Fostering a Culture of Welcome, Equity at UCCR

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Spotlight: Heather Butler, Web of Life Field (WOLF) School Director 
As the Director of UCCR’s premier outdoor science education program Web of Life Field (WOLF) School, Heather Butler is an integral part of what makes UCCR a leader in the camp, conference and retreat industry. Heather has a passion for all things living, be it a newt crawling out from under a rock, or one of the Naturalists that teach school-age children at one of the facilities we manage. Heather is a pioneer who reminds us that compassion and understanding are at the heart of what we do. Her easy smile and warm eyes remind us that we are human, meant to give and receive love, no matter what. Heather’s focus on collaboration and partnering with other organizations has catapulted both WOLF School and UCCR into mission-driven success.  

So, when Heather brought an equity activity to the last UCCR staff retreat for our site staff of the 12 facilities we manage, our ears perked up as we know she brings an earnestness to her message. She articulately explained the path to WOLF School’s recent partnering with O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and The Diversity Center in Santa Cruz to train staff and raise awareness and inclusivity to LGBTQ+ staff and youth.  

“What can we learn from this?” Heather says with a pause, “How can we bring these lessons into the facilities we manage to make our guests, especially our youth, feel welcome, safe, and happy?” She humbly helps guide us to the answer, “We create an environment that fosters acceptance.” 

According to the Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County, students “see themselves reflected in lessons and create opportunities to gain a more complex and authentic understanding of the world.” For UCCR and WOLF School, we can do our part to move a culture of acceptance and equity forward in many different ways. In addition to being welcoming to everyone without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin, Heather challenged us to update all our bathroom signs at the facilities we manage to promote gender neutrality. “Because what we say and how we create our environment, has a huge impact, intended or not, on how we make each other feel,” she shared. 

As Heather distributed new “Gender Neutral: Anyone Can Use This Bathroom” bathroom signs to the Site Directors of UCCR, she announced a contest to see who would be the first to post the new signs. She didn’t have to wait long before she heard from three of our facility directors, all highly motivated to welcome their guests and make them feel at home.

Kudos to:

Spoken by a UCCR/WOLF School staff member:
“WOLF School is the very first place I ever felt I could actually be myself. My voice wasn’t too loud. My presence wasn’t too much. I was just me, and I could have fun and do my job, and be part of this amazing community of learners.”  

A smile spread across her face as Heather recalls when she heard the words above. “The truth is,” she continued, “we hear different versions of this all the time. It motivates us and inspires us to continue to learn, grow and do everything we can to cultivate understanding and compassion, to build respect and appreciation of each other.”  

Of course, changing a bathroom sign isn’t all that is needed. But as Site Director of Applegate Jesuit Retreat Center, Joel Gardner, puts it, "UCCR serves a wide population of diverse humans and we are always striving to make sure our guests have a safe, comfortable stay. When something as simple as hanging a sign means even one person gets to experience the same sense of ease and safety that others do when visiting a facility, that’s a no-brainer! We are here to serve all.”  

It is with this attitude of learning and positive intention we continue to lead in the camp, conference and facility management services. It is thanks to leaders like Heather that we keep making each small step toward welcoming all who visit our facilities, to create positive life-enhancing experiences.