long-term financial well-being of Friends of Reinstein Woods. The Associate will be responsible for diversifying the organization’s funding streams and growing our donor base. This is a full- time position. Occasional weekend and evening hours related to special events required.

For details about the job, see the attached announcement. Application deadline: January 15, 2023. 

While we are SNOW excited that winter is here, both the grounds and the Education Center will be CLOSED on Saturday, November 18, to let us safely clear the parking lots and walkways from the recent storm. While it may be nice at your house, the heavy wet snow at Reinstein Woods has jammed our snow removal equipment and made it hard for us to do proper cleanup. And the heavy wet snow isn’t great for skiing or snowshoeing anyway, so please stay home! Have some hot chocolate! Check out a Christmas movie a little early… and we’ll see you soon.

The forest at Reinstein Woods is glowing with autumn colors! Warm temperatures and full sun have created prime conditions to view the last few days of fall foliage. Today may be your last chance to experience the full vibrance of leaves before the rain and wind leave the trees bare. If you listen closely on your walk, you may even hear leaves gently falling and coming to rest on the ground. Although most red maple leaves have fallen, you can still find golden-yellow and orange sugar maples, as well as beech trees holding on to their green leaves. The best place to view fall colors is west of Hidden Pond and the Beech Tree Trail. Get out and enjoy these colors while they last! 

Nine high-school Environmental Justice (EJ) Stewards from around Western NY spent ten weeks this spring exploring community connections to local waterways and learning about ecosystem-based management in the Great Lakes. The program was funded by a Great Lakes Small Basin Grant through New York Sea Grant and connected students with local experts and professionals involved in water quality monitoring, restoration, and advocacy.

Students learned about emerging contaminants in the Great Lakes from Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and UB’s RENEW Institute.  Students also explored the relationship between people and water through multiple field experiences including debris monitoring at Woodlawn Beach, fishing, and kayaking along the Buffalo Waterfront.

Finally, the team of students worked together to plan and implement a stewardship project. Students were inspired by a presentation by local artist Alexis Oltmer to create an interactive art piece that raised awareness about plastic pollution in our local waterways. The EJ students tabled at the annual Get Outdoors and Get Together Day at Reinstein Woods and engaged members of the public in conversations about plastic pollution and reducing plastic use in their daily lives. Visitors were invited to glue pieces of plastic that the students had collected at Woodlawn Beach on Lake Erie onto fish images to represent the bioaccumulation of plastic and contaminants in our freshwater fish. The final product is currently on display at Reinstein Woods.

Summer Workshops:

 Reinstein Woods is offering multiple professional development opportunities for formal and informal educators throughout the summer. The free Niagara River/Lake Erie (NRLE) Classroom workshop series will guide educators in leading outdoor, standards-based field trips with students, including stewardship projects, beach debris monitoring, and water quality studies. The two-day Summer Teacher Institute will immerse educators in place-based data collection and interpretation using the nationally recognized Project Learning Tree and NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) programs. Educators will become GLOBE Certified teachers and take home PLT’s new flagship curriculum Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide as well as a tool kit for schoolyard and community data collection. Interested educators can find out more about professional development opportunities here.