Vashon Wilderness Program

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”
-- Rachel Carson

Vashon Wilderness Program (VWP), a nonprofit now in its tenth year, is located on Vashon Island, Washington. Surrounded by the dark blue waters of Puget Sound, Vashon Island is a rural paradise where trees, plants and flowers grow in abundance and people live comfortably in their natural surroundings. It's a perfect setting for a program whose mission is to provide “nature immersion experiences that cultivate deep relationships between self, community and the natural world.”
 
Many of their programs are geared specifically for children. Stacey Hinden, VWP’s executive director, explained that, for the past ten years they have watched kids react first-hand to the nature around them: “We have witnessed more children each year come alive—their curiosity and imagination inspired, their reverence and respect cultivated, and their authentic gratitude expressed.”
 
With the 2016 election of a climate-change denying president, cabinet and many congressional leaders, teaching kids to be great stewards of Mother Earth is essential. KABF is glad to give a grant in 2016 to Vashon Wilderness Program and encourages all who can to support them.
 
Stacey sent us the following message in gratitude for KABF’s continued support: “I am writing to say thank you so very much for the grant award from the Kelly Ann Brown Foundation! Your continued support of our work is deeply appreciated. You are truly helping people live, learn, and lead with joy, vitality, and clarity of mind and heart—a true reflection of Nature’s many gifts.”
 
Stacey also shared with us VWP’s plans for the future that include even more innovative programs: “As we look to the next decade, VWP aims to contribute more deeply to a local culture in which individuals experience themselves as integral to the natural world, and richly woven into the place we all call home.”

Stacey outlined program expansion to include summer camps for 100 children ages four to seventeen. VWP also hopes to expand the weekly and monthly programs that meet during the school year, along with starting new programs, such as monthly overnights for teens and workshops on survival skills. They are also hoping to purchase a van and reach out to children in urban areas, so they too can enjoy the natural wonders of Vashon.

As always, VWP is all about inclusiveness through scholarships: “We will continue our legacy of never turning anyone away from one of our programs due to financial need. As we expand, so does our scholarship demand. This year we awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships, a 56% increase from the previous year; we anticipate nearly $28,000 in requests by our June 2017 award cycle,” Stacey proudly informed us.  

Click here for more info on Vashon Wilderness Program.