Outdoor Afro Was Made for This Moment
In times of change, uncertainty, and even exhaustion, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The weight of the world’s challenges—whether social, environmental, or personal—can be relentless. But Outdoor Afro was made for this moment.
We have always been a steady refuge in shifting sands, not just reacting to the moment, but rising above it—rooted in something deeper. For years, Outdoor Afro has served as an oasis organization, not an activist organization. While activism has its role, our work has been about something just as powerful: renewal, restoration, and connection.
A Refuge from Burnout
The pressures of modern life can wear anyone down, and burnout is real—especially for those carrying the work of change, leadership, and community building. But we know that nature is the great reset button, offering space to breathe, to heal, and to remember what truly matters. Stepping outside isn’t just an escape; it’s a return to balance. This is why we exist.
Nature as Common Ground
Outdoor Afro has had many moments over the years—milestones, celebrations, and challenges. Through them all, we have remained a place where people can gather, reset, and find common ground. In nature, divisions fade. Differences become opportunities for learning, not barriers. A shared trail, a river’s edge, or a quiet forest moment reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
Gratitude for Our Community
Through every challenge, Outdoor Afro has thrived because of the unwavering support of our partners, volunteers, and participants. Your commitment, passion, and generosity have helped us build a movement that is both joyful and sustaining. No matter how the world changes, this network continues to grow, creating more spaces where people can find peace, strength, and connection.
Moving Forward, Grounded in Nature
This moment—whatever it brings—is exactly what we are built for. Not just to weather the storm, but to provide an enduring place of renewal. Outdoor Afro will continue to be the steady refuge, the bridge across differences, and the reminder that nature is in all of us.
We are grateful for the journey, for this moment, and for the many more to come. Let’s keep going—together.
Outdoor Afro x Foss Swim School make national splash, life-saving impact through Making Waves Program
National not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro and U.S. swim provider Foss Swim School have poolside partnered for the past year to teach kids and caregivers the basics of swimming. The neighborhood result: a major splash for local families to transition their lessons confidently from community pools to waterfront parks. “Cannonball!” belted 6-year-old Making Waves Program participant Denver Post at Foss Swim School’s Rock Hill, Missouri, location. “I like swimming 100 percent. My favorite part is jumping in the pool. I feel like I’m going to the Olympics.” Since 2019, Outdoor Afro’s swim program Making Waves has funded swim lessons and water safety courses nationwide so younger generations like Denver can cultivate relationships with water at an early age. Outdoor Afro’s 2024 goal is to provide more than 1,500 new families with the same opportunity Denver had to learn and continue to develop this life-saving skill by the end of the year.
APPLY FOR SWIM SCHOLARSHIPS HERE
Already, Outdoor Afro has funded more than 1,500 new swimmers this year in partnership with swim providers like Foss Swim School and certified swim instructors who put care in the forefront of each lesson. “I don’t ever want a kid to fear water,” said Kendra Williams, 21, swim instructor at Foss Swim School, “and there’s no real timeline for you to become a good swimmer. I always want to ensure they’re comfortable and safe as we segue into each lesson.” Donating at least $200 to Making Waves here provides a swimmership to a children and their guardians for a series of four to six swim lessons. Families have the option of selecting their preferred swim vendor.
“Collaborating with Outdoor Afro has helped us bolster our purpose of providing a lifetime of confidence and safety around water,” shared FOSS CEO Craig O’Halloran. “We’re passionate about helping close the gap between the racial disparities in swimming abilities and thankful to be working with partners to help us do just that.” Outdoor Afro’s CEO and Founder Rue Mapp echoed O’Halloran’s words, adding: “In addition to the urgency to save lives with the help of supporters like Foss Swim School and Winnebago Industries, we know that if a child does not know how to swim they won’t ease into a tippy kayak, cast a pole in a lazy lake, or care about the crisis of plastics filling our oceans,” Mapp said. “Positive connections with water start with learning how to swim. And Outdoor Afro is proud to continue our efforts with providers who are also true partners.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MAKING WAVES IN ACTION
Through Making Waves, Foss Swim School has provided 294 students with swimming lessons across all 29 of its locations. The Winnebago Industries Foundation supports the program’s efforts by helping to fund Making Waves swimmerships through Foss. “At Winnebago Industries, we believe that time spent outdoors is time well spent,” said Jil Littlejohn Bostick, president of the Winnebago Industries Foundation. “We know the great outdoors is a place to find health and happiness and to create cherished memories with family and friends, and being comfortable in and around water is an important part of that experience. We believe in investing in programs that eliminate barriers, promote access and connect all people with the social, mental, and physical health benefits of the outdoors.”
