Environmental Education 101: Helpful resources for all ages

Pebble Tossers proudly offers a variety of service projects each month that have made a positive impact on the Metro Atlanta environment. While these projects and our environmental cause area blogs, as well as the information on our website, are filled with learning opportunities, there is so much more information available on a variety of methods to become more eco-friendly in your day-to-day life. 

To start, here is a list of some of our favorite books that deal with environmental education and sustainability: 

For Younger Children: 

For Tweens and Teens:

We’ve also compiled some additional resources for the entire family: 

  • Oceanic Plastic Pollution Effects 
    • An informative interview with local artist and Professor Pam Longobardi about a new art display made possible through worldwide beach cleanups. Her organization, The Drifters Project, works to reduce ocean-based pollution.
  • Chattahoochee River Information 
    • Here is some helpful information from our nonprofit partner Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. This write-up has fun facts as well as challenges and threats facing the area.
  • Georgia Water Coalition Dirty Dozen Report 
    • Mentioned in an earlier blog, this is the yearly report detailing the twelve most harmful factors affecting Georgia’s water quality. Pay special attention to the section on climate change.
  • Outdoor Atlanta Trip Guide
    • This is a comprehensive list of outdoor recreation sites in the Metro Atlanta Area. Full of fun day trip ideas and something for every member of the family.
  • Endangered Species List 
    • An extensive list of many different species in different stages of endangerment from critical to near threatened. Each species has their own writeup on why they matter within their habitats, as well as efforts being made to prevent their extinction.
  • Recycling Guides
    • The CHaRM recycling facility in Atlanta is a vital community resource that focuses on specialized recycling. Here is a link to their site on where all of that waste ends up. You can also share this kid-friendly guide to recycling with any young environmental activists.
  • Home Garden Starting Guide
    • Starting a home garden is one of the best ways to get hands-on education and learn the value of caring for the environment. Here are some resources on a home garden’s importance, a guide to starting one, and some fun gardening ideas for younger children.
  • Renewable vs Non-Renewable Resource Facts
    • It is important to educate yourself and others about sustainable usage of the Earth’s resources. Here is a write-up detailing the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources. 

Ten Ways to Support Metro Atlanta’s Environment

1. Start a Home Garden

This is an effective and rewarding way to live sustainably. This is also a great project to get the whole family excited about being eco-friendly. 

2. Limit Driving

Anyone who has spent time in Atlanta knows the amount of traffic can be overwhelming at times. Carpooling with a friend on the way to school or work reduces greenhouse gas emissions by a sizable amount. 

3. Take an environment focused virtual education course 

Trees Atlanta provides a variety of online learning opportunities for kids and adults alike. There are programs on climate change effects, local wildlife, and even educational storytimes. 

4. Stop using plastic bottles for drinks 

Plastic bottles make up a significant amount of waste worldwide. Use a refillable water bottle or purchase cans/glass that are more easily recycled. Bonus points for accessorizing with your favorite stickers.

5. Eat Less Meat

Cattle are the number one agricultural source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The reduction of red meat consumption on a mass scale would lead to a substantial decrease of those negative emissions. How about being a weekday vegetarian? Here’s a link to get started: Why I’m a weekday vegetarian. 

6. Donate Used Clothes

Donating used clothes not only gives a second life to your unwanted apparel, but also keeps it out of landfills. Here are a few links to locations in Atlanta in need of donations. Atlanta Mission, SafeHouse Outreach, Foster Care Support Foundation

7. Visit a Park or Nature Preserve

Spending some time in a preserved outdoor space can put into perspective why protecting the environment is so crucial. Atlanta has a number of fun public parks and Georgia is home to eleven national parks. Plan a visit soon.

8. Buy Local Produce

Produce farmed locally doesn’t create nearly as much transportation pollution as its big box store counterparts, which are often transported hundreds of miles across the country. And who doesn’t love supporting local farmers? Here are some links to local farmers markets and suppliers: Martin’s Garden, Atlanta Farmers Market, Full List

9. Participate in a River Cleanup

The Chattahoochee RIverkeeper puts together at least one river cleanup a month. This can be one of the most noticeable ways to keep your community beautiful. 

