You might not sport a cape and fancy tights, but you’ll definitely be an eco-hero in your school and community when you learn to make good choices for yourself.  STEP has once again put together six fun after school enrichment workshops full of tips about helping the planet and lots of information to help you be your best.  The workshops develop essential life skills, including critical thinking, teamwork, and important coping skills for children in grades 1-5.  The hands-on workshops promote friendship, honesty and citizenship to help children excel in the future.  There will be workshops topics about how you can help to protect the planet, as well as, how you can make responsible choices to help you grow up to be successful.

The workshops are led by trained high school students that are not only inspiring role models, but students that truly care about helping others to do their best.  Studies show that children learn best from older children, and this is a unique opportunity to do just that.

There will be six fun and entertaining workshops.  Each workshop will be held on the second Monday of each month for the rest of the school year from 3:30 – 5:00p.m. beginning Monday, December 14, 2009.  Included in each workshop will be a healthy and delicious snack, crafts, games and storytelling.

The Bluffton workshops will be held at H.E. McCracken Middle School and the Hilton Head Island workshops will be held at Hilton Head Island High School, in the Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard.  Students will be escorted from neighboring elementary schools by an adult and all workshops are monitored by a teacher.

The cost of each workshop is $12.00 and you must register ahead by emailing kathleen@gostep.org.   Workshop size is limited and they are sure to fill up fast, so please fill in the eco-hero-registration-form ASAP, along with the workshop fee.  Please make checks payable to STEP.  Email kathleen@gostep.org if you need more information.

STEP is cooking up fun at a delicious “Green Cuisine Workshop”. On Monday, April 6, 2009 Chef Glenn Keller, from the fabulous restaurant, Frankie Bones, and STEP mentors will team up with children in grades 1-5 to create a healthy and tasty meal made in part from sustainable local produce. It’s also a zero waste affair. Everything from food scraps to dishes is reused or recycled. Highlights include a cooking demonstration from Chef Keller, story telling from The Hungry Catepillar , and an eco-friendly craft. It is being held among the butterflies at The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard at Hilton Head Island High School at 3:30 P.M until 5:30 P.M.. This event is all about getting children involved in making good choices to protect the environment as well as making good choices for themselves. This workshop is a unique way to inspire young people to change the way they feel about healthful living. To attend the workshop please fill in the green-cuisine-registration1 and mail it to STEP along with the workshop fee. If more information is needed please email kathleen@gostep.org.

Celebrate the the real spirit of Valentine’s Day at the Heart to Heart workshop on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 3:30-5:30 P.M. in The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard at HHIHS.  Join friends and learn about the real cornerstone of friendship — RESPONSIBILITY! This is a unique opportunity for students in grades 1 thru 5 to learn and be inspired about being responsible to not only themselves, their friends and family, but also about responsibly protecting our planet, while having lots of fun at The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard. This workshop will create lasting memories as well as enhance life skills.  In addition to fun stories, games, crafts and tasty snacks, you will learn ways to be a successful person in whatever you do.  The workshop is led by kind and caring high school mentors of STEP, under the guidance of teacher, Laura Gottardo.  Sign up soon because space is limited.  Please fill out the workshop registration web-registration-heart1 and email kathleen@gostep.org to confirm your attendance.

‘Tis the giving season…so come celebrate both the joy of giving and protecting our planet with a special reading of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein under the live oak tree in the Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard.  This is a unique opportunity for students in grades 1 thru 5 to learn and be inspired about protecting our planet and the importance of sharing, while having a lot of fun in The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard.

This workshop is an experience like no other.  In addition to the special reading, there will be crafts, games caramel apples and oh so much fun.  The fee is only $10.00.  The workshop is led by kind and caring high school mentors of the not for profit organization, Student Training Empowerment Program, A.K.A. STEP. 

The workshop begins after school at 3:30 P.M. and ends at 5:30 P.M.  Please mail the workshop fee of $10.00 and the registration form ASAP to reserve a place at the workshop.  If you have further questions please email Kathleen@gostep.org,

An Experience for life!

The Student Training Empowerment Program, A.K.A. STEP, is proud to offer a series of workshops for young people in grades 1 through 5 at the Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard beginning on Monday, October 20, 2008 from 3:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.  The workshops will be led by Ms. Laura  Gottardo, teacher of the year at Hilton Head High School, along with the assistance of high school STEP members.

The workshops are designed to give young children hands-on experiences as they learn how people can improve or damage the environment, and how their choices can affect the future quality of their lives. Continue Reading This Article…

STEP will be participating in the Annual Master Garden Tour which will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008.  This is the first time that a school has been honored to participate.  The time is 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., so mark your calendar to come see the Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard at Hilton Head Island High School. STEP members have created the Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard to help not only to promote protection of endangered butterflies, but to share knowledge with other young people about ways to become responsible stewards of the environment.

STEP members will be on hand to offer home-made lemonade and cookies and to share with you the amazing transformation of Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard.