At Planet Aid, we believe the future of our planet depends on how we inspire and educate the next generation. That’s why we were proud to award our $25,000 PACE (Planet Aid Capacity & Environmental) Grant to the Community Ecology Institute (CEI) in 2024, supporting a shared mission to nurture environmental stewardship through hands-on, nature-based experiences.
CEI, based in Howard County, Maryland, is a local nonprofit devoted to cultivating communities where people and nature thrive together. Their Families in Nature (CFIN) program brings parents, caregivers, and children together in nature through year-round programming. These experiences don’t just create cherished family memories—they also help foster deep, lasting connections to the natural world.
With the support of Planet Aid’s PACE Grant, CEI’s CFIN program expanded two core offerings in 2024 and 2025: a Family Nature Club and an early childhood program called Seedlings.
Both programs reflect our shared values—helping children develop a sense of wonder and respect for nature, while supporting community connections and sustainable practices.
CEI’s Seedlings playgroup, which launched its 2025 season in February, welcomes young children and their caregivers to explore, play, and learn in natural settings. Held at CEI’s Freetown Farm and the Green Farmacy Garden, each event begins with engaging exploration stations—think nature-themed sensory tables, secondhand kitchen play sets, nature ID guides, and cozy reading corners with picture books.
Led by facilitators who are both Maryland Master Naturalists and early childhood educators, Seedlings sessions blend free play with guided outdoor activities like looking for bugs under logs, identifying local plants, or exploring trails. Events are held Fridays and Sundays from February through November, and thanks to an indoor classroom at the Green Farmacy Garden, children were able to stay connected to nature even on chilly days.
From February to June 2025 alone, Seedlings families spent a total of 378 hours in nature, building both knowledge and a strong sense of belonging in the outdoors.
The Family Nature Club offers experiences for children and adults of all ages, with special attention to the 5–to 10-year-old crowd. The club meets one or two times a month, focusing on active exploration, environmental service, and creative expression.
Highlights from recent outings include:
CEI’s commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with Planet Aid’s values. Events like the Green Friday Fun gear swap—where families exchange outgrown boots, rain gear, and outdoor clothing—support reuse, reduce waste, and make outdoor exploration more accessible to all.
As Mary Oliver once said, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” At Planet Aid, we are proud to support organizations like CEI that help children and families pay attention to—and fall in love with—the natural world.
Through this partnership, we’re not just nurturing young environmentalists; we’re helping build a generation of compassionate, curious, and climate-conscious citizens.