New Outdoor Classroom Opens at House of Hope's Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart
STUART, Fla. – An outdoor classroom tucked into a wooded area on Dixie Highway in Stuart is the newest addition to House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment.
“The interest in using outdoor spaces for programming during Covid inspired this permanent outdoor classroom,” according to House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “It expands our useful space for teaching and learning, makes great use of the park-like garden that we’ve created on the campus, and helps with revitalization efforts for this part of our community.”
The outdoor classroom, a covered space that can be used year-round, was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. It complements the classroom spaces inside the Golden Gate Center for Enrichment. “Our programs have proved so popular,” Ranieri said, “that we welcome this additional space.”
House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at both Golden Gate in Stuart and in Jensen Beach offer a full calendar of no-cost classes and workshops focusing on education, career readiness, health and nutrition, and arts and culture. Many of these programs are facilitated by partner agencies that are subject matter experts. Others are facilitated by House of Hope staff and volunteers. Services vary at each site and change to reflect the needs of the community. The Enrichment Centers also feature computer labs with access to free printing.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the new learning environment will be held on Wednesday, February 8, at 2 p.m. at the Golden Gate Center for Enrichment, 3223 SE Dixie Highway, Stuart, FL. 34997.
For more information about House of Hope and its Centers for Enrichment, visit www.hohmartin.org.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 7,000 people each month helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, and a Thrift Shop in South Stuart, Hobe Sound and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Enrichment Centers in Stuart and Jensen Beach offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being. House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hohmartin, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/houseofhopemc/, and Twitter https://twitter.com/hohmartin.