Christodora Inc

TO HELP NYC STUDENTS THRIVE THROUGH ENVIR SCIENCE, NATURE CONNECTIONS & POSITIVE YOUTH DVPMT

CHRISTODORA'S WILDERNESS CAMP, MANICE EDUCATION CENTER (MEC), LOCATED IN THE HOOSAC MOUNTAIN RANGE OF NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS, PROVIDES THE MAIN FACILITY FOR PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WILDERNESS IMMERSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL SKILLS. MEC OFFERS STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 AND 18 A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED LADDER OF OPPORTUNITIES BEGINNING WITH THE ONE-WEEK INTRODUCTORY COURSE FOR SIXTH GRADERS, PROCEEDING TO LONGER FOUNDATION AND ADVANCED COURSES, AND CUMULATING WITH INTENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND BRIDGE CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS. BUILDING ON FOUNDATIONS OF THE "3 RS" (POSITIVE RISK-TAKING, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY), STUDENTS SET GOALS, WORK ON TEAM PROJECTS, STUDY ECOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP AND MASTER CHALLENGING BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURES. HALF OF THE STAFF ARE RETURNING ALUMNI, PROVIDING INTENSIVE SMALL GROUP SUPPORT, AND SERVING AS POWERFUL ROLE MODELS FOR SUCCESS. MEC ALSO HOSTS SCHOOL GROUPS FOR MULTI-DAY FIELD TRIPS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING, OFTEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE IN-CLASSROOM WINTER ECOLOGY PROGRAM (WEP). THE WINTER ECOLOGY PROGRAM BRINGS TEAMS OF CHRISTODORA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS TO OVER 70 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS FOR AN ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON 7-WEEK INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY COURSE. THE CURRICULUM IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH CLASSROOM AND TEACHER AND IS ALIGNED WITH NY STATE AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THIS HANDS-ON COURSE INSPIRES MANY STUDENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN OUR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER ECOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. IN A USUAL YEAR, 22 SCHOOL GROUPS TAKE TRANSFORMATIVE 3-DAY FIELD TRIPS TO THE MEC.

CHRISTODORA'S NEW YOUTH CONSERVATIONISTS AND OTHER WEEKEND/OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS ENABLE STUDENTS TO STAY ACTIVE AND CONNECTED YEAR-ROUND AND TO BECOME AGENTS OF RENEWAL WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN NATURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ONGOING WEEKEND PROGRAMS ARE BASED AT BRONX RIVER PARK IN THE BRONX. WITH EXPERT PEER LEADERSHIP, THEY PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE, CONSERVATION AND CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS AND CONTINUE CHRISTODORA'S TRADITIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. STUDENTS GAIN EXPOSURE TO CAREER PATHWAYS AND DEVELOP JOB READINESS SKILLS.

IN 2020, THE "GORP" LIVE-ONLINE DAY CAMP AND OTHER VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HELPED TO KEEP STUDENTS CONNECTED AND EXPLORING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, EVEN IF FROM THEIR WINDOWS AND ON THEIR SCREENS. EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES WERE DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021, CHRISTODORA RE-LAUNCHED GORP AS AN ALL-OUTDOOR NATURE EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, DIVIDED INTO 1-WEEK SESSIONS WITH ALTERNATING FOCUS ON "PLANTS OR "ANIMALS." THIS WAS OFFERED AT A LOCAL PARTNER PARK AT NO FEE TO 34 STUDENTS OVER AN 8-WEEK PERIOD.

THROUGH THE ELLIMAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM, THE MOST MOTIVATED AND DEDICATED STUDENTS CAN ATTEND PARTNER PROGRAMS INCLUDING NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOLS ("NOLS"), THE TETON SCIENCE SCHOOLS, OUTWARD BOUND AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SUMMER YOUTH INSTITUTE AT HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES. THE SUMMER ECOLOGY PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF FORESTRY CAMP IN THE GREAT MOUNTAIN FOREST IN NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT. WORKING IN SMALL GROUPS, SPECIALLY SELECTED STUDENTS LEARN BASIC ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND DEVISE, CONDUCT AND PRESENT ORIGINAL FIELD RESEARCH PROJECTS. CHRISTODORA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HOLD THIS PROGRAM IN 2020 AND 2021 DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS.