Every summer my family camps for a week in Yosemite National Park. We camp with a group of about 5 other families. Some families we know, and some we don't until we get there. We all live in different cities, grew up in different areas, and as a group we span 5 generations. What we have in common is our love for the outdoors and sharing experiences in nature with our family and friends. And for each of us, adult and child alike, there are different trails, viewpoints, and activities that connect each of us to the park.

And we are not alone in our quest to hike to waterfalls, to watch the glow of Half Dome at sunset, or to marvel at the reflection of the mountains on Mirror Lake. Each year Yosemite, like many of our national parks, is filled with people from all over the country, and all over the world. A whole host of humans with a common goal much like ours, to experience the beauty of this natural area, and hopefully understand the importance of the conservation of natural areas.

And just like the diverse ecosystems that make up the park, these diverse groups of humans who experience and connect with the park, also contribute to the conservation of the park. By bringing a wide range of audiences and visitors, preserved natural areas from national parks and national forests to smaller scale nature reserves like ours, benefit from diverse perspectives, knowledge, and experiences in and about nature.

Part of understanding diversity in the outdoors and how diverse visitors can help conservation efforts begins with reshaping our views of what an “outdoorsy” person looks like. Essentially reframing who we think of as “outdoorsy” to include simply people who like to be outdoors. No matter how hi-tech or low-tech their equipment, or where and how they connect to the outdoors. To include sitting in the garden, visiting parks, or exploring accessible spaces as outdoor activities. By expanding its meaning, we can encourage more people to connect with the outdoors in their own way.

By reframing who is outdoorsy and what defines an outdoor activity, we not only create more diverse visitors and audiences and outdoor spaces, but we also make outdoor spaces more welcoming. Outdoor spaces and natural areas should not only be welcoming but they should create a sense of belonging. So, people feel not just invited into a space but feel integrated and valued in that space. Studies show that when people feel they belong in nature and connect with natural spaces they are more likely to engage in conservation efforts.

How are we at The Nature Reserve working towards reaching diverse audiences?

One of the ways we try to reach diverse audiences is by bringing “nature” into neighborhoods. Access can be a barrier to visiting the wilderness areas of The Nature Reserve. So, we bring programming in local parks, community centers, and libraries where we can give people the opportunity to participate closer to home. These programs include Summer Nature Programs at Ladera Ranch Library or the upcoming community lectures on Tarantulas and Other Many-legged Critters of the Night or Birds of Prey, among others.

We try to remove monetary barriers and increase the diversity of people by offering low-cost and free programming for the public. Many of our programs are free or at a small cost. Our monthly Reading with Reptiles is free and gives families with young children a chance to meet Rosy the snake and Buckwheat the tortoise during a nature-themed story time. During our free Coffee, Tea, and the Birds events, we welcome birders of all levels for a morning of birdwatching. In addition to hot beverages, we also bring along binoculars and field guides, so the only thing participants need to bring is their curiosity – and a reusable mug.

Diverse visitors and audiences often have different accessibility needs. For programs offered on The Nature Reserve, we try to meet those needs by offering a wide variety of accessibility options. We offer multi-mile hikes on single track trails through wilderness areas of the habitat reserve, but we also offer shorter walks on more accessible trails. We also recognize that not everybody enjoys time in nature by hitting the trails and bagging peaks. Different people connect with nature in diverse ways. Some through art, like Nature Journaling, and some through moments of quiet stillness like those who join us for our Forest Bathing programs.

To attract more diverse audiences, we want to create spaces and experiences where everyone feels welcome and like they belong regardless of who they are, their experience level or ability. We have ways that we are meeting those goals right now and ways that we're still working on it. And if you want to be part of the effort, reach out, connect with us, or volunteer with us.