10. Volunteer your time with Pebble Tossers or one of our Nonprofit Partners

The Pebble Tossers monthly service calendar is filled with opportunities to make a positive impact on your environment and community. You can also check our monthly cause area resource page.

 

April Cause Area: Pebble Tossers’ Guide to Environmental Conservation

Earth Day isn’t the only time to think about the importance of protecting our environment. But it can be intimidating to dive into a field so vast as the environment. After all, doesn’t that pretty much cover every natural cause on earth? 

Pebble Tossers is committed to reducing our environmental impact. We follow consistent environmental sustainability practices on every service project we are a part of. Here are some examples of how Pebble Tossers has prioritized environmental sustainability within our organization: 

    • Creation of efficient ways to reduce negative impact on the environment. 
    • Reduction of pollution and wasted resources like water and energy. 
    • Efficient usage of necessary materials and an emphasis on recyclability when possible. 
    • Proper education on sustainable practices within Pebble Tossers. 
    • Continuing environment-focused service projects in needed communities.

By creating a system of accountability and tracking our impact on the environment, Pebble Tossers prioritizes this cause within our organization. These eco-friendly practices should be evident in our attitude during service projects and encourage partnered organizations to act likewise. Feel free to visit our monthly cause area resource page to see a list of the various environmental service projects Pebble Tossers is a part of this month. You can also find some fun tips and activities to minimize your daily ecological impact.

Environmental Conservation encompasses many different focus areas, including habitat, soil, marine, energy and more. Pebble Tossers wants to take this April to highlight many of the various causes associated with Environmental Conservation. We also want to highlight some partnered sustainability-focused organizations that positively impact the Atlanta community. Through learning about the history of environmental conservation and seeing the progress made by these efforts, we can become better stewards of our environment in the Atlanta area and worldwide! 

History of Environmental Conservation

Efforts to decrease our negative impact on the environment have been ongoing for hundreds of years. Modern Environmental Conservatism gained momentum during the Industrial Revolution, spurred on by unprecedented amounts of pollution. Scientists of the era realized that important resources like wood and coal would not last forever and expressed concern over the ever-increasing reliance on them. 

Later in the 1900s, severe over-hunting threatened the populations of many diverse species in different parts of the country. During this time, the populations of the Carolina Parakeet, Eastern Cougar, Labrador Duck, and many more were permanently extinguished by overzealous hunters and habitat destruction. 

While the disappearance of one or two species may not seem like a big deal, it can have a massive effect on the surrounding wildlife. Taking even one critical species out of an ecosystem can have major unforeseen consequences. Luckily, some mass extinctions were prevented by the founding of the National Park Service. Many of the new natural parks provided a place animals such as the grizzly bear could live without the risk of being over-hunted. Today, visiting a local or national park can be a great way to see wildlife unique to your area. Georgia is home to many species not found in other parts of the country, like the woodchuck and flying squirrel. 

Climate Change

One of the most well-known causes associated with Environmental Conservation is the fight to reduce climate change. This is an ongoing problem that affects every part of the planet. It has brought about the gradual destruction of countless wildlife habitats through rising temperatures, increasingly destructive storm patterns and much more.1 

The effects of climate change can very much be felt in Atlanta.  A yearly report released by the Georgia Water Coalition expressed concern over the harmful effects climate change will bring to Georgia. This report predicts future heatwaves and severe droughts in the Atlanta area and Georgia.2 Studies like this stress the importance of making simple changes to ensure a sustainable and bright future for generations to come. 

While the many different causes associated with Environmental Conservation may seem daunting to get involved in, there have been quite a few success stories made possible by the movement. Several important species have been brought back from the brink of extinction. The bald eagle, humpback whale, grey wolf, and many more species are around today thanks to the efforts of environmental conservationists worldwide.3 

Impacts of Georgia Based Environmental Conservation

Conservation efforts have also been successful in Georgia, including multiple projects in Atlanta organized by Pebble Tossers. Service projects such as forest and trail maintenance at Big Trees Forest Preserve, the Beltline Beautification Project, and recycling event volunteering opportunities are offered monthly. Check our monthly service calendar here for a list of projects organized by Pebble Tossers and partnered organizations. There are also successful ongoing efforts like cleaning up the Chattahoochee River and the hundreds of thousands of trees being planted statewide by Trees Atlanta and other organizations. 

