Gear for Groms

FPSF’s commitment to youth development, safety, and health is showcased in our popular Gear for Groms (G4G)  after-school skateboarding program. Led by professional skateboarder AJ Kohn, G4G takes experienced and professional skateboarders into communities around Philadelphia and connects them with local groms (skate slang for young skaters) to reinforce important life skills - discipline, creativity and teamwork - through skateboarding instruction

With support from foundations, skate companies and individual donors, G4G provides the equipment (boards, helmets, pads and skate obstacles) and 10 weeks of instruction to youth through partnerships with Philadelphia Public Elementary and Middle Schools and Recreation Centers.  

So why do we do it?

• Many kids spend between 20-25 hours a week alone and unsupervised after school.
• Kids who are unsupervised after school are far more likely to use alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Kids commit -and are victims of- crime in the after school hours, with the peak hour between 3-4 p.m.
• Many kids are not active - 30% of kids between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight (15% are obese) - and this can, in part, be attributed to the fact that they are alone in the afternoon to snack, watch TV, and play video games.

Simply put, after school programs work. Here a just a couple of the proven results:

• Students who participate in after school programs show gains in school achievement, attendance, and graduation rates.
• After school programs reduce the use of drugs, tobacco and alcohol among adolescents.

2011 Gear for Groms programming locations include:

Pops Playground (Kensington)
Trenton Ave and E. Hazzard Street
Programmed since 2010 - spring through fall

Harambee Charter School
638 N. 66th Street
Programmed since summer 2010

Harding Middle School / Whitehall Skatepark (Frankford)
Facilitated by: Rodney Watkins and AJ Kohn
Programmed since 2008

The Southwark House (South Philadelphia)
Facilitated by : Josh Schaeffer and Gloria Haag
In operation since November 2006

McMichael School

35th and Fairmount Streets

Programmed since spring 2011

Leeds Middle School

1100 E. Mount Pleasant Ave

All-girls program

Winter - spring 2011

Other past locations include:

2nd Street & Wolf Street (South Philadelphia)
Facilitated by professional skater AJ Kohn ( http://www.myspace.com/ajkohn ) and Josh Schaeffer
In operation since June 2007-September 2008 (Summer Program)

Stanton Elementary School
Facilitated by sponsored skater Bill Orsi
In operation from January to June 2005

Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Northeast Philadelphia)
Facilitated by Joe Benzon
In operation since January 2005 - April 2009

To learn more about FPSF’s Gear for Groms program, check us out on facebook and myspace.