About Us
The Agriculture, Wellness, and Ecology (AWE) Program is an initiative of the Keney Park Sustainability Project and represents the current iteration of more than 20 years of community-based work in Hartford. What began as family-centered programming evolved through sustained listening, community relationships, and collaboration into a land-based educational model that reconnects people to food, nature, and one another.
AWE offers experiential learning opportunities that integrate agriculture, ecology, and wellness, supporting participants of all ages in building practical skills, environmental awareness, and lifelong connections to the natural world. From growing and preparing food to exploring ecosystems and practicing mindfulness outdoors, AWE programming strengthens individual well-being while fostering community resilience and environmental stewardship.
"We are reconnecting people to the healing power of nature. Let’s embrace the outdoors."
AWE
Our Vision
Our vision is to expand the impact of the Keney Park Sustainability Project by bringing its community-informed, land-based education model to parks, schools, and green spaces across Connecticut. Rooted in access, dignity, and empowerment, AWE builds on decades of successful programming while remaining responsive to the unique needs and voices of each community we serve.
By integrating agriculture, wellness, and ecology, AWE represents the next evolution of KPSP’s mission, connecting people to the land, to each other, and to healthier, more sustainable ways of living.
Our
Mission
The AWE Program supports communities as they empower themselves through hands-on learning, educational outreach, and collaborative partnerships that connect people to land, food, and wellness. Developed through ongoing community conversations and shaped by lived experience, AWE provides accessible opportunities for skill-building, environmental stewardship, and self-reliance.
Through programming delivered in partnership with schools, nonprofits, and community institutions, AWE supports learning and growth in parks, classrooms, and shared green spaces across Connecticut, cultivating healthier individuals, stronger communities, and deeper relationships with the natural world.
