10 Ways to Promote Inclusivity Outdoors
By: Marie Hasty
Tags: Inclusion, Hiking, Outdoors, Nature, BlackLivesMatter

‘It’s awfully white out here’ has often crossed my mind while enjoying a stunning mountain vista, burbling stream, or sandy beach. Although the benefits of being outside have been touted by academics, preservation groups, and individuals, the beneficiaries of our wild spaces have long been disproportionately white and male. According to the 2017 Outdoor Participation Report, whites make up nearly three quarters of visits to natural spaces, and participants typically had higher incomes as well as some college experience. The outdoor cultures of “dirtbags” and “beach bums” are exclusive, and the expense of outdoor equipment as well as distances between urban areas and outdoor spaces are further deterrents to getting people outside.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor activities represent one of the few ways to be active and create community while still staying safe. As part of our efforts to raise up Black and Brown people, we have to make spaces for them outdoors. Below are a list of organizations you can become involved in or donate to, as well as ways to support the movement while getting outside.

Outdoor Afro. With 10 years as an organization celebrating Black experiences in the outdoors, Outdoor Afro is a national resource for inclusivity. Their “Black to Nature” strategy has been implemented in Minneapolis, Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, and other cities ravaged by violence towards Black people. Most recently they have updated their commitments, and now have an open enrollment for their Leadership Team. Check out their message, blog, and so much more, on their site. Diversify Outdoors is a group of social media influencers working to include people of color and minorities in the outdoor community. Their site boasts over 200k instagram followers, 6 different blogs, and 3 annual climbing festivals. Members organize festivals, events, outdoor meetups, and more while working with brands and producing outdoor inclusive media. Use their hashtag #diversifyoutdoors for your next hiking selfie, and check out their beautiful website. The Greening Youth Foundation helps minority youth plug into nature and connects them with careers in the outdoors. They emphasize healthy lifestyles and communities, employing a staff of diverse disciplines and backgrounds. Their programs include internships, youth conservation corps, a public school initiative, and an office in West Africa. Explore how you can get involved. The Black Outdoors. In their own words, “TBO seeks to ignite your passion for recreation and adventure by highlighting folks who look like you doing dope, new things.” With events, beautiful photos, an informative blog, and stylish merchandise, there are so many ways to support their goal of getting people of color outside. Check out their website. Inclusive Woods & Us is focused on outdoor access for families of color in lower socioeconomic standing in Rochester, NY. They provide programming, education, and support for urban families with little access to green spaces. Lucienne Nicholson, who immigrated from Haiti as a teenager, founded the organization in 2019. She states that “Nature is the infinite teacher of everything I have ever needed to navigate my new country and from nature I learned to understand human beings including myself.” You can find out more and donate to Inclusive Woods & Us here. We Hike to Heal. Organizing trips spanning from the Bay Area to Atlanta, We Hike to Heal is an organization focused on helping women of color heal, build community, and be included in the outdoors. They are “on a mission to encourage women all over the world to tap into the healing and empowering influences within themselves and the great outdoors.” With hikes, outdoor journaling tours, merchandise, & more, there are so many ways to get involved. You can start healing on their website. Latino Outdoors is a community on a mission to “inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors and embrace cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative, ensuring our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented.” Their website is a treasure trove of educational materials, including their Theory of Change, staff article picks, and a Strategic Plan for enhancing Latino community and leadership in the outdoors. See it all here. Join a local hiking group. Some of the best conversations I’ve had were on the trail or with a paddle in hand. Reach out, be radically inclusive, share your passion for outdoor spaces. Support Outdoor Brands who are committed to inclusivity. If you go on to a company website today, chances are they have updated their message to include an emphasis on diversity. It is clear some are using this as a Public Relations move, while others are living the message. Do your research before purchasing from any brand. Know that with every dollar you spend you are supporting the message and actions of that organization. Educate yourself. An important part of the Black Lives Matter movement is becoming aware of your own privileges, while learning about the experiences of others. Below are some resources for your research.

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationships of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney. Finney has an extensive resume in inclusivity & academia. She served as a member of the National Parks System Advisory Board, and is now assistant professor of Geography at the University of Kentucky.

9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher by J. Drew Lanham for Orion Magazine. Lanham is a Master Teacher at Clemson as well as Alumni Distinguished Professor in wildlife ecology.

I Would, But: I am the Only Person of Color by Ambreen Tariq for REI Co-Op Journal. Tariq is the founder of @BrownPeopleCamping, where she shares personal narratives, photos and stories of being a South-Asian American Muslim outdoors.

5 Ways to Make the Outdoors More Inclusive

There are so many more ways to get involved, whether you want to donate your money, time or talents. We all have unique ways to contribute to history, and using your passion to get others outside is just one of the ways to promote inclusivity and diversity in our beautiful world. Adventure is out there, shouldn’t we all get to be part of it?