Celebrating Teresa Baker, National Park Advocate!
We are so proud to share this wonderful article and Q&A with Outdoor Afro Leader and pioneer of African Americans in the National Parks Event, Teresa Baker!
California outdoorswoman Teresa Baker doesn’t just love national parks. She encourages thousands of people around the country to love them, too. For two years, she has been the driving force behind a series of successful events encouraging people of color to spend a weekend exploring nature and history. Teresa’s project, the African American National Parks Event, has already grown in size and influence—and she wants to see more people of color involved with the parks, not just as visitors, but as employees and advocates, too.
Q: How did you first get involved in the outdoors? Did you grow up hiking and camping, or is it something you learned to appreciate as an adult?
I’ve always been an outdoor person, playing sports, hiking, camping, exploring. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started understanding the importance of our national parks. As an adult, I understand the need for conservation. That’s another aspect of getting African Americans out into our open spaces, so we can all begin to engage in the conversation on conservation. We’re not at the table because we’re not in the parks. It’s something that has always been in my life, and that I’ve always wanted to share with friends and family, but now I see the need to get that message out as widely as possible.
Read the full article HERE
Retracing the Path of Buffalo Soldiers to Yosemite
Joining folks around the country in celebration of the second annual African Americans National Parks Day, Outdoor Afros in Northern California embarked on a special trip to Yosemite Valley, commemorating the numerous contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers, some of our nation’s first park rangers.
Check out this wonderful video of our experience below!
Buffalo Soldiers 6 from Dudley Edmondson on Vimeo.
The Buffalo Soldiers were integral in securing and protecting the National Parks in the early 1900s. In 1866, Congress created six segregated regiments, which were then consolidated into black regiments, including the 9th Cavalry and the 24th Infantry. These men, commissioned to protect the public lands, helped stave off poachers and timber thieves, contained wildfires and constructed roads and trails, among other duties. Read more about the Buffalo Soldiers here
Many thanks to Dudley Edmondson for capturing the impact of this inspired and inspiring trip!
Our Wild and Civil Rights
As we commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of the passage of the Wilderness Act, we might also consider another historic piece of legislation, the Civil Rights Act, which was signed in the same year. Given that the two movements were locked in time together, were they perceived as related causes by their allies? What might their connection—or disconnection—mean for people and the environment today and in the future?
Frank Peterman, a conservationist and civil rights activist, was in his twenties during the 1960s. He recalls a great and daily sense of urgency about civil rights issues versus that of environmental concerns. For him, the March on Washington, alongside the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis, was a galvanizing event that called for equitable access to jobs and quality of life for blacks in America and an end to institutionally protected physical brutality. “As a part of the NAACP to advance the Civil Rights Act, we did not discuss the Wilderness Act,” Peterman says, “and we were not invited to participate in their caucus.” He goes on to share that even though the momentum of each act was politically symbiotic, those driving the wilderness protection agenda may not have included African Americans deliberately as a key impetus of the Wilderness Act was about protecting the wild from the spoilage of human impact versus creating equitable access to it. From his perspective, “the Wilderness Act was about the protecting the wild, not people."
Frank and Audrey Peterman
While it does not appear that the Wilderness Act and Civil Rights Act shared a public platform back then, some believe an opportunity was missed to bring the acts more pointedly together that might have altered the course and progression of these respective movements today. Dr. Carolyn Finney, Assistant Professor at the University of California was a young child during the civil rights era, and while she personally remembers few specific events of the era, like most African American children of her generation, she grew up with the movement’s tales and heroes evergreen on the family tongue. “Civil rights? Yes, I always knew what that was about!”
