Friends of Cocoons

FRIENDS OF COCOONS NONPROFIT SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 

Friends of Cocoons 501c3 (FOC) was formed to promote year round environmental education in the Cocoons wetland meadow, backwoods, and barn. 

Research shows that young children who spend  a significant amount of time outdoors constructing their knowledge are happier, healthier, are more focused and become creative thinkers who far exceed their peers who are not exposed to this kind of educational opportunity. 

We are committed to facilitating outdoor environmental education at Cocoons. Wehave constructed 5 outdoor classrooms and spend a minimum of 2 hours every day outside playing and exploring regardless of the weather. 

FOC partnered with Eagle Scouts who built a mud kitchen on the playground and a secret hideout-playhouse in the meadow. Recently FOC partnered with the RSU21 Alternative Education students to facilitate the construction of a new footbridge leading to the back 40 and a replica of an Abenaki longhouse.

Animal pelts, books, and benches have been very generously donated so we can start to teach children about the Maine Abenaki way of life. We forage, cook, track animals, explore our vernal pool and woods, and sing and dance. We are beyond excited about this opportunity to enrich the lives of hundreds of little people in the years to come. 

Unfortunately one of the major ice storms in 2023 compromised the longhouse roof. This year FOC is raising money to repair the log roof and construct a clear plexiglass roof above the structure so it can used as a permanent signature classroom for many years to come. 

Our goal is to raise $10,000. 100% of all donations benefit on site projects. The FOC board is composed of only volunteers. 

If you are able, please consider making a contribution to FOC by either mailing a check to FOC at 35 Heath Rd, Kennebunk, Me 04043; by using your credit card by clicking the secure link above; or by accessing matching funds through your work. Many companies match donations through a platform called Benevity, and we have registered to enable donations and matches through this platform as well. https://causes.benevity.org/causes/840-204248270

The generous corporate matches enables even more funds to make it to our programs. Many companies will match on both one-time or recurring giving. FOC 501c3 is registered to make this possible.  All donations are deductible to the full extent of the law.