The Work of Today is the History of Tomorrow
These Four Groups Are Shaping the Next Generation of Outdoor Leaders
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the contributions made by Black Americans in the face of incomprehensible discrimination, exclusion and violence. February is also a time to raise up those who work every day on the frontlines to overcome the obstacles and scars created by that history of exclusion to create a more inclusive world and blaze new paths forward for Black Americans in every walk of life.
Together Outdoors is pleased to recognize four groups doing such work in the world of outdoor recreation. All of these groups received funds from Together Outdoors’ 2022 grant-making program. In addition to getting Black youth into nature, these groups say they perform another vital role — helping Black children see themselves in outdoor recreation leadership roles.
Humble Hikes
Humble Hustle's mission is to empower black youth and connect diverse communities by creating innovative, inclusive spaces that inspire hope and promote giving. Through the Humble Hikes program, THHC provides the chance to expand youth's horizons and experience the world around them in a positive and healthy way. The PRETTY Humble program is one that cultivates and develops young black women by empowering them through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, leadership development, along with mental health and self-care.
In addition, THHC has a creative and entrepreneurship hub called The Collective. This space provides resources, programs, and workshops to community members, adults, college students, and the parents of the children in Humble Hustle's programs. The Collective is also a space where Humble Hustle empowers and provides a space and platform for unique individuals while evoking out of the box thinking for your heart, mind, and soul. Outside of the programming that takes place, Humble Hustle continues to give back to the community through its' Keep Giving Initiatives: Back to School Drive where hygiene items are supplied to students before their school year starts and a Winter Coat Drive that provides students with the opportunity to own a brand new coat before the winter time takes full effect. The grant from Together Outdoors will allow the group to expand the number of kids it can take hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping or fishing. The funds also support Humble Hikes’ after-school programming collaboration with Roanoke City Schools.
“Having Black Leadership in outdoor recreational spaces is beyond important because, on average, the outdoor sector is not directly marketed to the black demographic. By having black leaders in outdoor recreational spaces, we can continue to inspire other minorities that the outdoors is for them, as it is for everyone in our society. Not only are we consistently continuing to educate, empower, and expose young black people to the outdoors through our Humble Hikes program, but we are inspiring others to venture out of their societal norms to be more in contact with nature as a whole.”
Hoods to Woods Foundation
The Hoods to Woods Foundation offers free year-round indoor and outdoor snowboarding programs to youth in underserved communities in the New York City tri-state area to tackle the lack of diversity in winter sports.
Hoods to Woods was founded in 2009 with the idea that everyone should have access to the outdoors. Co-founders Brian Paupaw and Omar Diaz grew up in underserved communities in New York City and understand that sharing their passion for the outdoors can have a positive impact on inner-city youth. Since its inception, Hoods to Woods has helped hundreds of kids ages 10 to 18 experience the thrills of snowboarding.
“Black outdoor leadership is important because representation matters. Hoods to Woods enables youth in our programs to see themselves in the outdoors industries through our staff and board members.”
The Center for Recreation Education Arts Technology and Enterprise (CREATE, Inc.)
CREATE, Inc is a nonprofit that provides outdoor recreation programs to underserved populations in the Middle Georgia region.
Their new program, CREATE Outdoor Adventures, includes the development of a gear library, a demonstration campsite, and various outdoor skills/leadership workshops.
“We need outdoor leaders who look like us to help us overcome the generational fears of us and the outdoors,” said CREATE Executive Director Gregory Barnes.”
Atabey Outdoors
Atabey Outdoors is a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led nonprofit organization in Phoenix, Arizona that provides organized outdoor adventures to local BIPOC girls, including non-binary individuals and those who identify as girls.
The group uses outdoor activities and outings to teach life skills, including leadership. Atabey is using a portion of its Together Outdoors grant money to launch a Junior Outdoor Mentor Program to train BIPOC youth to become future mentors and leaders.
“Black Outdoor Leadership is important because it is important for future generations of Black young people to see themselves in positions of outdoor leadership. Currently, the outdoor industry is overcoming the history of discrimination, segregation, and inequality in the outdoors. National parks and outdoor adventures are not equally accessible to the Black community as they are for the white community, so you see an overwhelming number of white folks recreating outdoors. Black Outdoor leadership shows the younger generations that we are knowledgeable about outdoor adventures and we belong in nature. I founded Atabey Outdoors so that the Black community, specifically young people, can start learning about the outdoors early in life. Young Black people rarely have the support they need to get into nature, whether it is lack of resources or knowledge and barriers to expensive gear. Atabey Outdoors provides them the knowledge, community and gear they need to get out and explore nature with their own communities.”