Many of the environmental issues that face the world are also a concern in the Atlanta area. Making a positive impact on the environment isn’t an easy thing to do, but finding ways to work these changes into our daily routine is hugely important. Sometimes the most meaningful effects you can have on the environment around you can be done with the simplest of actions. Educating yourself about recycling, getting involved with an environmental nonprofit, even switching to a reusable water bottle are all easy steps to become an advocate for the environment. 

Pebble Tossers is proud to partner with many organizations that focus on environmental conservation. These local organizations focus on various environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation, youth and adult education, and the preservation of many of Atlanta’s uniquely beautiful outdoor spaces. Here are some of those organizations and what they do in the Atlanta area. 

Nature Preserves: 

The John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve: A 30 acre Tree, Plant and Wildlife sanctuary and Urban Forest Education Center located in Sandy Springs. In 2021, the Forest Preserve was designated part of the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national network of mature forests that are protected, native, and publicly accessible.  Find more information here

Blue Heron Nature Preserve: Here you can enjoy the three mile Blueway Trail on unique wetland trails home to a variety of wildlife! Blue Heron also hosts multiple art, education and conservation programs. Find more information here

Chattahoochee Nature Center: A 127 acre natural space located on the Chattahoochee river. Lots to do here, like guided river canoe trips, summer camps, and multiple private event spaces. Find more information here

Dunwoody Nature Center: Dunwoody Park is a great place to spend the day enjoying nature. Also home to the Dunwoody Beekeeping Club, which hosts monthly meetings and classes for current and future beekeepers of all ages. Find more information here

Lost Corner Nature Preserve: A great space to enjoy some quiet time in nature. Here you can help out in the community garden, walk the trails, or even attend the native plant sale in the Spring and Fall. Find more information here

Community Engagement: 

Park Pride: An organization that provides programs, funding, and leadership with the goal to improve every park possible in the Atlanta and Dekalb area. A great organization to get involved with if you want to learn more about how parks can benefit the community and the challenges of establishing a new park. Find more information here

Trees Atlanta: A nonprofit organization that focuses on forest restoration and tree care and planting. Trees Atlanta has planted over 140,000 trees in the Atlanta area and has no plans on stopping! Find more information here

Atlanta Beltline: An urban development program focusing on “connecting 45 intown neighborhoods via a 22 mile loop of multi-use trails, modern streetcar, and parks – all based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta”. Find more information here

ChaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials): An important drop off facility that specializes in hazardous waste and other materials that may be difficult to recycle. Not only an important community resource, but also a site for youth and adult education programs such as Sustainable Material Management, Sustainability/Environmental Education, and Recycling 101. Find more information here

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission is to educate, advocate, and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River. Programs are dedicated to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee river basin. Find more information here

 

1https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
2https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/19/
3https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/conservation-stories-on-world-wildlife-day/

Pebble Tossers Board of Directors welcomes Kris Manning and Dara Redler

Pebble Tossers Board of Directors welcomes Kris Manning and Dara Redler
The 2022 board is focused on expanding offerings, diversifying its community base and helping youth develop leadership skills.

(Atlanta, GA, February 3, 2022)…Pebble Tossers, Atlanta’s leading youth development nonprofit organization, is pleased to welcome two new board members, Kris Manning, Retired Teacher and Orton Gillingham Tutor, and Dara Redler, Chief Legal Officer, H&R Block.

“Our board is committed to expanding Pebble Tossers’ reach and influence throughout the community,” said Kelly Weber, Pebble Tossers Board President. “The experience and knowledge Kris and Dara bring to the board and our team will help us meet our goals.”

Along with the existing members, the new board members will work to guide Pebble Tossers as it engages in new projects, developments, and partnerships that serve the mission of empowering and equipping youth to lead through service.