In her book, Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors, she plots out the interwoven chronology of social and political events that lead up to the civil rights and wilderness act. Even though linked by a common timeline, Dr. Finney believes that the wilderness preservation movement—and the environmental movement, more broadly—missed a golden opportunity to address race that might have helped put conservation on a path toward greater harmony between people and nature, and especially between African Americans and the natural wild. “The conservation movement has traditionally prided itself on a concept of nature as pure,” she says, “which for some, can also be translated to mean whiteness.” She contends that had the Wilderness Act considered the human experience in nature, the traditional conservation movement might not struggle with understanding the connection between its work and that of civil rights—making it better equipped to engage with issues related to diversity and inclusion.
In the collaborative efforts around the country to re-invent African American connections to the environment—my organization, Outdoor Afro, is one of them—it is often essential to address fears that linger about the wild. These fears are not only about potential contact with wildlife: there are still perceptions among black folks that one might be susceptible to violence in the cover of the wild. Because of this pervasive thinking, some of the sturdiest urban brothers and sisters are less likely to warm to the idea of wandering alone in the woods to this day. Within the memory of a living generation, many recall the world in which the plaintive refrain of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit rang true:
Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
While Jim Crow-style terror in nature is no longer a common occurrence, the legacy of institutionalized exclusion of black people from recreational areas persists. The result of years of discrimination is that, for many people, the experience of being outdoors can feel more like an effort to conquer a fear than enjoyment for its own sake. And, still too often, many black and brown folks face unwelcoming (or over-welcoming) stares, questions, and attitudes while recreating in wild spaces that spell discomfort in places that should be a safe respite from the pace of urban life. This is why we find that so many African Americans from urban areas choose backyard wilderness close to home, surrounded by a reflection of familiar faces and defensible cityscapes versus venturing alone into a remote wilderness area far from home.
Shelton Johnson has been a park ranger with the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park for nearly two decades. His work has flourished on the topic of making the parks more relevant and welcoming for everyone, especially for African Americans. Illustrating both real and composite narratives of the Buffalo Soldier in his guest interpretation talks and in his book Gloryland, Johnson maintains that access to parks in our wild places is ultimately about freedom and provides a platform today to continue the work of civil rights. “The Buffalo Soldiers were sons of slaves, who were compelled to join the military to earn respect and find purpose within the close memory of slavery,” he says. While these soldiers were charged with stewarding land distant from their African roots, Johnson suggests that it proved to be a gateway for belonging and a sense of “owning” in America.
This is the same possibility available to African Americans today in our National Parks. “We are not truly home here in America, unless we engage with the earth to re-connect with the Africans we once were – the hunters, gatherers, horticulturalists – earth bound people,” says Johnson. “So visiting the biome of Yellowstone might also mean a chance to reclaim what it means to be Yoruba, Mandingo – or African American. Whatever you call yourself, it matters little, because it is all the same people, the same earth.”
***
While the sixties may have been tumultuous, what emerged was a country that dreamed big, had every reason to hope, and found agreement to protect and envision a future for people and resources seen as most vulnerable. In today’s divisive political climate these same actions seem unfathomable, yet remind us of what is possible when we pull together.
We know the work is far from done, but we can pause to celebrate wild lands and the movement to protect them while also respecting the still-sharp memories and historic tensions between people in the wild. With a vision of healing, Outdoor Afro and many other organizations are helping people re-invent connections to natural places both near and far through a variety of peer led activities. One experience at a time, we can replace old fears and reservations about the wilderness with joy, curiosity, and wonder for all ages in our lands.
While the Wilderness Act and the Civil Rights Act may not have been originally conceived out of a common network, we have a chance now to make their real connections come alive today, recognizing the delicate and essential links between people and the wild all around for the betterment of everyone.
Where shall we go together in nature from here?
Outdoor Afro Chicago heads to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
By: Viva Yeboah
In celebration of African American National Parks Day Outdoor Afro Chicago traveled to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Gary, Indiana. First stop was the Paul H. Douglas Center of Environmental Education, we meet with Park Rangers and received an introduction to the history of the park and programs offered at the center. The center includes a nature center allowing us to see animals, bugs, insects and plants found in Miller Woods.
