Outdoor Afro counts down to 2024’s annual leadership training in this pivotal Civil War, small college town
That family reunion time of year is almost here: Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (affectionately nicknamed OALT) for national not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro. “2024 is extra special because this training will mark 15 years in nature for us,” said Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “We’re also returning to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, which is where we’ve hosted past OALT events throughout our organizational history.” OALT will take place Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia – the oldest town in the Appalachian Mountains state and a historic Civil War area. Shepherdstown also serves as home to the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). The center leads the nation in education and training for natural resource managers to meet the goal of conserving fish, plants, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the American public. The quintessential venue for Outdoor Afro to provide nature-based learning and skill-building experiences to veteran volunteers and newest leadership cohort in its “Year of Innovation.”
Annually in April, OALT teaches all volunteer leaders how to guide their local communities in nature sustainably and safely during modern times. This year’s training will greet nearly 40 new volunteer leaders to Outdoor Afro’s 100-plus Volunteer Leader Program roster. Volunteers will travel from Northeast, South, Midwest, and West regions, bringing with them subject matter expertise in education, law, business, medicine, and agriculture. “This year’s cohort includes innovative rock climbers, foragers, skiers, roller skaters, paddlers, cyclists, and mountain bikers,” Mapp said. “They’re also parents, spouses/partners, students, and caretakers. What they all bring to OALT is a shared passion for our mission – to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.” OALT will equip these outdoor trailblazers with strategies that authentically reconnect Black communities to nature through planned and guided year-round adventures across America.
With the support of staff, board members, and select partners, seasoned volunteers and the Class of 2024 will learn Outdoor Afro’s framework, values, and best practices to lead outdoor activities in their neighborhoods. OALT's outdoor scholarship also includes risk management, health impacts on nature, basics to trip planning, conservation ethics, and pro tips for effective social media storytelling. Last year, OALT gathered at IslandWood in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The year before in Granby, Colorado, at Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains. Along with these charming nature backdrops are opportunities for volunteers to gain field insights and career encouragement from Outdoor Afro’s designated partners and expert guest speakers announced right before the training begins.
Volunteers follow up OALT with original network activities like fishing, camping, animal tracking, and backpacking once a month in their Outdoor Afro networks. Whatever their community genuinely wants to learn about to strengthen local relationships with land, water, and wildlife, networks offer it. These nationwide network events concentrate on joy and healing while also disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature. A formula that has worked for the past 15 years now. Mapp founded Outdoor Afro in 2009 and developed OALT in 2012 with a dozen outdoor enthusiasts – each literally answering the call to learn directly from her how to create and lead nature activities with hospitality at the forefront of the experience. “OALT is one of those events that everyone involved always looks forward to attending every single year,” said Mapp. “The intergenerational fun and outdoor learning is life-changing.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
Outdoor Afro opens enrollment for 2024-2025 cohort of nature innovators in neighborhoods nationwide
National not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro seeks new volunteer leaders to lead local activities that creatively reconnect U.S. neighborhoods to land, water, and wildlife. “The Outdoor Afro volunteer leader is a truly unique community leadership role that has attracted scientists, athletes, farmers, foragers, artists, animal lovers, and adventurers passionate about sharing their expertise,” said Outdoor Afro’s Chief Program & Innovation Officer DD Johnice. “So if you love being out in nature – and crafting unforgettable experiences for friends, family, and your community – join us.” Annually, the organization continues to expand and recruit new volunteer leaders.
For the 2024-2025 cohort year, Outdoor Afro is in pursuit of nature pioneers who care about and have expertise in outdoor recreation; actively engage in lifestyle activities (biking, hiking, trail running, fishing, foraging, farming, watersports) and; want to share their joy and knowledge with Black people in their local community. Outdoor Afro searches for outdoor creatives, educators, and explorers in the following locations: Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Asheville, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Austin, Texas; Houston Texas; Iowa; Wisconsin; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Tallahassee, Florida; Portland, Oregon; Chicago-NW Indiana, Illinois; and Atlanta, Georgia.
“Outdoor Afro’s volunteer leaders have been incredible stewards of our almost 15-year mission of inspiring and celebrating Black connections and leadership in nature,” said Outdoor Afro’s Program Strategy & Growth Manager Gina Wright. “Through this leadership opportunity, our organization makes sure these outdoor innovators are able to grow their risk management skills; gain access to modern gear and equipment; and participate in our meaningful partnerships to strengthen relationships to nature.”
Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders also receive opportunities to experience free or discounted admission to national parks; contribute to national media stories about the organization; and access annual training at secluded retreat spaces. Once selected, volunteer leaders attend Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (nicknamed OALT) held each year in April at a private nature location in the United States. During this signature training dubbed the brand’s “most wonderful time of the year,” OALT equips volunteer leaders with essential tools to guide their local communities in nature sustainably and safely.
