Equity, Inclusion & Diversity

At NatureBridge, we work to increase access to our parks and provide safe, inclusive experiences for all of our students. But is it enough to increase access? Can we guarantee the safety of our black and brown students beyond the confines of our national park classrooms? Can we say, with confidence, that these are your public lands, that you can experience and enjoy them without fear? That in these spaces you will be regarded and treated equitably?

Less than one year after California wildfires led to the closure of our Southern California campus, Boeing generously granted NatureBridge $120,000 to support environmental science education for Southern California kids at our campus in Yosemite National Park, enabling hundreds of transformative experiences.

Educator Jasmin Gonzalez shares her perspective on inclusivity in the outdoors through the lens of a group of sixth grade students from Davis Middle School in Compton, California.

Harold Galvez of Vine Street Elementary School has been working toward making a NatureBridge trip a reality for his students for nearly 10 years. And on February 18, he’ll accompany 34 sixth grade students to Yosemite National Park—a first-time trip for almost the entire group. 

Longtime partner REI donated 250 sustainable “Outdoors for Everyone Poncho” to our Olympic campus, helping all kids feel like they belong by ensuring that they stay dry and comfortable during programs in the often inclement Pacific Northwest weather.

Since its establishment nearly a century ago, Prince William Forest has served as a place for Washington, D.C. youth to discover the natural world. The history of the park dates back to a legacy of access and, eventually, inclusion—a legacy that continues to be upheld by NatureBridge today.

The NatureBridge Educator Development Program (EDP) provided Marley with a platform to combine her love of adventure with her passion for increasing access to the outdoors. Today, the Golden Gate educator spends her days in the Marin Headlands, sharing her zest for the natural world, knowledge of the environment and commitment to diversity with NatureBridge students.

On International Women’s Day, we recognize the women who help make the world a better place. Those who inspire others to be courageous, to follow their hopes and dreams, to be brave in the face of adversity.

Learn about NatureBridge educator Shahne Belveal