What schools say
“I need nature to be peaceful.”
“It impacts my mental health in a very positive way and I love being around nature. There are no parks around where I live. It is a lot of fun walking around a forest and listening to the sound of silence.”
“As a city kid, with limited opportunity to interact with nature, the program expands his world, his senses, and respect for the world around him.”
“Several of the students who had to participate in the program last year are no longer in my class, but they make an effort to still come.”
“There just simply aren’t enough opportunities made available. If you even imagine the opportunity to add more nature touches into the school experience in the city, the opportunities become fewer in the less affluent schools, so that small number gets even smaller. It becomes extraordinarily challenging to set up any kind of moments of interface with nature.”
“After a few times, I started to understand the very subtle but magical experience the students were having. It was changing their ways of seeing, knowing and relating to everything around them.”
“The sanctuary trips definitely helped improve my well-being and gave me insight on what nature provides.”
“One of our students has a routine with nature. He finds the proper stick before the walk. He stops at certain locations, and he removes himself from the larger group to spend time imagining and creating situations using his mind or the earth. It’s clear he is finding something special that we maybe did not intend.”
“The trips to the sanctuary made me wanna go outside more and enjoy the air and nature because it helps me with my depression.”
“Perfect send off to the end of the year. Going on this trip has calmed me a lot, which is really good with Regents coming up. This trip has genuinely raised my mental health.”
“I’ve looked forward to coming to the sanctuary for my whole time here. I am sad to graduate and see it go. Having fun with friends here as a senior helped me with writing.”
“Through this program, students have had the opportunity to connect with nature, disconnect from the daily pressures of school/life, and challenge themselves to engage with the environment in a manner they otherwise would not be exposed to. I thank you again for the opportunity to bring the joy of nature to our students and I look forward to continuing our partnership in the coming school year!”
“Don’t stop what you are doing. This is a wonderful place that people need to see to understand the impact that they have on the environment.”
“The trips to the sanctuary made me have a clear mind out for coming exams and made me feel peaceful.”
“I have always looked forward to these trips. It made me very happy to see nature.”
“Our kids don’t really get to go outside, and even going on a trip to Central Park is still kind of manicured and curated in many ways. I think many of our students have not had the experience of going somewhere where they’re really outside of New York City and experiencing nature in this way.”
“The sanctuary taught me to be more at peace with nature, be more at peace in my surroundings.”
“The sanctuary taught me how peaceful nature is and reminded me how much I love nature.”
“It made me feel peaceful.”
“I have gained new experiences and a connection to nature.”
“These trips made me reconnect with Earth, and nature.”
“The sanctuary helped my mental health.”
“The trips made me feel relaxed because I spent hours in nature.”
“I liked to be in forests and embrace the scenery. It’s very calming and ethereal.”
“Nature is a peaceful environment where you can sit and reflect, without all the distractions.”
“I feel more happier and joyful in nature.”
“The program was well thought out from the lessons, to transportation, to even having bug spray. I just hope that our students will have more opportunities like this one.”
“My favorite learning experience in this course was the Sanctuary trips because we learned how to make fire and how to get syrup from trees. We also learned about different types of tree and animal species as well as many other things.”
“The sanctuary trip has to be hands down one of the best trips in the school. Not only do we get to leave the city, but we learn interesting things about the environment.”
“The Sanctuary trips were my favorite because it helped us learn about our environment and important skills such as fishing and hiking.”
“The trips to the sanctuary taught me why it is important that we work together to stop climate change. It also taught me how to build a fire and how animals live. The trips made me appreciate nature more.”
“It brought me closer to others & made me appreciate the world around me.”
“Walking the trails, the students were immersed in nature, from bird calls and deer sightings to a scat hunt, fully engrossed in the world unfolding around them.”
Take the first step
Help your students build confidence, curiosity, and connection.