The training is organized by staff and experienced volunteers who share Outdoor Afro’s history, values, best practices, and industry knowledge, including: trip planning basics, health impacts of nature, conservation ethics, risk management, and effective social media storytelling practices. New leaders learn how to center joy in the outdoors while also disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature.
Outdoor Afro formed nearly 15 years ago with the mission of celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature. The organization established OALT in 2012. With just a dozen volunteer outdoor enthusiasts, OALT became an opportunity for each to take the call and digest directly from Outdoor Afro’s Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. Her nature calling: teaching outdoor innovators how to inspire and guide unforgettable experiences in the outdoors. Are you the next open-air expert Outdoor Afro is looking for?
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro @outdoorafro and outdoorafro.org.
Tickets on sale for Outdoor Afro's ninth annual fundraiser
Registration is now open for the nature glitz and glam of Outdoor Afro’s signature fundraiser Glamp Out. The national not-for-profit’s annual event takes place Friday, Oct. 20, at Bloc15 in Oakland’s Jack London. The ninth annual fundraising fun begins at 6 p.m. and concludes 10:30 p.m. Pacific Time. “Glamp Out is our celebratory evening where outdoor enthusiasts and national network supporters from around the country come together each year,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “We appreciate the opportunity for our community to dust off their hiking boots and dress up with us in support of our impactful programs and honor stellar leadership.”
RSVP HERE
Since 2015, Glamp Out has been Outdoor Afro’s annually anticipated fundraiser that celebrates the organization's milestones and ambitions for the coming year. This year’s theme, “Elevation,” signifies Outdoor Afro’s impact and intention for the Black American community. Throughout 2023, Outdoor Afro has continued to amplify its signature programs, strategic partnerships, and influential people with a growing, national team. Glamp Out will roll out the red carpet to help reach its 2023 organizational goals, featuring the following Bay Area speakers and performances:
HOST: Dave Clark, KTVU’s award-winning news anchor
BEATS: DJ Red Corvette, multiformat musical announcer
AUCTIONEER: Michael Tate, seasoned fundraising strategist
PERFORMERS: BET Sunday Best's Ashling Cole and accomplished saxophonist Vincent Lars
The fundraising affair also will salute Outdoor Afro nature achievements. The organization’s aim is to raise more than $200,000 in support of its year-round programs:
MAKING WAVES: Outdoor Afro’s promise is to teach every child and caregiver within its sphere of influence how to swim. The program launched in 2019 by Mapp after learning through CDC research that Black children now drown at a rate 7.6 times that of white children because of historical barriers. To date, Making Waves has awarded hundreds of "Swimmerships" (or swim lesson scholarships) around the country. The program’s ambitious 2023 aim: supporting 1,000 new swimmers in receiving local lessons.
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Now in its 11th year, this training teaches more than 100 men and women from across the United States how to guide their local communities safely and sustainably – for greater health and healing of all people and our planet. Contributions help Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders expand their training to include wilderness first-aid, recreational water safety skills, and model aspirational nature opportunities.
SIGNATURE CAPSTONE EVENTS: These experiences introduce volunteer leaders and local neighborhoods to the exploratory possibilities in nature and change the face of who can become an expeditioner. In the past, Outdoor Afro has prepared more than a dozen climbers to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro and certified 26 leaders as canoe or kayak instructors. Your support of Glamp Out helps advance the skill-building, confidence, and growth opportunities through pioneering models of adventure for the Black community.
Each year, Glamp Out welcomes more than 250 nature leaders, community supporters, cultural champions, elected officials, and celebrities. All coming together on behalf of Outdoor Afro’s mission to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. Glamp Out is a chance for Outdoor Afro’s national community to exercise generosity to support conservation through community-led engagement in nature.
RSVP HERE
Glamp Out purposefully recognizes individual and community contributions to Outdoor Afro – the organization’s way of upholding one of its key values of changing the narrative of who leads in outdoor spaces. The fundraiser helps continue to build lasting relationships while strengthening leadership opportunities in the outdoors. “Our programs are welcoming and multigenerational,” said Mapp, “leading to transformations both online and offline for people and the natural world.” More about Glamp Out here. Glamp Out sponsorship opportunities here.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
Gina Wright: Outdoor Afro's intercontinental source to community-building, solidarity
If summed as a social media bio: She’s a network builder and globetrotting gardener. Outdoor Afro’s Program Assistant Gina Wright, 23, works within the Programs Department of the national not-for-profit organization. Administratively supporting year-round programs. Cushioning this arm of Outdoor Afro so that local network events and nationwide campaigns are properly resourced. All in the name of advancing Outdoor Afro’s mission: celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. Wright stays on top of local, regional, and coast-to-coast moving pieces of the Oakland-headquartered nature operation.
