About
Where Learning, Healing, and Nature Come Together
ThorpeWood is a sanctuary for learning, healing, and connection. Here, we invite people of all ages to slow down, step outside, and rediscover themselves through meaningful experiences in nature. Our programs unfold on a 156-acre acre property of forest, fields, and streams in the Catoctin Mountains outside of Thurmont, Maryland, owned by the Merle Thorpe Jr. Charitable Trust.
At ThorpeWood, we believe that time outdoors can restore perspective, foster resilience, and strengthen wellbeing. Our programs combine experiential learning, nature-based activities, and hands-on stewardship to support mental health, personal growth, and environmental awareness. Whether guiding a child through their first creek exploration, walking alongside a young adult navigating grief on a mountain trail, or helping adults reflect on their connection to the planet, our work is grounded in curiosity, care, and connection.
Mission
ThorpeWood’s mission is to reconnect humans and nature to promote mental health, wellness, and environmental stewardship.
Experiential Learning
Engaging body, mind, and heart through outdoor experiences.
Connection to Nature
Harnessing the healing and grounding power of the natural world.
Community and Belonging
Creating safe spaces to connect with others, oneself, and the Earth.
Stewardship
Encouraging care for the environment as a reflection of care for self and community.
Vision
We envision a world where humans and nature are inseparably connected, where time spent outdoors nurtures mental health, strengthens wellbeing, and inspires care for the environment. At ThorpeWood, we imagine communities where people of all ages and walks of life cultivate resilience, curiosity, and empathy through meaningful experiences in nature, and where a sense of stewardship for the planet guides decision-making. Our hope is that every person who steps onto our trails or participates in our programs leaves with a renewed sense of connection – to themselves, to others, and to the natural world.
Values
Connection
We believe that meaningful connection – to self, to others, and to the natural world – is essential for healing and growth. At ThorpeWood, connection shows up in the way we design our programs, build community, and care for nature. We cultivate spaces where people feel seen, supported, and rooted in something larger than themselves.
Stewardship
We are committed to caring for the land, animals, and resources entrusted to us. Stewardship at ThorpeWood means tending to the property with respect, teaching sustainable practices, and modeling a way of living that honors future generations. Every program reinforces an ethic of reciprocity and responsibility toward the earth.
Equity & Belonging
We believe that everyone deserves safe, equitable access to nature and work to ensure that nature-based healing and learning are accessible to every member of our community. At ThorpeWood, this means cultivating safety, representation, and cultural humility, and adapting programs so participants of all backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, and empowered.
Healing
We recognize nature as a profound partner in mental health and emotional wellbeing. Healing at ThorpeWood is not prescriptive – it unfolds through quiet reflection, shared experience, joy, challenge, and time outdoors and with our farm animals. Our role is to offer a supportive container and skilled facilitation for participants to access their own resilience.
Curiosity & Wonder
We create experiences that invite people to slow down, explore, and rediscover a sense of wonder. Curiosity at ThorpeWood is encouraged in children and adults alike through hands-on learning, sensory engagement, encounters with animals, and opportunities to see the world with fresh eyes.
Community Care
We believe healing and resilience are collective endeavors. At ThorpeWood, community care means collaborating with local partners, uplifting one another’s strengths, and building networks of support around grief, wellness, education, and stewardship.
Integrity
We strive to be consistent, transparent, and mission-driven in every decision. Integrity at ThorpeWood means aligning our programs, partnerships, and operations with our core purpose: reconnecting humans and nature to promote mental health, wellness, and environmental stewardship.
Thirty Years of Healing Through Nature
For more than 30 years, ThorpeWood has helped people to step off the beaten path and discover the power of nature to heal, teach, and transform. We invite you to join us – through programs, volunteering, or support – and become part of a community committed to healing, growth, and connection with the natural world.