Saved By Nature

About

Founded by environmentalist Richard Tejeda in 2018, Saved By Nature earned its 501(c)(3) non-profit status on August 22, 2019. We are all about promoting environmental and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a love for nature, health, wellness, and community among everyone, from seasoned outdoor lovers to newcomers, throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We are truly committed to enhancing environmental education and conservation in parks and protected areas.

Categories Program BIPOC Children & Youth Educational / Vocational Mental Health

Program Details

Established by environmentalist Richard Tejeda in 2018, Saved By Nature officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on August 22, 2019, committed to environmental and social justice. We aspire to cultivate a passion for nature, health, wellness, and community among outdoor enthusiasts and beginners of all ages throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We collaborate with partners to ensure mental, physical, and spiritual healing in nature.

Our organization is deeply dedicated to promoting environmental education and conservation efforts in parks and preserve areas. We strive to offer innovative and engaging programs that not only educate individuals about the impacts of climate change but also inspire them to take action to protect the environment. Our primary focus is on ensuring that the air we breathe and the water we depend on remain clean and healthy for generations to come. We firmly believe that, through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to sustainability, we can create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

At Saved By Nature, our goal is to ensure that all residents, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality, multilingual, and multicultural outdoor nature experiences. We prioritize the needs of communities historically underrepresented in outdoor spaces. Our Cultural Competency Project is intentionally designed to remove barriers and increase access to nature for everyone, with a focus on at-promise-youth, people of color, senior citizens, and those living with disabilities. Through our multifaceted nature programs, we hope to provide alternatives to incarceration and expand mental health options for the residents of Santa Clara County.

The awards received by Saved By Nature include the Bay Nature Magazine 2022 Community Hero and the Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters 2020 Environmentalist of the Year.

Contact Richard Tejeda richard@savedbynature.org 408-627-2760 Saved By Nature

Services Offered
Fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, kayaking, kite flying, and boating opportunities.

Cost to Participate
Free

Staff Composition
Richard Tejeda, Executive Director
CeCe Moreno, Program Manager
Anthony Perez, Community Outreach Specialist

Our team is committed to hiring naturalists and program leads who represent our community and share best practices with other organizations.

A group of people are kayaking down the CA Delta. The water itself is calm aside from the ripples caused by the kayaks. The blue sky above boasts no traces of clouds, promising a sunny day ahead for the participants.

People are bundled up in warm clothes as they go crab fishing at Torpedo Pier during a cloudy day, with some holding up fishing rods. They all stand near the edge of a grassy river bank, with the Golden Gate Bridge looming tall in the background.

A young boy proudly shows off his animal track imprints during an activity where youths create animal tracks on clay.

A circle of tents are set up at an at-promise-youth overnight backpacking trip at Black Mountain. Thick trees border the edge of the campsite. As the sun peeks over the mountaintop, the sky is bathed in shades of pale yellow and orange.

A large group of youths gather to take a picture for the Boys & Girls Club after-school hike. Behind the group are a wall of trees and foliage that altogether create the vibrant green backdrop of a rich, verdant forest.

Richard Tejeda, founder of Saved by Nature, receives the 2022 Bay Nature Award.

Recent Case Studies

People walk along a gravel path with benches and a waterway in the background.

Place

Muscota Marsh

The restoration of Muscota Marsh in New York City created public waterfront access through land owned by Columbia University while restoring habitat, increasing biodiversity, and improving stormwater management.

People walking and riding bicycles on a path with tall grass on either side of the path and mountains in the background.

Place

Story Mill Community Park

Encompassing 60 acres, Story Mill includes 40 acres of nature preserve with restored wetlands, aspen groves, open meadows, and the East Gallatin River, and 20 acres offering educational and recreational opportunities to engage community members and accommodate gatherings.

Nighttime aerial view shows the illuminated park with a crowd of people sitting on the lawn and the city skyline in the background.

Place

SoundScape Park

The space was transformed from a parking lot into a multi-use park that hosts a busy schedule of social events, including world-class audio-visual experiences, concerts, and film screenings.