Building a strong trunk with our values
Our central values of nature, exploration and connection guide us in crafting all our programs. These core values are deeply rooted in everything we do, ensuring that we not only provide guidance for people's grief journey, but also instill a sense of wonder, curiosity, and appreciation for the world around us. Everything we do, we do outdoors; fresh air allows us to breathe deep. We learn to explore our emotional landscape as well as the physical terrain. We do it all together - we believe in the power of peer support. We can go through anything if we don’t have to do it alone.
Today we dive into three more values that guide us. When we are grounded in the values of compassion, equity, and integrity our tree grows a strong trunk and can withstand any storm. Helping us stay connected to what truly matters to us. By grounding our work in these fundamental principles, we create meaningful experiences that resonate with our participants and foster interconnectedness.
Compassion
When immersed in grief support, compassion is an emotion that flows naturally. We know that being outdoors can bring out our true compassionate nature – and nature is big enough to hold our grief, our stories, our exhaustion. We want our community to see grief as a part of life, work to build community connection and create ways to witness and support grieving people. We feel compassion with each other as we learn each of us are on a journey of exploration, discovery and healing. Our participants and their needs are the heart of everything we do. One of our regular Hike Habit participants made an amazing video about their family’s healing journey and the role that Wild Grief has played. When we take the time to listen to others’ stories, we feel compassion in our bones.
This video highlights one Hike Habit participants experience
Equity - A spotlight on our hikes in Spanish.
We have seen a major gap in grief support services for our local Spanish speaking community. To help a time of great loss, Wild Grief partnered with the Journey Program at Seattle Children's Hospital and has been leading day hikes in Spanish together. We asked our partner to share their experience working with us and the impact it has had on the families they work with regularly.
“The Journey Program and Wild Grief continue to partner, holding healing spaces for grieving families in nature. I am deeply grateful and honored to collaboratively organize our third grief nature walk with Spanish-speaking families. I appreciate how we worked together to ensure we offered culturally and linguistically appropriate care and support - providing a safe space in nature where everyone is seen and heard. As families embark upon their grief journeys, they can feel isolated and alone. Nature and community provide a space of relief, wellness, and connection which can bring forth hope and healing. Throughout the hike participants had an opportunity to remember, honor, and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. It was so lovely to see everyone’s care, compassion, and dedication, while sharing powerful words of wisdom, treasured memories, stories, laughter, joy, and tears. Being intentional and attuned to the needs of grieving families, the support and collective care were deeply felt.
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support and am beyond grateful to every contribution made.”
By Brenda Aguilar Journey Program Bereavement Clinician
Seattle Children's Hospital -with humility, love, and hope.
Integrity - Our organizational structure
Wild Grief has a unique and thriving organizational culture because of a willingness to slow down and grow organically. Taking the time to expand out one growth ring at a time has built a strong trunk that now supports our many programs and flourishing community. Wild grief is a non-hierarchical organization, something that many talk about but are afraid to put into practice. Our board runs on consensus; if there is disagreement on an issue, we slow down and listen more deeply to what everyone has to say. We have learned the wisest direction at forks in the trail comes from hearing all voices.
