Introducing the Second Nature Canopy Fund

At Second Nature, we believe that healing, learning, and thriving shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be a right.

Every day, I have the immense honour of witnessing children and families find their rhythm, rediscover joy, and reconnect with their sense of self through our nature-connected, neuro-affirming therapeutic programs. It’s sacred work and it is work that I am proud. But I also know, too intimately, that access to these kinds of services—ones that truly honour a child’s neurotype, culture, trauma history, and unique voice—is not equitably distributed.

And that breaks my heart.

Because for every child who makes it into our forest school or therapeutic learning nest, there are many more whose families are desperately seeking support—but are met with waitlists, cost barriers, or programs that don’t truly see them.

The Cost of Care—and the Cost of Inaccessibility

I often hear parents say, “We’ve tried everything. Nothing fits. This is the first time my child feels safe.”

And safety should never be a luxury.

And yet, systemic inequities—economic, racial, gender-based, disability-related—compound to create immense barriers for families already carrying the weight of caregiving in a world not built for their children.

Many of the families we serve at Second Nature are navigating multiple layers of marginalization. Single parents. Queer families. Families new to Canada. Families with children who are not only neurodivergent but also racialized, disabled, or living below the poverty line. These intersections matter. They shape how trauma is experienced, how healing is accessed, and how belonging is built.

This is why intersectionality is at the heart of what we do.

A Space That Welcomes Everyone

Second Nature isn’t just a program. It’s a movement. A return to community. A reclamation of the belief that when children feel safe, respected, and regulated—they can bloom.

We’re here to challenge the systems that have failed so many of our children and families. To reimagine education and therapy not as top-down interventions, but as partnerships rooted in empathy, co-regulation, nature, and relationship.

And we’re committed to removing the financial barriers that keep families from reaching our forest gates.

Tuition Support: A Step Toward Equity

Thanks to the generous support of donors and the emerging work of Second Nature’s Canopy Fund, we’re now able to offer tuition assistance for families who need it most. This isn’t charity—it’s justice.

By creating sliding scale options, sponsorships, and community-funded spots, we are walking the talk of accessibility and equity. Because if we say every child deserves to be seen and supported, we must back that belief with action.

Every dollar donated, every scholarship offered, is an investment in the collective wellbeing of our communities. It says: Your child matters. Your story matters. You are not alone.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever felt the sting of being “too much” or “not enough” in a system that doesn’t fit—know that there’s a place here for you.

If you’re a family searching for support that honours your child’s neurodivergence and your family’s truth—we’re here.

And if you’re someone with the means to give—know that your contribution has a direct and transformational impact on the life of a child, and the resilience of a family.

Let’s build something beautiful together. A world where therapeutic care and inclusive education grow like trees—rooted deeply, reaching widely, and accessible to all.

With heart and hope,

Anastasia Machan

Founder, Second Nature