Come to the Outdoor Afro Glamp Out!
Become A Superstar Sponsor!
On October 1, 2015, we invite you to rejoice in our success and invest in our promising future of relevant outdoor engagement with our first ever gala celebration and fundraiser: “The Outdoor Afro Glamp Out” at the Oakland Museum of California, 6-10pm!
With an expected 250 guests from around the country, we will reflect on our successes, and envision the next generation of diverse, bold, and innovative outdoor leadership and engagement.
Our amazing celebration will include:
- A special line-up of local celebrities who care deeply about our shared cause
- A series of short clips and testimony about our Outdoor Afro leaders, and the communities they touch
- Sultry blues, fine wines, and delicious locally sourced soul food
- Awards and recognition of friends, sponsors, and supporters
We hope you will join this event as a sponsor, and will make a significant contribution to help more people take care of themselves, our community, and our planet.
I look forward to sharing more details soon, and hope you will save the date!
Thank you!
Rue Mapp
Founder and CEO
The Trail Mix: Savory July
Get in the Mix with Outdoor Afro as we kayak under the full moon, hike to waterfalls, and gather around the campfire.
Atlanta, Georgia
Experience The Bahamas: Picnic at Camp Exposure in Lithonia Georgia July 11
Atlanta Beltline Tour July 25
Bay Area, California
Bill Picket Rodeo July 11
Healing Hike in Point Pinole July 25
Reflect on Beauty and Hike in Santa Cruz July 25
Beach Volleyball July 26
Outdoor Afro After Work: Refugio Creek Park July 29
Outdoor Afro After Work: Twin Peaks July 30
Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana
Range Guided Night Hike and Campfire July 3
Camping and Backpacking in Peoira District July 18
Louisville, KY
Zipline July 3
Buffalo Soldiers Camp July 18
West Louisville Appreciation Day July 25
New York/ New Jersey
Speed Mixer and Scavenger Hunt at African Arts Festival July 5
North Carolina
Summer Picnic Meet and Greet July 19
Portland, Oregon
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival July 18
Hike to Wahkeena Falls and Fairy Falls, then the base of Multnomah Falls July 25
Phoenix, AZ
Gear Check In at REI July 8
Yoga and Kayak July 11
Camp and Kayak at Canyon Lake July 31
Richmond, VA
Cycling at High Bridge State Park July 18
Seattle, Washington
Hike at Boulder River July 18
Therapy Thursdays Nature Walk July 23
St Louis, Missouri
Camping Basics at REI July 16
South Carolina
Full Moon Kayak July 1
Camping Basics July 11
Outdoor Afro After Work: Nature and History Hike July 17
Washington DC- Maryland- Northern Virginia
Explore the Lotus Flower and Water Lily Festival July 11
Intro to Rock Climbing at Carder Rock July 18
Outdoor Afro Leaders Around the Country Invite You and Your Family to Join Us in Nature!
Now Serving: BBQ Sustainability Realness
Earth, Wind and Fire blasting on the speakers. Children running through sprinklers. Flip Flops. Dominoes. And the delicious smell of marinated meat and veggies on the grill. Is anyone else ready for Fourth of July barbecuing?
From the family reunion to the beach party, Outdoor Afro has got you covered on incorporating environmental stewardship into our outdoor grilling fun.