She assists in the production of organizational campaigns and annual leadership training that educates more than 100 Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders. These leaders then guide outdoor activities in 60 cities and 32 states, including Washington, D.C. Sustainably. And safely. If leaders request snacks or supplies across the organization’s four regions, Wright does coordinated calculations with Harris to make it happen. And yet, she etches travel time to contribute to global outdoor initiatives in her private life. Her 2023 summer learning destination: Nicaragua.
“It was a trip of personal research and education,” said Wright, “to begin building solidarity with folks I connected with in these communities.” She traveled to the capital city of Managua. Central-region department of Chontales. Port city of Bluefields. And the Garifuna village of Orinoco – north of Bluefields. Because she honestly cares about populations of people and their access to basic needs like food. Wright literally lives out the causes that she supports. She backyard gardens 4 acres in San Francisco. Her typical summer crops: beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers ( jalapeño, shishito, poblano). “For this summer’s backyard garden season, there are cucumbers, dragon tongue beans, chayote, dill, and fruit trees,” said Wright. “Mostly managed by my housemates at the moment.”
Traveling both personally and on behalf of Outdoor Afro, the seasoned grower spent 10 days in the Central American country during June 2023. How she got there: Through nonprofit Friends of the ATC (Asociación de Trabajadores del Campo – or Rural Workers’ Organization), Wright learned of the network’s delegations designed to increase popular education about Nicaragua’s socio-political work. Curious about how organization’s build community interest around a cause or campaign, Wright wanted to help do her part to contribute to ATC’s nearly 44 years of defending rural workers and the rights of Nicaragua’s countryside citizens. She wanted to understand if there were any opportunities for intercultural, international, and localized unity in this space. “On this trip, I got a better sense of what food sovereignty can look like,” said Wright. “Of what diasporic, mixed, Black, and indigenous people are doing to protect and prosper in their cultures.”
She befriended area producers. Put composting into practice. Discovered a new appreciation for the Earth’s soil – its nutrient-dense and aerobic conditions – so seeds can thrive. Even milked a cow. This disciplined destination for Wright stems from her academic background and connection to California farming experiences. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in geography with a concentration in economy, culture, and society. It’s where she first heard about ATC while studying at the university. By way of Berkeley Student Farms and an agroecology course, Wright met like-minded folks fervent about farming. “Some of those involved with Berkeley Student Farms spoke highly of ATC’s work to improve the livelihood of rural workers, specifically farm workers,” Wright said.
From that moment, Wright wanted to attend a delegation. She finally got that chance this year. Wright also received the opportunity to apply information she learned after college from Agroecology Commons – a collective that engineers farmer-to-farmer education, builds co-op networks, and supports food sovereignty and land stewardship. Agroecology Commons held a Bay Area farmer-to-farmer training in 2021 that Wright joined. In both online and in-person instruction, she gained perspective around how small farm production, cooperative marketing, and social movements could unite for the greater good of global rural communities. Flying nearly 3,600 miles in June 2023, Wright put agricultural lessons to the test this summer. Taking meticulous notes as her Nicaragua trip progressed. Bringing back home themes around:
THE POWER OF SMALL-SCALE COOPERATIVE NETWORKS. When possible, communities should invest in localized cooperative economies (i.e. fund local food systems on multiple levels – from education to practice and production to distribution).
THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE WORLD’S NATURAL SYSTEMS WHEN CULTIVATING FOOD. For example, some Garifuna farmers plant Cassava with the moon cycle. They also plant with the new moon when water is drawn down into the soil, which is advantageous for root crops.
THE WISDOM IN AIMING TOWARD SOVEREIGN SUBSISTENCE IN FOOD SYSTEMS BY DEDICATING TIME TO LEARN LAND BEST PRACTICES. It is crucial to knowledge-share across people and places about communities with the most immediate needs.
“It’s the first-ever delegation where representatives would hear directly from Afro-descendant and indigenous populations of the Southern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, an autonomous region in the country,” said Wright. Her curiosity deepened as it connected to her academic roots, West Coast lifestyle, and affinity for farming culture. This journey allowed Wright to see global food systems operate, especially autonomous territories with ties to the African diaspora. The summer quest became the international traveler's third stay in Nicaragua. On top of this scholastic visit, other personal adventures for Wright in these youthful years have included three trips to Costa Rica and two to Guatemala. Thumbtack on Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, Japan; Berlin, Germany; and Barcelona, Spain.
