Hope Center for Children is committed to meeting a range of child and family needs. We believe that the best way to make sure children in our community our thriving, is to equip parents with the tools they need to overcome barriers and to teach strong values and life skills to their children.  Many of our programs work directly with parents, offering this support.  However, for a small number of children, when home is not safe for them, we provide around-the-clock care and teaching to make sure they are successful. Our menu of services allows parents and referral sources to decide what make sense for them, and ensures that above all, we have a community where children are ensured love and safety.  

Learn more about this organization: HERE

Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is a nationally recognized organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming regardless of ability to pay. In addition to sports, year-round programming options integrate environmental, holistic wellness, and competitive training philosophies for people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical and emotional disabilities.

Learn more about this organization: HERE

Mission

To create extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.

Vision

It is our vision to be recognized as the global leader among all museums and cultural institutions serving children and families.

Core Values

We Believe In Preserving The Legacy Of The Museum By/Through:

Promoting Family Learning:

Creating transformational extraordinary family learning experiences across the sciences, arts and humanities that promote family engagement through the use of real objects, immersive environments, and live interpretation.

Meeting the learning needs and interests of children and families to nurture hands-on, minds-on experiences.

Supporting PreK-16 education by serving as a valued resource for schools, teachers, and teacher training institutions.

Developing and leveraging the museum’s brand to retain and grow new audiences and connect and nurture all visitors beyond the museum visit.

Providing Value to Our Community, State, Nation and the World:

Being a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization, stability, and community engagement.

Seeking and collaborating with other institutions and organizations locally, regionally, nationally and globally to create dynamic partnerships which leverage the positive impact of our museum.

Providing a safe, clean, friendly, fun, efficient and engaging visitor experience that is affordable and accessible.

Being good stewards of our human and financial resources, recognizing our staff and volunteers are our principle human resources and our endowment is our principal economic engine, and being transparent in how we use our resources.

Investing and participating in an environmentally sustainable museum and campus.

Valuing People:

Investing in the development, care and nurturing of our diverse and highly skilled staff, volunteers and museum Guild.

Promoting diversity and inclusion among our staff, volunteers, the audiences that we serve, the programs we produce and the relationships that we pursue.

An engaged board of trustees committed to providing strategic and extraordinary time, talent and treasure.

Pursuing Excellence Always:

Investing in research, development and technology to remain relevant and to help us ensure we meet our strategic goals and objectives.

Using data to measure our performance and mission, learn about our audiences, and inform our decision-making.

Learn more about this organization: HERE

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida offers specialty-themed eco cruises of Rookery Bay on select Tuesdays. This relaxing and informative tour is approximately three hours and is led by a Conservancy-trained Naturalist and includes a stop for lunch on Isle of Capri (cost of lunch not included). Tours run seasonally, call The Conservancy of Southwest Florida for dates and times.

Hidden History

The Rookery Bay area is rich with history – archaeological, anthropological, and ecological. Discover hidden history among the mangrove trees and hear long forgotten stories of this estuary’s colorful past. Explore the threats that this ecosystem faces and how the Conservancy has worked to preserve this pristine environment for future generations.

Endangered Species of the Estuaries

The estuaries of Southwest Florida provide vital habitat to many threatened and endangered species including loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, least terns, and a variety of insects, crustaceans, birds, and small mammals. Explore the threats facing these species and learn how you can make a difference to protect these animals.

Predators of the Sky

Rookery Bay provides excellent habitat for several species of raptors, including our national symbol, the bald eagle. Join the Conservancy’s Director of Education to learn more about these unique birds of prey and discover why they are critical to Southwest Florida’s ecosystem.

Secrets of Sea Turtles

Meet one of the premier Kemp’s ridley sea turtle experts, Dr. Jeff Schmid. Dr. Schmid will discuss the unique features of the Rookery Bay sea turtle habitat and provide a glimpse into his research on one of the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world, the Kemp’s ridley.

Mangroves and More

This special cruise into Rookery Bay explores the importance of mangroves and the many lives that depend on them for survival. Conservancy mangrove expert, Kathy Worley will help you discover how wildlife – and people – benefit from the magic of mangroves.

Book a tour on The Good Fortune II : HERE

Learn more about this tour : HERE

LEARNING GOALS

NOLS courses teach wilderness and leadership skills on expeditions and in classrooms. You will apply these skills to challenges in a supportive learning culture with high expectations. You’ll have the opportunity for a positive, transformational experience and leave your course inspired and empowered to act.

