FoodStream LEARN Awarded NYC Sustainability Project Grant

Supporting School-Based Climate Action Through Food, Growing & Community

We’re excited to share that FoodStream LEARN has been selected as a partner for the NYC Public Schools Sustainability Project Grant, supporting more than 20 public schools across New York City in delivering hands-on sustainability and climate education during the 2025–26 school year.

This work is made possible through collaboration with school-based Sustainability Coordinators and the NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability, whose leadership continues to empower schools to take meaningful action around climate, health, and environmental stewardship.

Bringing Sustainability to Life Through Foodstream’s Edible Kitchen Program

Through this grant, FoodStream LEARN will deliver our Edible Kitchen program — a five-session, hands-on sustainability experience that connects food, climate, and everyday student action.

Each one-hour lesson is structured to meet schools where they are, combining:

Food systems and climate literacy
Indoor growing and edible plant cycles
Waste reduction and closed-loop thinking
Simple, no-cook food activities tied directly to lesson themes

Students explore where food comes from, how it’s grown, how waste impacts the planet, and how small choices can add up to meaningful climate action — all within their own classrooms.

Planting and growing play a central role in the program, with students nurturing food indoors and returning to it across multiple lessons as a living example of sustainability in action.

Working Toward Climate Action Day in April

The Edible Kitchen program is designed to build skills and confidence over time, culminating in student- and school-led activities aligned with Climate Action Day in April.

Rather than prescribing a single outcome, the program equips schools with the tools and learning they need to design climate action moments that make sense for their communities — whether that’s a classroom showcase, a waste reduction initiative, a growing activation, or a student-led sharing moment.

This approach ensures Climate Action Day is not a one-off event, but a reflection of sustained learning and engagement.

Supporting Schools Through Connection & Collaboration

In addition to in-school instruction, FoodStream is exploring ways to support participating schools beyond the classroom by offering access to FoodStream Network (FSN) — a shared space where educators and Sustainability Coordinators can:

Connect with peers working on similar projects
Share ideas, resources, and lessons learned
Reduce duplication and build confidence through collaboration

This optional, educator-centered space is intended to support schools during the project timeline by fostering peer-to-peer learning — something school staff rarely have the opportunity to do across buildings.

Our goal is simple: make it easier for schools to learn from one another while doing important climate and sustainability work.

Looking Ahead

We’re grateful to the school teams, Sustainability Coordinators, and the NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability for the trust and partnership that made this work possible.

As this cohort of schools moves through the Edible Kitchen program and toward Climate Action Day, we’re excited to learn alongside them — and to continue supporting hands-on, student-centered approaches to sustainability education across New York City.

More updates to come as the program unfolds.

Responses

FoodStream LEARN Awarded NYC Sustainability Project Grant

Supporting School-Based Climate Action Through Food, Growing & Community

We’re excited to share that FoodStream LEARN has been selected as a partner for the NYC Public Schools Sustainability Project Grant, supporting more than 20 public schools across New York City in delivering hands-on sustainability and climate education during the 2025–26 school year.

This work is made possible through collaboration with school-based Sustainability Coordinators and the NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability, whose leadership continues to empower schools to take meaningful action around climate, health, and environmental stewardship.

Bringing Sustainability to Life Through Foodstream’s Edible Kitchen Program

Through this grant, FoodStream LEARN will deliver our Edible Kitchen program — a five-session, hands-on sustainability experience that connects food, climate, and everyday student action.

Each one-hour lesson is structured to meet schools where they are, combining:

Food systems and climate literacy

Indoor growing and edible plant cycles

Waste reduction and closed-loop thinking

Simple, no-cook food activities tied directly to lesson themes

Students explore where food comes from, how it’s grown, how waste impacts the planet, and how small choices can add up to meaningful climate action — all within their own classrooms.

Planting and growing play a central role in the program, with students nurturing food indoors and returning to it across multiple lessons as a living example of sustainability in action.

Working Toward Climate Action Day in April

The Edible Kitchen program is designed to build skills and confidence over time, culminating in student- and school-led activities aligned with Climate Action Day in April.

This approach ensures Climate Action Day is not a one-off event, but a reflection of sustained learning and engagement.

Supporting Schools Through Connection & Collaboration

In addition to in-school instruction, FoodStream is exploring ways to support participating schools beyond the classroom by offering access to FoodStream Network (FSN) — a shared space where educators and Sustainability Coordinators can:

Connect with peers working on similar projects

Share ideas, resources, and lessons learned

Reduce duplication and build confidence through collaboration

This optional, educator-centered space is intended to support schools during the project timeline by fostering peer-to-peer learning — something school staff rarely have the opportunity to do across buildings.

Our goal is simple: make it easier for schools to learn from one another while doing important climate and sustainability work.

Looking Ahead

We’re grateful to the school teams, Sustainability Coordinators, and the NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability for the trust and partnership that made this work possible.

As this cohort of schools moves through the Edible Kitchen program and toward Climate Action Day, we’re excited to learn alongside them — and to continue supporting hands-on, student-centered approaches to sustainability education across New York City.

More updates to come as the program unfolds.

Responses