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WILD EARTH WILDERNESS SCHOOL
HIGH FALLS, NY · EIN 201675636 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Medium ($1M-$10M) · wildearth.org
revenue
$2.7M
expenses
$2.9M
net assets
$1.3M
employees
83
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

WILD EARTH LEADS TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE IMMERSION EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE, PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE IN NEW YORK'S YOUTH

profile · synthesized from sources

Wild Earth Wilderness School provides nature immersion programs for youth in New York's Hudson Valley, focusing on character development and social-emotional growth through wilderness education. The organization runs seasonal camps, weekend programs, and school partnerships that emphasize hands-on outdoor skills and nature connection. Founded in 2004, it serves children and teens through experiential learning in forested environments.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Apprenticeship Program
Leadership development program for teens that includes outdoor skills training, mentorship, and opportunities to lead activities
Artemis & Atlatl Programs
Year-round weekend programs for 9-13 year olds, including gender-specific groups focused on nature connection, traditional skills, and community building
School Partnerships
Programs integrated into public schools in the Hudson Valley, bringing nature connection and social-emotional learning to students during school hours
Wild Earth Summer Camp
Seasonal wilderness camp running from July to August for children ages 5-17, with activities focused on nature immersion, survival skills, and social-emotional development
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Adult-focused nature and craft workshops
      Hosts specialized nature-based workshops and series for adults, including a Wild Pottery Series (three sessions in August), a Drum Making Workshop (one Sunday in fall), and a Wild Wines program (two Sundays in fall 2026).
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Annual community events
      Hosts an annual summer celebration event for youth and families on a fixed date in August, fostering community engagement through outdoor experiences.
  • Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
    • Equitable access and financial aid programs
      Increases access to programs through an Equitable Pricing Calculator that sets tuition based on income tier and offers additional scholarship funds for families needing further financial assistance.
  • Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
    • Research and evaluation of nature connection programs
      Conducted and published evaluations of the Kingston Middle School Nature Connection and Experiential Education Project, including a full report and executive summary in August 2018 and a follow-up evaluation report in September 2023.
  • Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
    • Summer camp and related programming
      Operates a summer camp program in the Hudson Valley from July 6 to August 14, including pre-camp events such as Countdown to Camp and a Pre-Summer Camp Kick Off. The camp teaches wilderness skills and confidence-building activities like fire-building, blindfolded navigation, and supervised carving with sharp tools.
  • Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
    • Year-round and monthly youth wilderness programs
      Runs a year-round wilderness program for high school teens featuring regular evening sessions and two overnights, as well as a monthly program for children aged 8–14 that includes wilderness skills development and a culminating weekend overnight experience in May.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Youth and adult nature immersion programs
      Offers nature-based education and wilderness skills programs for youth and adults in New York, with annual participation of close to 4,000 individuals. Programs include learning earth living skills such as fire-making, shelter building, tool use, stewardship, and land awareness, as well as creating natural crafts and building peer and mentor connections.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.72M
Contributions & grants$1.34M49%
Program service revenue$1.37M50%
Investment income$6K0%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$2.90M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$2.03M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.51M
Cash$308K
Investments$2K
Liabilities$200K
Net assets$1.31M
Liquid reserves1.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +18.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
OMARI WASHINGTON FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $101K
ESPERANZA GONZALEZ CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $88K
KATE PINYAVAN CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $72K
ALISHA MCNAMARA CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $61K
board members · 7
  • AJA SCHMELTZ — PRESIDENT
  • CHRISTINE LIAKOS — BOARD MEMBER
  • JESSE WORKMAN — INTERIM TREASURER
  • JOAN EWING — BOARD MEMBER
  • PATRICIA PEREZ — SECRETARY
  • TINA DIERNA — BOARD MEMBER
  • WILTON DUCKWORTH — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • Chamberlin Wellness Partner — Business sponsor supporting Wild Earth
  • Good Work Institute Partner — Aja, a board member of Wild Earth, holds roles at Good Work Institute, indicating an organizational connection.
  • HKM Employment Attorneys Partner — Business sponsor supporting Wild Earth
  • Kingston Middle School Partner — Partnered with Wild Earth Wilderness School on the Nature Connection and Experiential Education Project.
  • Kingston Trust Hub Partner — Aja, a Wild Earth board member, is a member of the Kingston Trust Hub, indicating an affiliation.
  • MIT Partner — Uses MIT's living wage data to inform the Equitable Pricing Calculator.
  • Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles Partner — Uses Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles index data to determine living wage rates by household type for the regional pricing model.
  • Root Connections Partner — Business sponsor supporting Wild Earth
  • The Hudson Valley Current Partner — Aja, a Wild Earth board member, sits on the board of The Hudson Valley Current, suggesting a linked partnership.
  • Wild Med Partner — Collaborates with Wild Earth on CPR & First Aid training courses.
  • Zoom Partner — Used for hosting Summer Camp Family Orientation virtually.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Nature-Based Experiential Education for Personal and Collective Transformation
    methodology: experiential-education
    By engaging youth and adults in immersive, hands-on experiences in nature, the organization fosters personal growth, social-emotional development, and environmental stewardship, because deep connection with the natural world cultivates resilience, belonging, and awareness of interconnectedness.
  • Risk-Based Learning to Support Youth Development
    methodology: risk-based learning
    By incorporating managed risk activities such as fire-building and knife carving into programming, the organization supports children’s decision-making, confidence, and developmental growth, because confronting and navigating physical risks in a safe context builds competence and self-trust.
  • Trust-Based Sliding Scale for Equitable Access
    methodology: trust-based sliding scale
    By allowing families to self-determine tuition based on financial circumstances using a regionally-informed calculator, the organization increases access and inclusion, because honoring autonomy and dignity in payment practices strengthens trust and engagement with programs.