HANCOCK – French Woods Festival for the Arts, a nationally renowned performing arts summer camp located in the Catskill Mountains of Hancock, has completed the installation of a vibrant, educational perennial pollinator meadow featuring over 800 native plants. The initiative reflects the camp’s ongoing commitment to engaging youth not only in the arts, but also in stewardship of the natural world.

In collaboration with local landscape design studio Mama Garden Co. and Jenny Jones of TerreMoto Landscape Architecture, French Woods transformed a portion of its campus into a living, immersive classroom. The new meadow is designed to ignite curiosity in campers aged 7 to 16 through hands-on exposure to biodiversity, sustainable landscaping practices, and the beauty of native ecosystems.

Some of the native and pollinator-friendly species now flourishing on-site include foxglove, yarrow, inkberry, allium, goldenrod, beebalm, catmint, and feverfew. The planting also incorporates edible herbs such as oregano, thyme, dill, and mint – inviting exploration through scent, taste, and touch.

“As a camp rooted in the creative arts, we believe deeply in inspiring young people to explore and create with all their senses,” said Michael Knauf, Camp Director. “This new landscape project helps bridge the gap between art and nature, offering our campers an opportunity to engage with and be inspired by living systems.”

The meadow installation took place over the course of a week, signaling a larger vision for the camp’s grounds creating more climate-appropriate, regenerative landscapes that will thrive for generations to come. 

In a time of environmental flux, French Woods is investing in long-term resilience and education by nurturing not only the next generation of artists  – but also young environmental thinkers.