irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $219KSUMMER CAMP: INCLUDE DAY CAMPS THAT LAST FOR ONE WEEK DURING THE SUMMER AND ARE GEARED TO CHILDREN AGES 4-17.
- #2 $54KRITES OF PASSAGE: A THREE YEAR PROGRAM THAT MEETS MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND INCLUDES OVERNIGHT COMPONENTS DURING THE SUMMER.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
April Hill Camp
Summer day camp for children ages 4-12 held at a 100-acre historic farmstead in Massachusetts, offering nature exploration, wilderness skills, and community connection through guided activities and outdoor play
Awakening Wild
9-month adult immersion program meeting monthly from September to June, featuring wilderness living skills, nature awareness, community building, and overnight campouts for deep nature connection and personal growth
Cottonwood Camp
Core summer day camp for children ages 4-12 in East Chatham, NY, providing immersive nature experiences including animal tracking, primitive fire-making, shelter-building, and nature-based games and stories
Crow Call
Summer survival camp for teens ages 12-17 featuring wilderness skills such as shelter-building, water purification, wild edibles, and a 24-hour overnight survival challenge, emphasizing teamwork and personal growth
FOREST Homeschool Program
Outdoor education program for ages 7-13 meeting Wednesdays and Thursdays, focusing on survival skills, naturalist knowledge, wildlife tracking, and seasonal activities in a community-based setting
Rites of Passage
Three-year mentoring program with monthly meetings and summer overnight components, designed to guide youth through transformative experiences in nature and community
Treetop Homeschool Program
Academic program for grades 3-6 (ages 8-12) meeting Tuesdays, focusing on language arts and science through nature-based learning, including writing, observation, and hands-on projects in a mentoring community
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Summer Camp Access Scholarships 1 activity
- Administer financial assistance program for nature programmingProvides financial assistance for summer camp and other programs through a reduced tuition rate of $25 per week, with scholarship options and application processes to support access for people of all ages.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Deliver rites of passage and leadership programs for youthRuns a three-year rites of passage program meeting monthly with summer overnight components, and offers advanced leadership development programs for children aged 10–12 and teens. Also provides a five-day teen wilderness survival program with an overnight challenge for experienced participants.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Host annual public nature event (Flying Deer Day)Organizes an annual community event featuring nature activity stations, live entertainment, themed games, food offerings, and a bake sale for all ages, with proceeds directed to a Financial Assistance Fund.
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Homeschool Support Services 1 activity
- Offer school-year homeschool and weekday programs for children and teensProvides structured nature-based education during the academic year, including weekly homeschool programs (e.g., Treetop Homeschool and FOREST programs) for ages 7–17, running from September to May or December, with seasonal curricula focused on ecology, survival skills, storytelling, and land-based learning.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Operate nature-based mentoring programs for children, youth, and familiesProvides wilderness skills and nature connection programming for children and youth, including animal tracking, foraging, shelter-building, fire-making, plant and wildlife identification, and survival skills through immersive outdoor experiences. Programs are offered year-round and include seasonal curricula tailored to different age groups.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Run summer day camps for children ages 4–18Operates week-long and multi-week summer day camps at multiple locations, including a 100-acre historic farmstead in South Egremont, MA, serving children ages 4–18. Camps include daily hikes, wilderness skill-building, and evening gatherings such as the Tamarack Forest Festival, with both in-person and hybrid options available.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provide nature connection programs for adultsOffers outdoor education and hands-on instruction in wilderness living skills for adults, including crafting survival tools, preparing wild foods, constructing shelters, and seasonal primitive camping weekends designed to deepen relationship with the land.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$805K
Contributions & grants$146K18%
Program service revenue$612K76%
Investment income$17K2%
Other revenue$31K
expenses
Total expenses$909K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$676K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.07M
Cash$403K
Investments$258K
Liabilities$149K
Net assets$1.92M
Liquid reserves8.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -14.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACLYN SINAY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $62K |
| MICHELLE APLAND | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | 20 | $43K |
board members · 9
- BRUCE WEINER — DIRECTOR
- DALE SAYLOR — DIRECTOR
- JAKE HALL — PRESIDENT
- LIZ YOUNG — DIRECTOR
- MALENE WALDRON — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA SADLON — SECRETARY
- SHEELA CLARY — TREASURER
- WANONAH KOSBAB — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM HARRIS-BRAUN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- April Hill Education and Conservation Center Partner — Hosts the Cobblers Homeschool Program at its location in South Egremont, MA.
- Blue Star Farm Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
- East Chatham, NY Partner — Hosts the Wild Ways Teen Program at 122 Daley Rd., East Chatham, NY
- FOREST Homeschool Program Partner — Collaborates with the FOREST Homeschool Program by offering Treetop participants a 10% tuition discount for enrollment.
- Google Partner — Hosts camp documents via Google Docs.
- Google Docs Partner — Hosts camp documents such as the Welcome Letter
- Gould Farm Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
- Greenagers Partner — Co-manages the April Hill Education and Conservation Center where the summer camp is held.
- Hawthorne Valley Farm Store Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
- In the Woods Blog Partner — Hosts program activity updates and stories from the forest homeschool program.
- Julie Kunz Partner — Co-leader of the Awakening Wild program and longtime director at Flying Deer Nature Center
- Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
- Little Seed Gardens Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
- Raven Ross Kelso Partner — Co-leader of the Awakening Wild program and longtime director at Flying Deer Nature Center
- Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans Government — Recognizes the ancestral homelands of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans where the center gathers and teaches.
- The Abode of the Message Partner — Hosts the Crow Call program at its location in New Lebanon, NY
- The Abode of the Message Partner — Hosts the Enchanted Forest summer camp program at its location in New Lebanon, NY.
- The Abode of the Message Partner — Hosts the Run Wild summer camp program at its location in New Lebanon, NY.
- The Berkshire Coop Partner — Donated goods or services to support the Flying Deer Day event.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Child-Centered, Inquiry-Driven Explorationmethodology: inquiry_based_child_led_learningBy prioritizing child-led exploration, play, and inquiry-based learning in nature, we support autonomy, sensory development, and intrinsic motivation, because fostering self-directed discovery builds confidence, curiosity, and long-term engagement with the natural world.
- Community-as-Village Model for Social and Ecological Belongingmethodology: community_as_villageBy structuring programs around a nurturing, village-like community that emphasizes gratitude, storytelling, and collaborative roles in nature, we strengthen social bonds and ecological identity, because a shared sense of purpose and interdependence fosters belonging, responsibility, and cultural continuity.
- Experiential Immersion as a Pathway to Connection and Growthmethodology: experiential_immersionBy engaging participants in immersive, hands-on wilderness and nature-based experiences—including survival skills, sensory awareness, storytelling, and seasonal routines—we cultivate deep belonging and personal development, because direct, embodied experience in nature fosters transformative learning, environmental literacy, and emotional resilience more effectively than passive or classroom-based instruction.
- Nature-Based Mentoring for Holistic Developmentmethodology: nature_based_mentoringBy using skilled mentoring and repeated immersion in nature, we foster deep connections to self, others, and the natural world, which the organization believes are foundational to personal growth, community belonging, and ecological stewardship—because sustained, relationship-driven engagement in nature strengthens identity, resilience, and environmental responsibility.
- Seasonal and Place-Based Integration for Contextual Learningmethodology: place_based_seasonal_educationBy aligning curriculum with seasonal cycles and local ecological and cultural contexts, we make learning more relevant and meaningful, because anchoring education in observable natural changes and place-specific knowledge deepens understanding, retention, and stewardship behavior in participants.