She returned to Outdoor Afro refreshed with new farming and community-building knowledge to share with team members. Trip takeaways: Everything in this lifestyle is interconnected. Global travel helps expand one’s consciousness of community challenges as they relate to worldwide conversations. When relationship-building, do so respectfully and responsibly. Wright said: “Building understanding and solidarity across different struggles – internationally, interculturally, and interdisciplinary – can lead to a liberation the globalized world has yet to see.”
GINA’S PACKING GUIDANCE FOR GLOBAL TRAVEL
PACK LIGHT. Use natural, breathable, quick-drying, and thin fibers. Wright recommends a combination of cotton, bamboo, linen.
REMAIN EXTRA MINDFUL OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT. Wright warns that there’s a lot of life and environmental intensity in tropical environments like Nicaragua. Bring the appropriate self-care items to protect yourself (ex: natural bug repellents like garlic, shea butter, lemon/eucalyptus-based products). Don’t count out reinforcements like mosquito netting, a shade hat, light-weight and long-sleeves shirts, securing travel insurance, having access to filtered water and sometimes stomach soothing teas like ginger and chamomile.
BRING PROPER TECH STORAGE. If traveling involves smartphone and laptop use, Wright recommends staying mindful of storing options. These tools need climate-controlled (dry) environments to sustain. Tropical climates are oftentimes not the best settings to operate technology.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities. “Where Black people and nature meet,” Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow us @outdoorafro on social.
Date for Outdoor Afro's ninth annual fundraiser announced
Glamp Out is national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro’s annual Oscars-fashioned fundraiser that rolls out the red carpet for nature. The organization's signature event takes place Friday, Oct. 20, in Oakland, to honor its 2023 success stories in outdoor community programs, pioneering leaders, and thoughtful partnerships. “This year’s theme is titled ‘Elevation,’” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “With a brand-new and growing staff, we’ve been taking our nationwide work to new heights.”
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES HERE
Mapp likes to remind first-time attendees every year (and with her hallmark smile): “This isn’t your Dad’s conservation gala.” The ninth annual affair will give a toast to Outdoor Afro nature achievements at premier venue Bloc 15 in Oakland, California, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT. Glamp Out’s 2023 goal is to raise more than $200,000 in support of the organization’s yearlong and healing outdoor programs. Funds raised during the glamorous occasion will support:
MAKING WAVES: The organization’s promise is to teach every child and caregiver within its sphere of influence how to swim. The program was developed in 2019 by Mapp after learning through CDC research that Black children now drown at a rate 7.6 times that of white children because of historical barriers. To date, Making Waves has awarded hundreds of "Swimmerships" (or swim lesson scholarships) around the country. The program’s ambitious 2023 aim: supporting 1,000 new swimmers.
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Now in its 11th year, this training teaches more than 100 men and women from across the United States how to guide their local communities safely and sustainably – for greater health and healing of all people and our planet. Contributions help Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders expand their training to include wilderness first-aid, recreational water activity skills, and model aspirational nature opportunities.
SIGNATURE CAPSTONE EVENTS: These experiences introduce volunteer leaders and local neighborhoods to the exploratory possibilities in nature and change the face of who can become an expeditioner. In the past, Outdoor Afro has prepared more than a dozen climbers to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro and certified 26 leaders as canoe or kayak instructors. Glamp Out helps advance the skill-building, confidence, and growth opportunities through pioneering models of adventure.
MORE EVENT DETAILS HERE
Annually, Glamp Out attracts more than 250 supporters, cultural champions, nature leaders, elected officials, and celebrities. Each coming together on behalf of Outdoor Afro’s mission to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. It’s also a chance for Outdoor Afro’s national community to exercise generosity within the outdoors: “Glamp Out helps change this notion that Black people and Black communities are solely the beneficiaries of our year-round programs,” Mapp said. “This much-anticipated fundraiser shows that there are so many diverse supporters who give to and continue to help equip Outdoor Afro and other similar groups with the resources we need to succeed in our work.”
Glamp Out purposefully recognizes individual and community contributions to the not-for-profit organization – Outdoor Afro’s way of upholding one of its key values of changing the narrative of who leads in outdoor spaces. Throughout the summer months, Outdoor Afro will use its social platforms (@outdoorafro) to surprise 2023 attendees with Glamp Out’s roster of special guests. “Our programs are welcoming and multigenerational,” said Mapp, “leading to transformations both online and offline for people and the natural world. Glamp Out celebrates these transformations and helps us continue to build lasting relationships while strengthening leadership opportunities in the outdoors.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
Outdoor Retailer recognizes Outdoor Afro volunteer leader
North America’s largest outdoor industry trade show, Outdoor Retailer, held its 13th annual Inspiration Awards to honor influential professionals, innovators, and explorers during its June 20 ceremony held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Outdoor Afro volunteer leader Alma Busby-Williams, 58, became one of three finalists in the award’s “Individual Category” – celebrating that one person who has motivated and inspired others to enjoy, participate in, and support outdoor activities. “When I got the phone call from Outdoor Retailer, I was shocked,” said Busby-Williams, a five-year Outdoor Afro volunteer leader, with a Cheshire Cat grin.
