2024 Annual Appeal to Support CEED

Dear Friend of CEED,

 Nature gives us so much and now is an opportunity to give a little back. I would like to share a story that shows how your support of CEED is a way to give back to Nature for all she gives to us.

 CEED’s purpose is to strengthen our connections with nature, allowing the opportunity to support a healthy environment.

 The story I want to share was told to me by a volunteer.  It’s about how the Wavemakers program is an example of strengthening connections and giving a little back.

 Wavemakers is a free program for kids ages 8-16 that guides them to learn about environmental and ecosystem issues and then helps them develop ways to communicate about those issues. We call it “Wavemakers” because the idea is to encourage future environmental leaders who make waves and change the way we conserve and restore the natural world.

 I’ll let the volunteer who told me the story take over…

 “I was working on the wall in the front hallway, and I couldn’t help but overhear the Wavemakers kids who were joyfully brainstorming how to communicate about the issue they were studying. The kids were working collaboratively to create a plan for a video about the subject. The kids were buzzing with ideas, and instructors did a beautiful job of guiding without pushing.

 “I felt so good about CEED in that moment. We were connecting young people to nature and using all the best powers of art to communicate about the wonders of nature, the benefits nature offers to people, and the threats to the natural world of Long Island. It was so much fun to witness!”

 I couldn’t agree more about what Wavemakers does with kids, and about what CEED is doing overall. I’m so grateful for you and everyone else who is part of our mission.

Wavemakers is just one program, of course.

 We are offering nature-centered art classes, amazing science and inspirational speakers, survival programs, forest bathing, our summer adventure camp … all ways to connect people to nature. Our seasonal festivals and Sculpture on the Trail are bigger and better every year.

 With your help, we can continue to grow and offer more programs to more people. Over 650 people took part in CEED programs this year so far. And we just created PuddleJumpers, a program like Wavemakers, but for younger kids, ages 4-7.

 Meanwhile, we’re also working hard to make the Washington Lodge a special home for all of this action.

 Some exciting news on that front! We just completed a revamp of the entire electrical system of the building. This was a serious safety issue, and we are so happy to have it repaired.

We are working to get a full evaluation of the building from a structural and mechanical standpoint, so we will know what needs to be fixed first. The roof is next! The full estimate is over $200,000 for the full replacement of all roofs.

 Meanwhile, our volunteers are hard at work fixing walls and ceilings, painting, etc.

We are trying to do, on a larger scale, what the Wavemakers kids do in their weekly sessions.

 We’re learning about our natural world, our Washington Lodge home, and we’re using all the tools of art and science to communicate and connect people to the wonders of nature.

 As part of the CEED community, you are part of all of this and we need your continued help.

Your support helps us continue to develop new programs, to offer more programs free or at low cost so everyone can take part, to repair and restore the Washington Lodge, and to build a vibrant community of nature lovers on Long Island.

This is our most important fundraising appeal of the year. And it’s the time of year when many people make donations to support the local causes they care about.

I hope you’ll be able to support CEED to be a part of all the exciting things that are happening here.

Thank you!

El Buen Vivar

With Gratitude, Sally Wellinger

Executive Director

 “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall