NATURE-BASED
ART & ECOLOGY PROGRAMS FOR NYC SCHOOLS
Hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences that weave together art, fashion, clay, ecology, and science—designed for Pre-K through 8th grade and brought to life in classrooms, schoolyards, and nearby parks through after-school programs, in-school residencies, and special workshops.
Ongoing weekly enrichment programs held at your school
Wild Architects: Building with Nature
Create shelters, sculptures, and structures using natural and recycled materials while exploring balance and design.
Little Botanists: Art from Observation
Draw, paint, and study plants from life while exploring pattern, detail, and texture.
Color Lab: Pigments & Alchemy
Create paints and dyes from plants, soil, and minerals through hands-on experimentation.
Re-Fashion Lab: Wearable Worlds
Transform recycled textiles into wearable art while exploring design and self-expression.
Form & Clay: Earth to Object
Sculpt organic forms inspired by nature using clay and natural materials.
Wild Objects: Jewelry & Small Sculpture
Create small sculptures and wearable pieces using seeds, stones, and found materials.
Comics & Illustration Studio
Develop original characters and stories through drawing, comics, and visual storytelling.
Tinker Lab: Bridges, Wheels & Motion
Create structures, moving objects, and simple machines while exploring how things balance, spin, and work.
Format:
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8–16 week sessions
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45–90 minutes
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Ages grouped (3K–5th or Middle School)
At Creative Nature NYC, we design customized, multi-session residencies tailored to each school’s goals, space, and curriculum. Our process begins by listening—to the questions, ideas, and project dreams of teachers, students, and administrators. From there, we co-create meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect art (painting, collage, drawing, fashion design, building, sculpture, clay and performance) with science and the natural world—whether in classrooms, schoolyards, or nearby parks.
Age Groups: Pre-K 3 through 8th Grade — groups can be tailored to your school’s needs
Examples:
Nature Engineers: Design Lab
A hands-on, inquiry-driven residency where students explore how nature solves problems and use those insights to design, build, and test their own creations. Nature is the original engineer—and children are natural designers.
What it looks like:
Students observe natural systems and translate them into design challenges:
Observing how a leaf channels water → How might we design roofs or drainage systems?
Studying bird nests → How can we build strong structures with limited materials?
Exploring burrs → How did this inspire the invention of Velcro?
Investigating spider webs → How do tension and flexibility work together in design?
Through sketching, building, and testing, students develop engineering thinking rooted in curiosity and observation.
Impact:
Students develop problem-solving, design thinking, and collaboration while strengthening artistic expression and ecological awareness—learning to design with nature as both inspiration and collaborator.
Culmination:
The residency concludes with a collaborative Design Expo / Living Lab Exhibition—students present prototypes, test ideas, and share their process through drawings, models, and dialogue.
Upcycled Fashion Lab: Mending the Planet, Caring for Ourselves
A creative, hands-on residency where students explore sustainability, self-expression, and care through fashion design using recycled and natural materials.
What it looks like:
Students gather recycled and found materials from home and school, transforming them into wearable art while learning textile and design skills:
Observing how we walk and move → How might we design sandals that support our bodies?
Exploring stitching and joining techniques → How do we connect materials so they move with us and remain strong?
Mending worn fabric → In traditions like sashiko, repair becomes decoration—how can mending tell a story of care?
Through designing, making, and reflecting, students build creative confidence and a deeper understanding of sustainability.
Impact:
Students develop creative confidence, fine motor and design skills, and artistic voice while cultivating ecological awareness and care for materials, community, and environment.
Culmination:
The residency concludes with a collaborative Fashion Show & Exhibition—a joyful runway experience celebrating creativity, community, and sustainable thinking.
AFTER-SCHOOL
Community Superheroes: Art, Identity & Collective Care
A hands-on, inquiry-driven residency where students explore what it means to care for their community and imagine themselves as everyday superheroes. Through collage, drawing, painting, and sculpture, students design characters, symbols, and stories that celebrate empathy, courage, and collective responsibility.
What it looks like:
Students observe their surroundings and reflect on acts of care, transforming these ideas into creative challenges:
Noticing helpers in our community → Who takes care of us, and how can we honor them through art?
Reflecting on our own strengths → What are our unique “superpowers,” and how can we visualize them?
Through collage, drawing, painting, and building, students create superhero portraits, masks, capes, and sculptural elements that bring their characters and ideas to life.
Through making, storytelling, and reflection, students develop creative confidence while connecting personal expression to a larger sense of belonging and purpose.
Impact:
Students build self-awareness, empathy, and collaboration skills while strengthening artistic voice and storytelling. They begin to see themselves as active contributors to their communities—capable of care, leadership, and positive change.
Culmination:
The residency concludes with a collaborative Community Superheroes Exhibition / Parade, where students present their characters, wearable pieces, and sculptures, and share the stories behind their work in a celebratory, community-centered event.
IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES
Flexible, high-impact sessions for classrooms or grade-wide experiences
(Single or Short Series)
Examples:
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Cardboard Utopias: Collaborative City-Building
Design and build imaginative cities using recycled cardboard and found materials.
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Secret Messages: Invisible Ink Lab
Create hidden messages using natural pigments while exploring simple color-changing reactions.
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Underground Worlds: Soil & Microorganisms
Explore the hidden life of soil through drawing, storytelling, and natural pigments.
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Liquid Light: Charcoal & Carbon Lab
Create charcoal drawings while exploring transformation and the properties of carbon.
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Color from the Earth: Natural Pigment Studio
Experiment with minerals, plants, and soil to create a rich palette of handmade paints. -
Format:
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45–90 minutes
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One-time or multi-day
WORKSHOPS
WHO WE’VE PARTNERED WITH
