give back to earth

A green military-style map with minimal details and white lines.

Back to Earth creates transformative experiences that build resilience, belonging, and purpose through time in the wild.

Join us in raising $60,000 to invest in the next generation of grounded, courageous leaders.

⬅ Donate Now

Your gift ensures no teen is turned away for lack of funds by supporting:

$100 = Meals for an entire adventure

$200 = Mentorship pre- and post-trip

$500 = Gear for a 10 day journey

$2000 = Full scholarship for a 7 day course

A black background with a repeating pattern of abstract, irregular, concentric-line shapes.

Young people today need connection.

Your gift could be doubled—check if your employer offers donation matching.

Prefer to write a check? Please send checks payable to Back to Earth Nature Connection Inc and mail to:
1925 Vine St, Berkeley, Ca 94709

All donations are tax-deductible. Federal EIN: 92-1000198

Pattern of irregular, concentric shapes on a black background.
A group of people sitting around a campfire at night in an outdoor setting, with a tree in the background.

"He came away with a belief in himself that he hadn’t felt before."

Group of people on large rocks outdoors, raising their hands and cheering, with a cloudy sky and mountainous landscape in the background.
Group of people celebrating on large rocks in mountainous landscape with clouds and blue sky.
Dark background with a pattern of irregular, concentric, and elongated shapes outlined in a lighter color.
The image shows a black background with a pattern of irregular, concentric, contour-like lines in a lighter shade of black or dark gray, creating an abstract, topographic appearance.

donors & partners

A blank white webpage with a yellow line near the bottom.

Back to Earth is deeply grateful to the granting institutions, funding partners, and individual supporters who make this work possible. National debates around social and environmental justice have disrupted philanthropy and public funding for work like ours. But these partnerships have remained steady. More than financial support, they represent collaboration in a larger movement of cultural renewal and healing, one that begins with repairing the cleft between humans and the natural world. Their commitment allows Back to Earth to carry this vision forward with resilience, creativity, and hope. We are honored to recognize them here:

Logo for the Shinemaker Foundation featuring a yellow star with a gray heart in the center, surrounded by black rays, on a gray background
Red banner with white text reading 'META LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND'.
Logo of the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation featuring stylized arrows and mountains in green, orange, and blue with the organization name.
A logo with a dark green arrow pointing left and the word 'SOLID' beneath it.
Two young boys hiking in a mountainous area with snow-capped peaks, lush green meadows, and a partly cloudy sky.
Two boys with backpacks hiking in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks, green valley, and pine trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A black background with a pattern of irregular, concentric line designs resembling topographic map contours in dark gray.
Black background with an abstract pattern of irregular, concentric shapes outlined in light gray.

support with a product or service

An astronaut in a spacesuit floating in outer space with a view of Earth in the background.

In addition to individual gifts, Back to Earth is grateful for the in-kind donations, corporate sponsors, and community partnerships that help sustain our work—from outdoor gear to program funding to volunteer support. These collaborations expand what we can offer our youth and deepen our impact. If you or your organization are interested in partnering with us, we’d love to connect—click below to view our partnership deck and learn how we can work together.

Partnership Deck
Black background with white text reading 'L M N T' arranged in a grid within a white square border.
Logo of REI Co-op featuring stylized mountains and trees in white on a black background.

Keep exPloring

A panoramic view of a landscape with a body of water, trees, and an overcast sky.
A seamless pattern of irregular concentric organic shapes in light green against a black background.
Close-up of a person's hands holding a folded topographic map in an outdoor setting.

field notes:
what we’re reading and writing

Empty white space with faint yellow and gray lines at the top and bottom.

Our version of a blog - original thoughts and reposted content, on reconnecting to what is sacred and wild in ourselves and our world.

explore more
A seamless pattern of concentric irregular shapes resembling topographic lines, in light green on a black background.
A group of people sitting in a circle on dry grass in an outdoor natural setting, engaging in knitting or crafting activities, with some standing nearby and trees in the background.

expanding equity & access in wilderness education

Empty online search bar with yellow line at the bottom and a white background.

The WILD Scholars Program is a wraparound mentoring and scholarship program for Bay Area high school students from communities who have been historically underrepresented in wilderness education.

learn more
A pattern of irregular concentric geometric shapes in neon green on a black background.
Two men taking a selfie outdoors, smiling and winking, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

meet the back to earth guide and mentor community

A computer screen displaying a web browser with a search bar and a partially visible webpage.

We are mentors, climbers, builders, farmers, writers, poets, singers, medics, leaders, teachers, healers, learners, lovers of earth and sky …

read stories