Committed to Planet Earth
marching to end fossil fuels
The School of Wonder is committed to fighting for a more sustainable future even beyond the boundaries of Prospect Park. That’s why the Wonder Family joined forces with numerous local and national grassroots organizations in the March to End Fossil Fuels that took place on September 17.
There is a collective sense of urgency in the air as 75,000 people flood the streets near Central Park ready to raise their voices in support of a greener future. Among the crowd are scientists, students, artists, puppeteers, and protesters from all walks of life who recognize that we are in the midst of a climate emergency and that fossil fuels are a leading contributor to this crisis. They have gathered together a few days before the UN Climate Action Summit to demand that our leaders stop the expansion of fossil fuels and take immediate action to eradicate the oil, gas, and coal production that propels global warming.
The mission of the March, organized in part by Fridays for Future NYC, is directly related to what we do each day at the School of Wonder. One of our central tenets is Stewardship. We strive to establish an environment in which Wonder Kids can become conscious global citizens who act in service to the environmental and social causes of our shared home, and we create opportunities for them to demonstrate their commitment to the two dimensions of the Earth: the planet and her people. This belief motivates many of our rituals and activities - from intentional clean-up routines to the 10,000 year challenge, but going beyond the realm of the Wonder Village and encouraging children to take part in collective action is an essential part of what we do.
With this in mind, the Wonder Family sits under the shade of a tree to prepare, creatively considering what messages to display on our signs. We think about how children are involved in these big, often intimidating themes and ask ourselves an important question:
how can we channel hope and encourage action rather than resigning to fear and hate?
With signs in hand, we set off into the crowd to join together with coalitions of children and families who are working tirelessly to organize individuals of all ages in the fight for environmental justice. When we find Climate Families NYC, we are greeted by children dressed as dinosaurs, roaring in protest. The voices of these small activists are heard on megaphones as they chant, “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” and tout banners that read statements like, “Dinosaurs are cool, but I don’t want to be one!”. The motivated energy of the group is powerful and inspiring, a true reminder that when we band together across generations, our voices will be felt.
The March ends in a rally in which many speakers, high school students and politicians alike, take a stand in calling for change. The impact of these demonstrations, both in NYC and across the globe, undoubtedly impact the perception and policy surrounding the effect of fossil fuels on the Earth, and it is only one example of how children can be change-makers and stewards of their communities.
At the School of Wonder, we will continue to explore these themes throughout our programming, and we are especially excited to announce that we will again be taking on the mission of imagining a better world and investigating what democracy means during our Election Day adventure on November 7, 2023. Read about what this incredible experience looked like last year here or check out our page on upcoming school holiday camps!