Kris Manning, Retired Teacher, Orton Gillingham Tutor

After teaching 13 years in public school, Kris became a certified Orton Gillingham tutor. She currently works with students who struggle with reading, writing and comprehension. Kris and her wife, Melinda, have been married for 28 years and have a 12-year-old son.“I am humbled and excited to join the Board of Pebble Tossers, said Kris. “After experiencing the events of the past couple of years, I am yearning to find deeper connections and to push myself in new ways. I hope to gain more compassion and understanding by making an impact in the lives of others.”Kris’s most memorable service memories are from organizing two different school fundraisers. They provided her with immense satisfaction as they were both were wildly successful, fun, and positively rallied the local community. 

 

Dara Redler, Chief Legal Officer, H&R Block

Recently named Chief Legal Officer for H&R Block, Dara holds a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law and two bachelor’s degrees from The University of Pennsylvania, one in Marketing from the Wharton School, and one in global studies from the College of Arts & Sciences. Dara and her husband, Dan, have three sons.“I am excited to join Pebble Tossers’ Board of Directors and help continue building on the ripples of doing good for the community,” said Dara.Dara’s most memorable service opportunity comes from annually serving with her family to lead a clean-up of the Chattahoochee River during the International Coastal Cleanup through the Ocean Conservancy. She loved working together as a family to pull out tons of trash and was inspired by how much of an impact could be had in just one day.

 

2022 Board of Directors, Pebble Tossers

Kelly Weber, Board President OneDigital
Brandy Brock, Board Vice President Google Cloud Business Solutions
Brian Sengson, Board Treasurer Bennett Thrasher
Neal Chatigny, Board Secretary WebMD
Matt Carr Amazon Web Services
Aaron Dixon Alston & Bird
Heather Housley Bank of America-Merrill Lynch
Kris Manning Retired Teacher/Orton Gillingham Tutor
Elizabeth Rasberry ABB
Dana Redler H&R Block
Asher Royal Davita Kidney Care
Rebecca Sandberg, Past President Management Consultant


About Pebble Tossers
Pebble Tossers is the premier local youth service organization focused on providing families with a comprehensive path to youth development through service to others, from preschool to graduation. Customized programming empowers youth to lead by providing them with resources and age-appropriate service opportunities. With Pebble Tossers, volunteers sign up, show up, and serve to create a ripple of giving in their community.

Click Here For Download Press Release

 

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“A Day On, Not A Day Off”

What exactly is “a day on, not a day off?” Unlike other national holidays, Martin Luther King Day was established to honor Dr. King and his service and commitment to the improvement of our nation.

Naturally, here at Pebble Tossers we embrace this commitment and like to think that every day is a potential day for service and to support our community. It’s a key aspect of our teen leadership program initiative: serve. lead. succeed.

While currently in our second year of our Teen Leadership Program, our first-year alums shared with us what they learned about leadership from the program’s speakers and service projects.

“A leader is someone who makes a change by being different. They have to be confident enough to stand out and stand up.” – Nupur D.

“In the past, I always thought of leaders as being more dictatorial which is why I often shied away from that role. Being a part of the TLP showed me that I can be a leader while still listening to others and uplifting the voices of my teammates.” – Ainsley M.

A key element of leadership is to build up those that work with you to achieve your goals. Our mission at Pebble Tossers is to empower and equip youth to lead through service and we believe it is making a difference.

Thank you for serving on this national holiday in honor of Dr. King and his mission and throughout the year to support and build our community.

Our cause area for the month is Citizenship + Social Justice. To learn more about it and service opportunities surrounding its focus, please click here.

Here are a few resources on the MLK Jr. Holiday:

The King Center History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day King Institute TIME Magazine: Man of the Year

A look at the origins of GivingTuesday

The countdown to the world’s most significant day of generosity is upon us as GivingTuesday falls on Tuesday, November 30th this year. If you’re not familiar with the origins of GivingTuesday, here’s a breakdown. It is, at its core, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. 1

On GivingTuesday, nonprofits receive a tremendous amount of attention which translates into record fundraising events. When we review 2018 – 2020, the day resulted in tremendous results and increases. In 2018, $400 million was raised in total for Giving Tuesday, a new record. Then, in 2019, 511 million was raised which when compared to the previous year, was a 28% increase. In the year 2020, an astonishing $2.47 billion was donated to U.S nonprofit organizations by a reported 34.8 million people on Giving Tuesday.2 The National Today data science team surveyed 1,000 people about their Giving Tuesday habits and found that 25% of Americans plan on participating in Giving Tuesday.