Rangers DeAndrea Jackson and Nic Lucore along with Paul Gitau of Audubon Chicago Region and Birding Sky Holidays lead our hike. Miller Woods is a easy to moderate trail totaling 3.2 miles. The trail begins at the Douglas education center and ends at Miller Beach. The diversity of wildlife and landscape of Miller Woods is a joy for birders, hikers, ecologist and those who enjoy the beauty of nature. You will find turtles, beavers, deers, salamander, snakes, lizards, frogs and plenty of bird species. The terrain is diverse made up of wetlands, dunes and black oak savanna.
Our hike started with a cool welcome from a snapping turtle (we made sure not to get too close). We spotted bracken ferns, phragmites, baltic rush lupine, and cactus along the trail. Paul and Nic identified many bird species including red winged blackbird, common yellowthroat, ring billed gull, blue jay and barn swallow. We saw some elaborate engineering work by the local beavers and captured some activity from the aquatic life in the Grand Calumet lagoons. Adding to the beauty of this hike were the thunderous sounds of Lake Michigan waves as we arrived at Miller Beach.
Big thanks to Teresa Baker creator of African American National Parks Day and Outdoor Afro Leader. Thanks to our national sponsors REI, Kleen Kanteen, Sierra Club and Keen Footwear and local sponsors Audubon Chicago Region. Thanks to Rangers Kim Swift, Julianne Larsen, DeAndrea Jackson and Nic Lucore of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Paul Gitau of Audubon Chicago Region and Birding Skye Holidays. Thanks to all Chicago Outdoor Afros that attended or were there in spirit! What a wonderful experience and looking forward to more!
Make sure to visit our Meetup group for more pictures. Join our Facebook or Meetup group to stay updated on events and relevant stories.
Outdoor Afro, Triangle NC Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Outdoor Afro Leader Beky Branagan
In the early morning hours of Friday, June 6, eight Outdoor Afro North Carolina members began the almost 300 mile trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in order to mark the 2014 African Americans in the National Parks event. The long drive culminated in a scenic, yet somewhat harrowing drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just before we finally arrived to our campgrounds in the early afternoon. 
While some rested in the warm sun, the rest of us ventured over to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to get maps, find out what was going on in the park and get our National Parks passport books stamped. While there, we visited a farmstead that represented what mountain farms looked like at the beginning of the 19th century. On our way out, we were waylaid by some juvenile elk crossing the farm.
Elk were reintroduced to the Smokys in 2001, after being completely eradicated from the area in the late 1700s due to over hunting and loss of habitat. There are now two elk herds in the Park and they seem to be thriving. It was a real treat to see them.
On our return to the campsite, we made dinner and Park Rangers Will and Amber arrived to take us on our night hike. Admittedly, there was a bit of apprehension among the group about hiking in the woods in the dark in an area known to be bear habitat, but our rangers soon put us at ease. What followed was a wonderful experience of the senses.
Will and Amber provided us with opportunities to explore the world around using our hearing, touch, scent and taste. As darkness set in, we noticed the occasional firefly, but all of the sudden, it became quite obvious why people travel from all over the world to the Park to see synchronous fireflies, found only in the Smokys and in Southeast Asia. One little light would flash, and then hundreds more would flash like the wave at a sporting event across the darkness, and then they would all go out! Again and again, a twinkle followed by a stream of light traveling through the woods, and then darkness. An incredible, spine-tingling, hair-raising sight!
What’s more, on the way back to the campsite, we also saw hundreds of glow worms, under the canopy. Glow worms are a type of fly larvae and they look like little tiny pinpricks of faint green light, decorating the trees like a fairy wonderland. What an amazing way to end the day.
On Saturday, after a leisurely breakfast, we headed out to Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the park on the Tennessee side of the border. After a challenging .5 mile hike up to the top of the mountain, we climbed the observation tower and were finally able to see the beautiful mountain views that had been previously obscured by the clouds and the smoky haze that the mountains are known for.
