9500 Students To Participate In District-Wide Ecological Restoration Project-Bayonne Rocks!
May 10th
Bayonne School District Students to Participate in Habitat Restoration Program
Students from Bayonne’s eleven Elementary Schools and Bayonne High School will soon have the opportunity to make Bayonne an even “greener” place. Dr. Patricia McGeehan Bayonne Superintendent of Schools, along with Jonny Dubowsky, Founder of Rock ‘n Renew have announced the Bayonne Initiates Green Schools (BIGS) Habitat Restoration Day.
On May 22, 2012, (From 9:30 a.m-2pm) students from each school will join together with Rock ‘n Renew staff and RNR board member Bill Young, who is one of New Jersey’s premier wetlands and ecological restoration specialists, to help restore some of our shoreline habitat behind Bayonne High School on Newark Bay. Rock ‘n Renew’s staff have recently completed a site visit with Bill Young and Bayonne High School students to identify the sections of invasive Phragmities to remove and also to find areas where Spartina once flourished, so students can plant it again along with other important native plants.
Dubowsky and his staff will educate students as to the importance of these plants to the ecosystem, and the proper placement to fit each plant’s “niche”. Next year students will come back to the site to monitor and record the effectiveness of the restoration, by recording and reporting wildlife observed, water and soil quality, as well as condition and growth of plants.
Drury University Earth Week w/ Jonny Dubowsky on CBS, FOX and NBC!
Apr 26th
Jonny Lives! singer and Rock ‘n Renew Founder Jonny Dubowsky performed on Good Morning America, Today, and Good Day Live as part of the kick-off for Earth Week at Drury University. Here’s a clip from his appearance on The Morning Rush.
Check out the video for an acoustic version of Jonny Lives! song “If You Wanna Stay” and hear Jonny talk about some of the action from the Drury Earth Week!
The EcoWeb Program uses smartphones alongside shovels!
Jan 28th
The technology-based EcoWeb program allows schools around the world to initiate, monitor and measure the effects of their own local ecological restoration programs. In the EcoWeb program, a smartphone is just as important a tool as a shovel — students integrate curricular and environmental elements into hands-on projects that truly make a difference through restoration projects and school gardens.
Using an existing GIS platform (GIS Kit) adapted for use as a project tool, the EcoWeb project engages students in gathering diverse types of data and documenting progress as sites develop; the data gathered supports local decision making and helps local communities shape the goals and progress of their projects. Longitudinal data also helps Rock ‘n Renew determine efficient use of funds to optimize successful outcomes at each of our satellite projects.
EcoWeb is an essential innovation that responds to a need faced by many schools whose first attempts at creating campus-based ecology and school garden programs result in costly mistakes during the first few years of development. Rock ‘n Renew values partnerships between professional scientists, educators, community experts and youth; students have the opportunity to develop experience and skills that provide them advantage as they evaluate their future options in earth sciences, food production, higher education and lifelong learning.
Announcing The Rock ‘n Renew Music Group
Dec 8th
The Rock ‘n Renew Foundation has been busy! With over 200 school gardens and our reforestation programs in Hawai’i, the Rock part of Rock ‘n Renew has waited patiently this year for this incredible news.
“Connecting fans and musicians to a plan of action to heal the planet”
The Rock ‘n Renew Music Group is Rock ‘n Renew Records, Rock ‘n Renew Publishing (ASCAP), and Rock ‘n Renew Productions. The RnR Music Group aims to bolster the roster of artists in the Foundation’s artist network to further advance the mission of the Rock ‘n Renew Foundation with ever greater exposure. Rock ‘n Renew Records works to bring music fans the very best new music and some incredible rarities from a growing number of historic catalogues. Our partnerships with King Ferris/Bohemia Entertainment, Broken Halo Records and Long Lives Crime Records aim to broaden our audience and give the R’nR Music Group a diverse array of artists and genres to present. Rock ‘n Renew Productions works hand in hand with the Rock ‘n Renew Foundation’s non-profit activities by coordinating events and talent resources. In addition to our devotion to getting great music to fans while adhering to the principles of the Rock ‘n Renew Foundation, the R’nR Music Group was founded by Susan Ferris, Jonny Dubowsky, and Danny Madorsky to help many up and coming local and national bands with touring, publishing, film/TV music placement(headed up by Director;Brian Boland), corporate sponsorship, and other new-music industry opportunities.
