IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1534 
Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 4, 2024 
Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Mr. HORSFORD, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. HUFFMAN, 
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. COSTA, and Mr. VEASEY) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro. 
Whereas Outdoor Afro started as a blog by Rue Mapp about 
nature in 2009 and has grown into a cutting-edge nation-
wide 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 in-
spire Black-American connections to nature through rec-
reational activities like camping, hiking, birding, fishing, 
gardening, skiing, biking, environmental education, con-
servation stewardship, and more; 
Whereas, in the past 15 years, Outdoor Afro, a national not- 
for-profit organization, has cultivated and trained more 
than 1,000 outdoor leaders, leading thousands of outdoor 
events and reaching well over 150,000 participants; 
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•HRES 1534 IH 
Whereas Outdoor Afro has disrupted the false perception that 
Black Americans do not have a relationship with nature 
and is inspiring access to the most pristine nature as well 
as urban nature, including local parks, trails, and open 
spaces; 
Whereas Outdoor Afro not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, 
it also helps communities find healing and connect to 
Black history found in many 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, which was 
widely covered in the media; 
Whereas Outdoor Afro launched Making Waves in 2019 in 
response to the alarming and disproportionate number of 
Black children who drown while swimming as reported by 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 
goal is to strengthen relationships with water through 
lessons provided by certified swim instructors in water 
safety and basic swimming techniques; 
Whereas, since its inception, Making Waves has funded near-
ly 1,950 SwimmershipsTM scholarships and has a 2024 
goal of reaching 1,500 new swimmers; to date, 520 new 
scholarships have been funded in 2024 and 1,000 new 
swimmers have pledged to learn this lifesaving skill; 
Whereas Outdoor Afro has engaged millions of people 
through digital outreach to 80,000 people per day, and 
is changing the narrative and visual representation of 
who can connect with and lead in the outdoors by posting 
thousands of photos and stories; 
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•HRES 1534 IH 
Whereas Outdoor Afro’s growing network mostly comprises 
civically engaged men and women, many of whom plan 
outdoor activities on behalf of children and senior com-
munity members, thereby restoring Black-American lead-
ership in nature at home; 
Whereas Outdoor Afro is a leading voice in the Black-Amer-
ican community for advice on where to recreate, which 
outdoor gear to use, and which causes need the greatest 
attention; 
Whereas Outdoor Afro’s founder Rue Mapp has been fea-
tured in publications including the Wall Street Journal, 
Backpacker magazine, the Seattle Times, the Los Ange-
les Times, Ebony Magazine, and Sunset magazine, and 
by National Public Radio (NPR), has received several 
awards including the Heinz Award for the environment, 
the Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award, and the Na-
tional 
Wildlife 
Federation’s 
National 
Conservation 
Achievement Award for Communications, and has been 
recognized by the Root 100 as one of the most influential 
African Americans in the country and by Family Circle 
magazine as one of America’s 20 Most Influential Moms; 
and 
Whereas 2024 marks the 15th year since Outdoor Afro has 
established itself as a community that supports recon-
necting Black Americans with natural spaces and one an-
other through recreational activities: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the recognition of the 15th anni-
versary of Outdoor Afro; and 
(2) commends the leadership of Outdoor Afro 
for changing the face of conservation by leading the 
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•HRES 1534 IH 
way for inclusion in outdoor recreation and nature 
for all. 
Æ 
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