A few weeks ago during Fall Fest at the Nest, the Dining Hall was buzzing with the pre-meal excitement of table setting. A handful of kids were busily distributing napkins, utensils, water pitchers, and more while staff supported and double checked each table. The energy in the room was equal parts determined, angsty, and proud. They rang the bell, opened the doors, and headed to tables with their families like they had done this routine dozens of times before. A few were former campers, but two or three of these helpers had just arrived at 43 Hart Road for the first time. You would have never been able to tell which was which; the experience was one of total inclusion.
This same weekend, we climbed the Climbing Wall, painted pumpkins, baked pies, pressed cider using pears from our pear trees, paddled in the lake, and shared many more meals in between. Throughout each of these activities, what was visible was an environment by and for young people rooted in the natural world.
At Eagle’s Nest and The Outdoor Academy, there is immediate awareness that what you do matters in a shared community. It’s no accident that the jobs we assign to all ages of participants are jobs they do with others and with the support of peers and adult mentors. This is combined with what each young person elects to do through class registration or activity sign ups: choosing a group to share an experience and shore up the courage to try something new! With your continued support, you have chosen to be a perpetual part of this community.
This integration of selected cohorts across our programs including Kindreds, trek groups, table families, cabins, chore groups, and classmates, means every camper and student has an experience of both internal and external challenges. That cycling between challenge and comfort is rooted in the lofty conclusion of our mission: the betterment of human character.
There is so much to do at Eagle’s Nest Foundation that is joyful, fun, and laden with meaning. Your gift this year allows young people to grow in capability, increase understanding of their interdependence with the natural world, and become their best selves. We invite you to deepen this meaningful work by making a gift by December 31, 2025.
I continue to be amazed by this community, this place, and what it has brought to my family in just over a year. I am excited and energized about carrying this special organization into its next chapter, and the meaningful, impactful work we will be embarking on together. The Nest is wide and deep. I am so grateful for your support of young people and our mission!
Giving Thanks to you today, and every day,