Open to all ages, these lessons are another way to bring awareness about U.S. drownings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black youth ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at a rate more than 8 times that of white peers. Outdoor Afro launched Making Waves five years ago in response to the growing and alarming number, providing a solution to help families unlock the joy of developing positive connections with water. “I’m so grateful for the Outdoor Afro scholarship because everybody needs the opportunity to swim and have good swim instruction,” said Williams. In addition to Foss Swim School, Outdoor Afro collaborates with the following U.S. swim providers to fund 2024 swim lessons: Black People Will Swim in New York; Evolutionary Aquatics in Charlotte, North Carolina; LEGITswim in Washington, D.C.; Oshun Swim School in Seattle, Washington; and Yu Ming Charter School in Oakland, California. “Since I've learned about Outdoor Afro’s Making Waves, I've noticed a huge change in my daughters,” said Denver’s father, Zachery Post. “In their confidence, comfortability, and desire to know how to swim.”
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.
ABOUT FOSS SWIM SCHOOL: Jon and Susan Foss opened their first swim school in 1993. They created an age-appropriate curriculum, helping even the youngest swimmers confidently learn water adjustment, safety, strokes, and technique. With 31 years of expertise, FOSS has redefined the swim lesson experience by providing a fun, original, technically sound, and safer style of teaching. FOSS currently has 29 wim schools in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Connect with @fossswimschool on social and visit fossswimschool.com. Photos by Techboogie.
Outdoor Afro searches for visionary Chief Operating Officer to lead not-for-profit's pivotal ‘Year of Innovation’
Outdoor Afro is where Black people and nature meet. It’s also where a new Chief Operating Officer can help strategically guide the national not-for-profit organization’s daily operations. “We’re now in search of a Chief Operating Officer who can partner with me as an executive leader,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, “an individual who can lead and manage our talented team. Someone who is also a skilled organizational manager.” In its “Year of Innovation” and now 15th year since its founding, Outdoor Afro seeks a leader who can inspire and drive innovation internally for high-impact program results. This role involves optimizing operations, providing financial oversight, and leading development, partnerships, and board engagement.
Outdoor Afro is seeking a candidate who can ensure operational efficiency, strategic alignment, financial health, strong board relations, high-performing teams, domain expertise, and thought leadership. The organization started as a blog and social enterprise by Mapp. She incorporated Outdoor Afro in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) and has led it since as CEO. The organization has grown from that blog and three founding board members to 12 full-time staff and a 13-member Board of Directors. Outdoor Afro's operating budget has grown from a modest $110,000 in revenue in 2015 to now $4 million – largely from foundations, individuals, and corporate partner support.
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 seeks new board members
National not-for-profit Outdoor Afro is in search of experienced and innovative board members. The organization seeks those who can provide strategic guidance and strong governance in service of celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature. “This is an opportunity for strategic and experienced leaders from all fields to embody their personal love for the outdoors," said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, "embracing the adventurous spirit of Outdoor Afro, our programs, and our board with excitement and integrity." New board members will help support Outdoor Afro’s mission by giving time and resources toward governance, strategy, fundraising, and network-building. As the nation’s leading organization where Black people and nature meet, Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people year-round to land, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Outdoor Afro amplifies Black joy and connection to each other and nature by sharing powerful stories of community-building and leadership outdoors.
The now 15-year organization creates programs that uplift togetherness and collaborates with partners to scale collective impact. Outdoor Afro has made historic and sustainable strides since its founding, achieving 10 times more growth in its last five years. Serving on the board today is an invaluable opportunity to grow the organization’s strategic insight, exemplify best nonprofit governance practices, and build connections for funding, partnerships, and visibility. Board members will leverage personal networks; promote Outdoor Afro’s work; build mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations and community organizations; support and oversee the CEO; ensure a high-functioning governance structure; evaluate the organization’s opportunities and risks; and exercise fiduciary responsibility by ensuring financial accountability.
