Fresh Air Fund

THE FRESH AIR FUND, AN INDEPENDENT NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCY, HAS PROVIDED FREE SUMMER EXPERIENCES TO MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SINCE 1877.

THE FRESH AIR FUND'S SHARPE RESERVATION IN FISHKILL, NY, HAS OVER 2,000 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL LAND WITH LAKES, PONDS, STREAMS AND HIKING TRAILS THROUGH THE WOODS. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE FROM COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL GROUPS IN THE TRISTATE REGION PARTICIPATE IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE OFFER STUDENT, AND COMMUNITY GROUP HANDS-ON, INTERACTIVE, EXPERIENCE TO LEARN ABOUT THE THE ENVIRONMENT AND EXPLORE NATURE. GROUPS VISIT THE SHARPE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, THE GUSTAFSON PLANETARIUM, OUR HIGH AND LOW ROPES COURSES, AND THE NUMEROUS NATURE TRAILS ACROSS THE RESERVATION. OUR PROGRAMS ARE CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH GROUP. WE FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR LEARNING THROUGH TEAM-BUILDING, PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ALONG WITH RICH LEARNING ON CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE FRESH AIR FUND'S CAMPING PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE YEAR-ROUND ON THE FUND'S SHARPE RESERVATION AND DURING THE SUMMER AT HARRIMAN STATE PARK. IN THE SUMMER, 3,500 NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW THROUGH IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. CAMPERS SWIM AND ROW BOATS ON THE LAKE, STARGAZE, HIKE NATURE TRAILS AND LEARN ABOUT ANIMALS AND WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM AT THE CAMP FARM AND NUTRITION CENTER. CAMPERS RETURN HOME WITH MORE CONFIDENCE,NEW SKILLS AND NEW FRIENDS. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, CAMPERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN YEAR-ROUND LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THROUGH TUTORING AND MENTORING PROGRAMS.THE FUND'S ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A STRONG NETWORK OF SUPPORT ON THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY THROUGH ITS CAREER AWARENESS PROGRAM, THE COLLEGE CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS AND ITS TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS.

VIRTUAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS -IN SUMMER 2020, WHEN TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS WERE CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FUND DEVELOPED FOUR NEW PROGRAMS TO CONNECT CHILDREN WITH NATURE THROUGH LIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR BY BRINGING THE "OUTDOORS INDOORS": FRESH AIR EVERYWHERE, FRESH AIR TEEN PROGRAMS, FRESH AIR FAMILY WELLNESS AND FRESH AIR SUMMER SPACES. ALL PROGRAMMING IS CONNECTED TO THE FUND'S POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP INNER STRENGTH; BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT NETWORKS; EXPAND PERSPECTIVES AND SET GOALS; AND TAKE ON CHALLENGES AND LEARN LIFE SKILLS.

APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FRESH AIR CHILDREN VISIT RUAL, SUBURBAN AND SMALL-TOWN COMMUNITIES ALONG THE EAST COAST AND SOUTHERN CANADA, CALLED FRIENDLY TOWNS, DURING THE SUMMER. DURING THE ONE OR TWO WEEK VISITS WITH VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND THEIR HOSTS FORM BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP BY SHARING PERSONAL, DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCES. CHILDREN TRAVEL TO A NEW PLACE, DEVELOP INDEPENDENCE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE, ALL WHILE MAKING MEMORIES AND HAVING FUN. EVERY HOST FAMILY GOES THROUGH A RIGOROUS SCREENING PROCESS INCLUDING A HOME VISIT, INTERVIEW, REFERENCES AND A BACKGROUND CHECK. MANY FRESH AIR CHILDREN ARE RE-INVITED TO STAY WITH THE SAME HOST FAMILY YEAR AFTER YEAR AND FORM FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. CHILDREN ON FIRST-TIME VISITS ARE SEVEN TO 13 YEARS OLD. REINVITED CHILDREN MAY CONTINUE THROUGH AGE 18 AND MAY ENJOY EXTENDED TRIPS.