Established by environmentalist Richard Tejeda in 2018, Saved By Nature officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on August 22, 2019, an environmental and social justice organization we provide services for everyone through our Cultural Competency Project with an emphasis on those that historically come from communities with fewer resources. Our programs are intentionally designed to remove barriers and address:

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• A need for at-promise-youth to have an opportunity to experience and enjoy the benefits of nature in a safe environment led by staff that are Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). 

• A need for multifaceted nature programs that provide alternatives to incarceration and expand mental health options for the residents of Santa Clara County

• A need for people of color to visit our parks, as well as be educated about careers in parks, preserves and forests.

• A need to increase allyship by people who do not identify as BIPOC.

• A need for multilingual materials and culturally relevant programming.

• A need for support for senior citizens to stay active and healthy in the outdoors. 

• A need for access to nature for those living with disabilities.

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Saved By Nature works within our parks and preserves to provide a variety of unique environmental programs that educate residents about climate change, and protecting the air that we breathe and water that we drink. Providing a cohesive system of support for Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties. Ensuring residents have a high quality, multilingual and multicultural outdoor nature experience. 

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Our aspirations are to hire naturalists and program leads that represent our community and to share best practices with other organizations.