During this online course with the New York Botanical Garden, participants will unpack individual aspects of identity, and how those relate to a (dis)connection and exposure to nature. Through guided routines of observation and questioning, participants will engage with local natural settings and objects, whether it be outdoors, from a window, or virtually. Through curated readings and research that highlight inequitable access for Black, biracial, Indigenous, people of color (BBIPOC) to nature and field science, participants reflect on their personal experiences with nature and consider how to plan for equitable learning opportunities in the science classroom. As a starting place to begin to address inequity and lack of representation of BBIPOC in the sciences and environmental field, participants will take a scaffolded approach in amplifying underrepresented voices, highlighting grassroots groups and developing a plan for incorporating them in the classroom. Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to engage in conversation about identity, anti-racism work and how that has influenced their relationship with nature. Participants will be asked to share their own ideas about the work they have been doing as well as the work they plan to do in the future to increase representation in the science field. This course seeks to develop participants’ ability to question their own assumptions about who benefits from access to nature, and to think critically about whose voices are represented in their classrooms
