Hawk Mountain Earth Center

education

Learning from the Land

Experiential learning and cultural connection for middle and high school students

Our Mission

Hawk Mountain Earth Center is dedicated to recuperating ancestral social, cultural and spiritual ways of life by supporting people of all ages to cultivate healthy relationships with nature, community and self.

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Land Rematriation

In 2023 Hawk Mountain Earth Center joined with other community stakeholders to found Indigenous Mothers Community Land Trust as a federation of Indigenous-led organizations whose mission is to support the next generation of land stewards to acquire land and build sustainable leadership for land based sovereignty and liberation. We seek to tend to Mother Earth and all her relations while healing and regenerating our spiritual and cultural ways of life.

The land trust is currently guided and governed by our Matriarch Circle mothers, Michaeline Picaro Mann, Rev Dele, and Lili Gomez, while operating through a network of community stakeholders including the Ramapough Lenape Nation’s Turtle Clan, Hawk Mountain Earth Center, Soil and Soul inc and Earth Sanctuary.

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Immersive Cultural Land Journeys for Schools

Bring your middle and high school students out of the classroom and onto the land for a day of experiential learning, physical activity, and cultural connection.

At Hawk Mountain Earth Center, we believe that history, science, and culture are best understood when experienced firsthand. We invite students to step beyond the textbook and enter a living classroom. Our guided school trips offer a profound journey through the landscapes and legacies of the Ramapo Valley, blending physical exploration with historical, anthropological, and social teachings Our programs are designed to foster a deep appreciation for the environment, Indigenous history, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Meet Our Team!

We’re a passionate with what we do

Lili Gomez

Land Steward, Community Consultant

Akoth Ambugo

Poppy Jones

Robert Buesaquillo

Regenerative Design and Stewardship

Primitiva Buesaquillo

Outreach Coordinator

Maxim Pavon

Youth Coordinator

Alexander Khost

Board Of Advisors

Julio Gomez

Board Of Advisors

Arelis Hernandez

Board Of Advisors

Wanbli Gleska Tokahe

Board Of Advisors

Rev Dele

Board Of Advisors

Keven Porter

Board Of Advisors

Testimonials

“This trip has made me love nature more than ever before.The hike was amazing and the prayer was very educational and interesting. Everything was beautiful and serene. I will cherish this memory for years to come.”

Student

“Liliana has a wonderful ability to guide children in their exploration of the natural world. She understands how to support their curiosity, encourage independence, and help them navigate the challenges and discoveries that come with outdoor learning.”

Agnieszka Golasik Lead educator – Amber Colibri Center.

“As a humanities teacher I am always looking to create experiences that deepen our studies of history and literature, beyond the classroom. Visiting Hawk Mountain Earth Center was a deep and impactful experience for my students. This trip strongly compliments our readings of native authors and environmental inquiry”

Sara Momii Roberts – Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms.

“Thank you so much for today, I had an amazing time exploring nature, and seeing the beautiful landscape. I also loved learning about Ramapo traditions and I will always remember to value water and nature.”

Student

“This trip made appreciate nature more and cherish my time in the forest, the waterfall made me realize how powerful and relaxing water can make you feel”

Student

“Something that I learned from this trip is that Mother Nature is always there and caring for me.She wants the best for us and is very powerful I also learned about water’s importance during the meditation, sitting by the waterfall, hearing the water fall against the rocks made me grateful for the life water brings to everything.”

Student

“Dear Liliana, Thank you so much for the tour, my favorite part was when we went hiking through the rocks on the waterfall.”

Student

“Thank you so much for the beautiful experience, I really enjoyed the peacefulness of the forest, it made me think about a lot of different things…we need to appreciate nature a little more, thanks again for letting us come and enjoy the woods.”

Student

“This trio impacted me, because I now understand to treat nature as a living being, I am thankful for being able to walk through the forest and get to enhance my senses with Nature.”

Student