Outdoor Retailer’s Communications & Content Director Lisa Ramsperger surprised Busby-Williams with the news and open invitation to participate in its Summer Show 2023. Busby-Williams had just returned to her Olympia, Washington, home after attending Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (OALT) – the national not-for-profit’s annual April experience that took place in Bainbridge, Washington, this year – when Ramsperger ringed. OALT educates more than 100 volunteer leaders how to guide their communities in nature sustainably and safely. A compelling piece to Busby-Williams’ nature work and awards nomination.
Busby-Williams instantly said “yes.” She flew to the June 19 through June 21 show that flooded the Salt Palace Convention Center with nearly 200 new exhibitors. Dubbed “where new happens,” Outdoor Retailer’s Summer Show 2023 invites exhibitors to debut their latest in outdoor products and services. The show also offers networking and business opportunities for retailers, designers, media, nonprofit organizations, and industry leaders across the globe. As part of the show, the Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards celebrates those like Busby-Williams who naturally motivate people to get outside.
The awards took place at the Hyatt Regency’s Salt Lake Ballroom and recognized five categories of outdoor influencers and inventive products/services within the industry: emerging leader, manufacturer, retailer, nonprofit, and individual. In the “Individual Category,” Busby-Williams joined finalists Will "Akuna" Robinson (Triple Crown thru-hiker and 2022 George Mallory award recipient) and Becky Rom (volunteer national chair of Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters and retired attorney), which Rom won. “To just be in this number and space was a win for me,” said Busby-Williams.
The official publication of Outdoor Retailer, The Daily Guide, featured all finalists from the five categories. Each one of their stories lit up the ceremony stage. Moved some attendees to tears, especially Busby-Williams’ outdoor journey. Busby-Williams joined Outdoor Afro as a volunteer leader in 2018. Guiding her then Charleston, South Carolina, network on hiking trails that uplifted local Black history. In 2020, her career moved the outdoorswoman to Portland then Seattle in 2021. At both locations, she continued to host Outdoor Afro network activities and take her newer neighborhood participants to nearby national parks.
But go back a decade, and that’s when her connection to nature really flowered. A mom of two and age 43 in 2009, Busby-Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer. “For some reason, I didn’t feel like it was my time,” she said. “I had more to do.” She prayed over it. Many a day. Discovered relief through the outdoors. Intentionally breathing and taking in her natural surroundings. A year later, breast cancer free.
Now Busby-Williams takes those moments and leadership skills learned through Outdoor Afro to introduce and explore local lands, waters, and wildlife with community participants. When attendees leave an Outdoor Afro network activity, they do so with peace and healing. Busby-Williams’ approach to reconnecting them to nature. She hosts mostly hiking activities that include miles of breathing techniques and fellowshipping.
Full time, she serves as director of inclusion and community partnerships of the North Cascades Institute. She uses her legal education to work for various nonprofits, serving marginalized populations as well. Previously, she worked as interim executive director of Youth and Family Services and deputy director of Prescott Joseph Center. Along with her volunteer leader post with Outdoor Afro, Busby-Williams is a member of the National Park Conservation Association’s Northwest Regional Council, Breast Cancer Action Board, Recreation Conservation Association’s Trail Advisory Committee, and Washington Parks National Fund Board.
Busby-Williams continues Outdoor Afro’s long-standing history with Outdoor Retailer. Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp has participated in the trade show for 11 years. Prior to Busby-Williams’ recognition, Outdoor Afro won the show’s then 2013 Outdoor Industry Association Outdoor Inspiration Awards. “Experiences like Outdoor Retailer remind me that nature is everywhere – so are the ones doing this important work,” said the veteran volunteer leader. “The opportunity to inspire those around us is right there in front of us. It’s why I love volunteering for organization’s like Outdoor Afro."
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in more than 60 cities. Its network participation reaches 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with nature through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
ABOUT OUTDOOR RETAILER: Outdoor Retailer, the leading U.S. business events for the outdoor and winter sports industry, brings together retailers, manufacturers, designers, distributors, industry advocates, journalists, and more to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through commerce, unique product experiences, dedicated media events, content, and web-based business solutions. Outdoor Retailer provides critical platforms for face-to-face commerce, product launches, networking, and focused industry education to enhance business and support the outdoor recreation economy. Visit outdoorretailer.com for more information.