Your donations can make all the difference for nonprofits, especially smaller ones. For instance, when you donate to Pebble Tossers, it is used to support our mission of empowering and equipping youth to serve through leadership. The first step in that initiative is to create meaningful, safe, service projects for members of all ages. In doing so, Pebble Tossers provides all the materials and supplies needed for projects, including snacks and refreshments for our volunteers and those we serve. Additionally, Pebble Tossers provides trained staff resources, and timely and relevant information and logistics for each project so volunteers know what to expect before they arrive (preparing for the service project, parking instructions, clothing attire, and more).

Beyond the day-of-volunteer experience, Pebble Tossers offers members a personalized dashboard to track volunteer hours and favorite service projects and provides printed transcripts of volunteer service. Pebble Tossers also offers youth leadership and character development workshops, as well as “Toolbox Resources” for youth and families, including “Table Talk” and “How-To” sheets for families to discuss and process together issues such as serving those experiencing homelessness or working with the elderly.

Pebble Tossers empowers our youth through service thus leaving them with a sense of community awareness and learned responsibility that they can make the world a better place. We also provide hands-on opportunities for learning that build confidence, teach collaborative efforts, and develop the initiative. Giving youth opportunities to lead at an early age provides safe opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them.

To donate on this GivingTuesday, please click here.

1 Giving Tuesday https://www.givingtuesday.org/
2 National Today https://nationaltoday.com/giving-tuesday/

November Cause Area: How to Help Curb Hunger in Our Community

Did you know that Georgia has the 10th highest food insecurity rate in the county and that 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger?1 For most of us, hunger can be solved by a trip to the kitchen. Mealtimes often revolve around planned ingredients, thoughtfully purchased during weekly grocery runs, or include impromptu restaurant visits. But for many Atlantans, food is an expense that has to take a backseat to more pressing needs. For these individuals and families, there isn’t regular access to adequate or affordable food—it’s a chronic problem known as food insecurity.2

“A household is food insecure when they’re unsure about where their next meal is coming from,” said Jon West, VP of Programs at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “This may be due to a lack of resources—money, a place to buy food or transportation to get there.”3

Food insecurity does not just affect children and families in the city but it also affects individuals living in rural areas. People who live in rural Georgia face hunger at higher rates, in part because of the unique challenges living remotely presents. These challenges include an increased likelihood of food deserts with the nearest food pantry or food bank potentially hours away, job opportunities that are more concentrated in low-wage industries, and higher rates of unemployment and underemployment.4

Our partners at HOPE Atlanta, the Atlanta Mission, Open Hand Atlanta, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank are working hard to thwart those statistics and we’re glad we can help by hosting a variety of service projects for our members including food drives, serving as delivery drivers, helping pack and sort food donations, making sandwiches, preparing a meal for a youth shelter, and more. Our current service calendar has 10 projects for this cause area with nearly 100 project dates and times available to members.

Data has shown that in the state of Georgia more than a million children in Georgia do not have consistent access to enough nutritious food. This can have long-term effects on their health and future. Kids who are food insecure are more likely to be held back a grade in elementary school, more than likely to be sick and hospitalized and more likely to have growth and developmental issues.5

Here are a few highlighted upcoming projects for Pebble Tossers members:

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes
InCommunity needs volunteers on Wednesday, November 17th to sort and fill Thanksgiving Meal Boxes for its 43 group homes. The items donated at our food drive on November 6th will be used to fill these boxes. InCommunity provides opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to participate in meaningful activities within their communities. All volunteers must be at least 8 years old.

S’mores with SafeHouse Outreach
This will be our 9th year providing the S’mores for the Chili Outreach. Pebble Tossers volunteers will make and serve the S’mores and help with the entire event. All supplies are provided and we will be serving and visiting with the community from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 27th. This is a great way to extend your Thanksgiving and is a wonderful family project.

