Our Vision and Values

Purpose

BEEC promotes meaningful, attuned and joy-filled relations with nature through our educational programs for children & adults, community-led conservation efforts, and beloved annual events.

People

We are naturalists sharing our passion with curious people of all ages. We are conservationists, scientists, and volunteers putting our ideals into action. We welcome everyone to join the BEEC community!

Place

Bonnyvale is located within the homelands of the Abenaki people, who have lived here for thousands of years. We express gratitude for the example of their ongoing reciprocal relationships with the Land. We invite you to discover more about our special location in the Story of the Land.

“The more clearly we focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for its destruction”
—Rachel Carson

Our Vision

We are blessed to live on a part of planet Earth still rich in natural beauty, populated by many animals and plants native to the region. Today it is clear that we cannot take this legacy for granted. The global-scale threats of climate change, persistent toxins, and invasive exotic species know no boundaries. Locally, human activities are leading to an increasingly fragmented forested landscape.

BEEC works toward fostering ecological literacy and love for the natural world, and toward maintaining resilience in our region’s natural communities. Our long-term vision is of a day when humans are wiser, and again live harmoniously on a planet rich in nature.

Toward that vision we provide opportunities for:

Children to grow up loving and playing in nature
Students in our region’s schools to develop ecological literacy
Teachers to meet their standard requirements with robust place-based curriculum
All residents to enhance their understanding of and appreciation for the natural world
Community members to contribute to stewarding and enhancing our natural world
Towns and other groups to identify, learn about, and protect their most important natural features and landscapes

Our Values in Action

At Bonnyvale, we aim to provide ecological learning opportunities and nature experiences that are welcoming and accessible to all people and groups in our region. We are orienting our work toward a more just, resilient and regenerative future for all.

To that end we are…

Building Relationships

We value and seek diversity in our community relationships. We understand building relationships takes time, active listening and shared experience– and ultimately brings more opportunities for life-giving connections. We are…

Working with Indigenous community members to plan and lead programming.
Partnering with local affordable housing communities to offer accessible programs.
Supporting internships with educational institutions.
Collaborating with local organizations serving migrant and refugee children.
Committed to supporting and partnering with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ led organizations in our community.
Very grateful for our partnerships with Westgate Resident-Led Affordable Housing Community, Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro, Landmark College, Antioch University New England, Community College of Vermont, and others!

Prioritizing Financial Accessibility

Maintaining the trails at BEEC as free and open to the public, year-round, dawn to dusk.
Providing financial assistance for access to our public programs.
Offering the Vermont State Child Care subsidy for our youth programs and other financial aid to remove as many barriers as possible.
Building partnerships with public schools to support hands-on science learning and nature connection for local students.

Fostering Inclusivity & Belonging

Educating ourselves about the Indigenous history of this land and current Indigenous-led organizing in our region.
Working to understand the ways the conservation and environmental education fields have been linked to racism, colonialism, resource extraction, and other social injustices.
Assessing our campus to better serve those with mobility issues.
Annually revisiting the staff handbook and training to include strategies for:
- Responding to racism and other forms of bias.
- Pronoun use and supporting nonbinary, transgender and gender-expansive participants and staff.
- Meeting the needs of neurodiverse participants and staff.
- Collaborating with classroom teachers to support the full inclusion of all learners, including emergent multilinguals and students with disabilities.
- Meeting as a DEI committee to continue to learn, adapt, and grow so that BEEC is a welcoming place for all.

We still have a lot of work to do! As we listen, learn and grow, we welcome feedback and suggestions, and invite community members to join our board and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) committee. Please email dei@beec.org for more info.