Vision: Strong Kids. Healthy Planet. It is our vision that every child will grow into an adult able and committed to better our world.
Mission: To guide learning in nature that grows empathy, resilience, grit and a deep connection to the earth. We provide nature connection programs at sea and on land, for all ages, in all seasons, to inspire a deep connection to land and sea, a strong sense of self, and compassion for all.
Core Values: Safety, Hope, Education, Nature Connection, Community, Family, Leadership, Respect
History & Key Achievements: Merrohawke Nature School was co-founded by Captains Rob and Kate Yeomans in November 2007. A year-round, youth-serving organization, Merrohawke provides nature connection programs for upwards of 3,500 youth annually from the cradle to college, on land and at sea. Originally founded as BOAT CAMP Inc., we offered summer-only programs on a 42-foot passenger boat from 2008-2010. In autumn 2011, programs expanded on shore during the school year as we took measured steps towards becoming a year-round, full-time organization.
Early in 2012, Kate Yeomans discovered Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature and began learning about the 8 Shields model of nature connection. As this methodology was implemented in small steps, enrollment and community engagement exponentially increased. Soon we initiated our first phase of rebranding by changing our name to BOAT CAMP Nature School. Two years later, we changed our name to its final iteration, Merrohawke Nature School. Merrohawke derives from the native origin of the name for the Merrimack River. The Agawam, some historians believed, referred to the river as “merroh awke,” meaning “strong place.” We believe time in nature makes you stronger.
To deepen our roots, in 2015 we successfully partnered with Essex County Greenbelt Association to purchase 30 acres of land in Newbury, Mass. from a private landowner. Now permanently protected, this conservation land is our home for many of the programs we offer during the school year, most notably an entirely outdoors Forest Kindergarten for youth ages three-and-a-half to six, October through May, launched in autumn 2013.
Merrohawke’s nature connection programs now include summer maritime education programs onboard three passenger vessels and on land in Newbury, afterschool programs, Forest Kindergarten, homeschool, birthday parties, spring and fall floating lab field trips in partnership with local schools, and community outreach. Since 2014, our fundraising efforts have resulted in more than $160K in scholarship assistance to 204 underserved youth who desired to attend our programs.
In 2020, in addition to strengthening and growing our programs, we are actively seeking a more permanent home as our current location will be impacted by the proposed Waterfront West redevelopment. As well, we are deepening our expertise in Waldorf early childhood education and, following an extensive peer review and evaluation, have been accepted as an Associate Member school of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America.
Service Area: Merrohawke in 2019 delivered 36,635 hours of nature connection to 3,500 youth, aged two to teens, who live within a 50-mile radius of Newburyport. This includes the south-eastern coast of Maine, Merrimack Valley west to the New Hampshire’s Monadnock Valley, and south to Boston’s South Shore.
Funding: Merrohawke operates on 70% program tuition and 30% philanthropy. In 2019, donors funded $59K in full and partial scholarship support for students.
Field Sites: Based in a small classroom on the Newburyport waterfront, Merrohawke provides nature connection programs on land and sea through carefully tended vendor relationships with U.S. Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels (F/V Erica Lee, Yankee Clipper, & Captain’s Lady fleet and Lowell’s Boat Shop), public and private lands.
Staff: Merrohawke operates with four full-time staff, 14 seasonal staff and 12 teen volunteer apprentices. The staff:student ratio is 1:6, sometimes 1:4. All full-time staff have significant field experience, and college degrees (including graduate degrees) and certifications in environmental education, science teaching, early childhood education and/or Waldorf education. All adult staff are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. Kate and Rob Yeomans are also US Coast Guard licensed captains.
Board of Directors: Merrohawke is stewarded by an active, engaged, passionate board of volunteers.
Thomas Murray, president, (2012)
Sarah Gurtman, vice president, (2016)
Vania O'Connor, treasurer, (2014)
Meg Connerton, secretary, (2018)
Olivia Boger (2019)
Rob Ciampitti (2018)
Nathan Gray (2019)
Jane Healey (2019)
Chris Johnston (2019)
David Marroncelli, (2016)
PJ Solomon, (2016)
Harmony Wilson (2018)
