Sustainability Education in Appalachian Ohio
Tenderfoot / ten·der·foot / noun
· a novice or beginner
· one who walks with a light footprint on natural resources
· a long-distance hiker at the beginning of their hike
Registration is live for the Fall Fungi Festival!
October 14-15, 2023
Tenderfoot is hosting Rural Action’s inaugural mushroom-themed festival.
This is a camp out-style event that invites all folks to deepen their appreciation of fungi and the richness of Appalachian Ohio. Vendor spots are available for nature-inspired artists. Kids 12 & under are free.
Upcoming Events
pawpaw festival
September 15 – 17
Come see us at the Pawpaw! We’ll be announcing our 2024 event line-up, revealing a new slate of workshops available by request, and raffling off passes to our biggest events of the year. The Pawpaw Festival is not held at Tenderfoot; this is an annual community event held at Lake Snowden.
Fall Fungi Festival
October 14 – 15
A celebration of mushrooms and everything they inspire – art, food, wellness, and community! Camp on our beautiful 16-acre property, go on guided forest walks, try mushroom-themed meals, and enjoy local nature-themed art.
Fall volunteer day
& Lunch
October 21
Help us build our outdoor classroom and prepare for winter! We’ll lay the floor for the classroom, put the garden to the rest for the year, plant fall garlic, and share a locally-sourced lunch. Thanks to ServeOhio for funding our Make a Difference Day project!
What Students Are Saying
“Tenderfoot has given me an experience of a lifetime. Practically learning skills through gardening, cooking, project collaboration, and adventure have all greatly impacted my knowledge of sustainability.”
— Anna Grabowsky, Ohio University, ’25
“Tenderfoot has provided me with the perfect environment for learning… everyone is patient and accepting of the inevitable learning curve. And there isn’t any pressure to be perfect as everyone, including the teachers, is learning with us!”
— Veronica Jennings, Ohio University, ’26
Latest Blogs
We Don’t Talk About Doom, No No No No
Lately, my social media algorithms are showing me a new theme: college students talking about teachers and classes that transformed their passion for environmental activism into anxiety, fear, and apathy.
Re-Entry Pains
by Lindsey Rudibaugh. This is a post I wrote after completing the Appalachian Trail but never published. News of aspiring thru-hikers hitting the trail this month has me feeling an aching nostalgia, so I brushed this off to finally share.
Learn With Us
Summer Internships
Join a cohort of students with interdisciplinary skills living together to work on local sustainable projects.
Spring Break Experiences
Interested in living more sustainably with like-minded people? Experience a new lifestyle and culture without the high cost of traditional study abroad.
HipCamp
Rent Tenderfoot’s campsites to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with nature. All proceeds from our campsites directly support our sustainability education programs.
“Eating is universal. It’s a great entry point for living more sustainably. That’s why we make food the heart of the Tenderfoot experience. “
Lindsey Rudibaugh, Co-Founder and Director of Tenderfoot Learning Lab
What We’re Cooking
