Photo Credit: The Watershed Project
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Vision
People who live, work and learn in and near Richmond spend more time outdoors, receiving the many benefits related to health and wellness, social justice, positive youth development and education
Mission
To collectively expand equitable access to the outdoors for people who live, work and learn in and near Richmond
Core Values
The following Core Values were selected by Youth, ROC Steering Committee Members and Program Partners:
Curiosity and Learning: We value inquiry and exploration. We encourage asking questions, seeking new experiences, and being open to different perspectives. We believe that curiosity drives innovation, creativity, and growth. We believe in the importance of continuous growth and development. We often turn to the natural environment for inspiration and wisdom. We actively seek knowledge, acquire new skills, and reflect on experiences to improve and adapt to changing circumstances. We engage in a culture of lifelong learning, where we learn and grow from our mistakes.
Future Generations: We consider the long-term impact of our actions and decisions on those who will come after us. We encourage practices that prioritize the well-being of future generations, fostering a sense of intergenerational responsibility. We are committed to creating equitable systems, protecting natural resources, and promoting cultural heritage, ensuring that future generations inherit a world that is not only livable but also thriving.
Health and Wellbeing: We are committed to fostering holistic wellness in individuals, communities and the environment. This encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health, actively addressing racial and social disparities, as well as the health of our air, waterways and local ecosystem, recognizing that each aspect is interconnected and essential for overall quality of life. We value community-centered approaches to the health benefits of spending time in nature, ultimately leading to more vibrant, joyful, and fulfilling lives.
Kindness and Compassion: We believe in the importance of empathy, understanding, and support for others. Kindness involves acts of goodwill, generosity, and consideration, while compassion goes deeper, encompassing a genuine concern for the suffering of others and a desire to help alleviate it. Embracing kindness and compassion towards the human and more than human world fosters a culture of connection and inclusivity, encouraging individuals to treat one another with respect and care. This core value promotes emotional intelligence, strengthens relationships, and builds community resilience by creating an environment where people feel valued and supported.
Teamwork: We believe in the importance of collaboration, communication, and collective effort in achieving common goals. Just as biodiversity is essential to a thriving ecosystem, we recognize that diverse perspectives and skills enhance problem-solving and innovation, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among individuals and organizations. We encourage open dialogue, trust, and mutual respect, creating an environment where team members feel valued and empowered to contribute. This value highlights the significance of working together, leveraging each person's strengths, and supporting one another to overcome challenges.
Understanding and Empathy: We believe in the importance of actively listening to and appreciating the perspectives and experiences of others. Understanding involves seeking to comprehend the thoughts, feelings, and motivations behind people's actions, while empathy goes further by fostering a deep emotional connection and a genuine desire to support and help those in need. We believe that our understanding and empathy should extend to the more than human world, including the plants, animals and waters on which all life depends.
Goals for the first 5 years of implementation at Nystrom Elementary and Verde K-8
To create a pathway of preK-12 + families outdoor programming so that Richmond youth and families in the identified geographic and school pilot hubs (Verde K-8 and Nystrom Elementary) have access to frequent, repeat and reinforcing outdoor experiences, paving the way for expansion throughout West Contra Costa Unified School District.
Outcome Areas and Outcomes
Education
• Increase in understanding of environmental education program content
• Increase in social-emotional development and competencies
• Increase in engagement in learning
• Increase in culturally relevant curriculum
• Increased positive attitude toward nature and science learning
Positive Youth Development
• Increase in civic and community engagement
• Increase in self-efficacy
• Increased pro-environmental identity
• Increase in participants’ competence, confidence, character, caring, connection or contribution
• Increased motivation and ability to care for community
• Increase in youth reported positive feelings towards family and community
• Increase in time playing and feelings of joy
• Increased sense of community belonging
Health and Wellness
• Increase in time spent in nature and decrease in time spent on screens
• Increase in connection to nature
• Increase in positive attitudes toward nature and environment
• Increase in comfort and enjoyment to explore outdoor spaces
• Increase in self-agency in the outdoors
• Decrease in fear, anxiety, unknown
• Increase in sense of place and place connection
• Increase in perceived wellness and health as result of being in outdoors
Social Justice
• Increase in participants who feel welcome and comfortable in outdoor spaces
• Decrease in barriers to accessing nature
• Decreased perception of natural outdoor experiences and/or areas as inaccessible
• Increased knowledge of outdoor opportunities through ROC and community
• Increase in programs honoring Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) in outdoor spaces in outdoor spaces
• Increase in diversity of organizational leadership, program staff and mentors
• Increase in culturally aware and responsive programming
Year 1 (2024-25) Evaluation Executive Summary
Learn more about the ROC’s year 1 programming (2024-25) in our Evaluation Executive Summary