Camp Fire- Excelsior, MN
Nature Fellowship Development
With nature as our catalyst, we energize youth to discover their spark so their future glow brighter.” Camp Fire Minnesota’s mission is delivered through three core programs: preK-12 Environmental Education field trips and in-class programs, nature-based summer and school-break camps, and after-school nature programs. In 2022 we led nature experiences for 10,490 youth; 48% participated in Camp Fire programming with financial assistance. A VISTA member will research and create the infrastructure to launch a Nature Fellowship Program. This new program will address a critical need in the environmental field that is predominantly White and lacks racial representation. Only 12% of U.S. government environmental agencies and nonprofit environmental staff identify as BIPOC, despite constituting 40% of the U.S. population (Pearson, 2018). Green job careers are growing, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, but opportunities to experience the benefits of this growth have yet to be equitable. As identified by the Hennepin County Climate Action Committee, "BIPOC populations are underrepresented in the environmental workforce. For example, although BIPOC residents comprise more than one-third of the U.S. population, they occupy less than 16% of staff and board positions within environmental organizations and only 12% of leadership positions, according to a 2016 Harvard study." This exciting opportunity will address the inequities built into our systems, build partnerships, and create an equitable pipeline for young people who value nature. The Nature Fellowship Program will create a pipeline to green jobs for historically under-resourced populations. The goals of the program include: Improving representation at Camp Fire and in the environmental field. Increasing cultural competency within Camp Fire programs and curriculum. Expanding our leadership development program to engage young adults ages 18+.