Get Involved on National Trails Day!
Your Local REI Invites You to Volunteer this Summer for
National Trails Day on June 4th!
Thanks to the efforts of the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is celebrating 19 years of hosting volunteer events across the country. This nationwide event is a great opportunity for families
to enjoy the outdoors together. As a national sponsor of National Trails Day, REI invites you to get outside, have fun, and feel good about volunteering on Saturday, June 4th.
The theme for National Trails Day 2011, ‘Made With All Natural Ingredients’, encourages all Americans to get outside, connect with local outdoor clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate the natural places where we can find a spread of scenery, a plateful of peace, and a heap of happiness and health.
Volunteering with REI or your local land agency on National Trails Day is a superb way to get to know your local parks and trails better and deeper your connection to the outdoors. It’s also a fun way to meet other environmental stewards in your community. Many projects entail building or grading trail, installing features such as fences, gates, signs or stairs, and removing invasive species of non-native plants. No experience is necessary.
America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more. Trails take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses. With obesity rates skyrocketing, exercise is increasingly important, and trails provide a wide variety of opportunities for being physically active.
Encourage the children in your life to participate in the National Trails Day Coloring Contest – entry information can be found HERE. Entries must be received by August 1st, 2011.
If you want to get happy, healthy, active, fit, and have some fun, National Trails Day is your recipe to success. The only ingredient missing is YOU. Visit the event website to find your local National Trails Day project, or visit the REI Website.
Outdoor Time With Jarid Manos: Ghetto Plainsman
It was a gift to spend time last weekend with visiting outdoor pioneer Jarid Manos, author of Ghetto Plainsman. Jarid writes poignantly in his book about his coming of age and the ways the outdoors was a catalyst for change in his own life. As Executive Director of the Great Plains Restoration Council in Texas, Jarid has inspired an innovative movement for those most at-risk in our communities, such as those incarcerated, to find healing and purpose through ecological restoration and a genuine connection to the earth.
Local Ecotherapist Phoenix Smith helped make our in-person connection, and we all enjoyed a brisk and windy Sunday hike along the shore of the San Francisco Bay near where I live. We were just in time to catch the sunset as we reached the man-made jetty pictured below.
Learn more about Jarid Manos by visiting his rich website and purchasing his book!
Certified Life Guards
Outdoor Afro Tracey Friley wants you to know about another shade of lifeguard. These are the qualified staff that make her youth outdoor travel program purr...
Learn more about her program, OBG Adventure Camps that provide travel and learning adventure excursions for girls ages 11-16, with an emphasis on a multicultural camp and travel experience:
Outdoor Afro Nominated for a Black Weblog Award!
Just got word that Outdoor Afro was nominated for Best Green/Nature/ Outdoor Blog for the Black Weblog Awards!
Please take a moment to vote for us -- this is such a wonderful honor! The category we appear in is on page 5 of the ballot:
Click Here to VOTE!
The Black Weblog Awards was founded in 2005 to give recognition to Black bloggers.` What started out as a barely-known event has now grown into an international showcase. With participants from over 90 countries, the Black Weblog Awards stands out as one of the most widespread Internet award events for Black bloggers.
To date, the Black Weblog Awards has recognized nearly 180 blogs in over 30 categories. The Awards has also been featured in several mainstream and online media outlets, including NPR, CNN, and others. Winners of the Black Weblog Awards have also went on to appear in other media outlets, like MSNBC, the Huffington Post, BET, and many others.
Click Here to VOTE!
Black Women DO Camp - Experience Yosemite this Summer!
Women of Color Backpacking Trip - 30% off for all Outdoor Afros who sign up!
Last October, Oprah Winfrey visited Yosemite National Park and asked the question: why don’t more people of color experience the outdoors and their national parks? They have wondered the same at Balanced Rock. And when this disparity was pointed out to them in 2004, they led the country’s first Women of Color (WOC) backpacking trek in Yosemite—the trip was even highlighted in Backpacker Magazine.
