Our outdoor education programs provide enriching experiences for children, and community groups, encouraging exploration, creativity and self-discovery. Every program can be customized to meet your own academic and social objectives.
TRIPS AND PROGRAMS
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Day Trips
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Residential Trips
We are open seven days a week, by reservation only. The grounds are not open to the public. The length of trips may vary in length from a few hours with day trips to several days with residential groups. Spend the weekend in our our heated lodges or rustic cabins. Enjoy outdoor fire pits, hiking nature trails, stunning mountain overlooks and our beautiful lakes which offer great recreational opportunities.
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Environmental Education Programs
With nature as a classroom, students learn through exploration and a hands-on interactive curriculum. We also offer environmental science classes such as forest ecology, environmental solutions, climate change and biodiversity, and more.
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Grants Available to Local Schools
The following links are possible funding sources for schools to help fund your trip to local Outdoor Education Centers like Sharpe Reservation:
- Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES): State aid for field trips is available through your local BOCES – contact Sharpe to help connect you.
- Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley: The Community Foundations, through a grant from the Dyson Foundation, is pleased to offer a Field Trip Grant program. This grant program is designed to distribute funds to public schools in Dutchess and Ulster Counties to enhance classroom learning opportunities. Funding priority will be given to high needs schools/ districts. 2023 deadlines TBA.
- Field Trip Directory: A directory of day, overnight and travel trips and available grants.
- Watershed Agricultural Council: This competitive matching grant program awards to 4-12th grade classroom in municipalities wholly or partially within the East and West of Hudson Watersheds or the 5 boroughs of NYC to help pay for watershed forestry-related tours to the NYC Watershed. Applications are due in early January & August.