|
|
Grill what you bring, eat what you grill.Coordinate with the host to ensure that there is appropriate amount of perishable food for a group your size. By bringing appropriate portion and ensuring that no perishable items are discarded, you can significantly reduce the amount of end of the day waste. |
 |
Bring food in reusable containers.Pre-making your famous cole slaw or your sumptious fruit salad? Pick out a favorite bowl or platter from home to complement your special dish and reduce single use waste. Just dont forget it when you leave! |
 |
Bring or locate recycling containers.Many picnic sites have recycling bins which can be easily accessed by party goers. When hosting an event, make sure to locate them and advise your guests to utilize them. If the park does not provide recycling bin, convert a large box or multiple paper bags into recycling receptacles. After the bbq is over, you can easily drive these items to your nearest recycling center. |
 |
Use compostable or paper materials.Compostable utensils, cups, plates, and other necessary bbq items can be found at your local grocery store. Make sure #refusesingleuse plastics. |
 |
Picnic near a clean drinking water source.Fill up your #KleanKanteen or other resuable bottle at the nearby water fountain |
 |
Leave No Trace.Whether hosting or attending, do your part to ensure the picnic area is left cleaner than when you arrived. #LNT |
 |
Carpool.Reduce your carbon footprint and arrive in style by coordinating a carpool. Also, the folks who hit too much of #UncleDenzel’s punch will need a designated driver. |
Outdoor Afro wishes you and your family a happy and sustainable Fourth of July weekend!
Learning, Loving, and #SwimmingWhileBlack in Your Local Watershed
"Wherever you are, right now, you are part of a watershed. Think of it like an aquatic neighborhood, where the neighbors (i.e. the animals and plants) can be specific to your area, and the concerns and issues (e.g. pollution, damming) can affect the whole community."
Hi! My name is Tamara Johnson, and I am so lucky to be an Outdoor Afro leader! I had no idea that playing outdoors as a kid, capturing lizards, worms, and caterpillars, would be the foundation for my eventual career as a wildlife biologist, which is what I do currently. Being homeschooled for a few years provided open-ended opportunities to explore the outdoors and form my own questions, and thus, a personal, specific love for nature. As an Outdoor Afro leader, I love that I get a chance to foster those open-ended opportunities for others, operating under the philosophy that “wisdom begins with wonder.” Recently, my personal wonder has been inspired by learning about the waterbodies in my area, and the watershed that I live in.
Growing up, I did not know there was a stream next to my house. I was raised in an area of Atlanta named “Camp Creek,” but rarely did I actually note where that particular body of water was, and to this day I have never set foot in it. I engaged with wildlife, but my interests remained fairly terrestrial. I’d swam and canoed in lakes before, but streams, creeks, and rivers remained in my mind beautiful but unreachable, natural features you drive over or walk beside.
“Watershed? Watershed?? Uh...hmm….try not to look too confused...”
That was my thought process when I first heard the term. I was the new biologist intern at a government agency, listening to a presentation on the Conasauga River watershed during my first staff meeting. From the nodding heads in the room, this vague “watershed” concept seemed very important, and understanding it seemed essential to the conservation work we did. I did what any good intern would: I nodded and smiled, then went home and googled this new term.
I found out that a watershed is a specific area of land in which all of the streams flow towards a common point to form a larger body of water—similar to the way tree branches all stem from one trunk. Each stream is connected to the larger network of waterbodies. What happens to the streams in the beginning parts of the network (the smaller branches) can affect the downstream area (moving towards the “trunk”, the large river). For instance, the stream next to my childhood home is a part of the Chattahoochee River watershed, its waters eventually flowing into that major Georgia river.
Wherever you are, right now, you are part of a watershed. Think of it like an aquatic neighborhood, where the neighbors (i.e. the animals and plants) can be specific to your area, and the concerns and issues (e.g. pollution, damming) can affect the whole community. Since you are more than likely a primarily land-dwelling individual, how can you engage with the watershed you are in?From working in different watersheds in my career, and just enjoying hanging by streams, I have a few ideas for how to connect with your watershed, whether or not you want to get in the water:
Hop in and explore: Be empowered to get in the water and observe! There are so many fish, salamanders, frogs, and other critters that live under rocks, along the edges, and in small pools in these streams. Climb in and find out what your underwater neighbors are, and what type of habitat they like to dwell in. This can be done with respect to the homes of these creatures, and acknowledgement of potential limitations (stream depth, time of year, safety, etc.).
Learn the history: Did you know African-Americans were some of the first true stream ecologists? The river was a friend of our ancestors who used it as a guide, following along the network of streams to get to free land. They also used it as a cloak to cover their scent from those who wished to keep them in bondage. There are many historical connections to the waters of our country, and with a little research you can find out how the waterbodies in your area were used, whether for agriculture, electricity, or sustenance fishing, or in other unique ways.
