February Buzz from The HEAL Project Â
 February 2015 Dear THP Community -As the 2016 is officially in full swing, The HEAL Project (THP) is gearing up for a year packed with health, environment, agriculture, and learning. We are excited to provide to you our 2014-2015 Annual Report, as well as introduce our logo that you will be seeing around town and online. On ground, The HEAL Project is celebrating classroom graduations, welcoming vibrant new staff, and preparing for our highly-anticipated culinary event of the year. We look forward to sharing these new accomplishments and experiences with you, and thank you for your continued support in helping us grow healthy kids from the ground up.
Warmly,
Amy Bono-Kruckewitt
Meet The HEAL Project's New Logo
The HEAL Project is delighted to unveil our new logo as we celebrate 10 years of providing health, environment, agriculture, and learning to children on the San Mateo Coastside and beyond. This logo complements our organization's core ideals: Kid friendly. Hands-on learning and discovery. Coastal agriculture and sustainability. Community support. It evokes planting the seed for our children to love learning how to grow and eat healthy food, and have fun doing it. A special thanks to Tena Watts and Lisa Gilmour of Big Fish for transforming our thoughts and ideas to create a beautiful logo!
SAVE THE DATE: Spring Ahead 2016
It is that time of the year! Spring Ahead 2016, The HEAL Project's multi-course strolling supper, will be taking place on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Mavericks Event Center in Half Moon Bay. Spring Ahead gathers together the Coastside's community of leaders, farmers, chefs, and general public supporters for an evening of fine dining and celebration of the bountiful, diverse common ground we share. This event has a limited capacity, so we encourage you to secure your spot ASAP! TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Tickets can be purchased at www.thehealproject.org/spring_ahead_2016. Buy your ticket before March 1, and receive free admission to our exclusive pre-party!
The HEAL Project 2014-2015 Annual Report Curious about what we've been up to for the past year? Then check out our 2014-2015 Annual Report! Here you can find THP stories of impact, assessment of our financial status, and evidence of the milestones we have made in heath, environment, agriculture, and learning throughout our Coastside community and beyond. We hope that you - our donors, parents, community partners and supporters - enjoy seeing the difference you've made. The 2014-2015 Annual Report can be accessed on our website at www.thehealproject.org/annual_report.
Welcome Naomi, Our New Farm Educator, and Kali, Our New Hatch Garden Instructor
Naomi (above) has already started teaching classes and assisting field trips at the farm. Naomi began teaching when she was an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her interest in farming and education has lead her all across the world - from Israel to Utah, and now to the Coastside. Naomi has experience designing and leading after-school programs, outdoor science field trips, as well as a garden-based summer camp. She is grateful to have this opportunity to teach bay area students, and herself, about the power of healthy food, healthy ecosystems, and responsible farming. You will find Naomi out at the San Mateo County School farm leading The HEAL Project field trips and day camps!
Kali (left) is replacing Jon (right), who moved north to manage our San Mateo County School Farm.
Kali is also a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz. Taking advantage of the University's resources, she interned and volunteered with different non-profit organizations, as well as an elementary school and it's Life Lab program. These experiences helped her feel more connected with the community and fuel her passion for health and education. Make sure to give Naomi a warm welcome as she begins her THP classes at Hatch Elementary this month!
Congrats to Our Classroom Graduates!
Our graduation night students saying their last cheese with Farmer Jon.
Fisher, a THP graduate, shows off art work he made during The HEAL Project.
This month, The HEAL Project celebrates the graduation of our 3rd grade Classroom Program students from Hatch and Farallone View Elementary Schools. These students have successfully completed 26 weeks of hour-long lessons split between their 2nd and 3rd grade school terms. They showed willingness to get their hands dirty harvesting greens in the garden, creativity during art and lesson activities in the classroom, and understanding of their community and environment in both the garden and the classroom. We thank the teachers, parents, and school faculty for the fundamental support of our students and THP programming.
At one of our graduation stations, students dug for worms while learning about vermicomposting. Is your graduate interested in volunteering in their community and taking their health and agricultural knowledge one step further? Then sign them up for our Junior Marketeer Program! The HEAL Project Junior Marketeers volunteer weekly at our Coastside Farmers' Market booth in Half Moon Bay. Marketeers acquire enhanced math skills, applicable business concepts, customer service experience, and much more. More information, including the sign up sheet, can be found at www.thehealproject.org/programs.
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