DiverseNPS Outdoor Afro

DiverseNPS: Outdoor Afro

As we continue February and Black History Month, we’re sharing another installment in our community effort to showcase organizations promoting social justice and more inclusive access to public lands.  This month’s feature organization is Oakland, California-based, Outdoor Afro. 

Outdoor Afro is where Black people and nature meet. Founded by Rue Mapp in 2009, Outdoor Afro is the nation’s leading organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.

Their mission: to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.

Outdoor Afro Waterbottle
Image Provided By: Outdoor Afro

THIS MONTH'S ORGANIZATION:

Outdoor Afro

Outdoor Afro's Mission:

Outdoor Afro's mission is to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.
Learn More

Outdoor Afro has more than 100 leaders in 56 cities and connects 40,000+ people to nature annually. Each volunteer leader creates and guides monthly trips and fosters collaborations to strengthen connections with the outdoors. Their organization reconnects Black people with nature through recreational activities including hiking, birding, fishing, kayaking, gardening, and more – in a similar style, you would do if you were taking family members out. They work to harness the value of connecting people and connecting people to nature, in the same conversation.

Outdoor Afro also works to disrupt the false perception that Black People do not have a relationship with nature. 

Each year they hold annual training for all volunteer leaders to attend. All leaders are required to attend. There are training modules and ongoing education covering everything from risk management to policy to storytelling interpretation. Outdoor Afro shifts the visual representation of who can connect with the Outdoors by taking photos and sharing them with a growing online community. They encourage participants to do the same.

Anyone who supports their mission is welcome to attend their events. You don’t have to have an afro, to be part of Outdoor Afro.

Check out this video about their organization:

Follow Outdoor Afro on Social

Follow their Instagram @outdoorafro for the latest info on Outdoor Afro and upcoming events.

Website: https://outdoorafro.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorafro/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorAfro/

We invite you to join us in making a donation to support Outdoor Afro.  https://outdoorafro.com/giving-donate/ 

 

OADBaltimore.DC_MD_Macer_Hike_20190519
Image Provided by: Outdoor Afro
From Chaya Boston_Jamaica Pond_Oct 2020_4
Image Provided By: Outdoor Afro

About the DiverseNPS Initative:

As outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of America’s parks, we’ve experienced the benefits of connecting with nature and our diverse landscapes. From city parks where we can get a taste of green amid cemented city blocks, to recharging strolls and hikes in the millions of acres of our state parks, to treks and climbs in the breathtaking landscapes in our national parks, the chance to be in nature is an experience we hold invaluable.

Undoubtedly, our lands should be enjoyed by all of us, but when we look into who is getting access to our lands, we see alarmingly disproportionate statistics that highlight a gap between race and park visitations. When we examine the reasons why these gaps are present—access, education, resources, discrimination and prejudice—we understand that systemic racism in our country is the major contributor to these disappointing disproportions.

In the National Park System, for example, Black Americans make up about 7 percent of visitors, while they are 13 percent of the U.S. population. Moreover, 78 percent of visitors are White.

The end of the Jim Crow era in 1968, showcases that Black American generations have only recently gained the freedom and liberty to move around this country. Still today, minorities face prejudice and discrimination within our outdoor spaces and, often, cannot safely and comfortably enjoy outdoor recreation.

AS PARK ENTHUSIASTS AND ADVOCATES OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING RACISM WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY.​

To do so, we are taking action to use our platforms to contribute to the progress that is much needed within the outdoor space and community.

As a part of this community, Park Chasers will join with others in highlighting organizations that are dedicated to bridging the race gap in the outdoor space by connecting opportunities and experiences to people of color.

Each month, we are featuring and focusing on one organization, with the intent to showcase their hard work, raise awareness and support them through funding and donations. We’ll share monthly articles and social media posts along with links for how you can donate.

From Chaya_Boston_Sept 10

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT A MORE DIVERSE NPS?

DONATE

Organizations like Outdoor Afro rely on private donations now more than ever to sustain the work that they do to increase access to the outdoors for everyone.  Consider joining us in making a contribution this month to Outdoor Afro or another organization centered on diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.

COMMITTED TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE Outdoor Afro

Want to find more information about organizations like Outdoor Afro?  To see a full overview of organizations we have supported, follow the link below. In this document, you can find information about what organizations like Outdoor Afro are doing and how you can donate to them directly.

HAVE AN ORGANIZATION WE CAN HIGHLIGHT?

We have also created a submission form if you know of an organization who’s doing the work to make the outdoors more diverse and inclusive. If you want to see them supported, please submit via the form below:
Search
Picture of THE PARK CHASERS

THE PARK CHASERS

Greg & Amy
Chasing a visit to all 400+ units in the NPS
Current Count: 130/423
Next Stop: @hawaiivolcanoes

WHERE WE ARE NOW

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

3 Easy Day Hikes in Colorado National Monument

Since the monument was established in 1911, hikers have enjoyed the stunning scenery in Colorado National Monument.  While many of the parks 40+ miles of

Read More »
All About Colorado National Monument

All About Colorado National Monument

Sometimes our favorite national park units aren’t the end destinations but the parks we find on the way.  Colorado National Monument (Park #95 of 423)

Read More »
Least Visited National parks in 2021

The Least Visited National Parks in 2021

Even though more than 297 million people visited a national park last year, there are still some places you can find wilderness, quiet, and solitude

Read More »

Start Park Chasing Today

Download your free .pdf checklist of all 400+ national park units and start planning your next adventure.