Thanksgiving Love Feeds on November 19th
Love Beyond Walls focuses on raising awareness of the realities and needs of those experiencing lack and vulnerability and using that vehicle as a way of mobilizing people to take part in those stories. Love Beyond Walls is preparing for the Thanksgiving Love Feeds – they will be collecting the following items: turkeys, boxes of cornbread, boxes of mac & cheese, boxes of stuffing, boxes of desserts, and drinks. If you would like to donate any of the items listed below, please click here to sign up with Love Beyond Walls for a time to drop them off at their office

1 HOPE Atlanta https://hopeatlanta.org/
2 Southface https://www.southface.org/what-does-food-insecurity-look-like-in-atlanta/
3 Southface https://www.southface.org/what-does-food-insecurity-look-like-in-atlanta/
4 Georgia Food Bank Association https://georgiafoodbankassociation.org/hunger-in-georgia/
5 Georgia Food Bank Association https://georgiafoodbankassociation.org/hunger-in-georgia/

October Cause Area: Working with Animals and Wildlife is a Mutually Beneficial Experience

Volunteering with animals is one of the most enjoyable forms of service. Kids love interacting with animals and animals thrive off of their high energy levels. It empowers and inspires individuals to influence their community in a positive way. The experience helps volunteers, especially young individuals, develop empathy and patience. Helping animals in turn gives back to the community as they are able to become stress relief and service animals to interact with individuals in need. Interacting with friendly, well-socialized animals helps reduce cortisol levels, thus reducing stress. In addition, it increases the release of oxytocin which is another chemical that helps reduce stress in both the body and mind. Studies have also demonstrated that interacting with service animals helps calm aggression and hyperactivity in troubled children. source:newportacademy. This is why working with animals as well as animal-assisted therapy is so important. 

Though there are many benefits to positive interactions with animals and wildlife, unfortunately, many individuals abuse this privilege. Annually in Georgia, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals receives 150, 000 reports of animal cruelty annually, out of which only 1500 cases are sent to the courts for further consideration (https://idfi.ge/). Not only is animal abuse a serious problem in Georgia and America as a whole, but it also has much more serious implications. According to the humane society, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88 percent of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children. Therefore, it is important to look out for signs of animal abuse and alert the correct authorities who will take it seriously as it could save a child’s life. W-Underdogs is a local animal advocacy organization that works with the City of Atlanta police department. They train the department to recognize and investigate signs of animal abuse that may otherwise be overlooked. 

With a majority of staff and volunteers being pet owners, Pebble Tossers strives to advocate for animals and wildlife not only during the month of October but year-round. Below is a multitude of avenues and organizations that are dedicated to serving animals and wildlife in need:

How We Can Help: Animals in temporary living need clean towels, newspapers, and proper food to eat and prosper. Ultimately, they need permanent homes full of love and protection. We can serve to make their temporary living more enjoyable, and better set them up for a permanent loving home. 

Action Steps: 

  • Always check Pebble Tossers’ service calendar for updated volunteer opportunities!
  • Wash towels for animal shelters.
  • Provide newspapers and other necessities to shelters in need.
  • Spend an afternoon playing with unsheltered and sheltered animals.
  • Many shelters allow kids to practice reading and other language skills by sitting outside of kennels and reading to attentive animals. The calming voice is helpful to the animal and builds the child’s confidence.

Highlighted Organizations: 

  • Zoo Atlanta: Boo at the ZooPebble Tossers has been participating for over 6 years. Volunteers dress up and are assigned to a certain animal exhibit. They give out candy and inform visiting families about said animals. Boo at the Zoo starts in late October. More information can be found at zooatlanta.org
  • Georgia House Rabbit Society: This organization takes in rabbits from foster families, individuals who can no longer care for them, and those that need socialization. Calm, young volunteers are able to help socialize and interact with some of the rabbits. Learn more at Georgia House Rabbit Society 
  • Furkids: Furkids operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter for cats in the Southeast and Sadie’s Place, a no-kill shelter for rescued dogs. Representatives from Furkids bring puppies to assisted living centers. A program we participate with them on is Pet Therapy with the elders at A.G. Rhodes. Our volunteers invite residents to come down and play with the puppies. This experience is great for both younger volunteers and seniors; it elicits positive conversations, brings joy and fulfillment, and keeps seniors young. Learn more at Furkids.
  • Lifeline Animal Project: LifeLine Animal Project is the largest animal welfare organization in Georgia. We work with LifeLine on a variety or projects as well as supporting their efforts to provide accessible pet care and end pet homelessness. Learn more at LifeLine Animal Project.