The rest of the afternoon was spent toasting the largest marshmallows ever, (Jumbo S’mores anyone? ) hanging out around the fire, and napping. An after-dinner walk was followed by apple pies, more s’mores and a good night’s sleep!
Sunday, our last day in the park, we broke camp and took our time heading to the Deep Creek Camp, just outside of Bryson City. There we visited three waterfalls hiking the Deep Creek Loop Trail before starting the long drive home.
It was an amazing weekend with an amazing group of people who were genuine, friendly, supportive and truly appreciative of the wonderful bounties that nature has to offer, from scenic vistas, amazing wildlife to leisurely naps in the sun! I can’t wait until our next adventure!
Outdoor Afro Celebrates African Americans in the National Parks Day!
This Saturday, June 7th, in honor of the 2nd annual African American National Parks weekend, a number of Bay-Area residents will pay homage to the famed Buffalo Soldiers by retracing their historic journey from the Presidio of San Francisco to Yosemite National Park.
The event is a joint effort led by Outdoor Afro and the National Park Service (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, chapters of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, the city of Los Banos, the Presidio Trust, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and the Yosemite Conservancy. The group will honor the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers who served our country nationally and internationally. In particular, the 24th Infantry and the 9th Cavalry protected both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in 1899, 1903 and 1904.
“It’s amazing how little of this history is known,” says Teresa Baker, Outdoor Afro trip leader and co-organizer of the event. “I think it is important for us to recognize the role that our forbearers played in protecting some of our country’s most iconic national parks.”
Baker’s innate love for nature and the outdoors spurred her to create the first African American National Parks Weekend last year. Using social media, she encouraged people across the country to visit a national park one specific weekend. Thousands-- including many first-time visitors--responded to the call and sent in photos of their groups in national parks. Outdoor Afro, a social networking community focused on reconnecting African Americans with the outdoors, celebrated with a Buffalo Soldier interpretive walk hosted by the National Park Service in the Presidio. During the aftermath of that highly successful event, the idea of actually retracing the trail of the Buffalo Soldiers was conceived.
In 1903, units of the 9th United States Cavalry made the 280-mile trek from the Presidio to Yosemite over a period of 13 days. Leaving the Presidio post in the spring and returning in the fall, the troopers spent the summer in the park protecting it against poaching and grazing and blazing trails still used today. Along the route, the troopers camped near race tracks, at roadhouses and along rivers.
The Outdoor Afro group will follow the historical route as much as possible, passing through San Jose, Gilroy, Los Banos, Madera and Oakhurst before entering Yosemite through the southern Wawona gate. Along the way, the pilgrimage will stop at the City of Los Banos in the San Joaquin Valley, where the Buffalo Soldiers rested and refitted nearly one hundred years ago. The group will enjoy the hospitality of the city and eat lunch at the fairgrounds before resuming the trip to Yosemite, where they will camp overnight. The highlight of Sunday’s activities will be a presentation of park ranger Shelton Johnson’s award-winning living history program at the Pioneer Cemetery at noon. After the program concludes, the group will mount up for the bus trip back to the Presidio of San Francisco.
Although no spaces remain for additional passengers on the trip, interested people are encouraged to attend the sendoff ceremony. Following the departure of the group, there will be a ranger-led Buffalo Soldier history walk and an open house at the historic cavalry stables on McDowell Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Visitors may also visit the National Cemetery where more than 450 Buffalo Soldiers, including a Medal of Honor recipient, are interred.
A similar event retracing the Buffalo Soldier trail from the Presidio to Sequoia National Park is being discussed for next year, as well as a large celebration in honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial in 2016.
To learn more about the Buffalo Soldier history in your national parks, please visit http://go.nps.gov/buffalosoldiers.
Be sure to follow African Americans in the National Parks Day on Twitter: #AANPD
Read the original press release HERE
President Clinton and Rue Mapp Awarded Prestigious Conservation Award
President Bill Clinton is pictured with Rue Mapp, Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro at National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Awards and Gala Event on April 30, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Click to watch Rue Mapp's award acceptance speech HERE
Rue Mapp was the recipient of Communications Award alongside President Bill Clinton who was the recipient of the J.N. “Ding” Darling Conservation Award for lifetime achievement by the National Wildlife Federation. For more information about President Clinton’s conservation achievements, please go to: http://bit.ly/1f4h4zG.
