irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $99KCamps - Ithaca Childrens Garden provides summer camp opportunities for children. The purpose of our summer camp program is to engage children entirely through sensory exploration of their environment. The camps run Monday-Friday from 9am - 4pm for 8 weekly camps throughout the summer. We provide 120 camp spaces available to children in half-day camps for 3-5 year olds, 288 spaces in full day camps for 6-9 year olds and 96 spaces over 5 weeks for children ages 10-14.
- #2 $76KSchool Programs - Hosting field trips at the garden and delivering hands-on nature based programs in classrooms. Additionally Ithaca Childrens Garden works with the Ithaca City School District to deliver highly engaging curricula with a gardening component through ICSD Project Innovation Program, which culminates during summer recess.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Counselors-in-Training (CIT)
Leadership program for youth ages 12-16 to develop mentoring and leadership skills while supporting younger campers during summer camp activities.
Public Garden
Three-acre ADA-accessible public garden open daily to visitors, offering free access to nature-based learning environments, including themed areas like the Kitchen Garden and Sound Garden.
School Programs
Hands-on nature-based education delivered in classrooms and through field trips to the garden, in partnership with the Ithaca City School District.
Summer Camp
Week-long nature-based summer camps for children ages 3-13, including Acorns (ages 3-5), Willows (ages 6-10), and Maples (ages 10-13), featuring themes like gardening, eco-exploration, and creative arts.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 2 activities
- Co-create community memorial and healing spacesCollaborates with community partners such as the Ithaca Childbearing Loss Network to co-design and maintain a memorial garden that supports remembrance and emotional healing, integrating community input into the space’s design and ongoing care.
- Host field trips and in-classroom nature educationHosts school, scout, homeschool, and youth group field trips at its 3-acre garden site, offering 2- to 3-hour experiences combining guided activities with open-ended play. Also delivers in-class and community-based garden education programs, including long-term project-based learning partnerships and a collaboration with the Ithaca City School District’s Project Innovation Program featuring a gardening curriculum.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 2 activities
- Offer early childhood nature play programsProvides nature introduction programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children, including Garden Babies (ages 6 months to 2.5 years) and Garden Sprouts (afternoon play for 4- and 5-year-olds not yet ready for after-school programming). These educator-led playgroups support family connection and nature-based exploration, with weekly sessions, transportation options, and need-based scholarships.
- Operate nature-based preschool programRuns a research-based outdoor preschool program called Playful Nature Explorers for children ages 2.5 to 5, operating Monday through Thursday during the school year and centered on play, seasonal rhythms, and nature immersion. The program serves 8 children daily and includes need-based scholarships tied to free or reduced-price lunch eligibility.
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Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
- Deliver equity-centered programming and reportingEnsures financial access to all programs through need-based scholarships, pay-what-you-can pricing, and discounts tied to free or reduced-price lunch eligibility. Publishes annual Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) and Scholarship Impact Reports to share outcomes and institutional commitments, including disability inclusion and BIPOC representation in environmental education.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Facilitate youth-run farm standOperates a summer farm stand where youth participants grow and sell fresh produce, providing hands-on experience in gardening, entrepreneurship, and food systems education.
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Children's Themed Birthday Parties 1 activity
- Host nature-themed birthday partiesOffers private, outdoor birthday party rentals at the garden, including exclusive access to a covered shelter, picnic table and flexible seating, a garden-themed exploration kit, a hand-tied bouquet of fresh flowers for the birthday child, a commemorative t-shirt, and a list of seasonal self-guided nature activities.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Operate free public garden and host drop-in programsMaintains a 3-acre ADA-accessible public garden open free of charge year-round from dawn to dusk, welcoming approximately 70,000 visitors annually. Offers unstructured access and hosts free, no-registration-required programs such as Drop-In Discovery Days with themed nature activities, seed planting, composting education, and hands-on exploration via a Discovery Cart.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize community volunteer daysHosts volunteer days for community members to engage in hands-on garden maintenance tasks such as planting, weeding, and mulching, supporting both garden operations and community stewardship.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Organize seasonal family events and festivalsHosts annual seasonal events that promote nature connection and community engagement, including the Festival of Fire & Ice (winter play), Earth Day Action (hands-on environmental volunteering), International Mud Day (celebrating messy outdoor play), and volunteer-supported family events centered on nature exploration and stewardship.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide after-school nature programs for K–5 childrenOffers an outdoor after-school program for K–5 students in Tompkins County, operating Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM during the academic year (September to June), supporting cognitive, social, and physical development through nature-based activities. The program serves 18 children daily and includes need-based scholarships linked to free or reduced-price lunch eligibility.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Run summer camp programs by age groupOperates a multi-tiered summer camp program at the garden for children ages 3–14, including half-day and full-day options. Programs are child-led and theme-based, incorporating nature exploration, gardening, art, imaginative play, survival skills, and creative use of natural materials. The camp provides 120 half-day spaces for ages 3–5, 288 full-day spaces for ages 6–9, and 96 spaces over 5 weeks for ages 10–14, with need-based scholarships available.