The Women of Color backpack retreat in Yosemite has become one of their signature programs. They’ve continued to run backpack retreats led by and for women of color with generous support from REI, Dean Witter Foundation, and individual donors.
Participants have liked the course so much that they even hosted two Bay Area fundraisers to ensure that the programs continue to run! And because he likes the program, celebrity National Park Service ranger Shelton Johnson has joined their Board of Directors.
The WOC trips are designed for all levels of outdoor experience and include mind-body-spirit wellness components and empowering self-reflection practices. All courses include 2 expert instructors of color, most necessary gear, healthy whole-food meals, and friendship around the campfire. The next Women of Color Backpack Retreat is scheduled for August 10-14, 2011 with instructors Chelsea Griffie and Elizabeth Sy.
They continue to remain committed to connecting people from all walks of life to the outdoors and the spectacular Yosemite National Park. To that end, they are offering all Outdoor Afro readers 30% off any of their 3-, 4-, or 5-day backpack or weekend retreats during our 2011 season (Noah Mazé retreat and Yoga Jambalaya excluded). Use the coupon code “outdoorafro30” when you pay to receive your discount. Course sizes are limited so be sure to reserve soon. For a list of their 2011 courses, visit their course calendar.
Can’t attend yourself but you’d like to support someone else in experiencing this empowering connection to nature? Consider a tax-deductible donation to their Women of Color scholarship fund.
Balanced Rock is a Yosemite-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire people to live more meaningful, healthy, and sustainable lives through deep connection to nature, community and themselves. Visit www.balancedrock.org, email [email protected] or call (209)379-9453 for more information.
May's Bird of the Month
Springtime is the hardest time for me to select a BOTM. The great spectacle of spring migration is going on, and so many wonderful birds are making “First of Year” appearances on my Year List. All of these birds, many of them plumaged in the fullness of their breeding glory, really make selecting hard for me. But, try I must.
Once again, as I reflect on my birding over the last month, one bird does indeed stand out in my mind. It actually wasn’t the bird singly, but it was the situation in which I’d seen a group of these birds. This month’s Bird of The Month is the Fox Sparrow.
In Indiana, of the 30 or so different types of “sparrows” that one can see in the course of a typical year, the Fox Sparrow isn’t the most well known. It’s not that this is a rare bird; it’s just that they tend to be a bit shy and don’t hesitate to hide when they sense the possibility of being observed. They also aren’t very well known because they're generally only in Indiana 6-8 weeks over the course of a year. (3-4 weeks in the early spring and 3-4 weeks in the late fall).
However, when one does find themselves in a position to observe this bird, you will see a relatively large and chunky sparrow. A sparrow that is heavily streaked on the chest, with those streaks converging into a dark spot at the chest's center. You will also see that the bird is aptly named, as the coloring of this reddest of sparrows does indeed resemble that of the Red Fox.
This sparrow isn't known to congregate in flocks. Matter of fact, that is the reason this bird stands out in my mind and is elevated to the BOTM. While birding a few weeks back, I found myself amongst about 20 or so Fox Sparrows. I'd never experienced a group even half that number before with the Fox Sparrow. I believe one of the reasons folks fall in love with birdwatching and birding is that you get surprised by what you see and come across every now and again.
Douglas “Birdman” Gray has been birding almost all of his life. He grew up on a family farm near Clarksville, Tennessee, where they grew crops ranging from apricots to wheat, and most things in between. They also raised chickens, guineas, pigs, horses, and a cow named…….Apples. Doug’s grandfather identified the birds they would see daily on the farm.
Doug now resides in Indianapolis and works in Parenteral Engineering with Eli Lilly and Company. Most of his current birding takes place in Indiana, with a concentration on Central Indiana, where he leads bird walks for “Backyard Birds”. Doug can be reached at 317-255-7333.
The Ghetto Plainsman Comes to California!
Meet Jarid Manos, Green Leader, Vegan Athlete, Youth Worker, Health Advocate, Father...
