Our Work
Nature Based Learning
We partner with schools and community organizations to develop and deliver nature education programming for young people, and families.
Community Building
We organize activities that build the connection community members have with the environment and each other.
EVENTS
Nature-Based Learning Symposium 2023
Nature-Based Learning Symposium 2023
Your Donation Will Help Us Grow
Our programs are in their early stages of development. Pilot programs and introductory experiences are growing into sustainable initiatives with the help of donors and supporters. Please consider making a donation or getting involved.
Read Our Blog To Learn More
Thank you.
Thank you. This last year has been an extraordinary example of what is possible when we come together to make great things happen. It was a year ago that we found out Rochester Ecology Partners had been approved as a nonprofit and it is truly incredible to see what we...
Where is Everyone? – Going Outside with AMDA School #12
Where is everyone? This question makes the class of kindergarteners crouched in the vegetable garden behind their school giggle, laugh, and do other joyful things that quickly reveal their hiding spots. We were outside to play and do many other important things on this crisp fall morning.
From a Seed to A Sapling – August 2022 Newsletter
From a seed to a sapling. That is what it feels like right now as Rochester Ecology Partners enters a new stage of growth. In the last two months we had our first big event, added a board member, brought new people onto our team, moved into an office for the summer, and have worked with our partners to launch the Neighborhood Nature Summer Program.
Launching the Greater Rochester Environmental Community Directory
Rochester Ecology Partners is happy to announce the launch of the Greater Rochester Environmental Community Directory. Over 100 groups dedicated to improving community well-being and the environment for all have agreed to be listed and more are expected to join as they learn about the directory. The directory can be found at rochesterenvironment.com.
Meet “Timber” Timmy Okung – Naturenaut
“Nature is unpredictable and interesting, and being immersed in nature often allows us space to be unpredictable and interesting ourselves.” This quote exemplifies Timmy Okung’s approach to her work with Rochester Ecology Partners. Timmy aims to provide nature based...
Urban Sustainability Exploration: RIT Momentum II
Introduction Today we will be exploring places in Rochester that contribute to our community's sustainability. Some of the ways they contribute to flourishing future are obvious and some take a bit of analysis to understand. Once we have explored these places we will...
Hiring Neighborhood Nature Program Assistants
Rochester Ecology Partners is seeking Program Assistants for our Neighborhood Nature Enrichment program on Fridays from 12:15 to 3:15 at Genesee Community Charter School’s Flour City Campus. We are looking to hire 2 individuals that are enthusiastic about engaging young children in nature based learning.
NextGen Rochester Grant Awarded for Youth Nature Programming
NextGen Rochester recently awarded Rochester Ecology Partners a $3000 grant to launch our Neighborhood Nature: Wild Winter Adventure program with youth from Agape Haven of Abundance. Rochester Ecology Partners will take 20-30 youth from Agape Haven of Abundance on 3 adventures around Rochester, exploring an urban, suburban, and rural wild place for Neighborhood Nature: Wild Winter Adventures.
Nature and Health Outcomes for Children Grant
We are excited to announce that Rochester Ecology Partners (REP) was awarded a $5,000 grant the Browncroft Pediatric Research Foundation to coalesce the science behind the benefits of nature-based learning with the health and wellness of Rochester’s children. In addition, REP will leverage this grant to develop a tool to assess the impact of our programs on health and social/emotional wellbeing of participants. This project will help bring forward the ultimate benefits found from REP’s educational programming and mission to connect all people to nature where they live, work, and play.
22 in 22: Celebrating A Year of Meeting Our Parks
How many of the 22 County Parks did you get to this year? 2022 is about to come to an end and it is a good time to check in and wrap things up for the 22 in 22 project. Our goal was to create a community effort that would lead to more awareness of the natural beauty in our parks, greater connection among our neighbors, and ultimately a healthier community. This project took on a life of its own and by many measures it was a huge success.
Green, Gray, and Brown Time is a Great Gift
We were recently discussing what to call time spent connected to nature. One research article compared “green time” to “screen time”. It is a clever rhyme but this time of year it is hard to think of time outside as green time. More like “gray time”. If we are being a little more generous about how colorful the world is here this time of year “brown time” might work. Whatever you call it some green, gray, and brown in our lives is very beneficial. This is especially true if you share this time with someone else.