Creating Affirmative Spaces: Advancing Understanding and Support for Gender Diversity in Outdoor Learning. Written by Cottonwood Field Instructor M Tormasi.
Creating magical moments for students that promote nature connection, curiosity, and self-confidence begins with creating supportive and positive educational environments. Cottonwood Institute instructors utilize numerous strategies to establish safe spaces for learning, as they are invested in students’ physical and social-emotional well-being. By carefully stewarding the learning environments we invite students into, we are not only fostering a sense of belonging but also enriching the overall learning experience by engaging students in discussions about community, respect, and the power of language.
One of the many ways Cottonwood Institute invests in its students is by providing ongoing training to its staff members. Most recently, Field Instructor M Tormasi facilitated two progressive workshops teaching strategies for supporting gender-diverse students and co-workers. The preliminary workshop focused on building awareness, whereas the secondary workshop emphasized proactive support strategies and inclusive programming structure. The workshops were grounded in both M’s lived experience as a transgender person working in outdoor education, as well as their professional background studying the roles that emotional intelligence and empathy play in risk management. Since beginning their work with Cottonwood Institute, M has noticed that there is usually at least one student in every group who has a diverse gender identity. Students exploring their identities often feel safe and comfortable enough to share their authentic selves within our community, meaning our instructors are successfully forming supportive class cultures. Our pronoun-sharing practices, community living agreements, and empathic leaders are already paving the way for students to feel that they belong, which is worth celebrating and developing even further. This observation inspired M to begin considering how our organization could strengthen our practices and policies to become even more inclusive and affirming for students and staff members.
Knowing that many folks are still new to understanding gender diversity, M purposefully designed their workshops to include foundational information on the gender spectrum, pronoun diversity, and allyship. By asking instructors to reflect on their own lived experiences, and discussing risk management scenarios involving interpersonal conflicts, the workshops positioned CI Staff to more effectively handle cases of discrimination towards gender diverse students. Excitingly, 83% of workshop attendees reported increased familiarity with language regarding gender diversity. Poems about allyship and the lived experience of transgender folks highlighted the importance of this work and also served as future resources to be passed along to colleagues and students. Some of the discussed support strategies included incorporating gender diversity into the established curriculum, advocating for inclusive school policies, participating in professional development opportunities, and sharing relevant resources with those exploring their identities or building their awareness of the gender spectrum.
We are looking forward to continuing to offer our staff members training about gender diversity and re-writing organizational processes to support students better. We know that by embracing diversity and creating an affirming space, we can empower all students to thrive and grow, both in their outdoor pursuits and in their personal development.
