The Grow With Me Expansion Project is a community-centered initiative designed to grow our nature-based programming beyond children and youth, and to expand opportunities to include adult participants. By offering farm- and nature-inspired experiences for adults, we aim to provide meaningful ways for people of all ages to connect with the land, build practical skills, and improve their mental and physical well-being through time outdoors.
As part of this expansion, we are working toward creating infrastructure that ensures both accessibility and sustainability for our community programs. Currently, our site does not have a suitable bathroom. With funding, we will build a bunkie with a compostable bathroom, ensuring participant comfort while also staying aligned with our values of environmental responsibility. Additionally, this grant will allow us to complete our in-progress outdoor structure, which will provide a dedicated, sheltered space for programming in all weather conditions.
The proposed project will aim to:
Expand programming to adults in the community, ensuring that individuals of all ages—especially those often overlooked in outdoor education—have access to meaningful, skill-building experiences rooted in farming, gardening, and nature connection.
Build a bunkie with a compostable bathroom to provide participants with a safe, comfortable, and eco-friendly facility that supports longer and more inclusive programming.
Finish our outdoor structure, creating a functional, weather-resilient gathering space that enhances our ability to host workshops, cooking programs, and year-round activities.
Increase accessibility for families, offering more opportunities for children, youth, and adults to engage together in intergenerational programs.
Strengthen community ties by creating a welcoming, inclusive hub where people can come together to connect, learn, and grow—while fostering stewardship of the land and sustainable living practices.
Grow With Me Programs has already become a trusted place where children and families come together to connect with nature, care for animals, and learn practical skills that nurture resilience, confidence, and mental health. By expanding our offerings to adults, we are addressing a real community need: many adults crave meaningful opportunities to step away from busy, screen-driven lives and reconnect with the land, with others, and with themselves.
The addition of a bunkie with a compostable bathroom is essential to making our programs more inclusive and comfortable for participants. A sustainable bathroom solution ensures that our expansion does not compromise our commitment to the environment, while also removing a current barrier for families and adults who may be hesitant to attend due to limited facilities.
Completing our outdoor structure will transform the way we can serve the community, giving us a dedicated space for shelter, learning, and group activities regardless of the weather. This structure will allow us to broaden our reach—offering more scholarships, expanding the types of workshops we can run, and engaging families who may not otherwise have access to outdoor education.
Ultimately, this project is about building community resilience and connection. By expanding programming and creating environmentally responsible infrastructure, Grow With Me Programs can better serve children, youth, and adults alike, helping them discover the joy of outdoor learning, the value of community, and the healing power of time spent in nature.
support
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This program builds a stronger connection with the outdoors and with agriculture in a fun and engaging environment.
These programs empower children as they learn about nature and gain lifelong skills!
This program is amazing for connecting kids with the outdoors
The Grow With Me Expansion Project enriches lives by expanding access, infrastructure, and programming for all ages, building a lasting, community-focused hub.
The Grow With Me initiative is vital in helping youth understand the importance of the Earth & its resources. It’s about getting back to our roots and teaching life skills that can make this world a better place.
My daughter cherishes her camps at Grow With Me, where she has learned lifelong skills and friends. Continued support for Grow With Me will only enhance the experience our youth have when attending one of these camps.
I fully endorse this project and what it stands for
Grow with me program have facilitated the nurturing growth of the children in Demorestville. I love to them explore the world and engaged with respect