Outdoor Afro is looking for board members who will advance the strategic pillars from its recently completed strategic plan, including building staff and organizational foundations; strengthening the accessibility of Outdoor Afro’s brand and programs; and maintaining long-term financial sustainability. Outdoor Afro retained Potrero Group, a national strategy and search firm, for this opportunity. While many nonprofits recruit board members through their own personal networks, Potrero Group believes an open board search is a critical chance for organizations to expand their network, raise their visibility, and multiply their impact. Click this link to learn more information about the position and how to apply. Interested candidates should apply by Aug. 19, 2024, for priority consideration. Email Potrero Group Founder and CEO Cleveland Justis at [email protected] to share recommendations.
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.
Save the Date: Outdoor Afro's 10th annual fundraiser celebrates its 15-year org history
Glamp Out stands as national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro’s signature annual fundraiser. In its 10th year, the fashionable gala will take place Friday, Oct. 25, at the Claremont Hotel in Oakland-Berkeley Hills at 6 p.m pacific time. The always-special occasion will honor 2024 success stories and revisit past accomplishments in the organization’s history – in pioneering leadership, sincere partnerships, and outdoor community programming. “This is a milestone year,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “I can’t believe how fast time has flown as we have forged ahead in our work and impact for the past 15 years, setting a high bar for reconnecting more communities with nature.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The 10th annual affair will toast to Outdoor Afro's now 15-year nature achievements, sharing with attendees how it evolved from Mapp’s kitchen table blog to a nationwide nature organization. Glamp Out’s 2024 goal is to raise more than $250,000 in support of its yearlong and healing community programs. Funds raised during the event 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 almost 8 times that of their white peers due to historical barriers. To date, Making Waves has awarded hundreds of “Swimmerships” (or swim lesson scholarships) around the country. The program’s 2024 aim: supporting 1,500 new swimmers.
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Now in its 12th 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 healing and greater health of all people and the planet. Contributions help Outdoor Afro’s network of volunteer leaders expand their training to include wilderness first-aid, recreational water activity skills, and model aspirational nature opportunities.
MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING: Outdoor Afro’s ongoing nature narratives include inspiring stories documented through its website and social. The organization encourages community support to continue to amplify neighborhood voices and share the powerful experiences its volunteer leaders guide in local communities. Together, Outdoor Afro wants to remind the world that Black people and communities everywhere are strong, beautiful, and free.
SIGNATURE CAPSTONE EVENTS: These experiences introduce volunteer leaders and local neighborhoods to the exploratory possibilities in nature, changing the face of who can become an outdoor explorer. 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.
Each year, Glamp Out welcomes more than 250 supporters, cultural champions, nature leaders, elected officials, and celebrities. Everyone 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. “Because of our partners and supporters, our team has moved the organization to achieve record-breaking results through generative and healing community programming with operational excellence,” Mapp said. “It’s an exciting time to look forward to the future and celebrate with our community the accomplishments we’ve achieved together.”
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 2024 attendees with Glamp Out’s roster of special guests. “Our whole community programs welcome everyone,” said Mapp. “Leading to lasting, positive change for people and the environment, Glamp Out celebrates our community impact while helping us continue to build durable relationships between people and our planet.”
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.
5 facts you probably didn’t know about Outdoor Afro’s founder, CEO, public lands champion
She’s an awarded speaker, leader, and public lands champion. When Rue Mapp speaks, U.S. neighborhoods lean in a little bit closer to listen. Some start note taking. Others are ready to take local action. All in the name of strengthening relationships to outdoor recreation, conservation, and education. Her words of wisdom resonate with communities across the country. So in honor of “Women’s History Month,” we wanted to share more cool tidbits about our fearless founder, CEO, and author of “Nature Swagger.” Mapp has led Outdoor Afro, a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature, for the past 15 years now. An innovative accomplishment in itself. We thought you would really enjoy hearing about these fun facts tied to Outdoor Afro’s mission work – and discover the foundation to her continuous ability to change the narrative in nature through a Black joy and leadership lens.
SHE GREW UP IN AN AGRICULTURAL FAMILY.
