DEI: A Deeper Understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Environmental Education World
In 2018, we created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to broaden the impact of our mission across the expansive and diverse communities we serve. Here are some examples of this work in action:
Through Partnerships
We partnered with a variety of community groups bringing people to Camp for leadership workshops, youth empowerment retreats, and outdoor education.
Black Youth Leadership Project, and Square Root Academy, brought Sacramento area youth and teens for a one-of-a-kind camp called Hack the Woods which focused on STEM, environmental education, leadership and social justice principles thanks to a grant from the City of Sacramento Youth Development.
DEI: Redesigned Curriculum
Through Our Education Materials
Additional DEI efforts include “Meet the Scientist” feature in our field notebooks, where various scientists who represent people from historically marginalized groups including – indigenous, women, and BIPOC – are highlighted and introduced to the students. They feature modern-day and real-life people such as Melinda Adams, an ecologist and member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. She also co-teaches at UC Davis a course called “Keepers of the Flame.”
Another example is the Classrooms Unleashed Genius Plants program, designed for second-grade students. Lessons include the plant’s common name, scientific name, and the traditional ecological knowledge related to each plant. Many of these terms align with native and indigenous knowledge as well as traditional native uses.
DEI: With Our Employees
Through Employee Initiatives
We are breaking down inequities and implementing improvements to our benefits such as adding a retirement plan and 30 percent of health insurance premiums are paid by Sierra Nevada Journeys for family members. Additionally, an industry salary assessment was implemented and employee compensation was increased to remain competitive in our field.
Sierra Nevada Journeys has been working on a DEI framework. This foundational project aligns with our core values and is the basis for all work stemming from the strategic plan. A DEI Framework includes guiding principles that foster diversity, equity and inclusion within Sierra Nevada Journeys, with a goal to increase representation at all levels of Sierra Nevada Journeys. It also creates equitable and inclusive workplace culture practices to ensure we are an employer of choice and a safe space for all employees.
DEI: Community Partner Camps
Through Community Partnerships
We hosted 52 organizations and 2,517 participants at Sierra Nevada Journeys Camp for leadership and teambuilding workshops, youth empowerment retreats, and continuing education. As an experiential education nonprofit, we create one-of-a-kind experiences for groups so that they can build unity and trust as they work together on our challenge course.
We partnered with Improve Your Tomorrow on a retreat that was not only transformative but also had immersive outdoor camp experiences. The program engaged about 400 young men of color alongside 15 youth mentors from their College Academy. Through a carefully designed blend of dynamic recreation, leadership development, and educational opportunities, the camp provided a safe, powerful and enriching experience in the outdoors for these young men. Generously supported by the California Natural Resources Agency and its Youth Community Access Program, this endeavor is dedicated to fostering increased youth access to the richness of natural and cultural resources.
Camp Phoenix is a justice-centered program in Oakland, California that inspires teens from the city and reconnects them to nature. Their goal with Sierra Nevada Journeys? Creating a place where campers can be themselves, build relationships, and feel connected to nature and their community. Campers stretched beyond their comfort zone by trying new challenges, gained confidence in themselves, and made lasting memories.
