At Outdoor Afro, our volunteer leaders play a vital role in shaping their local communities. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Chantell Murphy, one of our dedicated Volunteer Leaders, to hear more about her journey with Outdoor Afro. In this Q&A, Chantell shares her personal experiences with Outdoor Afro’s Volunteer Leadership Program, the impact volunteering has had on her, and why she encourages others to get involved. Here’s what she had to say:

Q: Why did you join the program? What motivated you to become a volunteer leader, and what made you excited about the opportunity?

I was excited to become a volunteer leader with Outdoor Afro so that I can meet other Black people who like to spend as much time outside as I do. I was really excited to plan new adventures and go to places that I’ve never been before.

I live in New Mexico and there are just so many places to explore. And I usually don’t want to go by myself. And so, I kind of have this ready-made community, ready to go on adventures, ready to try new things.

And Outdoor Afro is just such an amazing organization because it encourages us to do that. I think it’s really easy for people to get behind the mission and, you know, we’re cultivating a sense of community and belonging and we’re just really having a lot of fun.

Q: What was your favorite moment or experience during your time as a volunteer leader? Can you share a specific story or moment that stood out to you and made your experience memorable?

I’ve been a volunteer leader for about a year now, and I’ve had so many fun experiences and great memories. I would say one that really stands out is our big fish event. So last year, I organized a fly fishing event in the Jemez Mountains with the National Park Service there. And I was pretty excited for this event because I’ve never fly-fished before, but I’ve always wanted to. And so this event was really well organized. It started with an indoor component, kind of the classroom session where we would learn about the different types of fish, what fly fishing is, what the different rods are.

And then we got to practice inside with indoor friendly rods. And then this latter half of the day, we were gonna go out into the backcountry and learn how to fly fish in the river. Everything was organized. We didn’t have too many people who signed up, but that’s okay. But it ended up being an incredibly cold day.

It snowed. There was ice everywhere. I still went out. My dad came, and then our other outdoor leader in Albuquerque came up. And we ended up having a really great indoor session.

We were able to ask a lot of questions about the type of fish that get stocked in different areas, talked about invasive species and what some different ideas are to get rid of the invasive species and let the native species of fish thrive. And so it ended up being just a really great experience. It was memorable because it just didn’t really work out the way that I had planned. But, you know, being flexible and kind of respecting nature, is really a big lesson and a big part of being an outdoor Afro leader, because, you know, because that is an integral part of of the experience is being out in nature and being able to pivot and not put people at risk just because you want to do something or just because you plan to do it in a specific way.

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about applying for the program? How would you encourage others to join and take part in this opportunity?

If you’re thinking about becoming a volunteer leader with Outdoor Afro, I highly recommend you do it. The organization is really well organized, and everything is done with a lot of intention. So that makes your role as a volunteer leader very easy and very meaningful. They’re consistent and clear. Everything’s done very transparently, so you’ll know everything from the branding to the types of partnerships that they encourage and even how to fill out the trip reports at the end of every activity.

I think everyone in the organization takes their role very seriously and with a lot of integrity. As a volunteer leader, you will never question whether or not you’re making an impact.

Q: What did you gain as a volunteer leader?

As a volunteer leader, I think I’ve gained so much. I’ve gained an amazing sense of community, and I’ve gained these new leadership skills that has cultivated a real sense of confidence in me. Everything from planning the event to making sure all of the details are really well thought out, including mitigating risk. These are really amazing skills to have to carry out into other parts of my life. I’ve gained a sense that I’m creating a real difference in my community, and that feels really positive.

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and make a difference in your community? The Outdoor Afro Volunteer Leader Program is more than just an opportunity to explore the outdoors—it’s a chance to grow, connect, and create lasting impact.

If you’re passionate about strengthening connections to nature and leading inclusive outdoor experiences, we want you on this journey with us. Learn more about our Volunteer Leadership program and how you can apply, or share this with someone who you believe would make an amazing Outdoor Afro Volunteer Leader!