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Youth Counselor-in-Training Programs 1 activity
- Support youth leadership developmentRuns a Counselors-in-Training (CIT) program for youth ages 12–16 to build leadership skills through mentoring younger campers, assisting with camp activities, and participating in reflective group sessions, fostering responsibility and peer mentorship within the summer program context.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$675K
Contributions & grants$343K51%
Program service revenue$330K49%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$669K
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$522K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$258K
Cash$103K
Investments$0
Liabilities$34K
Net assets$224K
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Marteal | Interim Executive Director | 40 | $85K |
board members · 10
- Brock Gibian — President
- Iris Packman — Vice President
- Jenna Hallas — Board Member
- Kate Travis — Board Member
- Lauren Salzman — Board Member
- Liz Kinast — Secretary
- PJ Rausch — Board Member
- Perry Gorgen — Board Treasurer
- Sarah Fiorello — Board Member
- Sarah Gunther — Board Member
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- CiTi BOCES Partner — Provides discounted programming for in-class and project-based learning programs.
- Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program Government — Used as an income-eligibility benchmark for awarding need-based summer camp scholarships.
- GIAC Partner — Participated in a tree-planting event with ICG After School students.
- Ithaca Childbearing Loss Network Partner — Collaborated to design and create the Bulb Labyrinth Memorial Garden.
- Ithaca City School District Government — Follows the Ithaca City School District calendar for holidays and breaks in program scheduling.
- Ithaca City School District Government — Follows the Ithaca City School District calendar for holidays and breaks.
- Ithaca City School District Partner — Collaborates to deliver nature-based curricula with a gardening component through the Project Innovation Program.
- Kids’ Discover the Trail Partner — Partners with Ithaca Children's Garden for Buddy-Up field trip programs.
- Legacy Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for the Drop-In Discovery Days program.
- Leigh MacDonald Government — Appointed as Interim Executive Director of Ithaca Children's Garden.
- Sarah Clapp Partner — Collaborated on the "Photographing Philanthropy for the Love of Humanity" exhibition to highlight community support for the Garden.
- The Learning Farm Partner — Collaborated with ICG on the "Inspiring Environmental Leaders" project to highlight BIPOC environmental leaders.
- Tompkins County Tourism Program Partner — Supports the Drop-In Discovery Days program through funding or resources.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partner — Collaborated with ICG on the "Inspiring Environmental Leaders" project to highlight BIPOC environmental leaders.
- register@ithacachildrensgarden.org Partner — Email contact point for program registration and inquiries
strategies · 4
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-Led Nature Explorationmethodology: child-led_learningBy facilitating unstructured, curiosity-driven exploration in nature, we foster intrinsic motivation and deeper learning, because children develop autonomy, confidence, and lasting connections to the environment when they direct their own experiences.
- Experiential and Play-Based Learning in Naturemethodology: experiential_learningBy combining hands-on sensory exploration with open-ended play in natural settings, we support holistic child development and emotional resilience, because direct, embodied experiences in nature strengthen cognitive, social, and emotional growth more effectively than structured instruction alone.
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Integrationmethodology: inclusion_equity_accessBy embedding IDEA principles into program and space design—including scholarship access and free admission for support persons—we increase belonging and participation for children of all backgrounds and abilities, because removing systemic and financial barriers ensures equitable access to nature-based learning.
- Theme-Based Integrated Learningmethodology: integrated_learningBy organizing nature-based education around weekly themes that integrate environmental exploration with creative reuse and artistic expression, we deepen engagement and environmental stewardship, because connecting learning to tangible, imaginative projects reinforces understanding and values.