Week 6 - Story Keepers (Free Half-Day for Caregivers + Little Ones)

With the help of the Grassroots Fund we are now able to invite more families to our pop-ups this summer. Thanks to this support, we've decided to host free, donation based spots for caregivers with younger children (Newborn - 3 years old) to attend the morning half (9AM - 12PM) of our pop-ups. These timeslots will be facilitated by our guest speaker of the week and will be full of learning and exploring. If you'd rather sign your child up for the full day drop-off program, please click here to navigate to that page.

Summer Pop-up Description:

Join us this summer in Edgerton Park, as we get curious together and imagine new ways of connecting to and caring for our natural world.

Designed for children ages 3–8, each of our Summer Pop-Up days focus on children's relationships with themselves, each other, and the natural world. Hosted in partnership with community organizations, these full day drop-off experiences explore their vital role in the web of life, discovering that we are all connected, we all belong, and we can solve problems together!

Register for 1 or all 6 Full Day (9AM-3PM) sessions!
Fridays – July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7

Our days include:

• We offer plenty of open playtime with water, soil, clay, plant-based art materials, books, musical instruments, and natural, open-ended toys
• We invite children into multicultural dance circles, collaborative games, musical merry-making, and imaginative exploration
• We take treks using tools that help us listen, hear, and understand the life around us including binoculars, compasses, and field guides
• We protect space for children to make their own choices, share their voices, and build trusting relationships with themselves, each other, playworkers and the land
  

At Brave Nature Collaborative, we believe that children deserve dignity, autonomy, and access to joyful, liberatory learning and play spaces.

Our Summer Pop-ups are a celebration of that belief — a place where all beings are treated with care and respect, and where children can grow their confidence, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.

Tuition Equity, Accessibility & Belonging: The natural world models for us that everyone belongs, we all have unique and vital roles to play, and our collective flourishing is always mutual. BNC's programs have been thoughtfully designed for all children of Greater New Haven and their communities. At present, our programs are entirely tuition-funded.

Pay What You Can
In order to remain financially stable, we offer a limited amount of "pay what you can" slots each session for qualifying families. To qualify, families must meet FOUR or more of the following criteria:
1.) Is from a household that qualifies for certain federal benefits based on family income/family size (HUSKY, TANF, SNAP, and Section 8 Vouchers).
2.) Lives in one of the following New Haven neighborhoods: Newhallville, Dwight, the Hill, Fair Haven, West River, West Rock, Dixwell, Amity, or Prospect Hill.
3.) Is not enrolled in another nature-based program.
4.) If one or both caregivers did not attend college or were first-generation college students.
5.) Lives in a single-caregiver household.
6.) Has a family member who is already enrolled in Brave Nature Collaborative programs.

As we grow and pursue new funding sources, we will extend our financial flexibility and capacity to accommodate more families.

Brave Nature Collaborative 501(c)(3) is a New Haven Parks based non-profit organization serving children and families in the Greater New Haven area. We design and facilitate joy-filled multigenerational outdoor learning circles where communities come together to practice children’s sovereignty and ecological reciprocity. To learn more about us please visit www.bravenaturecollaborative.com.