Nature For All
Hyatt Hidden Lakes. Photo by Ken Miracle.
Golden Eagle Audubon is committed to making birding, and nature, safe and accessible for all.
Common Nighthawk. Photo by Soo Goh Baus/Audubon Photography Awards.
Resources
We strive to keep equity, diversity, and inclusion at the forefront of our work and our programming. One way we do this is by providing cost-free resources and opportunities to explore nature with our community. In addition to regularly scheduled field trips we also provide the following resources.
Community Outreach
Outreach is at the core of GEAS. We are proud to collaborate and provide dozens of partnered field trips and presentations every year. We also happily participate in community events whenever we can to spread the word about our amazing birds.
If you are interested in a presentation or field trip facilitated by GEAS please fill out the selected form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please make requests at least a month in advance and indicate if there is flexibility in scheduling dates.
Note: We do not require a payment for these services but a donation of $50 or more, by those who are able, is strongly encouraged to make GEAS’s important work possible into the future. Make a donation here.
Anti-racist Statement
Published June 2020
Golden Eagle Audubon Society’s Board of Directors believes that silence is not an option and that we must be vocal on our anti-racist journey. It is clear that the systematic inequalities inherent in our society towards People of Color must be at the forefront of our awareness. GEAS is committed to dismantling those inequalities wherever we are able to do so.
Black Birders Week amplified the experience of so many birders of color across our nation. The simple joy of being outdoors and watching birds is an experience that can and has been unsafe for birders of color. We are committed to doing everything our organization can do to make birding accessible and safe for all people.
GEAS has sought to keep equity, diversity, and inclusion at the forefront as we deliver community programming. We offer a significant majority of our offerings at no cost and completely open to the public—an intentional choice to make our programming accessible. For seven years, our New Roots Program has engaged under-served youth by connecting them with nature. Even with this flagship program, we know we can do more and do it better.
We are working on a detailed plan of action to make our membership, programming, and birding at large in our community open and accessible to all people. When it is complete we will share this plan in its entirety, but some of these actions will include:
A recommitment to expanding services to new areas to reach underprivileged communities, while continuing to offer free and public offerings whenever possible
Expanding partnerships to better serve, reach, and engage more diverse communities
Providing a sense of security by expanding information about the locations of field trips (ie: how public an area is, cell service access, etc.)
Revising guidelines for field trips leaders and volunteers to include guidance on representatives’ responsibility to create a safe and welcoming environment for birders of color
As a board, we commit ourselves to becoming anti-racist within the leadership of our organization. Many directors and officers have completed, or are in the process of completing, the Wassmuth Center’s ‘Human Rights Certification’ program so that we are better equipped and thoughtful in serving our membership and community. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community.
Steps we have taken since June 2020:
Implemented a feedback form for all our field trips
Modified the way we present information about field offerings, including important location and access details
Created and delivered a new format of field trip specifically intended to better serve those with limited mobility
Leadership continues to educate ourselves on how to be better allies by participating in training and utilization of published resources in our work
Worked with a student to compile access information for popular birding destinations
Centering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is our 2022-25 Strategic Plan
Incorporated Web-accessible design principles in our new website and social media