YES Nature to Neighborhoods is a dynamic leadership development organization that nurtures leaders of all ages through nature-centered learning. Over the past 25 years, more than 13,000 Richmond community members have engaged with YES’s leadership pathways. As a result, they have reclaimed their connection to the earth; deepened their sense of confidence and belonging; and built both personal well-being and community power.

YES has thoughtfully grown the scope and scale of our programs to meet community needs while operating from a rented facility across the street from Richmond’s largest city park. In 2021, when the option to buy this facility arose, our answer was a resounding “yes.” This purchase has secured a permanent place for YES in Richmond in a time when many nonprofits have been priced out.

Now our need and opportunity is to make this place a home – a base camp where leaders of all ages can gather, learn, and grow. Our goal by 2026 is to transform our cramped, aging facility into a spacious, nature-inspired hub for our growing community. We have raised $5.06 million to date, over 84% of our $6M campaign goal. Below is a video of our vision and preliminary renderings of our new building.

Hannah Shulman, nature + nurture (N2) Program Director at The 11th Hour Project / Schmidt Family Foundation

“YES is situated and invested IN the Richmond community and attends to entire families. Plenty of organizations do family engagement and outdoor education, but few develop a sense of place and community pride to move the needle on long term societal issues like YES does.”

Eric Aaholm, YES Executive Director, and Blanca Hernández, YES Director of Programs and Partnerships

“Everyone deserves the chance to thrive from the health benefits that nature provides. Everyone also deserves to have people around them who support their positive development. That’s what this campaign is all about – making sure that Richmond youth and families have a Base Camp – a gathering place from which they can access the outdoors and harness their strengths.”