Project Stewardship provides enriched learning experiences for young adults of all ages, serving as a bridge to understanding self, others and the natural world. Our program offers a variety of channels for young people to get involved in becoming effective participants in their own learning, livelihoods and successes – pairing education and socialization!
Program participants meet twice monthly for a group workshop at Sangha Education Center and an outing to one of our community partner locations. We afford young adults the opportunity to develop confidence, social awareness, and communication skills, as well as problem solving and coping strategies, as they explore areas of interest and embark on new experiences. Additionally, cultivating leadership skills enables opportunities in caring and advocating for people and planet. Learning the the importance of personal well-being and environmental stewardship occurs while making new friends with peers and mentors.
Some examples of hands-on workshops explored have been: mindfulness for stress reduction via Body Mind Education, astronomy workshop and telescope observations via Amateur Observers Society of NY, the ancient art of how to balance and bring in positive energy via Luminous Spaces Feng Shui, live mammal workshop including artifacts and fun facts via CEED center for environmental education, media and theatre arts via SUNY Old Westbury Web Radio (OWWR), TV Studio and Gifted Souls Theatre Club, and a recent favorite… Spirit of Huntington Arts Center for their Artists Come Alive program and an amazing sculpting class!
And our young people have experienced wonderful outings together to Restoration Farm for a farm tour and medicinal plant exploration with Ellen Khami, the Natural Nurse, boat rides and environmental beach cleanup of the South Shore Bays with Operation Splash, a local history outing to the Wantagh Railroad Museum managed by the Wantagh Preservation Society, an art exhibit: Ansel Adams and A Century of Photography and nature walk at the Nassau County Museum of Art, museum activities related to Long Island geology, Native American archaeology and natural history at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, several cultural arts workshops and outings sponsored by Long Island Traditions, and many MORE!
Our Project Stewardship program has been offered for eight years now. We are grateful to our many community partners who work with us and invest in our youth.
Sangha Education Center collaborates with various department at SUNY College at Old Westbury such as First Year Experience, Honors College, Psychology, Education, and Media & Communication for workshops, outings, and special events. In addition, college students from SUNY Old Westbury come on board as interns and volunteers, working with us in a variety of capacities (i.e., peer-mentors, assistant teachers, research assistants, blog writers, photographers, and more). Interns and volunteers participate in our orientation training and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) basics training through our Community Support Group.
We are privileged to work with graduate students from Stony Brook University and Adelphi University students via Capstone Projects who have contributed to the expansion of Sangha Education Center initiatives providing additional opportunities for our Project Stewardship participants. We are a collaborative community!
If you would like to contribute towards a Project Stewardship scholarship, see our Scholarship page! Feel free to donate a full or partial scholarship or more than one. You will be changing the life of a young person through your generosity!