Mission, Vision & Values

Nature First’s Values

Our values define who we are as an organization, guiding how we interact both internally and externally. They are key to our success and the core of the Nature First movement to preserve and protect the natural world.

EMPLOYEES & VOLUNTEERS

We recruit employees and volunteers who share the values of Nature First. They are considered valuable partners in the organization, treated equally with dignity and trust. We celebrate and work with each person’s unique individuality and strengths. We actively cultivate diversity, recognizing the value to be found in a multiplicity of experiences and viewpoints. We support an atmosphere of empowerment where employees and volunteers will have the opportunity for continuous growth in both skills and responsibility. We actively welcome the ideas and perspectives of our employees and volunteers. We will do all we can to help our employees and volunteers maintain a healthy work-life balance. Nature First is committed to pay its full-time employees a living wage.

ENVIRONMENT 

We strive to care for the natural world in all our actions. This involves an active awareness in the choice of the products we buy, sell and use. It also involves a commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle. We also care for the environment by working to actively protect and support wilderness and natural areas by both modeling and encouraging actions that prioritize and protect them. We also recognize and respect the native peoples and cultures that have lived on many of these lands for millennia.

INTEGRITY 

We operate on a foundation of trust and honesty. We actively welcome divergent opinions as we work towards a common understanding. We are committed to respect and believe the best of one another even when we disagree. We aim to treat everyone equitably. We communicate openly and transparently including in regards to our aims and finances. We acknowledge that we are accountable for our actions as both individuals and as an organization.

GLOBAL

Although Nature First was founded in the United States, we are committed to a broader world perspective. We actively seek input and involvement from our members across the globe and seek to ensure that this organization has wide international representation within its structures.

COOPERATION 

We believe that cooperation is essential to do anything great. We as an organization are committed to cooperate as much as possible with other organizations and to foster cooperative initiatives among our members.

FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE 

We are committed to being fiscally prudent, working within our means in a debt-free manner.