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) experiences has transformative power for building individual and community capacity. We believe in the rights of all people to connect with nature, engage in creative self-expression, and to develop confidence through self-sufficiency. The STEAM center is designed to cultivate a sense of wonder through inspiring art and artistic activities; grow confidence through positive STEM experiences; and increase capacity through hands-on skill-building. 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, arts, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). 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 art and artistic activities; grow confidence through positive STEM experiences; and increase capacity through hands-on skill-building.
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. Our approach is rooted in principles of education, inspiration, and self-reliance. Through arts activities and spaces, we encourage creative self-expression and inspiration. Through hands-on STEM experiences, we encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through regenerative agroecology training and experiences, we foster connections to the land. Our programs center connection and skill-building, promoting community internal sufficiency. These activities promote local and home-scale practices that grow community health, food sovereignty, and environmental stewardship.
The interconnectedness of STEAM, self-sufficiency, and regenerative agriculture nurture a comprehensive approach to sustainability. Meaningfully equitable and inclusive access to forest spaces is essential. Through this integrated approach, we aim to cultivate equitable, thriving communities that are environmentally conscious, technologically and mechanically adept, and deeply connected to local ecosystems.