Bayonne Schools Plant Tulips for Climate Study, Set up Bird Feeders, and Ammend Soil for Winter
Dec 4th
Tracking Change in Seasons and Climate Around the Globe
In this international science experiment, students in schoolyards across the northern hemisphere plant tulip bulbs in their Journey North Test Gardens each fall. When the plants emerge and bloom, children announce that spring has arrived in their part of the world.
One garden at a time, the relationship between climate, geography and the arrival of spring is revealed. Students make observations in their own schoolyards, and simultaneously watch the wave of spring as it moves across the globe. More >
Lincoln School- Bayonne, NJ
Jun 6th
Check out the awesome garden build at Lincoln School in Bayonne, NJ.
Seniors from NYC’s Browning School help Rock ‘n Renew Director Jonny Dubowsky and Field Director Alex Wells to build a garden with the kids.
Valley Elementary School Earthday Celebration w/ Rock ‘n Renew and Musket Ridge
May 17th
Musket Ridge Golf Course and Wedding/Catering Facility sponsored a wonderful day of environmental education at Valley Elementary School on Thursday, May 5th. Through this sponsorship, Valley Elementary School received a native plant and vegetable garden built by Rock ‘n Renew that mirrors the one built at Musket Ridge and further establishes the partnership between Musket Ridge and the community. Students from Valley Elementary School will begin to learn about the same zero-food waste composting program and kitchen garden techniques that are currently being utilized at Musket Ridge
Jonny Dubowsky, musician and founder of Rock ‘n Renew Foundation and Musket Ridge Executive Chef Kyle Roberson and students at Valley Elementary School took part in a full day of projects in the outdoor environmental learning center.
About Schools
May 2nd
Why garden with your school?
School gardens are sprouting up all over the United States and other countries.
This international interest in school gardens is refocusing education philosophy on an activity that has engaged children since time immemorial.
Rock ‘n Renew advocates the use of plant-based learning across the curriculum. This goal is achieved by training teachers to incorporate the use of outdoor gardens, natural settings and plant activities in their classroom lessons. Our goal is to help make plant-based learning a part of every school child’s education. Rock ‘n Renew also connects the learning experience to projects that serve to heal the local ecosystem.
An Overview of Rock ‘n Renew Garden Programs
Rock ‘n Renew can help your school to plan for, design, install and maintain gardens of all styles, purposes, and sizes. Rock ‘n Renew has a strong commitment to gardening with schools because of a belief that a school garden is an important platform for active, interdisciplinary student learning.
INTERESTED IN STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN?
For a detailed description of what steps are necessary to start a school garden, design ideas, and more, download our School Garden Outline. If you are interested in beginning a school garden, Rock ‘n Renew’s staff can help you turn your school’s gardening visions into a real-life outdoor classroom. Email Alex <at> rocknrenew <dot> com for more details or contact us through our Contact page.
The Future of Sustainability
Apr 27th
While Arbor Collective was born with a focus on sustainability, the company is keenly aware that many riders don’t make their concern for the environment a part of their outward identity. Since Arbor Collective launched 15 years ago, the company has geared its product to speak to riders’ identities and lifestyles instead of focusing solely on “identity environmentalists” because they believe that people will support a sustainable and environmentally friendly product as long as it fits in with their individual lifestyle.
Arbor knows its products must be relevant and affordable for today’s market, and Bob Carlson, CEO and co-founder, is quick to admit that it’s not possible to make a completely “green” product. Instead, sustainability must be pursued through steps toward the future.
Arbor is the sponsor of Rock ‘n Renew’s Reforestation Program on the Big Island of Hawai’i.