A proud moment indeed for Outdoor Afro and the outdoor related fields!
Outdoor Afro Wins the National Wildlife Federation Communication Award
Outdoor Afro Founder Wins Prestigious Award at National Wildlife Federation’s
National Conservation Achievement Awards
Outdoor Afro founder, Rue Mapp of Oakland, California has been selected as the recipient of the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) 2014 Communications award. Mapp is receiving this prestigious award for her dedication to environmental education and passion for connecting African-Americans with nature. Mapp will receive the award on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at NWF’s Conservation Achievement Awards in Washington D.C.
Rue Mapp has worked for more than two decades with digital media to reinvent African-American connections to nature, and in 2009, Outdoor Afro was born. As the founder and CEO of the social media and urban leadership network, Rue Mapp has motivated African-Americans across the nation to spend more time in nature.
“Rue Mapp is an innovative individual who has sought to create a greater connection between African-Americans and the environment through the use of online technologies,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Through her passion for nature and Outdoor Afro, she has inspired many individuals and communities to appreciate nature and to venture into the great outdoors.”
Rue Mapp supplements this effort in a variety of ways including service on National Wildlife Federation’s California Advisory Council. She was also appointed program officer at the Stewardship Council’s Foundation for Youth Investment where she served for two years managing its grant making program.
Recognition for Rue Mapp’s innovative and effective ideas has been honored by the Obama administration. She was invited to the White House to participate in the kick-off of America’s Great Outdoors initiative and the launch of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign. Backpacker Magazine named her a Hero, she was placed on the Root 100 of the top African-American achievers and influencers for 2012, received the Outdoor Industry’s Inspiration Award and named a NewsOne for black America “Game Changer” in 2013. She has also received California’s Josephine and Frank Dunaneck award for her humanitarian efforts. Rue Mapp exemplifies the leadership needed in the world of environmental education to motivate our next generation to get outside and become the conservation leaders of tomorrow.
For more National Wildlife Federation news, please visit: www.nwf.org/news.
The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
Introducing the Outdoor Afro Leadership Fellows of 2014!
What might a Los Angeles women's health practitioner, a DC public policy director, and a Seattle real estate appraiser have in common?
They are a part of the Outdoor Afro Leadership Fellows Team who are on a mission to reconnect African Americans in their community back to nature! A total of 15 individuals were hand-picked out of a competitive pool of applicants from around the United States to join the team. This 2014 class represents a variety of professional backgrounds, outdoor expertise, and key urban centers around the country.
Continuing the success of the previous two years of leadership development, each leader is tasked to help expand the national Outdoor Afro social and nature network by leading trips, sharing experiences via social media, and forging partnerships with relevant outdoor organizations and groups.
Think: nature ambassadors
Next month, the new and returning leaders are gathering in person to kick off a year of innovative partnership and training on the coast of Northern California. Leaders will receive a crash course in trip planning, conservation ethics, risk management, social media, and policy supported by leaders from non-profits, leading outdoor industry brands, such as REI, KEEN Footwear, Klean Kanteen, Sierra Club, and National Wildlife Federation - California, and more. 
As you know, Outdoor Afro began as a social media site in 2009 to celebrate and inspire African American connections to nature. Now more than ever all people of all ages need a stronger connection to nature for both our health and to support a sustainable environment. The strength of the team lies in their ability to help families feel welcome and supported in active nature activities close to home. We are so proud of this team!
