about us
our mission
Roots to Sky Sanctuary’s (RTS) mission is to curate a community space that offers place-based programming, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship opportunities that promote and foster cultural, physical, and psychological wellness. We welcome children with families to explore in joy and safety and nurture a commitment to protecting the environment.
Our inaugural “Re-storying the Potomac” project expands local employment opportunities and supports economic revitalization through cultural heritage, outdoor leadership, maple syrup farming, arts, healing, and nature tourism in Garrett County, MD.
Roots to Sky’s 125 acres of land is situated in the heart of ancestral Cherokee, Iroquois Federation, and Massawomeck Indigenous lands and is just a few thousand yards downriver from the start of the Potomac River—the site known as the Fairfax Stone. The foundation of our “Re-storying the Potomac Fellowship Program” is this site located at the source of the Potomac River and is a prominent cultural destination marker in the region.
Our project convenes a living, breathing exhibit that includes the stories and experiences of all those who have lived on this land throughout history. We are leveraging local partnerships to ensure that the Upper Potomac becomes not only a premier destination for recreation but also offers a vibrant multicultural educational experience that highlights our rich, interwoven folk narratives and heritage.
Through the process of storytelling within multi-media creative platforms and strengthening the bonds of community and connection to the natural environment, individuals of diverse backgrounds will have an opportunity to orient themselves within Appalachia and its rich history and stories.
