Color of Nature Leadership Program

Making conservation more inclusive

We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are critical to sustaining the conservation movement. We recognize that, in order to be equitable and sustainable, conservation must represent all people – especially those who, due to deeply rooted systemic barriers, have been excluded from the conservation conversation and disproportionately subjected to environmental injustice. We therefore commit to fostering inclusion by listening to the needs of our constituents to best understand community priorities, diversifying conservation leadership, and connecting people of all backgrounds with nature and the outdoors to broaden support for conservation. (Lehigh Gap Nature Center Strategic Framework, 2022-26)

About the Color of Nature Leadership Program

Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Color of Nature Leadership Program was established in 2012 to ensure that all Allentown residents are represented in the conservation field. In order to actively reach community members who lack access to nature, environmental education, and outdoor recreation due to systemic barriers, the program employs, trains, and mentors Allentown and Bethlehem residents to be Seasonal Naturalists. Working on behalf of their communities, Naturalists conduct inclusive conservation outreach that fosters connections with nature and inspires environmental stewardship.

Through their experiences conducting conservation outreach, the Naturalists not only gain knowledge on a variety of science subjects, but they also gain leadership skills as they work with audiences of all ages within and beyond their communities. The skillsets gained through participation in the Color of Nature Leadership Program prepare the Naturalists for future careers in all fields. For those who hope to pursue a career in environmental science, conservation, or education, the program provides insights into career paths within those fields.

“[The Color of Nature program] has allowed me to grow and learn things about myself that I didn’t even know I was capable of. We have impacted the Allentown community one school at a time; working with kids and seeing their happy faces is something that we take pride in. We are working towards a better future. Starting with the kids is key. I have loved each and every step of the way, and will always be a part of the Color of Nature team no matter where I go.” (Darien Rivera, Color of Nature Leader)

Color of Nature in the news!

Click below to read more about the program.

Color of Nature Accomplishments

  • Outreach to over 10,000 youth and adults through bilingual school programs, camps, and other educational activities
  • Construction of native habitat gardens at urban residences, schools, and parks
  • Maintenance of Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge trails and native habitat gardens
  • Construction of Chimney Swift tower and riparian trail, plus other conservation work at LGNC
  • Creation of multilingual educational resources, including nearly a dozen Spanish-language educational videos
  • Education partnerships with the following organizations and agencies:
    • Allentown Department of Parks & Recreation
    • Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley
    • Community Bike Works
    • Daybreak Outreach Center
    • Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority
    • Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Beltzville State Park, Nockamixon State Park, and Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center)
    • Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley
    • St. Stephen’s Community Center
    • Wildlands Conservancy
  • Recipient of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s 2022 FutureLV Hero Award

Program Sponsors

This project was completed in partnership with the Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape. Funding was provided in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc.

Other ongoing support for the Color of Nature program is provided by Air Products Foundation, The Fowler Family Fund, Just Born Quality Confections, The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, Ocean Spray, PPL and The Harry C. Trexler Trust.