Engage your community: As mentioned, what happens upstream in a watershed affects the downstream area. Learn how upstream factors are affecting the watershed, whether through pollution or destruction of stream habitat, and organize local efforts to keep the watershed healthy, through river clean-ups or similar activities. These efforts benefit the community and encourage stewardship of the nature in your own backyard.
Chill: Take time to go sit by a stream, lake, river, and breathe. Let the sound of the running water soothe you. Watch the birds, dragonflies, turtles and other critters play by the stream. Refresh and recharge in a wildlife oasis.
Through a mix of all of the above, I’ve learned (and am still learning) how to connect to aquatic environments in my community. Whether it’s from an ecological, historical, or environmental perspective, be free to engage the streams and creeks in your area. Let your wonder of the waterbodies in your backyard lead to wisdom in how to love and protect your watershed. Happy exploring!
The Trail Mix: June Crunch
SCOOP IN with Outdoor Afro as we celebrate Juneteenth, discover local tide pools and lead Black Music Month inspired hikes this month!
By Outdoor Afro Leadership Director Zoë Polk
Day Trip to Chattanooga Tennessee June 13
Healing Hike and History at Sweetwater Creek State Park with Sierra Club June 27
Bay Area, California
Hike Point Reyes and Celebrate African American National Park Weekend June 6
Explore the Tide Pools at Fitzgerald Marine State Reserve June 7
Visit Allensworth for their Annual Juneteenth Celebration June 12- 13
Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse! Or Other Natural Disaster with REI June 17
Sustainable BBQing and Hiking in Oakland June 20
Camping with REI in Del Valle Park June 27
Hike and Conversation with Ranger Betty Reid Soskin June 27
Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana
Sunrise Hike and Birding at Indiana Dunes- West Beach June 6
Mt Whitney Training and Gear Prep June 7
Hike and Yoga on Miller Woods Trail June 13
Backpacking Basics Class with REI June 15
Sunday Fun Day Hike and Hill Challenge June 21
Nature On Tap at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum June 30
Los Angeles, CA
Heron Hike: Los Cerritos Wetlands Bird/Nature Walk June 6
Channel Islands Wildlife Cruise June 7
Visit Allensworth for their Annual Juneteenth Celebration June 13
Louisville, KY
Intro to Camping at the Juneteenth Festival! June 20
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Fathers Day Hike on Pike Island June 20
New York/ New Jersey
Black music Hike at Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park June 6
North Carolina
African Americans in the National Parks weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains NP June 5
Portland, Oregon
Hike (And Optional Yoga ) at Portland Audubon Society Sanctuary June 6
Nature Walk at-Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden & Reed Canyon June 13
Explore Stone House in Forest Park June 20
Phoenix, AZ
Morning at Riparian Preserve June 7
Nature and Photography Hike at Pivot Rock Canyon June 20
Discover Mesa Urban Garden - Gong & Yoga June 24
Richmond, VA
Explore Shenandoah National Park June 6
Learn Camping Basics with REI June 11
Seattle, Washington
Family Entourage to Franklin Falls - African-American National Park Event! June 6
Outdoor Afro After Work: Seahurst Park Hike June 12
St Louis, Missouri
Moderate Hike/Potluck in Castlewood State Park June 28
South Carolina
Hike in a Maritime Forest and View Sweeping Vistas of the Salt March at Palmetto Trail June 6
Veggie Fest with African American Farmers at Freewoods Farm June 7
Soul by the Sea (Funky Friday on Folly) June 26
Washington DC- Maryland- Northern Virginia
Dragonfly Spotting at Huntley Meadows Park June 13
Freedom Field Day on Harriet Tubman's Ancestral Land June 14
Yoga at Cedar Hill Frederick Douglass National Historic Site June 16
Paddling on the Anacostia River June 20
Family Biking at Lake Artemesia Natural Area June 27
Outdoor Afro Leaders Around the Country Invite You and Your Family to Join Us in Nature!
