EverWild’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Since 2020, EverWild has been dedicated to ensuring our programs are a diverse, equitable, inclusive and safe space for all. We believe all children deserve to benefit from time spent in nature and all nature-based mentors deserve the space to nurture this connection regardless of race, gender identity, gender expression, culture, age, orientation, or set of abilities.

While nature connection is our primary focus, we play, explore and create in a rich ecosystem booming with biodiversity. This diversity is observable in the animals, plants and fungi in our environment. As such, these topics may arise while exploring the landscape, when mentors or students choose to share their pronouns, in storytelling or books books, and when learning about the local ecology. 

For example, Matilija poppies, Bay trees, barnacles and nudibranchs have both reproductive parts allowing them to be male or female to support the reproduction of their species and in some cases they can reproduce entirely on their own. Male western fence lizards mount one another to defend territory. Seagulls do not always mate with females. Male bottlenose dolphins mate for life. And Fungi… Well, we’ll let you google that on your own.

We utilize the EverWild Agreements and age-appropriate language to implement an inclusive environment. In programs including children ages 7+ our mentors may share their pronouns and may invite the students to do the same (however, doing so is not required). Across all our classes our mentors model gender neutral language. For example when we see a hiker on the trail we might say something like, “wow, they are hiking really fast”. Or when spotting a frog, “they can jump really high!”. When the mentors are speaking to one another or with the children they will use proper pronouns and will encourage the same of others. 

We offer daily land acknowledgements during our morning gatherings or throughout our adventures by giving gratitude and honoring the Chumash, Tataviam, and Tongva tribes whose land and seas we play, craft, and gather on. Our curriculum includes their honest history. Whenever possible, we seek to include them in our programming. 

We recognize the need for the Nature Connection Movement to become intersectional. We are taking action to diversify the outdoors by providing scholarships based on financial need and increasing opportunities for marginalized children to access nature. We are increasing representation in the outdoors for marginalized communities by encouraging individuals who are BIPOC and LGBTQ+ to apply for nature-based mentorship and leadership positions.

During our work towards authentic inclusivity we have joined several outdoor forest schools and leading outdoor brands in signing the Outdoor CEO Pledge by the In Solidarity Project. In doing so, we have teamed up with inclusion advocates who are providing ongoing training, communications, and accountability for our workforce. The pledge states:

“We’re part of a demographic shift: the Census Bureau projects that the country will have a majority non-white population by 2044. As Glenn Nelson of The Trail Posse writes, ‘If that new majority has little or no relationship with the outdoors, then the future of the nation’s parks, and the retail and nonprofit ecosystem that surrounds them, will be in trouble’.” Click here to read the full pledge.

We call on others to join us in the work of diversifying the outdoors and cultivating inclusive and safe spaces for all people to connect with nature. If you have questions, would like to share your experiences with us, or would like more information please email info@everwildla.com.