Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
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We believe our world needs everyone to be a good steward of planet earth. Through our shared values of respect for each other, community, the environment, and ourselves, GRP cultivates a place where you can connect with nature, be authentically youself, and become the next generation of environmental stewards.
WE WELCOME, AFFIRM, AND SUPPORT ALL CAMPERS AND STAFF
Regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, faith or religion, cultural observance, national or ethnic origin, family status, appearance, body type/size, educational background, socioeconomic status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others - you belong here.
WHY DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
We want to build a diverse camper and staff community at Green River Preserve, and we also want to foster an environment where diverse ideas and experiences are welcomed. We acknowledge and seek to remove barriers by making our community more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Land and Ancestor Acknowledgement
Multitudes of indigenous artifacts, dating from 10,000 BC to 500 AD, have been found on the Preserve over the years. We recognize that many indigenous peoples have lived in the valley before us.
We at Green River Preserve acknowledge, with respect, that the land we are on today is most recently the traditional homelands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East).
After the protested ratification of the 1835 Treaty of New Echota, the Cherokee were forcefully removed from their 7 million acres of ancestral land with unfulfilled promises of a seat in the House of Representatives. This removal led to the 1,200 mile migration known as the Trail of Tears where up to 25% of the tribe died due to disease, starvation, and exhaustion. However, a small group of Cherokee managed to stay behind by hiding in the forests. Today, the Qualla Boundary just west of GRP is the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. GRP continues to build relationships with and learn from our neighbors.
At GRP, we strive to honor the legacy of the Cherokee people by learning about their rich culture, building relationships with people of the nearby Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and teaching our campers about the people and cultures who originally inhabited the land.
We invite all members of the Green River Preserve community to join us in learning more about the Cherokee and the many legacies in the places we call home.
Our initiatives
One of Green River Preserve’s core pillars of our strategic plan is to make GRP’s camper and staff population more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Some of our initiatives to do so include training, partnerships, and a commitment to access.
Holistic staff training
We host an intensive two week staff training for our seasonal staff before programming begins as well as day long trainings between sessions throughout the summer. We target multiple aspects of working with youth and living and working with friends in the camp community.
Strengthening Partnerships
We have learned that working with organizations who are supporting underserved youth in their communities creates deeper relationships and stronger developments. We partner with organizations in North and South Carolina that mentor youth throughout the school year and then support them to come to camp.
Increasing Access
We recognize that the cost of camp is not feasible for all families. We are committed to increasing our fundraising goals in order to provide more scholarships each year to campers who might not have the means to attend camp. We are so grateful to all our donors and hope that our community will continue to support our efforts to increase our camperships.
We are committed to this journey
At Green River Preserve, we grow when all feel accepted and welcomed in the outdoors. We are proud to share our efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and are excited to continue to grow, share, and learn. We continue to build an organization where all can thrive in nature and at camp.