We are excited to announce that Bethany Christian Schools has received a $7,500 grant from the Mishler Brown Foundation at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County to support our growing outdoor education program. This funding will allow us to relocate our chicken coop and establish a new orchard on campus, providing more opportunities for hands-on learning and environmental stewardship.
The Outdoor Education program at Bethany is rooted in our mission to prepare students to participate in God’s work in the world. By engaging students with the natural environment, we nurture curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of sustainable practices. The program incorporates caring for animals, cultivating a garden, and now, with the addition of an orchard, teaching students about the growth cycle of fruit-bearing trees and the importance of long-term care for creation.
The grant will enable us to move our chicken coop to a more accessible and functional location on campus, allowing students to take a more active role in daily care and egg collection. The addition of an orchard, featuring a variety of fruit trees, will complement our current garden and chicken program by providing a space where students can learn about soil health, pollination, and seasonal growth cycles. These hands-on experiences will deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness of God’s creation and reinforce lessons learned in the classroom.
Thank you to the Community Foundation of Elkhart County and the Mishler Brown Fund for helping us create a space where students can grow in knowledge, faith, and care for the world around them.
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Elkhart County by inspiring generosity.
Since its founding in 1989, the Community Foundation partners with generous donors to leverage their philanthropy in ways that transform lives including scholarship opportunities to local students, and make grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve Elkhart County.