Proceeds from the festival benefit Living Classrooms' educational programming as well as the continued maintenance of Kingman Island as an educational and recreational space for the community. Living Classrooms Foundation is a regional nonprofit organization serving youth and families in Washington, DC and Baltimore and the surrounding metropolitan areas with innovative hands on education, job-training, and health and wellness programming. Our mission is to strengthen communities and inspire people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job-training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as "living classrooms."

The organization was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1985 with a philosophy based on the concept that students -- especially those in need of extra guidance -- placed in small classes in challenging settings respond to real-world applications of academics and the "work world" far more readily than they do in traditional classrooms.

In 2001, we expanded into Washington, DC to meet the needs of some of the National Capital's most disadvantaged residents. Currently, we serve over 10,000 individuals each year through a multi-generational approach that includes targeted educational programming, customized job-training and placement, effective health and fitness opportunities, and a wide range of supportive services in an effort to break the cycle of generational poverty.