Who we are
About us
Our vision
Everyone feels safe, welcome and included in the outdoors and is able to receive the many healing benefits of nature
Our mission
Inclusion Outdoors partners with leaders, organizations and coalitions to expand equitable access to nature through community-led strategy, capacity building, and pro-justice learning grounded in nature-based practices.
Why Inclusion Outdoors?
There are countless ways to connect with the outdoors- shaped by personal interests, cultural traditions, values, and histories. Ways of enjoying time in nature are rich, varied and alive across communities.
At the same time, many communities face systemic barriers that limit their ability to safely, comfortably, and meaningfully connect with nature.
Those most impacted include, but are not limited to, low-income communities; Black, Indigenous and People of Color; people with disabilities; and the LGBTQIA+ community.
These barriers show up in real and persistent ways, including:
Not feeling represented, welcome, or safe
Apprehension or fear rooted in past harm or exclusion
Racism, hate crimes, and unnecessary police involvement
Financial barriers, lack of time, transportation or proximity to outdoor spaces
Lack of outdoor spaces designed to meet diverse mobility needs
At Inclusion Outdoors, we work across sectors to remove these barriers- so that people of all identities and abilities can access the many benefits of time spent in nature.
Pro-justice commitment
Inclusion Outdoors has a responsibility and commitment to embody, honor and advance pro-justice approaches in our lives and work. This is an ongoing and perpetual practice that evolves as we learn from the various communities we engage with.
We seek to expand equitable access to nature for people who have been historically excluded. We follow the leadership of members of these communities.
We recognize that social injustices impact all aspects of our lives, including our ability to connect with nature. We strive to contribute to removing barriers to outdoor access.
We foster diverse ways for people with all identities and abilities to cultivate their unique relationship with nature that reflects their cultural and ethnic practices and values.
Inclusion Outdoors worked with Maria Weatherborne, Richmond Outdoors Coalition Steering Committee Member, to lead its initial family Bike Bus that supported green-mode transportation to a family-friendly community event and also granted access to donated bikes, helmets, and free bike repair maintenance.
Outdoors:
what we mean
The outdoors should be accessible, welcoming and safe to everyone, no matter who you are, where you’re from and where you live, work and play. The outdoors include, but are not limited to, the following spaces:
Anywhere nature is found, including schoolyards, gardens, backyards, parks, sidewalks, multi-use paths and trails, greenways, transformed vacant lots, etc
Water sources, including ponds, lakes, streams, reservoirs, baylands, wetlands, riparian corridors, oceans, creeks, rivers, estuaries, etc
Open and undeveloped spaces and easements
All natural ecosystems beyond ‘green spaces,” including deserts, snow-covered mountains, beaches, etc
Learning centers and environments that are dedicated to sharing education about the natural world, such as museums, zoos, aquariums, etc
Anywhere people feel drawn to the more than human world
