From code to canopy: Comp Sci High in the Field
Recently we had the pleasure of hosting a group of students from Comp Sci High, NY, a dynamic learning community rooted in the South Bronx that prepares young people with academic strength, computational fluency, professional skills, and real-world experience. Comp Sci High’s mission is to empower students to access college, careers, and meaningful opportunities through technology and community-based learning, building emotional, professional, technical, and civic capacities that will support success long after graduation.
What happens when students who are immersed in computational thinking and future-focused pathways step out of the classroom into a place like Las Casas de la Selva, in the rainforest? They bring curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to contribute in new, hands-on ways.
About a dozen students from diverse backgrounds, including places like Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, joined us for a day of clearing work on our ethnobotanical trail. Together, they helped remove encroaching vegetation, making the trail more accessible for visitors and researchers alike. Their energy turned what could have been just a task into shared learning, exploring how forests grow, how trails evolve, and how collective effort shapes the land.
Guiding the group through technique, safety, and decisions in the field was Jon Warwick, whose grounded approach helped everyone engage confidently with tools and tasks. We were also joined by group organizer Bill Cotter of Shoulder 2 Shoulder and school staff Dennis Pooler and James Kale, whose support ensured the day flowed smoothly and meaningfully.
In the afternoon, 3t served a nourishing lunch that gave everyone a chance to rest and reflect on the morning’s work. Conversations ranged from the forest and the history of Las Casas de la Selva, to hurricane survival. We are grateful for this group’s thoughtful participation and engagement. It was a vivid example of how young people can extend the values they learn in school – teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance – into new environments where those skills matter in tangible, ecological ways. We look forward to future collaborations that bridge classroom learning and real-world stewardship.
Photos by 3t Vakil, Jon Warwick, Bill Cotter, Feb 2026
