Bringing Nature to New Reaches
Written by Jack Meyers, Environmental Educator
For many, the Rye Nature Center means a local sanctuary for wildlife, a place to discover the charms of the outdoors through immersive exploration (rolling around in mud), or maybe just a quick and quiet getaway to calm the senses in the sun. We are proud to be this outlet for nature lovers and serve our community, but did you know our mission — to encourage conservation, provide environmental education, and support our community’s access to nature — extends beyond Rye?
The transformative power of nature is a core belief at the Nature Center. While hosting visitors and program attendees is a means to translate this ideal, our goal for spreading this message has a much broader scope! The Nature Access Fund is the arm of our organization that enables us to bring nature to all! These donor-funded programs utilize strategic partnerships with local schools and non-profit organizations to help FRNC connect underserved populations to nature and share the wonder of the natural world.
These programs serve populations across Westchester County and beyond in areas such as Port Chester, White Plains, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, and the Bronx. Some of our partners include Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF), YWCA, Community Resource Center, 5 Steps to Five, Carver Center, Blue Skies summer camp, St. Ann’s Freedom School, and Mount Vernon Central School District. These partnerships manifest in various engaging programs from skill building and empowerment, such as helping create and care for your own garden, to all out fun in the sun with our ICSF summer camp.
Nature Station - The Rye Nature Center on Wheels!
One of our most beloved and versatile tools for bringing nature to new places is NatureStation. This educational trailer allows us to bring an immersive, natural experience to those who cannot come to the Rye Nature Center. Packed with artifacts and fun activities, NatureStation is a massive hit wherever it pulls up and highlights the best parts of our forest from the quarry to the big pond.
NatureStation is the next best thing to visiting the 47 acres.
This past week our NatureStation brought learning and fun to the Mount Vernon Universal Pre-K program. For these students, this is often their first experience with nature and environment in an urban area with minimal green spaces. By creating exciting first impressions for these children, we can inspire them to increase their curiosity for the natural world and begin to build their knowledge of the environment for years to come.
Our hands on pond experience!
I got an opportunity to catch up with Katie, our Director of Outreach Programs, to talk to her about all the wonderful things our NAF and NatureStation programs have to offer.
What are your favorite aspects of our NatureStation programs?
“How excited the children are when they get to experience all this new and exciting information about nature and the environment. As an educator, it is special to see students' eyes open to the natural world, knowing these memories will stay with them as they grow and continue their studies.”
Having taught these programs myself, I can attest that there is something truly amazing about seeing these kids interact with things they’ve about read about or seen on screens for the first time in person. It is a privilege to be a part of connecting what they learn about in their classrooms to something tactile that they can hold in their hands.
What does NAF mean to you?
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Nature Center to share our skills, knowledge, and passion with those who may not experience it regularly. We create lasting memories that help people connect with the natural world, leaving an impact they can carry with them for years. Additionally, it strengthens our relationships with communities beyond our own.”
To learn more about our Nature Access Fund programs, check out our inaugural Impact Report. If you would like to support our outreach initiatives and extend our reach, consider making a donation today.