Metro Atlanta Teens selected for 2021-22 Teen Leadership Program

Pebble Tossers congratulates 32 teenagers selected for its 2021-22 Teen Leadership Program

(Atlanta, GA, September 27, 2021)…Pebble Tossers, Atlanta’s leading youth development nonprofit, has kicked off the 2nd year of its Teen Leadership Program (TLP). In line with the Pebble Tossers mission to empower and equip youth to lead through service, the program provides opportunities for service-minded teens to cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their impact on their community and the world. 

The Teens

  • 32 students 
  • 22 Metro Atlanta high schools 
  • Twelve (12) freshmen, eleven (11) sophomores, five (5) juniors, and four (4) seniors
  • Who are they?
    • Musicians, Artists, Athletes, Cooks, Philanthropists, Girl Scouts, Eagle Scouts, and more!
  • What do they believe in?
    • Supporting their friends during times of need;
    • Caring about mental health;
    • Making a difference in their community;
    • Being willing to make a change;
    • Feeling good about themselves and their actions.

This exceptional group of young people will work with the Pebble Tossers’ leadership team to improve their personal and practical life skills such as self-awareness, self-management, growth mindset, social awareness, healthy relationship skills, and responsible decision-making skills. The program’s scheduled activities cover the ways these skills apply within the three tenets of the program: Serve, Lead, Succeed. 

“A leader is someone who makes a change by being different. They have to be confident enough to stand up and stand out,” said Nupur D., a 2020-21 TLP Member.

The nine-month program includes monthly meetings, special guest speakers, and a service project that participants will create and implement as a group. The TLP supplements valuable experiences in the lives of these passionate young people and builds the sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy that our world needs in the leaders of tomorrow. 

“I am inspired. The applications submitted by these teens reflect how much good there is in our community,” said Jennifer Guynn, Founder + Executive Director, Pebble Tossers. “These teens are well on their way to being successful leaders.”

Teen Leadership Program Information

Website:
www.pebbletossers.org/teen

 

About Pebble Tossers
Pebble Tossers is the premier local youth service organization focused on providing families with a comprehensive path to youth development through service to others, from preschool to graduation. Customized programming empowers youth to lead by providing them with resources and age-appropriate service opportunities. With Pebble Tossers, volunteers sign up, show up, and serve to create a ripple of giving in their community.

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Teen Leadership Program 2021-2022 Members

Abigail B.       Freshman     North Gwinnett High School

Sofia C.          Freshman     Sprayberry High School

Zoë C.            Sophomore  Sprayberry High School

Mac C.              Senior            Riverwood International Charter School

Joey C.          Junior            St. Pius X Catholic High School

Zeke D.           Freshman     The Paideia School

Neil D.             Junior            The Westminster Schools

Shaan D.       Freshman     The Westminster Schools

Gavi D.           Sophomore  The Weber School

Nina D.           Senior            St. Pius X Catholic High School

Virgina E.       Sophomore  The Lovett School

Alex F.             Freshman     The Paideia School

Michelle G.    Sophomore  Tucker High School

Parker H.        Sophomore  Woodward Academy

Jane H.          Senior            Mount Vernon School

Sam J.           Sophomore  Chamblee Charter High School

Sanaa K.        Freshman     South Forsyth High School

Grace M.       Freshman     Johns Creek High School

Cait M.           Sophomore  The Walker School

Riley N.           Sophomore  The Lovett School

Nikhil P.          Freshman     Woodward Academy

Claire P.         Freshman     Johns Creek High School

Jazmin P.       Senior            Baylor School

Joe P.             Sophomore  St. Pius X Catholic School

Eva R.             Junior            DeKalb School of the Arts

Leila S.           Freshman     Community Christian School

Omkar T.       Junior            Lambert High School

Audrey T.       Sophomore  The Mount Vernon School

Ella W.            Freshman     Notre Dame Academy

Ameena W.   Junior            DeKalb School of the Arts