Jarid is headed to the San Francisco Bay Area in a few days to read from his first book, Ghetto Plainsman. Jarid Manos is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Great Plains Restoration Council, which is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Gritty, raw and spiritual, Ghetto Plainsman chronicles one man’s triumph over humiliation, self-defeat, anger and violence by taking us on a chaotic journey between urban survival and the life or death struggles of ravaged American Great Plains. Beautifully written, infused with a raw realism and an epilogue of practical solutions, Ghetto Plainsman is the searing journey of one of the Green Movements most original voices at a time when the world is in crisis and into ecological collapse.
Check him out!
Location:
Books Inc. in Alameda
1344 Park Street
Alameda, California 94501
Hey Youth! Join the Outdoor Nation Summer Summit Series!
From the Outdoor Nation Website:
What
The Youth Summit is a 3-day event with 249 of your peers (give or take) so that we can find solutions to the challenges that are keeping people indoors. And, work with us on a project that you help design.
Who
YOU! You can be a summit delegate if:
- You really want to change the world so that everyone has the chance to GTFO
- You are between the ages of 18* and 28
- Your application is chosen by our esteemed committee
* If you are under 18, consider yourself exceptionally mature and will hold your breath until we let you apply, email Ivan Levin directly at [email protected].
Why
Because the best person to make a change for this generation is YOU… and we finally have our own program, the power to set our own agenda and WE CAN make things happen with your help.
How
Day one: We adapt and reprioritze the Rights and Responsibilites declaration from the National Congress, vote on the top outdoor issues in our region, brainstorm solutions to the top issues, and vote on which solutions to fund with grant money. We'll use the real-time key pad voting system from last year to see instantaneous voting results. Boom!
Day two: We GTFO. With our national partner America’s State Parks, we'll set up a massive chill and play outdoors experience in each Summit city. We're calling it Summer Fun Day. We'll even invite the public to come hang out with us. Expect everything from rock climbing walls to kayaking, biking and hiking as well as music and entertainment. Seriously,you DON’T want to miss this…
Day thre: We go to the plan. This is the day we give you the training and tools you need to carry out the action plan from day one. By the end of day three, you're a fully-fledged crusader for the outdoors.
Uhm yeah, you'll leave the Summit with a lot more than just a pat on the back!
How Much
Fuh-Ree! AND thanks to our freaking awesome sponsors, food and lodging are totally paid for. All you have to do is apply, and get there! Road trip!!
Where/When
We’ve got options. Choose the location nearest to you so that you can make change in your community.
Visit the Outdoor Nation page to get on board!
Games Outdoor Afros Play - Dominoes
As we unloaded the taxi before a small concrete building, I heard the unmistakable sound that told me, “Oh, but yes,” SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! and the boisterous laughter and chatter of old men playing dominoes. We were greeted by Ms. Suzette Hinds, secretary of the club that hosts rounds of play on weekdays and tournaments on Sundays. I felt instantly at home, well at least that scene of down-home like being at a family reunion in the park or out in the country or on the porch or patio at Big Momma's house.
Similar to how we play in the States, Bajan Dominoes plays with a box of double six pieces, each player takes 7 pieces each, double six preferential starts the game, a round of play ends when the first player's hand is empty or the board is locked, and players 'wash' the bones to shuffle them around before selecting pieces. Games can be played with three or four players and folks trash-talk, count pieces, and knock on the table to pass. And of course people SLAM bones on the table. But the pace of play and score taking is much different.
In the United States, points are claimed by players at each turn whenever the ends add up to a multiple of five. In a 3-man game, you don't go fishing for a piece if you can't play. Those extra pieces are simply out of play. Wins are a tallied according to who finishes the game first (domino!) or has the least points left in hand at the end of the game. I actually did quite well playing Bajan Dominoes because I employed the same strategy I use in American Dominoes – play the highest value pieces first. Points are tallied according to how many games you win (not the points you claim at each turn). As a result, rounds are very fast, on average 3-5 minutes. You mark your win on the table with a piece of chalk. The first person to win 6 total games wins that match. Several matches can be played.
