Gender Inclusion Practices
At NatureBridge, we recognize that gender inclusion practices may be unfamiliar to or uncomfortable for some program participants. We still have much more to learn about the particular challenges that our nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and transgender program participants and staff encounter. We hope that we can all learn and grow together as a NatureBridge community to increase our collective awareness and knowledge.
How NatureBridge welcomes gender expansive students and staff #
- Display a NatureBridge Welcome Sign on every campus that welcomes all people
- Use gender-inclusive language when referring to participants and dorms (e.g. “students” vs. “boys and girls”)
- Provide gender-inclusive bathroom and dorm options, when requested and available
- Arrange accommodation for any participant who may have a privacy concern (e.g. single user restroom)
- Respect pronouns shared by participants and staff
Frequently Asked Questions #
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Why are gender pronouns important?
Assumptions are often made about a person’s gender based on the person’s appearance or name however these assumptions may be different from how they identify themselves. Using someone’s gender pronouns that they identify with is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. Learn more about why pronouns matter.
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We send our students to NatureBridge to learn about environmental science, not gender identity. Will this practice disrupt the program?
Providing a welcoming and affirming learning and working environment is fundamental to our mission and integral to the well-being of our program participants and staff. By creating a welcoming space for students and our educators where they feel they belong, everyone is more ready to have fun and explore their outdoor classroom with confidence.
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How will I see gender pronouns in use during a NatureBridge program?
Your educator may choose to share their pronouns on their nametag or verbally when introducing themselves. We ask participants and chaperones to respect our gender-expansive staff by using their name and pronouns they use.
When a school or group opts into this practice, we also offer the opportunity for participants to share pronouns during our group introductions.
Here is an example scenario of how educators facilitate an introduction:
- “Let’s go around the circle and introduce ourselves. You can say your name, and if you would like, you can share your pronouns. If you’re not sure what I mean, pronouns are a way that people can refer to you without using your name, like ‘She hikes, he hikes, or they hike.’ We want to get your pronouns right without assuming, just like I want to get your name right. If you don’t want to share your pronouns, that’s okay too. To show you what I mean, I can go first. My name is Raven and I go by she/her/hers. Or, you can just say “my name is Raven.”
Here is a list of examples of how participants may respond to the educator:
- “Hello, my name is Kai and I use he/him/his pronouns.”
- “Hi everyone, I’m Taylor and I use they/them/their pronouns.”
- “Hi, My name is Summer.”
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How will students be assigned to lodging?
Teachers from the school assign students to the dorm spaces according to their school policies. NatureBridge does not assign where particular students sleep.
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How are NatureBridge staff trained in gender inclusion practices?
Our commitment to equity and inclusion is emphasized throughout the process of hiring, onboarding and staff training. Staff training includes an overview of guidelines, scenario-based practices and discussions about the importance of gender inclusivity.
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School district resources
Some school districts have created specific policies to protect non-binary, transgender and gender non-conforming students from discrimination in the classroom. Please see below for some school districts that participate in NatureBridge programs. If your district is not listed, please refer to your district’s handbook or reach out to school personnel for more information.
Golden Gate and Yosemite
- San Francisco Unified School District
- Cupertino Union School District
- Sacramento City Unified School District
- Fresno Unified School District
- Los Angeles Unified School District
Olympic
Mid-Atlantic
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Helpful vocabulary around gender
Click here for a list of useful terms, phrases and definitions.
To learn more about why gender-inclusive spaces and using gender pronouns are important for gender-expansive individuals, please contact NatureBridge's Director of Operations Hagit Elaz.
Stories from the Field #
Staff Spotlight: Audrey Galo Championing Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity at NatureBridge
Meet Audrey Galo, NatureBridge’s new Equity and Inclusion Director. Audrey (she/her) lives in Vallejo, CA, and embodies a rich cultural heritage as a result of growing up in Chicago with Central American roots.
A Journey Towards a More Equitable Organization
Miho Aida, a long-time educator at our Golden Gate campus, was recently named NatureBridge's new Director of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity. We sat down with Miho to talk about equity, inclusion and diversity work at NatureBridge and learned how Miho's past is indelibly connected to EI&D work.
“It’s the kids, stupid!”
Now a highly valued and respected Board Emeritus, Linda Brownstein helped NatureBridge weather some of the organization’s most difficult crises through the years. She turned significant vision into reality and created the space for new policy ideation and strategic planning. “It changed how I live my daily life — supporting other environmental causes, recycling, composting, organic farming…some of the most impactful things I've done have really been from NatureBridge.”