#FindYourPark, Find Our History: A Collective Call to Action from Outdoor Afro
by Outdoor Afro Leadership Director, Zoë Polk
LET'S read the placards overlooking the Suisun Bay at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and be critical of words like “mutiny” and “riots.”
LET'S dig our hands in the earth at George Washington Carver National Monument and as we gaze upon his childhood home, remember that our sprouts require fresh clean water, healthy nourishment and deliberate attention in order to survive and thrive.
LET'S look for Mother Harriet in nature, not the statutes and structures, at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park and remember that she used the land, water, and sky to get free.
LET'S visit the Pullman National Monument and remember the relevance of A. Phillip Randolph’s words “Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationship.”
LET'S feel at home at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and as we scan the titles of the books in Douglass’ personal library, remember to fill our shelves with our history and herstory.
LET'S take in the majesty of the waterfalls in Yosemite National Park and hold gratitude in our hearts for the Buffalo Soldiers.
LET'S stop by the Black Voices Museum during our hike up to Storer College at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and listen closely for the voices of the 1896 Colored Women’s League, Jazz musician Don Redman, W.E.B. DuBois, and the Niagara Movement.
LET'S notice each of the bricks in the structures of the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site and remember that they were crafted and stacked by our ancestors. And LET'S remember to build.
LET'S bring our binoculars to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and spot our history on the wings of Red Tailed Hawks in the sky.
LET'S embrace the trees at the African Burial Ground National Monument.
LET'S walk through the National Mall and remember African Americans have always used the outdoors to galvanize and to empower.
LET'S bring our families to the Booker T. Washington National Monument and visualize his mother Jane and her children in that one room kitchen cabin, and remember our homes are our witnesses to our joy, our lessons, and our familial bonds.
LET'S hike the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and remember that our bodies’ movement has always had a place in The Movement.
LET'S discover the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and remember that racial justice activists have always been parents, teachers and children.
LET'S open the front doors of the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site and hear her voice as we read her words engraved on her statute in Lincoln Park:
“I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you a respect for the use of power. I leave you faith. I leave you racial dignity. I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellow men. I leave you a responsibility to our young people.”
LET'S hike along the Black Heritage Trail at the Boston African American National Historic Site and vow to be Revolutionary.
Do you know the African American history in your local national park? Join Outdoor Afro in healing from and being inspired by black history in the outdoors.
Spotlight: Outdoor Afro Richmond!
Meet Deidre "Dee" Bryant. Mother, Wife, Traveler, Adventure Seeker and Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader. Located in Richmond, Virginia, Dee and her local Outdoor Afro community have ice skated, hiked, kayaked in some of Virginia's most beautiful places.
Dee recently shared some her highlights from 2014, her goals for 2015 and some tips on how to incorporate a wine pairings with a hike.
Why did you apply to be a leader?
I love being outside and I am a bit of an adventure junkie, so I applied to Outdoor Afro to be more intentional about the role of nature and adventure in my life. Being on the Leadership Team pushes me to stay active and come up with interesting activities to share with other people.
What has been your favorite adventure with Outdoor Afro Richmond?
So far my favorite event has been the trip to the Westmoreland Berry Farm and Winery Tour. This trip had a good turnout and it brought out different people. During the trip, people got a chance to hike and enjoy the heavily wooded trail, wonderful wooden bridge, abundant wildlife and beautiful streams. We also had a picnic and then enjoyed a wine tasting at a nearby winery.
What did you learn from Outdoor Afro in your first year?
I learned that there are many like-minded black people that enjoy being outside and have similar experiences in nature. Many people invited to reconnect with their childhood memories through coming out to an Outdoor Afro event.
What have you learned about your state and your Outdoor Afro community?
Virginia has so many open spaces to visit and Outdoor Afro allows me to share the beauty of this area with other people, whether they are native Virginians or transplants. The mission of Outdoor Afro really resonates with people and they are excited to find a community of people that look like them and enjoy doing some of the same things that they like to do. I receive a lot of interest whenever I publicize an event, so it lets me know that I am on target in terms of planning events that a wide range of people will enjoy.