Four-man dominoes is a team effort. The play is the same, except the winner of the previous round plays the first piece. Double six is still the preferred leading piece but if s/he doesn't have it then s/he will play what s/he can. The first team to win 6 rounds wins the match.
It was quite a lot of fun. Our teachers were great sports and were quite patient with us.
Of course, they were counting pieces and making plays before we could knock. I swear I was at a family reunion picnic. They were talking all kinds junk – with their thick Bajan dialects: "You no have no fives” Slam! Slam! “C'mon.” "Girl knocking.” “Ere go!” Slam! My only response was to reply “Get out outta my hand!” and laugh in full agreement.
I had a blast and I actually like playing dominoes the Bajan way! I can't wait to show off what I have learned at the next Outdoor Afro summer gathering with family and friends.
Games Outdoor Afros Play - Dominoes
As I read the proposed itinerary for the US Journalists Experiential trip to Barbados sponsored by the Barbados Tourism Authority, I got quite excited to see that we would “Learn to play Dominoes the Bajan Way” hosted by the Barbados National Domino, Whist and Hearts Club. The first thought that went through my mind was “Do they play bones the same in the Barbados as we do here in the States? Oh, boy, I can't wait to find out.” I was also curious if the Whist in the Club name referred to a card game similar to Bid Whist I have played before. (I'll answer that second question now. I didn't get a chance to see or play a hand of cards. I explained to a nice Bajan gentleman our game of Bid Whist in the States and he told me yes, that is the game they call Whist in Barbados. The number of ways African-American and Barbados culture are alike are amazing. But I digress.)
As we unloaded the taxi before a small concrete building, I heard the unmistakable sound that told me, “Oh, but yes,” SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! and the boisterous laughter and chatter of old men playing dominoes. We were greeted by Ms. Suzette Hinds, secretary of the club that hosts rounds of play on weekdays and tournaments on Sundays. I felt instantly at home, well at least that scene of down-home like being at a family reunion in the park or out in the country or on the porch or patio at Big Momma's house.
Similar to how we play in the States, Bajan Dominoes plays with a box of double six pieces, each player takes 7 pieces each, double six preferential starts the game, a round of play ends when the first player's hand is empty or the board is locked, and players 'wash' the bones to shuffle them around before selecting pieces. Games can be played with three or four players and folks trash-talk, count pieces, and knock on the table to pass. And of course people SLAM bones on the table. But the pace of play and score taking is much different.
In the United States, points are claimed by players at each turn whenever the ends add up to a multiple of five. In a 3-man game, you don't go fishing for a piece if you can't play. Those extra pieces are simply out of play. Wins are a tallied according to who finishes the game first (domino!) or has the least points left in hand at the end of the game. I actually did quite well playing Bajan Dominoes because I employed the same strategy I use in American Dominoes – play the highest value pieces first. Points are tallied according to how many games you win (not the points you claim at each turn). As a result, rounds are very fast, on average 3-5 minutes. You mark your win on the table with a piece of chalk. The first person to win 6 total games wins that match. Several matches can be played.
Four-man dominoes is a team effort. The play is the same, except the winner of the previous round plays the first piece. Double six is still the preferred leading piece but if s/he doesn't have it then s/he will play what s/he can. The first team to win 6 rounds wins the match.
It was quite a lot of fun. Our teachers were great sports and were quite patient with us.
Of course, they were counting pieces and making plays before we could knock. I swear I was at a family reunion picnic. They were talking all kinds junk – with their thick Bajan dialects: "You no have no fives” Slam! Slam! “C'mon.” "Girl knocking.” “Ere go!” Slam! My only response was to reply “Get out outta my hand!” and laugh in full agreement.
I had a blast and I actually like playing dominoes the Bajan way! I can't wait to show off what I have learned at the next Outdoor Afro summer gathering with family and friends