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ORENDA SPRINGS
Marcellus, NY · EIN 141962769 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Micro (<$100K) · orendasprings.com
revenue
$42K
expenses
$71K
net assets
$53K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

EDUCATION/CONFIDENCE BUILDING

profile · synthesized from sources

Orenda Springs is an experiential learning center based in Marcellus, NY, serving youth through outdoor education and confidence-building programs. It offers adventure-based activities such as ropes courses, equine programs, and nature studies to foster personal growth, leadership, and teamwork. The organization serves homeschooled students and other youth groups through structured, nature-immersive programming designed to build resilience and self-awareness.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Adventure and Nature-Based Learning
Includes mountain biking, cross-country skiing, orienteering, survival skills, and nature journaling to promote whole-child wellness and experiential education
Equine Program
Offers therapeutic and recreational horse activities for beginners and individuals with special needs, led by a certified Equine Specialist and focused on personal growth and connection with animals
Orenda Springs Homeschool Academy (OSHA)
Provides experiential education for homeschooled students through nature studies, leadership training, ropes course challenges, equine interaction, and team-building activities; held weekly during fall and spring semesters
Ropes Course
Features high and low ropes challenges designed to build confidence, cooperation, and problem-solving skills under the guidance of certified facilitators
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Youth Scouting Leadership Programs 2 activities
    • Facilitated challenge course programs for youth and groups
      Operates low- and high-ropes challenge courses designed to build leadership, communication, problem-solving, and risk management skills in individuals and teams. Programs are customized to group objectives and include facilitated debriefs to connect experiences with life skills development.
    • Youth employment and skills training programs
      Runs a youth training program for grades 5–12 focused on job preparation at Orenda Springs, teaching practical skills such as knot tying, equipment handling, climbing techniques, and multiple belaying methods.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Art and nature immersion programs
      Offers seasonal art workshops for children and adults that integrate nature immersion, observational skills, self-expression, journaling, and crafting. Also provides a dedicated Art & Nature Program for children in grades K–8.
  • Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
    • Camping and lodging accommodations
      Provides camping stays in yurts equipped with sleeping mats, wood stoves, tables, chairs, cooking stoves, fire pits, picnic tables, and outhouses. Guests supply their own utensils and food.
  • Therapeutic Equine-Assisted Programs 1 activity
    • Equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy programs
      Provides equine-assisted psychotherapy using the EAGALA Model and offers individual and group equine-assisted learning sessions for clients addressing learning challenges or personal growth. Also delivers corporate team-building through equine activities, supporting inclusion and development for people of all abilities.
  • Community-Based Educational Programming 1 activity
    • Experiential education delivery on remote reservations
      Provides educational programming and instructional coaching for students, including on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in rural South Dakota.
  • Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
    • Nature-based educational programs for homeschooled and K–12 students
      Delivers a weekly experiential learning program for homeschooled students aged 11+ in Central New York, running full-day sessions from September to November. Offers wilderness skills training for grades 5–12, including shelter-building, fire-starting, survival skills, and navigation, as well as an Art & Nature Program for grades K–8 focused on observational art and peer feedback.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Orienteering and wilderness navigation education
      Uses orienteering as an educational tool to teach wilderness navigation skills and hosts events where participants can apply compass and topographical map skills in outdoor settings.
  • Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
    • Recreational riding and outdoor adventure programming
      Offers recreational horseback riding for beginners and individuals with special needs in indoor arenas or wooded trails. Provides mountain biking with trail access and equipment, hosts mountain bike races, and maintains groomed cross-country ski trails with rental gear available.
  • Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 1 activity
    • Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness retreats
      Hosts nature and yoga retreats for adults featuring meditation, outdoor yoga, sensory awareness, journaling, and energy healing. Offers yoga and nature-based programming for children aged 7–15 that integrates stillness, awareness, and outdoor movement.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$42K
Contributions & grants$42K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$71K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$21K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$53K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$53K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -32.5%
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Art Partner — Partner activity used to encourage creative expression and reflection in experiential learning programs
  • Baltimore Woods Nature Center Partner — Shared affiliation with staff who have worked as environmental educators and camp counselors, supporting nature-based programming connections.
  • Becky Wilson Partner — Staff facilitator of the nature and yoga retreat.
  • Camping Partner — Partner activity used to extend experiential learning in outdoor, immersive settings
  • Cross Country Skiing Partner — Partner activity used seasonally to support experiential learning goals in winter environments
  • Horseback Riding Partner — Partner activity integrated into experiential programming to support personal development and teamwork
  • Julia Henery (Maum) Partner — Staff facilitator of the nature and yoga retreat.
  • Laura Hahn Partner — Provider of farm-to-table lunch for the retreat through Little Yard Farm.
  • Little Yard Farm Partner — Farm-to-table lunch provider for the nature and yoga retreat.
  • Mountain Biking Partner — Partner activity incorporated into programming to promote initiative, perseverance, and collaboration
  • ORENDA SPRINGS Partner — Organization providing outdoor experiences focused on personal and group development.
  • Orienteering Partner — Partner activity utilized to develop problem-solving, navigation, and teamwork skills
  • PayPal Partner — Used as a payment processing partner for program fees.
  • Ropes Courses Partner — Partner activity offering low- and high-ropes course programming as part of experiential learning programs
  • SUNY Oswego Partner — Faculty affiliation with Orenda Springs staff; supports connection between teacher preparation programs and outdoor experiential learning.
  • Syracuse City School District Partner — Collaborates with Orenda Springs through staff affiliations and student programming, including group visits and inclusive education initiatives.
  • The EAGALA Network Network — ORENDA SPRINGS practitioners are credentialed members of The EAGALA Network, trained to deliver the EAGALA Model of equine-assisted psychotherapy.
  • Yoga Partner — Partner activity integrated to support emotional regulation, focus, and self-awareness within experiential programs
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.

  • Creative Expression as Healing Pathway
    methodology: creative_expression_healing
    By using creative expression in trauma-informed contexts, we produce internal healing and self-connection because art accesses non-verbal parts of the brain, allowing individuals to safely explore and express experiences they cannot articulate directly.
  • Equine-Assisted Metaphor Therapy
    methodology: equine_metaphor_therapy
    By using horses as metaphors for human relationships and emotional dynamics, we produce self-discovery and psychological insight because the animal’s responsiveness mirrors internal states, creating a non-verbal pathway to process trauma and build self-awareness.
  • Experiential Learning with Reflective Debrief
    methodology: experiential_learning_with_debrief
    By engaging participants in physical and emotional challenges within nature-based or adventure settings followed by facilitated reflection, we produce deeper integration of life skills and personal growth because the experience becomes a metaphor for real-life struggles and successes, enabling lasting behavioral change.
  • Facilitated Adaptive Programming for Inclusion and Safety
    methodology: adaptive_facilitation_for_inclusion
    By using trained facilitators to dynamically adapt experiential programming to group needs while maintaining physical and emotional safety, we produce greater trust, engagement, and learning transfer because participants feel supported and seen, enabling authentic personal responsibility and collaboration.
  • Integrated Character and Whole-Child Development
    methodology: whole_child_character_integration
    By embedding character education and life skills into experiential outdoor learning, we produce resilience, confidence, and social-emotional growth because real-time challenges in nature provide authentic contexts for practicing perseverance, responsibility, and leadership.