Why a training is Outdoor Afro's 'most wonderful time of year'
Hold it in the same regard as a family reunion. By design, booked in nature. Outdoor Afro Leadership Training’s itinerary weaves in traditional reunion experiences: the initial meet-and-greet, park picnics, historical nature tours, and that closing banquet (Soul Train line included) to celebrate one another before departing. Nicknamed OALT, the now 11-year learning event hosted by national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro takes place Friday, April 28, to Sunday, April 30 in Bainbridge, Washington.
“This year our training welcomes 21 new volunteer leaders and 82 returning ones,” said Outdoor Afro’s National Program Director Chaya Harris. Leaders will assemble at IslandWood, a 250-acre campus on Bainbridge Island, with staff, board members, and select partners. The annual training hosts both veteran and Class of 2023 leaders for customized, educational moments to understand Outdoor Afro’s brand story and teach these nature navigators how to guide their neighborhoods sustainably and safely in modern times.
When Outdoor Afro Leadership Team applications opened November 2022, the organization received 98 submissions to become a 2023 volunteer leader. The word of mouth about the transformative opportunity traveled fast across the United States. At OALT, the organization shares its values, framework, and best practices to host and lead outdoor activities with volunteers. These 21st-century leaders also gain industry scholarship in areas such as health impacts on nature, basics to trip planning, conservation ethics, effective social media storytelling strategies, and risk management.
“It’s really a hands-on, interactive training,” said Harris. “Designed to enhance our volunteers skills as facilitators, we provide a range of workshops – from risk mitigation to easy steps for brewing your favorite coffee or tea while in the outdoors – all with a Black joy focus.” April 2022, the training massed in Granby, Colorado, at Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains. TikTok-qualifying trails, snow-blanketed mountaintops, and lush wildlife girdled the professional development days that followed. In unison with Earth Day’s “Invest in Our Planet” charge, OALT 2023 explores and localizes outdoor conservation, recreation, and education conversations.
Outdoor Afro invites expert guest speakers and designated partners to the training to share field insights and encouragement to volunteer leaders. After training, leaders originate and host monthly network activities that foster local program collaborations and help strengthen neighborhood relationships with land, wildlife, and water. Yearlong, leaders plan and shepherd nature-rich experiences like fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, gardening, skiing, horseback riding, nature journaling, geocaching, biking, bird watching, and more. Network events nationwide center joy and healing while also disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature.
Outdoor Afro formed 14 years ago. OALT established in 2012 with just a dozen volunteer outdoor enthusiasts. Each took the call to learn directly from Founder and CEO Rue Mapp about how to inspire and guide unforgettable experiences in nature. “We now have 35 networks nationwide with three new ones in Kansas City, Missouri; Norfolk, Virginia; and Burlington, Vermont,” Harris said. “A truly intergenerational group, our volunteers range in age from their 20s to their 60s. All eager to guide their neighborhoods in nature this year.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities. “Where Black people and nature meet,” Outdoor Afro impacts more than 60,000 people annually in nature through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Visit outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro to learn more.
*illustrations by Dajah Callen
5 ways to support Outdoor Afro starting GivingTuesday
November signals a time to restock personal nature spaces and refocus future ambitions as the winter months and the new year approaches. The month also gravitates to giving. Following Thanksgiving is GivingTuesday held Nov. 29, 2022. The global generosity movement will kick off end-of-year giving for national not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro to close out the year.
“Because of our supporters, we get to be first responders to engage and lift up local connections in nature around the country,” said Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. “These contributions also allow us to help more people take better care of our community and planet joyously while creating unforgettable, equitable fun and access to Black joy and healing in nature.” Year-round programs and projects supporters and the general public may not know their contributions actually help uplift within the network and throughout the United States:
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: This annual training guides the newest class of volunteer leaders through best practices for navigating and leading in nature. Nicknamed “OALT,” the weekend experience held in April equips a select group of volunteers from across the country with the essential outdoor skills needed to return to their hometowns and guide their local communities outside sustainably and safely. To date, Outdoor Afro includes more than 100 volunteer leaders who represent the network’s four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES: Once OALT completes, volunteer leaders develop, host, and lead local activities in their local to regional communities. Activities can cover anything from neighborhood historical walks and cultural park bird watching to biking, hiking, gardening, skiing, fishing, swimming, geocaching, nature journaling, and kayaking. Volunteers often gauge and offer activities that any age group would enjoy pursuing in nature. Volunteers hold more than 1,200 in-person and online events each year.
