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Construction has commenced on a new environmental education center in Hudson. The ReGeneration Campus will serve as a permanent home for Kite's Nest, a youth education organization that focuses on justice, social connection, and creativity. The two-acre facility will offer programs on ecological education, the arts, and youth leadership.
Located on the Hudson riverfront, the center will feature an 8,500-square-foot building with several learning spaces, including an arts workshop, digital media and recording studio, learning kitchen, and classrooms. The facility will also expand on the campus' existing 1,400-square-foot learning greenhouse, completed in 2022. According to News10, the project is supported by $7.1 million in New York State grants, with funding from various state agencies, including the New York State Council on the Arts and Empire State Development.
Kaya Weidman, co-executive director of Kite's Nest, expressed excitement about the project, stating, "The ReGeneration Campus will be a permanent home where children and teens can thrive, where their voices are centered, and where they can lead the way to building more just and resilient communities." The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton emphasized the importance of local-level environmental education and expressed pride in supporting community-based organizations like Kite's Nest.
The center will also provide space for community partner organizations to convene and collaborate, broadening the project's reach and impact across the Hudson Valley and New York State. A grand opening date has not been set yet, but the facility is expected to be a significant community asset, promoting sustainable development and environmental justice in the region.