Leave no trace: why we wheel everything in and out of the forest

Our forest classroom has no shed and no storage. Every rope, tool, journal, bowl, microscope and camera is wheeled in at the start of a session and wheeled back out at the end.

We are guests in these woods

We meet at William H. Pouch Scout Camp, a 120-acre camp in the Staten Island Greenbelt and the only Boy Scout camp within New York City limits. It is a rare, wild place in the middle of the city, and we want it to stay that way. Families help steward a small section of the woods, and children learn early that caring for a place is part of playing in it.

Less is more

Because we carry everything, we bring only what we need: simple, open-ended materials that invite imagination. Sticks, mud, rope and a few real tools go further than a bin of plastic toys ever could.

Giving back

Every session ends with a gratitude circle and a seed offering, a small way of giving back to the forest that gives so much to us. It is a quiet moment, and it is often when children share the most.

How you can help

Sturdy, simple supplies make our wheelbarrow work. Glass jars become paint pots, tarps become shelters and rope becomes almost anything. See our gear wishlist, or make a donation toward tools and supplies.