We craft NOLS courses so graduates will be able to: 

Assume leadership roles

Live and travel in the outdoors

Act with confidence and competence

Respect and collaborate with others on expeditions, on teams, and in communities

Care for themselves and others

Understand their strengths, habits, and areas for growth

Function under difficult circumstances

Make informed and thoughtful decisions

Communicate effectively

Connect with natural places

Appreciate living simply

CORE CURRICULUM FOR EXPEDITIONS

LEADERSHIP

NOLS teaches leadership as, “situationally appropriate action that directs or guides your group to set and achieve goals.” Students will be able to:

Serve a team in a variety of roles: self leader, peer leader, designated leader, and active follower

Demonstrate good expedition behavior—take initiative, balance group and personal goals, and remain respectful and inclusive of their team members

Demonstrate competence

Communicate effectively

Make sound decisions

Display a tolerance for adversity and uncertainty

Demonstrate self awareness

Display initiative by setting and achieving goals

WILDERNESS SKILLS

NOLS teaches the expedition skills necessary to live and travel in the wilderness. Students will be able to:

Live comfortably (select a campsite; set up shelter; organize, pack, and maintain gear; cook; manage nutrition; and use clothing as protection from the elements)

Travel (hike, climb, paddle, row, sail, ski, snowboard, cave, and/or horsepack)

Navigate using maps, charts, compass, GPS, and/or terrain

Prevent, assess, and treat injury and illness in the wilderness

RISK MANAGEMENT

NOLS teaches risk management by applying leadership and wilderness skills and facilitating experiences to develop judgment. Students will be able to:

Identify and assess hazards and understand risks in the wilderness

Use technical skills, leadership, judgment, and situational awareness to manage risks

Use risk management terminology and models to assess and communicate decisions and actions

Create and implement contingency plans

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

NOLS connects students to wild places. Students will be able to:

Explore the natural world through observation and application of ecological concepts

Develop a sense of place by experiencing wilderness and exploring relationships with their surroundings

Articulate an environmental ethic

Understand land management and environmental issues

Apply Leave No Trace principles to camping and travel

Learn more about this organization: HERE

Founded in 2003 and formally organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2006, Neighborhood Focus is a free faith-based out-of-school time program that provides year round academic support, spiritual enrichment, character education and life skills development for under-resourced children and students in Greenville, South Carolina. 

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to provide a solid foundation for future success.  Together with our partner organizations, we are transforming the next generation of Greenville’s at-risk families to experience Christ-centered lives of positive influence.

OUR MISSION

Our Mission is to create hope and opportunities for Greenville’s at-risk students through Christ-centered educational and social enrichment.

OUR VISION

Our Vision is to serve as a community-wide catalyst for expanding the opportunities for the next generation of Greenville’s at-risk students and their families to experience productive, Christ-centered lives.

Learn more about this organization: HERE

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BURMESE PYTHON RADIO-TELEMETRY STUDY

Since 2013, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and research partners have been conducting radio telemetry fieldwork to document python biology and behavior in Collier County.

A primary objective is to develop a database of behavior and habitat uses to better understand invasive Burmese python activities in southwest Florida. This information will be used to help land managers to develop a management strategy for this invasive species.

Tracking

Adult pythons are captured, surgically implanted with a radio-transmitter, and released back at the capture site. These individuals are referred to as “sentinel snakes” for their ability to lead researchers to other pythons during the breeding season.

Removal

The Conservancy snake team uses a combination of active searching and telemetry to remove invasive pythons from Southwest Florida. Using their mating behavior against them, closely following sentinel snakes during the breeding season allows the team to remove animals that otherwise wouldn’t be detected.

Necropsy

Captured pythons are humanely euthanized and the remains are examined in the lab.  Data is collected on breeding potential, animal condition, and gut content.  Samples of the gut contents are sent to the University of Florida where prey items are identified.

Learn more about this organization: HERE 

The Children's Museum of The Upstate opened in 2009. Conveniently offering reciprocal memberships in two locations, TCMU's downtown Greenville location allows visitors to experience 80,000 square feet and 19 exhibit galleries, with components and programming in the areas of arts, humanities, sciences, health, nutrition, and the environment, suitable to children ages 1-15.

TCMU's downtown Spartanburg location offers 6,000 square feet of exhibits and programs designed to support preschool children ages birth - 5. With exhibits specific to Spartanburg's landmarks, culture, and community, the museum features 7 exhibits, including a hospital exhibit, a water table with replicas of the Pacolet and Tyger Rivers, and a treehouse hosting replicas of South Carolina's native plants and birds. TCMU is the nation's 7th largest children's museum and 10th largest in the world. As the nation's first children's museum to become a Smithsonian Affiliate, there are new and exciting programs developed for every age level to stimulate creativity and stirs the imagination.

Learn more about this organization: HERE

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