Causes: Children & Youth, Environment, Environmental Education, Natural Resources Conservation & Protection, Physical Fitness & Community Recreational Facilities, Sports, Youth Development Programs
Mission: We are on a mission to provide a year round venue for children & young adults to learn, with a sense of wonder and adventure, the importance of nature. Our goal is for children of every background and ability – who may not necessarily have easy access to forestland – to experience first-hand the wonder of nature, the promise of conservation, and the reason we should all come together to protect it. Our vision is a world where future generations are connected with nature and are responsible stewards of our forests. Feronia Forward is funded by private donors and the production profits of our Mission:Maple maple syrup. We rely on a solid network of volunteers, and over 95% of donations received go towards programs.
Results: Teachers and administrators participating with their class tell us that our programs are a life transforming experience for most of their students. In this page you will read some of the notes we received from teachers and students. Since our founding in 2014, we sponsored over 4,500 underprivileged youth for our environmental education program, 462 of which visited in 2022 (through July). To date, we hosted 300 children with disabilities for an unforgettable visit at Ramblewild. We are immensely grateful to our donors and volunteers for their support.
Target demographics: Teach children the value of nature & importance of conservation
Direct beneficiaries per year: Schools in our area re-opened in late 2021 when Covid restrictions were lifted in late 2021 and we were able to re-start our environmental education program. In 2021 we provided scholarships to 218 students. In 2022 through July, we hosted 462 youths, bringing to over 4,500 the total number of youths who participated to our programs.
Geographic areas served: Massachusetts/Vermont
Programs: Conserving Together is an experiential program designed to give underprivileged children an amazing outdoor adventure experience. Spending a day in the woods, immersed in nature and exploration, young children learn to identify leaf types, the geometry in nature, how to use a magnifying lens and a compass, how to build and test a water filter, and many other explorations. Older children learn land navigation, leave no trace principles, nature photography, team building, and environmental stewardship: they learn about clean energy by visiting huge wind turbines from up close; how engineering & technology play a role in harvesting maple sap; and discover the various aspects of the forest’s ecosystem. Our program is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Massachusetts’ STEM standards. Key goals of our program are:-Nature connection: often for the first time, students explore nature and are exposed to the concept of environmental stewardship-NGSS & STEM/STEAM concepts are introduced through everyday topics in nature, with a sense of wonder and adventure;-Hands-on experiential learnings make the experience an unforgettable event; -Our program develops self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Over 75% of students in schools applying for sponsorship come from families that are economically disadvantaged: outdoor exploration and education are either not perceived as a priority, or are simply not accessible. This program can be a life-transforming experience. Scholarships are designed for the entire class, not individual students: students are informed that improved classroom attendance is a condition for sponsorship, providing a powerful incentive for class attendance. Integral to Feronia Forward’s mission is to deliver experiential activities for special needs children, and those who care for them, so they can experience the natural world, and increase their awareness of the therapeutic value of nature. We host events for youth with disabilities connecting them with nature in a uniquely empowering manner that builds self-confidence and self-esteem and enhances social skills. Feronia Forward rents the Ramblewild facilities for special events for the sole use of children and young adults with disabilities. Engaging with the natural world in our guided nature walks delivers amazing new sensory experiences, such as sounds, smell, and the touch of plants; while our Shinrin Yoku mindful walks provide deep healing relaxation. Playing in the forest with the support of friends or family delivers an environment in which social skills can be learned and practiced. Getting children engaged in outdoor activities with family or friends similarly develops social skills and new types of conversations: since movement stimulates the verbal centers of the brain, outdoor play can be very helpful in enhancing communication skills.
Mission: We are on a mission to provide a year round venue for children & young adults to learn, with a sense of wonder and adventure, the importance of nature. Our goal is for children of every background and ability – who may not necessarily have easy access to forestland – to experience first-hand the wonder of nature, the promise of conservation, and the reason we should all come together to protect it. Our vision is a world where future generations are connected with nature and are responsible stewards of our forests. Feronia Forward is funded by private donors and the production profits of our Mission:Maple maple syrup. We rely on a solid network of volunteers, and over 95% of donations received go towards programs.
Results: Teachers and administrators participating with their class tell us that our programs are a life transforming experience for most of their students. In this page you will read some of the notes we received from teachers and students. Since our founding in 2014, we sponsored over 4,500 underprivileged youth for our environmental education program, 462 of which visited in 2022 (through July). To date, we hosted 300 children with disabilities for an unforgettable visit at Ramblewild. We are immensely grateful to our donors and volunteers for their support.
Target demographics: Teach children the value of nature & importance of conservation
Direct beneficiaries per year: Schools in our area re-opened in late 2021 when Covid restrictions were lifted in late 2021 and we were able to re-start our environmental education program. In 2021 we provided scholarships to 218 students. In 2022 through July, we hosted 462 youths, bringing to over 4,500 the total number of youths who participated to our programs.
Geographic areas served: Massachusetts/Vermont
Programs: Conserving Together is an experiential program designed to give underprivileged children an amazing outdoor adventure experience. Spending a day in the woods, immersed in nature and exploration, young children learn to identify leaf types, the geometry in nature, how to use a magnifying lens and a compass, how to build and test a water filter, and many other explorations. Older children learn land navigation, leave no trace principles, nature photography, team building, and environmental stewardship: they learn about clean energy by visiting huge wind turbines from up close; how engineering & technology play a role in harvesting maple sap; and discover the various aspects of the forest’s ecosystem. Our program is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Massachusetts’ STEM standards. Key goals of our program are:-Nature connection: often for the first time, students explore nature and are exposed to the concept of environmental stewardship-NGSS & STEM/STEAM concepts are introduced through everyday topics in nature, with a sense of wonder and adventure;-Hands-on experiential learnings make the experience an unforgettable event; -Our program develops self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Over 75% of students in schools applying for sponsorship come from families that are economically disadvantaged: outdoor exploration and education are either not perceived as a priority, or are simply not accessible. This program can be a life-transforming experience. Scholarships are designed for the entire class, not individual students: students are informed that improved classroom attendance is a condition for sponsorship, providing a powerful incentive for class attendance. Integral to Feronia Forward’s mission is to deliver experiential activities for special needs children, and those who care for them, so they can experience the natural world, and increase their awareness of the therapeutic value of nature. We host events for youth with disabilities connecting them with nature in a uniquely empowering manner that builds self-confidence and self-esteem and enhances social skills. Feronia Forward rents the Ramblewild facilities for special events for the sole use of children and young adults with disabilities. Engaging with the natural world in our guided nature walks delivers amazing new sensory experiences, such as sounds, smell, and the touch of plants; while our Shinrin Yoku mindful walks provide deep healing relaxation. Playing in the forest with the support of friends or family delivers an environment in which social skills can be learned and practiced. Getting children engaged in outdoor activities with family or friends similarly develops social skills and new types of conversations: since movement stimulates the verbal centers of the brain, outdoor play can be very helpful in enhancing communication skills.
4 Second Street P.O. Box 1819, Pittsfield, MA 01201
212-983-1910
Children & Youth
Pittsfield