PADDLE CAMP: Held in August each year, this seven-day summer camp introduces volunteer leaders (10 canoers and 10 kayakers) to effective paddling techniques, safety on the water, and wilderness first aid training to apply through their individual networks. In collaboration with boating and fishing equipment brand Northwest River Supplies, the camp helps strengthen volunteers’ canoeing and kayaking knowledge, and navigation of various waterways. Paddle Camp also prepares volunteers for certification through the American Canoe Association. Outdoor Afro now includes 26 volunteer leaders who are certified canoe or kayak instructors.
MAKING WAVES: The program formed in response to the alarming number of Black children who drown today tied to the historic prohibition of Black access to public swimming pools and beaches. Since 2019, Outdoor Afro’s goal has been to teach every Black child and their caregiver in its sphere of influence learn how to swim. Currently, the network provides Swimmerships™ (swim lesson scholarships). At 357 Swimmerships™ completed, the program continues to grow support from brands like global footwear KEEN to bring awareness and stronger connections to water.
JUNETEENTH: Because media created this flawed narrative of Juneteenth being a “celebration” to the end of U.S. slavery, Outdoor Afro educates the public about the reality of the situation. June 19, 1865, is the date when 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation (signed Jan. 1, 1863) went into effect. The network corrects this oftentimes “celebratory” story by rephrasing the day as a “commemoration.” To honor those who were denied 2.5 years of freedom, Outdoor Afro encourages partners, communities, and networks to spend 2.5 hours in nature, reflecting on what freedom means to them.
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ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities. “Where Black people and nature meet,” Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow us @outdoorafro on social.
Machine Falls: where endurance hikers, leaders are born
The accordion-like hike chugs along with ease. Then, a collective cautiousness seeps in. Ahead, a 60-foot descension. Disjointed stones, hard-to-identify wooden staircases, and protruding tree roots offer occasional guidance with each unsure footstep. A steep, jagged drop any hiker would question. Then, her voice echoes toward the group: “Take your time,” said Outdoor Afro volunteer leader Danielle Young, 35. “There’s no rush.”
“Whew!” Some blurted. “Thank goodness!” Another wave murmured under their breath. Once that part of the hiking gauntlet completes, everyone temporarily lands back on solid ground. Young gives clear direction for this next part: It’s slippery entering the water. Which, by the way, comes to one's knee. Something she gave notice about weeks before on Outdoor Afro’s Tennessee Meetup page.
“So walk slowly,” Young said. “I will be there at the halfway point to tell you where to go next.” A woman of her word, she does. For the last time as an Outdoor Afro volunteer leader. An assignment she now passes to new 2022 volunteer leader Danae Gaiter, 36. After a few mental scares and semi-water treading hesitations, the party of nearly 15 community participants arrive at their destination: Machine Falls Loop Trail in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Roughly an hour drive from Nashville.
The aerospace and aviation hub in Southern Middle Tennessee is home to the world's most advanced flight testing center. Railroad construction actually created the community, which chartered in 1852. However, the city’s surrounding springs became popular tourist attractions alongside its growing avionics history. Machine Falls became one of Tullahoma’s many challenging sightseeing routes and waterfalls visitors wanted to test. Explore water life (creek beds and smaller waterfalls), fauna, and flora as pluses to the trail.
Positioned off a 4.1-mile loop, the more than 60-foot-tall waterfall is a top Outdoor Afro activity on Tennessee participants' to-visit list. For the past three years, Young has guided those interested in the destination on Outdoor Afro weekend adventures. COVID paused group trips to Machine Falls until recently. However, Young found personal peace at the waterfall while waiting for network events to start again. Outdoor Afro has helped Young in present times of grief.
“Logging offline and heading into nature is just soothing, especially with everything that has been thrown at me,” said Young, a cyber defense major. Because Young plans to move closer to her sister who lives in Texas, she recommended Gaiter as her volunteer leader replacement. Gaiter, who participated in her very first Outdoor Afro activity in November 2021, accepted. As network events posted to Meetup, Gaiter joined more journeys with Young. Refreshed. Inspired.
“It felt so good to be with like-minded people,” said Gaiter. “Breathing in the early morning air. That sense of being welcomed. Getting all my questions about nature answered.” Sold on taking Young’s place, Gaiter applied to become an Outdoor Afro volunteer leader. After many screenings and interviews by the networks’ national program director, Chaya Harris, Gaiter joined the Class of 2022 volunteer leaders. Totaling 117 volunteers this year. Next, Gaiter hopped on a flight to Granby, Colorado, for Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (OALT) held at River Run RV Resort.
