Flying Deer Nature Center (FDNC) is a nonprofit wilderness school and community dedicated to mentoring children, youth, adults, and families in deep connection to nature, self, and others.
FDNC is a community built on the strength of our diversity, the passion of our individuals, and our relationship with the whole ecosystem. We believe strongly that a mix of diverse ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and values is needed for our community to grow and thrive. We also carefully consider our impact on our land, and the natural communities that call it home. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives.
At Flying Deer, staff positions and programs are open to people of all histories, backgrounds, religions, genders, identities, and abilities. We celebrate the intersectionality of Flying Deer participants. As such, we strive to assist in the development of a Flying Deer experience where all participants can feel welcome, safe, respected, and free to participate as their authentic, whole selves. FDNC recognizes that diversity is multifaceted, and it is our responsibility as educators to understand, embrace, and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual and family we serve. FDNC welcomes and does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, nationality, religion, or abilities.
To provide informed, authentic leadership for equity, FDNC strives to:
- See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff, students and our larger community
- Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services
- Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness
- Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact FDNC’s work, and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission
- Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff and committees.