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A 12-week immersive experience will equip local high school students with the tools to revitalize Baxter Park and advocate for greener communities.

PITTSBURGH – FEBRUARY 25, 2025 – The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy today announced the launch of Outside Voices, an innovative program empowering high school students through outdoor exploration, environmental advocacy, and creative expression. Supported in part by a Moonshot Grant from Remake Learning, this 12-week initiative will culminate in a youth-led activation project at Baxter Park in Homewood.

Fifteen students in grades nine through 12 will participate in unique experiences that blend nature-based learning, public space revitalization, artistic expression, and outdoor recreation. Created to align with the design phase of the Parks Conservancy’s redevelopment plan for Baxter Park, which will soon be transformed into a safer, greener, and more dynamic gathering space reflective of the communities desires and needs, the program ensures young voices play a vital role in shaping the future of this historically significant green space—identified as the city’s top priority for investment in a 2019 comprehensive analysis of Pittsburgh’s 170-plus parks.

“Outside Voices is about empowering young people to see themselves as leaders and changemakers in their communities,” said James Brown, Director of Education and the Frick Environmental Center, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “By immersing teens in nature-based learning and hands-on advocacy, we’re giving them the tools to influence the future of Pittsburgh’s parks. Thanks to the support of Remake Learning and community partners, we can provide the mentorship, resources, and experiences they need to become strong advocates for a more inclusive and sustainable future.”

Participants will receive a stipend upon completing the program, which includes hands-on urban ecology explorations, nature storytelling projects, community-driven park activation efforts, and outdoor recreational outings. Throughout the program, students will connect with local elected officials, environmental leaders, including City of Pittsburgh Park Rangers and ecologists, while reflecting on the essential role parks play in community well-being. Through storytelling and creative projects, they will explore their personal connections to nature and highlight the biodiversity of Pittsburgh’s green spaces.

The program is made possible through key partnerships with the Homewood YMCA, which will serve as the host site, providing space, dinner, and technology such as digital cameras. Additional partners include The Homewood Children’s Village, Cloud Collective Media, Venture Outdoors and City of Pittsburgh Park Rangers.

“Remake Learning's Moonshot Grants are designed to support bold ideas that have the potential to shape the future of teaching and learning in the Greater Pittsburgh region, with over 50 ideas funded since 2021,” explained Tyler Samstag, Executive Director, Remake Learning. “We were impressed by the bold partnership presented in Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy's proposal and their goal to spark creative learning for high schoolers in Pittsburgh's green spaces.”

Planning and professional development began in January, with recruitment efforts focusing on students from Westinghouse and Allderdice high schools and local out-of-school time partners. As the program unfolds, Outside Voices will foster meaningful youth-adult collaboration, ensuring students have a direct role in community decision-making and park stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Parks Conservancy’s commitment to accessible outdoor education. By integrating environmental learning with civic leadership opportunities, Outside Voices aims to create lasting change, inspiring young people to become advocates for both their communities and the natural world.

To learn more about the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s education and outreach programs, visit pittsburghparks.org.

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About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $150 million and completed 23 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually. 

About Moonshot Grants:

Moonshot Grants from Remake Learning provide resources to help educators approach the future with boldness. Since 2021, Remake Learning has awarded Moonshot Grants to more than 40 projects, totaling more than $2.7 million of support. Support for Moonshot Grants is generously provided by The Grable Foundation and The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.