CONNECTING CHILDREN & FAMILIES TO NATURE
H A W A I ‘ I N A T U R E C E N T E R
OUR MISSION
Hawai‘i Nature Center seeks to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding and stewardship of Hawai‘i’s environment by educating children with an interactive and immersive approach.
OUR HISTORY OF SERVICE
This noble work started deep in a tropical rainforest in 1972 when the Outdoor Circle’s Parks Committee proposed an education center in O‘ahu’s Makiki Valley In 1981, the Makiki Environmental Education Center opened and five years later grew to an independent 501(c)3 non-profit the Hawai‘i Nature Center.
In the early 1990s, HNC branched out to Maui with a center in ‘Īao Valley where it has offered a vibrant collection of programs ever since This environmental education nonprofit is not a chapter of a larger organization. HNC is home-grown, local and independent It relies on support from friends like you.
A TRAIL BLAZER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Recognizing the benefits of connecting children and adults to nature
HNC has been a pioneer in environmental education and protection in 1981.
HNC programs are conducted outdoors and expose children, ages 6 to 11, to nature and educate on topics such as: forest, wetland, coastal ecosystems, climate change and personal responsibility to protect and preserve Hawai‘i’s natural resources.
MORE GREEN TIME
The lessons HNC taught range from the water and nutrient cycle to more interdisciplinary issues of healthy watersheds. These topics become the scientific building blocks for the next generation of environmental leaders to understand and address more complex issues such as climate change
In-the-field curriculum brings in-classroom teaching to life with observations, investigations and experiments.
Each year educators deliver programs to 18,000 school children of which 9,500 are from underserved schools. Nature Adventure Camps are held during school breaks promoting environmental stewardship to an additional 2,000 children annually.
HNC is distinct as both of our Centers are located adjacent to unique Hawai‘i habitats providing comprehensive learning opportunities.
LESS SCREEN TIME
On average, Americans between the age of 8 to 12 spend four to six hours every day on screens. HNC supports upwards of 70,000 hours of outdoor education every year.
OUR WORK IS IMPACTFUL
Stanford University* systematically searched academic literature and identified 119 peer-reviewed studies that were published over 20 years that measured impacts of environmental education on K through 12th grade students.
ENVIRONMENTAL: BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
improved academic performance enhanced critical thinking skills development of personal growth and lifebuilding skills such as confidence, autonomy and leadership increased civic engagement positive environmental behaviors
*https://www
SINCE OPENING OUR DOORS...
1 MILLION children have been educated since 1981
knowledge in science, mathematics, reading, writing and more emotional and social skills
environmentally friendly behavior
academic skills (21st Century skills)
motivation to learn, including enthusiasm for and interest in school
$ 13,000
in scholarship funds awarded to Title 1 families to attend Nature Adventure Camps (2020)
PROGRAMS
We have successfully introduced five programs that integrate State of Hawai‘i DOE: Next Generation Science Standards into HNC curriculum
20,000 KEIKI & ADULTS
Nature Adventure Camp (NAC) School Programs
Outdoor EDventure Days
Homeschool Science Series
Weekend Educational Program
10,000 KEIKI connected to nature each year per year from under-served Title 1 schools
tandfonline com/doi/full/10 1080/00958964 2017 1366155
HAPPY FAMILIES
HI Nature Center has been a Silver Lining. I can’t count how many times Alex and I spoke to one another, agreeing that HI Nature Center was the bright light and saving grace of the pandemic. You have been instrumental in helping Nina avoid screens, social isolation and associated mental health problems Unlike many parents this year, we have watched our daughter learn, grown and thrive!”
We are so happy to have found this Nature Camp for Nainoa! He is really lucky to be able to come to such a beautiful place and be free to explore, play, be creative and most all, have fun with other friends!”
We truly appreciate HNC and its awesome teachers for keeping our daughter safe and happy during her summer nature camp sessions. She looks happy when I drop her off and excitedly tells me about her adventures (esp the fishing at the stream and the hikes) during the day. This has been a blessing when parents like me and my husband are trying to figure out how to keep working fulltime, and having a safe place for our daughter (she is our world) to spend her days outdoors and with other children, exploring.”
LEADERSHIP TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Secretary Treasurer President Emeritus
Lacey Nakaguma Bank of Hawai‘i
Tran Chinery Alexander & Baldwin
Guy Churchill Bank of Hawai‘i Eric Wright Par Hawaii
JAMES GEIGER, ESQ.
Mancini Welch & Geiger LLP
JOSH HARGROVE
Prince Waikiki
G ROBERT JOHNSTON
Hawaii Pacific Solar
MCKIBBIN MIST
D.R. Horton
CAITLIN MOON Cades Schutte
TANNIS THORLAKSON SULLIVAN, PHD
Driscoll’s Director of Sustainability
NICHOLAS PASLAY
Hawaiian Electric
JERRY RAUCKHORST
Retired from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i
MICHAEL VACHIO
JL Capital
INA WONG AHL
Todd Cullison Executive Director Pauline Kawamoto Operations & Volunteer Program Director Emma Shelly Education Programs Manager Gavin Moffat Fund Development Coordinator