Join the Movement
Nature is not enrichment.
It is foundational to how children grow. Yet for many children, it is largely absent.
Growing Demand
For the 2026–2027 NYC initiative, schools across New York City are choosing to participate as we build a cohort of:
20
Title I schools
3
School Districts (4, 5, and 6) in Upper Manhattan
800+
Students served with monthly, year-long access to nature-immersed learning
Participating schools include:
Schools are choosing this because they see
Strong alignment with student needs
Immediate impact on engagement and well-being
A model that fits within real school constraints
Schools are returning & expanding
100% of participating schools are returning for another year
Several schools are expanding participation to additional classes
City to Sanctuary growth reflects a clear signal from schools:
There is both a need for and a readiness to adopt turnkey models that restore nature as a core part of student development.
From One City to Many
5-Year Vision
9,000+ students with monthly, year-round access to nature
Expansion across four cities by 2031
Deepening and growing programs in New York City
Sustained implementation in Oakland and Los Angeles
Launching a new pilot in Chicago
How Growth Happens
We start with a focused pilot
Refine through practice and data
Expand through local partnerships and shared funding
Build toward long-term sustainability
What Makes This Different
Growth for us is:
Intentional — grounded in real school contexts
Equitable — starting where the need is greatest
Built to last — supported by a model designed for long-term sustainability
City to Sanctuary is not about bringing children to nature once. It is about reweaving nature into the fabric of childhood—at scale.
A Model Built to Sustain Itself
City to Sanctuary is designed not as a grant-dependent program, but as a community-rooted movement built on shared responsibility and collective ownership.
No one carries this alone
What This Means
City to Sanctuary is Locally Rooted:
Each school is supported by its surrounding community.Financially Resilient:
No single funder carries the full cost.Designed to Scale:
The model can expand across schools and cities without increasing dependency.
A Different Kind of Funding
This is not a model built on continuous external funding. It is built on shared ownership.
Donors become movement members.
Early funding is catalytic, not permanent.
Communities grow into sustaining the work themselves.
Why It Matters
Most education programs require ongoing funding to survive.
City to Sanctuary is designed to grow beyond seed funding.
By distributing responsibility across schools, seed members, and community supporters, the model creates something far more durable: a system that sustains itself.
Nature may be the most overlooked—and most impactful—way to support children’s development, especially in urban, low-income communities.
Join the Movement
This work grows through people who choose to be part of it.
Partner School
Bring nature-based learning into the lives of your students through consistent, immersive outdoor experiences integrated into the school year.
Seed Member
Help build the foundation for growth by funding the core infrastructure needed to bring the model to new cities and communities.
Monthly Giver
Sustain ongoing, naturalist-led learning experiences that give children regular access to nature, mentorship, and exploration throughout the year.
An Invitation
This is an opportunity to take part in a growing movement already underway:
To restore children’s connection to nature, belonging, and wonder.
To address systemic inequalities that limit access to these experiences for many children.
If this resonates, we welcome a conversation.