This campaign is closed

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

We're outfitting our Sprouts children for their year-round nature-based early childhood program.

Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

Sprouts: Dressing the Wild Child

We're outfitting our Sprouts children for their year-round nature-based early childhood program.

We're outfitting our Sprouts children for their year-round nature-based early childhood program.

We're outfitting our Sprouts children for their year-round nature-based early childhood program.

We're outfitting our Sprouts children for their year-round nature-based early childhood program.

Deb Hensley
Deb Hensley
Deb Hensley
Deb Hensley
1 Campaign |
Belfast, United States
$50 USD 2 backers
0% of $20,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Overview
The Broadreach SPROUTS Project is part of a growing national movement providing exciting early childhood education opportunities for children to learn and grow everyday outdoors. Help us provide high quality outdoor gear and equipment for every SPROUTS child. To outfit one child with complete rain and snow gear including boots, mittens, hats, and natural fiber underlayers, costs approximately $300. There is no bad weather, just bad dressing for weather!

Leon first came to the Sprouts Program when he was 4 years old. At first he was solitary and withdrawn. He hung back when other children engaged, and lived in his own world with no language of his own.

But one morning when I came to him at the SRPOUTS program, Leon was blooming with new energy, excitement and health.  He looked like a new child. A wild child! His face had lit up, he had red cheeks, a wide smile and sparkling eyes.  His language, all but nonexistent a few months before, was bursting forth.

Leon took me by the hand and led me to his favorite fort built out of sticks and saplings. Choosing a story he found set out on a blanket he crawled inside the stick house, invited me in, and asked me to read. Afterwards, he took my hand again and pulled me off on a tour of the woods.

 I watched Leon throughout the morning.  He was curious! He was initiating! Most importantly, he was learning how to play.  He had plenty of time to explore, discover, and investigate without interruption.

The therapeutic benefits of taking children outside for long stretches of time, do not stop with children like Leon. For sure, the gains observed in children labeled with a special need  are often dramatically observable in our SPROUTS Programs. But every child who interacts regularly with the natural world benefits from the sensory balance, the fresh air, the sunlight, the crisp cold wind, and the wide-open space. The difficult behaviors observed in an indoor setting mostly disappear outside. 

To make this possible for Leon and his friends, our SPROUTS  children need good-quality, sturdy outdoor gear to keep them warm and dry. They will be  playing and learning outdoors for at least four hours a day but many of the children we serve are unable to afford this cost  and don't want anyone to be left indoors!

Please help us reach our goal to provide a full complement of appropriate, high quality outdoor gear and equipment for every SPROUTS child. There is no bad weather. Just bad dressing for the weather!

Wild Child Gear Kits each cost around $300 each and include rain gear, boots, mittens,  hats, snow gear, and natural fiber underlayers.

SPROUTS is a Program of Broadbeach Family and community services located on the Maine Coast in Belfast, Maine.  Sprouts is part of a growing national movement offering place-based nature education experiences for young children age 2.5 to 5 years old. Sprouts  uses the High Scope Curriculum and is open to all children,  We offer a strong therapeutic component for children with special needs. There are no residency requirements. For more information visit www.brmaine.org, or call Vicky at 207-338-2200.


Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Seed Bombs!

$50 USD
What could be sweeter than receiving a package of heart shaped Seed Bombs? Our Broadreach Seed Bombs are made by SPROUTS children from recycled paper. Use them to plant a bee or butterfly garden! Seed bombs can also be used as creative gifts, party favours, or an inspiring nature activity for any sort of gathering. Have fun!
Estimated Shipping
December 2016
0 out of 200 of claimed
Ships to United States of America

Native Tree Seedlings

$100 USD
Give back to the earth and plant a tree in your own backyard or donate to a local restoration project. Package comes with 3 native tree seedlings included.
Estimated Shipping
December 2016
0 out of 50 of claimed
Ships worldwide.

SPROUTS Kid-Art Calendar

$200 USD
Our SPROUTS Kid-Art Calendars are the perfect gift for friends and family. Looking for a calendar filled with bold colors and joyful self-expression? We've got it covered! There's nothing like children's art work to make you smile day after day.
Estimated Shipping
December 2016
0 out of 25 of claimed
Ships to United States of America

Wild Child by Lynn Plourde

$300 USD
Wild Child is a beautifully illustrated children's book by Maine's beloved author Lynn Plourde. Makes a lovely gift to inspire children's imagination and connections with the natural world. http://www.lynnplourde.com/index.php/books?bid=17
Estimated Shipping
December 2016
0 out of 25 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Up Caret