Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: NorthBay Education Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: NorthBay
Mailing Address: 11 HORSESHOE POINT LANE
City: NORTH EAST
State: MD
Postal Code: 21901
Main Phone: 4439670500
Main Fax:
Organization Website: northbayeducation.org
Employer ID Number: 52-2112929
Organization Tax Status: 501c3 nonprofit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 9/25/24
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Outdoor School General Support
Project Description:

Today’s students are more disconnected from nature than ever, spending over an hour on social media for every minute spent outside. This over-reliance on screens is replacing real-world connections, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and mental health issues. As one of the nation’s leading outdoor schools, NorthBay offers a transformative solution by integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into immersive nature-based experiences. Through our 97-acre campus along the Chesapeake Bay, students engage in hands-on environmental education, team-building, and high-adventure challenges that build critical life skills, improve academic performance, and reduce behavioral issues.

Since 2005, NorthBay has served nearly 300,000 public school students, with a focus on 6th graders from underserved communities. Eighty-one percent of our students are students of color, 72% live below the poverty line, and 15% are English Language Learners. These students face numerous challenges, from limited access to educational resources to housing instability and the digital divide. At NorthBay, they find a sanctuary where they can connect with the natural world, develop resilience, and build confidence, often experiencing the outdoors in a meaningful way for the first time.

Research shows the profound mental health benefits of spending time in nature, including reduced stress and improved mood and cognitive function. NorthBay is dedicated to using the natural environment as an integrating context for learning, shifting student attitudes toward leadership and environmental stewardship while supporting academic outcomes. To sustain and expand these life-changing programs, we rely on philanthropic support. Your donation will help us continue offering reduced rates to schools, allowing students to explore nature, discover new passions, and develop skills that will shape their futures.

Total Project Budget: 6,000,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Henry and Ruth B. Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation, Robert and Toni Bader Charitable Foundation, Maryland Department of Education, School Revenue, NorthBay Guest Services

Project Duration: Fall 2025 to Summer 2026
Geographical Area Served: Baltimore City and surrounding Maryland Counties
Age Group To Be Served: 6th grade students

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Steven
Contact Last Name: Kennedy
Contact Title: Foundations Manager
Contact Phone: 2674219207
Contact Email: skennedy@northbayadventure.org