Have you learned anything about yourself?
I realized that I am good at organizing and finding events that appeal to a wide range of people. Being an Outdoor Afro Leader has pushed me to be more active and challenge myself physically. At the end of the day, after the event is over, I feel just as rewarded as members do and I love that.
What excites you most about returning to the Leadership Team in 2015?
I feel like I haven’t done everything that I wanted to accomplish and that I had more adventures left. I am excited to continue to grow the Outdoor Afro Richmond community and reach more local Outdoor Afros. I’m also excited that our team has grown, including expanding to new regions including Northern Virginia, South Carolina. I’m definitely interested in collaborating on regional activities with other leaders.
What events are you planning for 2015?
I’m just getting started, very excited about learning new things and partnering with REI and other Outdoor Afro leaders for events. I’m planning a camping trip and am going to participate in African American National Parks Day on June 6. I’m also looking forward to organizing hikes in parks that are new to me and to our members. I’ll also repeat some of our most popular events such as the winery tour and the history walk.
Traveling to the Richmond, VA Area? Connect with Outdoor Afro Richmond to join their next adventure!
#OutdoorAfroEarthDay
by Outdoor Afro Atlanta Leader Stefan Moss
I have a complicated relationship with Earth Day.
Although I have always valued the opportunity to celebrate our beloved planet, I have also been very aware of who the traditional movers, shakers, and “leaders” of the modern environmental movement were. As an environmental science major, my passion for stewardship was birthed from my experience growing up in the islands where the outdoors were a part of life. While in school, attending the required conferences, seminars, and Earth Day activities I’d often wonder, where are all the people that look like me and love the environment? What were they doing? Why can’t I find them? As I traveled throughout the US, I slowly realized that I was certainly not alone in my appreciation; I was just not always looking in the right places.
It’s clear that humanity’s love of nature is expressed in a myriad of ways. Grilling in the backyard on a Sunday afternoon with friends is just as much of an experience in the outdoors as hiking a mountain or camping in the woods. My fondest memories of being in nature were the days I spent as a kid soaking up the sun, while playing beach volleyball. Between games I would sit at the shore and marvel at the seashells with their intricate designs and wonder how they were formed.
Now that I’m a father, I’m trying to ignite that same sense of awe in my kids, by making sure they experience nature in a way that inspires them. Every cultural tradition that incorporates the outdoors is important, and as we share in and pass on those traditions we enrich our own lives, and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation of the natural systems that allow us as humans to exist on this planet. Many of these traditions, particularly in the black community, are often not formalized or promoted as an event, but are simply part and parcel of a lifestyle that values consistent connections with nature. Despite this, our experiences in the outdoors remain rich, vibrant, varied, and colorful.
Earth Day has become a global phenomenon because it has the unlimited potential to bring humanity together for a common purpose and goal. I choose to celebrate it each year because I understand that unification is central to our ability to solve environmental challenges. As April 22nd approaches, you can get in the outdoors and celebrate your personal connection to the “blue marble” by joining Outdoor Afro all across the country in organized activities like visiting a state or national park, planting trees, assisting in community cleanups, and so much more
What is your Earth Day family tradition? Join the conversation at #outdoorafroearthday
Whole Foods Oakland to Share Nickels for Non-Profits with Outdoor Afro!
Oakland headquartered Outdoor Afro is proud to announce a new partnership with its local Whole Foods, as a Nickels for Non-Profits recipient!
Beginning this April 13th through July 5th, tell your cashier you want to pass on your .05 reusable bag credit to Outdoor Afro!
Funds raised will be used to expand our successful peer-leadership program that helps thousands of local residents of all ages reconnect to nature through a variety of activities that support healthy living, community, and fun!
Giving to Outdoor Afro, while buying delicious food and doing right by the planet, has never been easier!
Read more about this amazing community benefit program!
Thanks Whole Foods Oakland!
