Through the Trees Corporation

“Through The Trees (TTT) started their journey in January 2018 under the fiscal sponsorship of Servants of the Cross where they piloted our Nature Immersion programs and grew their community to the point where they were ready to incorporate as their own separate entity. TTT was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit on January 6, 2020. TTTs vision is to bring more peace, freedom, and a sense of belonging into the world by connecting people to nature, themselves, and the community. They do this by following their mission: To bring more peace by gently guiding people to connect with the wonders of nature. To bring more freedom by providing transformational experiences that awaken self awareness, confidence, and love. Finally, TTT provides a sense of belonging and deep connection with others through building thriving communities. Through the Trees offers youth and community programs allowing participants to learn from nature through immersion, engagement, and stewardship. TTT currently offers Homeschool Programs running September-May, Youth Day Programs throughout the summer, Outing Clubs and Teen Wilderness Expeditions. TTT offers several Community nature events including Family gatherings and Nature Wilderness skill building workshops. TTT follows a three-pronged approach to all their offerings: Immersion in Nature. Engaging with the world through nature is a fundamentally different experience than engaging through technology. Learning is enhanced when students are given the opportunity to operate outside of their own perceived comfort zones. Technology dominates society; education and work now depend on it. Individuals may be connected to one another digitally but remain disconnected from nature. According to Michael Gass, Professor of Outdoor Education and Director of the University of New Hampshires Outdoor Behavior Healthcare Research Center, outdoor education works on bringing back the basics of life, I would say: good food, good sleep, good exercise and screen-less beauty. Likewise, recent years have seen the burgeoning of indoor and virtual recreation options. The 1950s saw the rapid rise of television as the most popular medium of entertainment. Video games first appeared in the 1970s and have since been a popular pastime, while the Internet has been claiming more and more leisure time since the late 1990s. It stands to reason that these technologies partially substituted for nature as a source of recreation and entertainment. Developing the students resilience and confidence. In outdoor experiential learning, the student is also the teacher. Students make connections between what they learn and the natural world, see relationships in complex systems and find a way to work within them. Students reflect on their own learning and gain insight into themselves and their interactions with the world. Experiential learning can also be defined by the qualities it imparts on its learners. Successful experiential learners have a willingness to reorder or alter their conception of a topic. They can reason for themselves and are able to successfully explain their position. They have clarity of purpose with tasks they undertake and the self-management skills necessary to work successfully both alone and in a group. Providing opportunities for action. TTT offers opportunities to engage in nature stewardship and service both during and after participation, consistent with the first principle of outdoor education set forth above. All of TTT programs are conducted at 2 Griffin Rd, Freeport ME. TTTs is grateful to have access to and be stewards of this beautiful property where they get to explore and experience 58 acres of forests, a pond, Frost Gully Brook, a field and farm land. The entire 58 acre parcel is under a Conservation Easement to protect its beauty, wonder and naturalness for years to come.”

“The Executive Director/Board Chair is married to the Director of Facilities and Grounds/Program Guide.”

“The Agency provides a copy of the Form 990 to each Board Member via email circulation prior to submission of the tax return.”

“The Agency approves the Executive Directors salary costs as part of the annual budget approval process. The Executive Directors salary is determined by the Board using comparable salary data for similar positions.”

“The Agency annually reviews the Agencys conflict of interest policy with Board members and staff.”