Together Outdoors + Society Of Outdoor Recreation Professionals Listening Session
Lessons from our listening session at the National Brotherhood of Skiers 50th Anniversary Summit
Congratulations to the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS), which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in Vail, CO. The NBS is a coalition of 50 African-American ski clubs nationwide. The Summit, held at a different resort every year, brings the clubs together to ski, board and party with a purpose.
This year’s “Soul on the Snow” Summit featured a week of on-snow events, competitions, education sessions, happy hours, films, and entertainment. Together Outdoors and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals were honored to host a Listening Session with NBS and outdoor industry leaders and local land managers on the importance of supporting welcoming and inclusive outdoor spaces.
Listening Session speakers included past NBS presidents Bessie Gay and Rose Thomas Pickrum, Corbeau Ski Club President Rodney Swope, Director of Marketing for Seirus Innovation Danica Carey, and U.S. Forest Service Mountain Resort Program Manager Amanda Wheelok.
That group shared how their passion for snowsports has impacted their lives and amplified the importance of community created through affinity groups like the NBS.
Looking back and looking forward
The Listening Panel also explored what has changed for skiers of color over the last 50 years. For example, in 1973, the Colorado National Guard was called to the first NBS summit in Aspen, CO simply because of a gathering of Black skiers. Now, mountain communities want the NBS and regional ski club gatherings to come to their ski resorts because they recognize the economic impact of these events. Ski resorts are also aware that changing demographics in the U.S. means that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) will provide much of their industry’s current and future growth.
Among the panel’s other topics:
Moving beyond tokenism. Leveraging the networks of affinity groups like NBS to help more BIPOC people obtain leadership positions at ski resorts, land management agencies, and other outdoor industry jobs. Also, creating more programs explicitly targeted at youth and families from underserved and marginalized communities is vital.
Storytelling. Utilizing films, social media, and print media consistently to increase awareness of historic and current stories of Black outdoor recreationists and conservationists can be a powerful tool for change.
Moving beyond tradition. Many outdoor activities like skiing are rooted in perceptions of “tradition,” which can alienate underrepresented communities. Such offputting traditions include racist, misogynistic, and discriminatory place names.
Together Outdoors and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals are committed to sharing these stories, to having difficult conversations about barriers stemming from racism and discrimination in outdoor recreation, and to fostering place-based action so that outdoor spaces truly are welcoming for all.
Join the Together Outdoors Coalition and SORP and participate in upcoming events, workshops, and webinars to learn how to take tangible action locally.
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