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Just ten minutes from Hot Springs, NC, where the Appalachian Trail meets the French Broad River, lies one of North Carolina’s few independent nature schools—Woodson Branch Nature School. Founded in 2008 with just 10 students, it has since grown to serve over 100 children across its 30-acre campus. This steep, elevated land spared the school from the devastating floods that ravaged surrounding communities during Hurricane Helene. Record-breaking rainfall triggered mudslides, sinkholes, and flash floods, leaving millions without power or water, yet Woodson Branch miraculously remained intact. When the storm passed, Founder and Executive Director Deborah DeLisle discovered the school still had power and running water, making it a rare beacon of hope amid the devastation.
Deborah DeLisle found some downed trees in the forest, but local retreat center LightEN quickly sent their team to help clear the area and restore safe access for students. Although the campus was intact, staff members were deeply affected by the storm’s aftermath. DeLisle coordinated a flexible rotation schedule for staff, allowing them to care for their own families and homes while supporting the school’s mission. It became a true community effort, with Pivot Point WNC joining in to lend their expertise in adventure therapy, a supportive, camp-like environment was created for students, many of whom were processing significant trauma.
Over the course of two weeks, Woodson Branch opened its doors to 140 children each day free of charge, combining 60% of enrolled students with 40% from nearby affected areas. The program emphasizes social-emotional healing, providing children a safe space to process the impact of the storm. World Central Kitchen provided meals for students, while Nanostead, a local donation site, prepared meals for the staff.
Moving forward, Woodson Branch continues to serve its students and the broader community, offering a haven for healing, connection, and resilience. As the school expands its efforts to support the ongoing recovery in the area with home cooked meals from this year's school garden harvest and free event space to those that lost their class and vending spaces, it relies on the generosity of its supporters to continue providing these critical programs. In this time of need, Woodson Branch remains committed to nurturing and uplifting its community.
Contact Info:
Name: Deborah DeLisle
Email: Send Email
Organization: Woodson Branch Nature School
Address: 14555 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753, United States
Phone: +1-828-206-5296
Website: https://www.madisoncclc.org/
Release ID: 89146311