Welcome to the Castalia STEAM Outdoor Center!
Come Adventure, Make and Learn With Us!
We are a non-profit organization located in Castalia, North Carolina. We are on a mission to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) to nature access programs. Whether you’re organizing a school group, looking for family fun, or searching for weekend adventures, you’re in the right place!
Incorporated in Dec. 2023, we are just getting growing! Check back frequently for new program offerings and an ever-growing calendar of events. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a beat! And if you have program ideas or requests, accessiblity notes for planning your visit, or you just want to say hi, please contact our team! We look forward to welcoming you to the forest and farm soon.
Mission
Building well-being for youth and communities through outdoor learning experiences.
Engaging in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) has transformative power for building individual and community capacity. Castalia STEAM Outdoor Center offers community programming in the connected practice areas of STEAM and regenerative agriculture. Holistic well-being requires feeding the spirit, body, and mind. We believe in the rights of all people to connect with nature, engage in creative self-expression, and to develop confidence through self-sufficiency. These capacity-building skills and experiences are foundational to equitable and thriving communities.
Vision
The Castalia STEAM Outdoor Center is a space for teaching, learning, and inspiring connections to nature, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and the arts. The center is a living classroom where experiences in the forest and workshops forge connections between people, communities, and the environment. Our programs and practices embody experiential sustainability and artistic expression. The STEAM center is designed to cultivate a sense of wonder through inspiring artistic activities; freedom through hands-on skill-building; and confidence through positive STEAM experiences. The center seeks to build community-scale resource security through locally appropriate sustainability technologies that support independence in food, water, and critical infrastructure. Curriculum standards-aligned program design supports STEAM education and interest in careers through hands-on natural living classroom experiences. We believe there is value in meaningful spaces for whimsy and fun. The arts programming celebrates the creativity living within the beating heart of every person and helps this creative spirit grow and thrive. Arts are embodied throughout the centers’ practices and spaces, blended into the infrastructure, operations, and teaching styles.
Theory of Change
We believe in building community through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and regenerative agriculture. Our approach is rooted in principles of education, inspiration, community empowerment and self-reliance. By providing hands-on, immersive STEM experiences in natural settings, we foster innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through spaces for creative self-expression, we seek to create opportunities for inspiration and empowering artistic pursuits. Through access to regenerative agriculture and forest spaces, we are fostering nature connections. We promote local and home-scale regenerative farming practices to grow community health, food security, and environmental stewardship. We facilitate access to green outdoor spaces, recognizing the crucial role in supporting holistic well-being and environmental consciousness. Our programs empower individuals with practical skills and knowledge, promoting resilience and community internal sufficiency. We share our view of interconnectedness of STEAM, self-sufficiency, regenerative agriculture, and local ecological systems, nurturing a comprehensive understanding of sustainability. Through this integrated approach, we aim to cultivate equitable, thriving communities that are environmentally conscious, technologically adept, and deeply connected to local ecosystems.
