Friends of the Dillon Ranger District DEIA Statement

April 2024

Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of our mission. As a community-based, non-profit organization, we recognize the inherent value that every unique individual who makes up our community contributes to our mission of protecting and maintaining our public lands. Here is what DEIA means to us:

Diversity – Not just simply acknowledging our differences, but making an active and intentional effort to create an environment where those differences can be celebrated.

  • FDRD is committed to including and providing programs and educational events for marginalized communities including womxn, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQIA+ communities, senior citizens, persons with mental and physical limitations, and members of low-income households.

Equity – We are dedicated to recognizing systemic barriers, both for ourselves and for minority members of our community, and are working to address those disparities to ensure fair access to outdoor experiences and trail systems for everyone.

  • FDRD collaborates with organizations that involve historically marginalized groups, offering resources for wilderness education, wildlife interaction, and appreciation of Summit County, CO’s outdoor environment. We also provide a platform for stewardship and volunteer work to give back to the outdoors.
  • FDRD provides FREE educational programming and stewardship work to participants to ensure financial access for all.

Inclusion – We want everyone to feel welcome, heard, and valued in our local outdoor community, and strive to create a sense of belonging for everyone. There are a wide variety of barriers to inclusion in our organization but we are making a concerted effort to remove and/or overcome these barriers to inclusion. Some barriers we are trying to overcome include:

  • Language barrier
    • FDRD provides Spanish-language materials like event fliers and recreation quicksheets.
    • We seek out underrepresented members of the community in spaces where they feel comfortable.
    • FDRD is fortunate to have dedicated Spanish-speaking volunteers who are deeply committed to fostering an authentic experience for the substantial Hispanic population within Summit County. We aim to cultivate genuine participation from every corner of our community.
  • Cultural barrier
    • Using our strategic partnerships to create a space where people feel more comfortable, one where they aren’t the only non-white group member.
    • We acknowledge that there are numerous ways that people, from differing cultures, enjoy the outdoors. We also acknowledge that those uses can clash at times. We are mindful of the different perspectives and connections to the land that our diverse community holds.
  • Limited outdoor knowledge
    • We strive to offer free educational programming surrounding a wide range of topics to support outdoor literacy.
  • Fear of government-affiliated organizations
    • FDRD is transparent about not being a policing or enforcement organization, and encourage our USFS partners to attend events in semi-uniform to provide a friendlier presence.
  • Sense of safety
    • We acknowledge that outdoor safety has been a privilege historically, impacting engagement in our mission. A sense of security is vital for all to thrive, including and extending beyond physical safety. Through active listening and championing our DEIA principles, we foster a space where individuals can be authentic without fear of harm or discrimination.

Accessibility – FDRD understands that accessibility outdoors is essential to fostering inclusivity and allowing everyone, regardless of ability, to fully engage with and enjoy natural spaces, recreational activities, and the beauty of the outdoors. Some barriers to accessibility we aim to overcome include:

  • Daytime availability
    • We are aware of the different jobs, and schedules that accompany them, and are committed to providing opportunities at numerous different times and days of the week.
  • Transportation
    • We recognize that all members of our community do not have reliable transportation to access the National Forest. At this time, our organization cannot offer private transportation to and from our events and projects, but we aspire to work within our community partnerships to provide access to our public lands in whatever ways we can. Currently, we try to host events at trailheads accessible by bus.
  • Childcare
    • We strive to make our projects and programs accessible to all ages and we aim to support other organizations that provide affordable child care to those that need it most.
  • Gear access
    • Some of the gear needed to safely recreate in the outdoors is expensive and unattainable to some of the families residing in Summit County. We work to offer the proper gear needed for any of our projects and events so that they are truly free and open to the public. FDRD is committed to offering gear, by developing a community-wide Gear Library, to address this barrier.
  • Physical and mental abilities or disabilities
    • FDRD hosts a variety of stewardship projects throughout the year to provide access to a spectrum of physical and mental abilities and levels of comfort.
    • We host our educational events not only on National Forest trails, but also on recreation paths, indoors, and by car, ensuring they are accessible to a diverse audience.
    • We directly communicate the project or event’s level of difficulty or terrain, so participants can make clear and informed decisions when it comes to participation.
    • We collaborate with organizations serving individuals with disabilities, facilitating immersive outdoor experiences tailored to their comfort and ability levels.

By embracing diversity, promoting equity, fostering inclusion, and prioritizing accessibility, we strive to create an environment of outdoor stewardship where everyone feels valued, respected, safe, and empowered to thrive.