California NatureCare Foundation

Mission

At California NatureCare Foundation, we strive to empower individuals to prioritize their mental health and well-being through immersive experiences in nature and art, allowing them to cultivate deeper connections with the natural world and harness its transformative power for personal growth, healing, and connection with a higher power.

Vision

Improving the mental health of a few can have a positive effect on the individuals and all the people they are connected to in the community and in a higher universal power.

Values Statements

At the California Nature Care Foundation, we are committed to providing meaningful and equitable access to nature and art for all. We stand firmly against any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, or age. Our board members are dedicated to making decisions that align with our mission of promoting deep connections with nature and fostering lasting mental health improvement and growth for individuals and communities alike. We believe that by creating inclusive spaces and programs, we can empower people from all walks of life to experience the transformative power of nature and build a more sustainable and just future together.

Reason for Being

Our founding members work on the frontlines of healthcare and safety in California. That unique perspective gives insight into the mental health struggles specific to healthcare and frontline worker as well as the community members we service. Modern medicine has an important role in helping with this epidemic, but it is not the only answer. Our goal is to organize and fund experiences in nature and the arts for healthcare professionals,  frontline workers, and community members. Community wellness and spiritual connection are the goal and guiding principle.  

Strategic Plan

The inaugural year will focus on setting up the 501c3 structure and receiving approval from both the State of California and the Federal Government. Upon establishment a viable management structure and establishing 501c3 status the foundation will seek to raise up to $50,000 in donation in order to establish a healthy funding base to accomplish the mission. 

The three year plan is to develop a wellness nature retreat structure that can be applied in many different environments. The structure can then be applied throughout the year in many different environments throughout California. Participants can go sailing to Catalina, Hiking in Joshua Tree, or backpacking in the Sequoias. By developing a wellness retreat format the foundation can offer many different experience while ensuring the vision of fostering mental health recovery and growth. The structure also allows for multiple guides to help lead experiences in a cohesive and standardized way. The goal is to allow nature to provide the beautiful experience of discovering unknown while the foundation provides the structure and governance to ensure funds are spent according the bylaws and  in a manner for greatest benefit to the community. By the end of the first year, the foundation will organize at least one wellness retreat in nature per month. In the second year, this will grow to two excursions per month.