III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 858 

Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 

Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, and Mr. 

PADILLA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro. 

Whereas, in 2009, Outdoor Afro started as a blog about nature written by Ms. Rue Mapp, and has grown into a national not-for-profit network with volunteer leaders in 33 

States and the District of Columbia, guiding hundreds of 

outdoor events each year based on a simple mission to 

celebrate and inspire Black-American connections to nature through recreational activities, including camping, 

hiking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing, biking, camping, environmental education, conservation stewardship, 

and more; 

Whereas, in the past 15 years, Outdoor Afro has cultivated 

and trained more than 1000 outdoor leaders, led thousands of outdoor events, and engaged well over 150,000 

participants; 


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2 

•SRES 858 IS 

Whereas Outdoor Afro has disrupted the false perception that 

Black Americans do not have a relationship with nature 

and is inspiring access to remote and pristine nature, as 

well as urban nature, including local parks, trails, and 

open spaces; 

Whereas Outdoor Afro promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps 

communities find healing, connects to Black history 

found in natural areas, and inspires an increased desire 

to protect vulnerable public lands for all to enjoy; 

Whereas Outdoor Afro held its first international expedition 

in 2018 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; 

Whereas, in response to the disproportionate number of 

Black children who drown while swimming, Outdoor Afro 

launched Making Waves, a program to strengthen relationships with water through water safety and swimming 

lessons provided by certified swim instructors; 

Whereas, since its inception, Making Waves has funded nearly 1,950 ‘‘Swimmership’’ scholarships and aims to reach 

1,500 new swimmers in 2024; 

Whereas Outdoor Afro has engaged millions of people 

through digital outreach and is changing visual representations of who can connect with and lead in the outdoors 

through this digital outreach; 

Whereas Outdoor Afro’s growing network comprises civically 

engaged men and women, many of whom plan outdoor 

activities on behalf of children and senior community 

members, restoring Black-American leadership in nature; 

Whereas Outdoor Afro is a leading voice in the Black-American community for advice on where to recreate, the best 

outdoor gear to use, and environmental causes that need 

the greatest attention; and 


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3 

•SRES 858 IS 

Whereas October 25, 2024, marks 15 years since the establishment of Outdoor Afro as a community that supports 

connecting Black Americans with natural spaces and one 

another through recreational activities: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 15th anniversary of Outdoor 

3 Afro; and 

4 (2) commends the leadership of Outdoor Afro 

5 for leading the way for inclusion in outdoor recre6 ation and nature for all. 

Æ 


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