Redefining Outdoor Experiences: Creative Takes on Natural Landscapes in the (RE)Series

Revamped Article:

Hell yeah, let's dive into the revamped guide on making outdoor spaces freakin' awesome for everyone, especially the youth and people of color!

Part 2 of this series explored the historical crap Black folks faced in nature, introducing The Picnic Table Model to dissect barriers that youth and people of color experience. Issues like geography, dough, knowledge, and soci-emotional challenges were exposed. Emphasis was placed on the importance of camaraderie and representation for creating a feeling of belonging.

Now, let's talk about the "new" relationship game—one that's deep-rooted in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. This sucker empowers intentional bonding and fosters trust, community, and overall development. Here's a visual inspired by Maslow's pyramid of needs to clue you in. It shows we gotta meet basic needs before stimulating growth, ensuring inclusion in the outdoors ain't just a buzzword but a genuine reality.

Listen up, 'cause we gotta make it crystal clear: this "new" deal ain't about walkin' into someone else's community and savin' their sorry asses. Savorism is a toxic AF concept with zero place in any shape, form, or frickin' form of outdoor advocacy work.

Building Trust Capital

Trust is the cornerstone of this game. It's the foundation for fostering kick-ass relationships that actually matter. Trust ain't somethin' you're entitled to - it's earned. You gotta show you give a rat's ass and stick around. Be damn consistent, especially with the youngsters, their parents, and their peeps. This means makin' sure we stay in the loop with schools, teachers, and other folks affectin' their lives.

Practical Application of Building Trust

Each summer, our organization Black Outside Inc. takes high schoolers on a 7-day backpacking adventure in the Colorado Rockies through a program we call The Ascent. We help 'em navigate bear encounters and poopin' in the woods, listen to their numerous questions, and prove our collective awesomeness via multiple information sessions and practice hikes. Just because someone doesn't bite on an opportunity straight away, don't lose faith. Plant the seeds, and they'll likely sprout when the time is right.

Community Focus

Now that trust is established, let's dive into community badassery. The community-focused mindset acknowledges our collective struggles as intertwined and works towards liberation through unlearnin' and releasin' individualistic ideologies. Read up on collective liberation for a deeper understanding of its beauty.

Practical Application of Being Community-focused

In the midst of the pandemic, we recognized our communities were sufferin' from a host of factors, so we rolled up our sleeves and helped local Black-owned businesses survive. We dropped meals and took time to chat with 'em. We knew we couldn't relieve all their pain, but we tried our damn best to alleviate some of it.

We also made space for an older youth on our first Colorado trip. They needed help gettin' to the airport and we jumped on it. We ensured they made the flight, no questions asked. Sometimes, the help needed ain't fancy – it's just about bein' there for each other.

Holistic Development

Buildin' trust and focusin' on the community pave the way for holistic development – growth that encompasses the whole person. THIS is how we see participants transform physically, emotionally, and mentally. Everybody deserves to be nurtured, supported, and valued, regardless of their background.

Our summer camp for Black girls is a perfect example of holistic development in action. It's all about strength, bravery, creativity, and confidence. The camp provides safe spaces for girls to be themselves and find their voice, empowerin' them to embrace their Blackness with pride. These camps affect young minds for the better, and sometimes, they're just the spark our girls need to blossom.

Wanna see how badass this holistic approach can be? Check out Camp Founder Girls.

Defining Success

Traditional metrics aren't enough when workin' with marginalized communities. We gotta focus on the quality of the experiences we create, not how many people we manage. Holistic development is about plantin' seeds that'll grow into beautiful frickin' flowers in the future. Remember that.

The "new" approach we're discussin' calls for patience and a strategic mindset. It's about recognize-damn-innin' the whole story and workin' together towards a common goal. This ain't your typical approach to success, but it's crucial if we wanna create an inclusive outdoor space where everyone can learn, grow, and make mistakes with grace and support. So, let's roll up our sleeves, dig deep, and make magic happen.

Original article

integrating elements of fashion-and-beauty into outdoor spaces can help make the experience more appealing to a wider demographic, creating a more diverse and inclusive environment for hiking and camping.
social media platforms can be leveraged to share stories and experiences of BIPOC individuals participating in outdoor activities, inspiring others and breaking down stereotypes within the lifestyle.
education-and-self-development workshops focused on wilderness survival skills, such as foraging or building shelters, can empower marginalized communities and contribute to their holistic development, fostering a sense of accomplishment and self-reliance while hiking.