The 2014 Leaders:
Autumn Saxton-Ross, Washington DC – Program Director for the Joint Center's Health Policy Institute and green space advocate
Beky Branagan, Cary, NC – Girl Scout leader and environmental educator
Clay Anderson, Bay Area, CA – Naturalist, ecologist, and artist
Clifton Sorrell, Richmond, CA – Father of five; landscape architect and Boy Scout Leader
Deidre Bryant, Richmond, VA – Community health professional and mom
Josh Garubanda, St. Paul, MN – Outdoor educator, kayak instructor and avid biker
Mashawn Butler, Austin, TX – Graduate student and Team Lead for Texas Parks and Wildlife
Matthew Reese, Seattle, WA – Real estate appraiser, husband, dad, and snowboarder
Nicole Jackson, Columbus, OH – Nature educator, animal lover, and former rock climbing instructor
Nkem Ndefo, Los Angeles, CA – Women's health professional and Tension Release Exercise coach
Stefan Moss, Atlanta, GA -- Professor of Environmental Science; researches ecotoxicology and environmental education
SteVon Edwards, Louisville, KY – Community health specialist
Teresa Baker, Bay Area, CA – Housing coordinator and National Park champion
Vi Yeboah, Chicago, IL – Accountant, auditor, beach lover, and conservationist
Zoe Polk, San Francisco, CA – Outdoor enthusiast and human rights attorney
We would like to thank our sponsors, staff, and volunteers for their generous time, creativity, and resources to make this work come to life! REI, KEEN Footwear, Clif Bar, The Sierra Club, Swarovski Optik, Klean Kanteen, The National Parks, National Wildlife Federation – California, and the Kapor Center for Social Impact – THANK YOU!
Check out what leaders are already doing in the Bay Area!
Do check our Twitter page and Facebook in the coming weeks for dispatches on our training weekend #OALT
Apply to Join the 2014 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team Today!
Do you have a passion for the outdoors and want to share it with others?
Consider applying to join the 2014 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team today!
Just two years ago, we successfully launched the volunteer Outdoor Afro Leadership Team--the OALT, of 13 folks who formed a team of “experience ambassadors” for Outdoor Afros all around the country. Since then, this team has grown and flourished. Last year the team led 95 events and 1800 people into the outdoors! Many people have had the opportunity to explore and discover the outdoors right in their own backyards, thanks to these inspiring outdoor role models and our generous sponsors!
As you know, Outdoor Afro supports a vision of outdoor recreation and conservation engagement for everyone, especially for the African American community. At Outdoor Afro, we can provide leaders a platform and the support to help others reconnect to natural spaces right where they live. Leaders can learn to be a role model for camping, hiking, kayaking, birding, fishing — or any other recreational activity to share with others.
We are specifically interested in leaders who can represent the New York, Mid-West, Washington DC, Atlanta, and Pacific Northwest regions, but members from all US metropolitan regions are welcome to apply!
Here is what we require:
- Facilitate a minimum 1-2 OA sponsored events every two months
- Participate in a monthly conference call with other OA Leaders
- Develop two new OALT ambassadors in your region
- Develop an environmental organization/agency partnership for your local support and sponsorship
- Live within 50 miles of an REI store
Leader perks include:
- An $800 stipend upon satisfactory completion of the 2014 outdoor year requirements
- Select FREE premium gear and supplies from sponsors KEEN Shoes, REI, Klean Kanteen, Clif Bar, and more!
- Professional support, coaching, and outdoor skills development training
- The ability to make a tangible and positive difference for your local community and the natural world
Apply now to join our diverse team from around the nation to bring the outdoors to more people in your community!
Next Steps to be Eligible for Consideration:
- Complete the application -- submit via email by Monday, February 17th and participate fully in the interview process via phone and video conference calls.
- Be available for a mandatory in–person training from April 17-19 in Northern California.
The 2014 Class of Outdoor Afro Leaders will be confirmed and announced in March, 2014.
For any questions please contact Administrative Leader Coordinator Sela Steiger: [email protected]
The Outdoor Afro Leadership Team is possible because of the generous support of:
REI, KEEN Shoes, The Sierra Club, Clif Bar, and The Kapor Center for Social Impact