Another weekend experience but for selected and trained applicants to gain the essential tools needed to guide local communities in nature sustainably and safely. The training is organized annually by Outdoor Afro staff and experienced volunteer leaders who share the organization's history, values, best practices, and industry knowledge, including: trip planning basics; health impacts of nature conservation ethics; risk management; and effective social media storytelling. Select partners and guest speakers are invited to the training to provide field insights, and share inspiration and encouragement.
After training, volunteer leaders like Gaiter create and guide monthly trips that foster local program collaborations, and help strengthen community relationships with land, water, and wildlife. Volunteers center joy and healing, disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature. “I’m really big on making people feel comfortable,” said Gaiter. “We belong in this space. I look forward to reassuring our participants that there is safety in numbers within group experiences.” Gaiter’s contributions are part of Outdoor Afro’s 60,000 participation network.
The national not-for-profit organization spans 60 cities across the country. Located in 32 states, including Washington, D.C. That moment at Machine Falls where participants made it safely and together to the cascading water scene is what OALT prepares volunteer leaders for. The arduous hike left 67-year-old Jesse Green Jr. of Nashville in anticipation for the local network’s next nature quest. “I could have stayed at that waterfall all day with Outdoor Afro,” said Green Jr., a former YMCA certified swim instructor trainer. “I loved hearing the water. Although it was really cold water, it was a great experience with new people.”
Annual network training welcomes new nature lovers
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA– It’s considered the “most wonderful time of the year” for national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro. And for 2022, the organization’s always-anticipated Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (OALT) finally returns in person. “Two years ago, COVID forced us to shift our annual training into consecutive virtual workshops and interactive sessions,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “We’re so excited that we can now gather safely in a space that accommodates our staff, partners, and the 2022 class of volunteer leaders in nature.”
OALT is where outdoor enthusiasts gain firsthand experience in navigating and leading in nature. This year’s training with more than 100 new and returning volunteer leaders takes place at Sun Outdoors’ River Run RV Resort in Granby, Colorado, starting Earth Day 2022 from April 22 through April 24. Coinciding with Earth Day’s 2022 theme of “Invest in Our Planet,” OALT discusses and puts into action outdoor conservation, education, and recreation so that volunteer leaders can create safe, sustainable, and nature-rich activities in their local communities across the United States.
Outdoor Afro’s mission is to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. With a brand-new cohort of selected volunteer leaders for 2022-23, OALT is an intimate opportunity for volunteers, Outdoor Afro staff, and network partners to bond and continue to strengthen Black people’s relationships with the outdoors. For this year’s training, Outdoor Afro partnered with Sun Outdoors – a leader in outdoor hospitality with more than 175 resorts and campgrounds across the United States and Canada.
“This partnership with Outdoor Afro is an important element in our overall goal as a company,” said Karen Dearing, Chief Financial Officer for Sun Outdoors’ parent company Sun Communities, “creating a path towards fostering a more diverse society.” At Sun Outdoors’ River Run location, Outdoor Afro staff and experienced volunteers will share the organization’s history, values, best practices, and industry knowledge, including: trip planning basics; health impacts of nature; conservation ethics; risk management; and effective social media storytelling.
Select partners and guest speakers are invited to the training to provide field insights, and share inspiration and encouragement. After training, volunteer leaders create and guide monthly trips that foster local program collaborations, and help strengthen community relationships with land, water, and wildlife. Some examples of nature-rich experiences Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders guide after the training completes: camping, fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening, skiing, horseback riding, canoeing, geocaching, bird watching, nature journaling, and more.
Volunteer leaders center joy and healing, while also disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature. Outdoor Afro formed 13 years ago. OALT started in 2012 with just a dozen volunteer outdoor enthusiasts. Each took the call to learn directly from Mapp about how to inspire and guide unforgettable experiences in nature. “OALT is like a family reunion,” said Outdoor Afro’s National Program Director Chaya Harris. “Our volunteer leaders join us from our four regions – Midwest, Northeast, South, and West – for a weekend filled with organized intergenerational fun and outdoor learning.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities. “Where Black people and nature meet,” Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow us @outdoorafro on social.
ABOUT SUN OUTDOORS: Sun Outdoors is a leader in outdoor hospitality and committed to its mission of offering guests exceptional and transformative outdoor experiences. With over 175 locations across the U.S. and Ontario, Canada, Sun Outdoors offers guests several ways to stay: from RV sites to vacation rentals, from tent camping to glamping, whether they stay for a weekend, season or longer. Visit sunoutdoors.com to learn more. Sun Outdoors is a division of Sun Communities Inc., a publicly traded company which, as of September 30, 2021, owns, operates and has an interest in 584 developed manufactured home, RV and marina properties comprising over 155,900 developed sites and nearly 44,900 wet slips and dry storage spaces in 38 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Sun Communities is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: SUI. suncommunities.com.
