Update to Mission and the Elimination of Paid Membership for Hike it Baby
In celebration of our seventh anniversary as a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to getting families outdoors, we launched a new mission, vision and values specifically focused on our core value of leaving no family behind. In support of our renewed mission, we also are thrilled to have eliminated our paid membership model.
Through our updated mission focusing on removing barriers to spending time outside as a family and our updated vision and values that center around the organization’s commitment to DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) work, the need to remove paid membership became clear.
Update to Mission, Vision, and Values
“We have been doing a lot of work as an organization to continue to develop our DEI backbone and have a better sense of our ‘why’,” Hike it Baby Membership Manager Emma Carsey said. “With that, we have been looking critically at our mission, vision, and values language to dig deep and build ourselves a stronger foundation on which to stand. As a staff and board, we are excited to share our updated mission, vision, and values.” “As we considered these changes, we recognize that there has been a barrier with membership, and our goal is to lower those barriers for our current audience and for families we want to reach in the future,” Carsey said.“So to celebrate our seventh anniversary, to make Hike it Baby more equitable, and to support the entire community we are thrilled to announce that beginning July 27, 2020, we will no longer offer paid membership.”As a nonprofit organization supporting more than 350 branches throughout North America and nearly 300,000 families through social media, we will continue to require financial support through donations, grants, and sponsorships. This will make Hike it Baby sustainable for future generations and remove barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside.
Let's Change How We Go Outside
The endless physical and mental benefits of spending time outdoors are critical, especially in a time like this. The ability to get outside should be safe, equitable, and welcoming for all. As an organization, we are taking steps to change the narrative of what it means to be outside and who belongs there. “We have to continue to build a new paradigm where families representing all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders, relationships, ages, sizes, shapes, languages, and more are the NEW definition of who is “outdoorsy,” Hike it Baby Executive Director Jessica Carrillo Alatorre said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but it is invigorating to have a firm place to build and grow from because making an impact on how families are invited into, represented, and given opportunities to connect in nature is vital. The outdoors has the potential to be a healing, welcoming space for every individual, and Hike it Baby is firmly committed to working to make that a reality." We are so grateful to you for how you’ve cheered us on for the past 7 years and thank you in advance for your continued support. As a young nonprofit, we are excited about these changes as we continue our work to connect, empower, and impact the world around us.Be sure to join the Hike it Baby Community Facebook Group. It's a great place to ask questions, learn from others, and share your outdoor adventures!
About Hike it Baby
Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Images courtesy of Arika Bauer and Laura Castro.
Editors Note:
We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.
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