Southern-nurtured, California-raised, Mapp cultivated early bonds with nature from both rural and coastal viewpoints as a kid. Her family migrated west from the Jim Crow South in search of greater economic opportunities in America. Her dad: a true outdoorsman from East Texas. Her mom: a consummate Southern belle and homesteader from Louisiana. The two would have made the quintessential couple in those wild west Spaghetti Western days. Her family settled in the Oakland Hills, giving Mapp (a first-generation Californian) instant admission into the world of coastal redwoods. She spent her weekends at the 14-acre family farm her father bought and transformed into the ultimate outdoor getaway. Fruit trees, a bountiful garden, a tennis court, swimming pool, fishing holes, and hunting trips were everyday childhood adventures. The family also raised cattle and pigs for provisions. “Everything the family wanted to do in nature was available on that ranch,” says Mapp. “Everyone could visit and spend time there. It became my template for Outdoor Afro, and what welcoming and hospitality meant.” Her family’s land became an open invitation for multigenerational joy, togetherness, creativity, rest, healing, discovery and wonder.
SHE IS A OUTDOOR GEAR DESIGNER.
On the family farm is where Mapp learned from the elders traditional techniques to fishing, cooking, and even designing her own doll clothes. Her mother was a seamstress, who taught Mapp the basics to sewing. Mapp’s first shot as a fashion designer happened in the ’90s. She owned San Francisco-based bridal shop Rulette Wear. While making bridal dresses, she started designing outdoor gear for her snowboarding friends. In 2021, she returned to her fashion drawing board. This time with more knowledge about the differences apparel can make for the Black outdoor community. That same year, she founded for-profit enterprise Outdoor Afro, Inc., and launched a hike collection in collaboration with outdoor retailer REI Co-op to bring more universal styles to outdoor spaces. The initial 22-piece collection included fleece pullovers, polo shirts, graphic T-shirts, trail pants, hiking leggings, and hiking boots to solve for fit, function, fashion, and accessibility. A mashup of iconic ’80s and ’90s silhouettes with modern accents, the collection considers the range of body shapes and explores a broader range of fit modeling, bold colors, and materials that work with textured hairstyles.
SHE HAS EARNED A LOT OF NOTABLE NATURE RECOGNITIONS.
For more than a decade, Mapp has been recognized with mounds of distinctions and awards. She won the international Bessie Awards in the JourneyWoman category by global lifestyle and travel brand Wanderful during 2023. Two years prior, AFAR titled her as its 2021 Travel Vanguard Award recipient. Two years after that, she received the 2019 National Geographic Fellow, Heinz Awards Honoree in the environment category, and National Wildlife Federation Communication Award recipient (received alongside President Bill Clinton). During 2018, University of California, Berkeley, honored Mapp with the Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alumni. Go back two more years, and The Roots selected her as “one of the 100 most influential African Americans in the country” for the second time. Her first time making this particular list happened in 2012. That same year, Hidden Villa honored her with its Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Award. Outdoor Retailer — North America’s largest outdoor industry trade show – awarded Mapp its 2013 Inspiration Award in the business category. One of her earliest acknowledgements came from the National Wildlife Federation, which named her Wildlife Champion in 2011.
SHE SERVES AS A MENTOR TO MOST.
Mapp is a mother, newly minted grandmother, and everyone’s favorite auntie. The visionary founded Outdoor Afro in 2009 when she was also raising three children. She made sure each participated alongside her in network events as she grew her brand. Mapp shared with digital media brand Fatherly in 2022 exactly “What the World’s Greatest Adventurers Teach Their Kids," which she still applies today with extensions of her family tree. She continues to introduce the possibilities in outdoor fun with friends and family. Emphasizing hospitality and belonging with every experience. Teaching the importance of taking ownership in local land, water, and wildlife. “My children also learned early that everyone has to work together to produce high-quality experiences in nature,” she told Fatherly. Through Outdoor Afro, she has paved the way for the organization’s selected and trained volunteer leaders to guide their neighborhoods in nature safely and sustainably. Mapp also has opened community and digital doors for volunteers – and thousands of nature lovers and new adventurers – to develop wilderness, recreation, and life-saving skills; access safe, appropriate gear and equipment; free or discounted access to private outdoor spaces; and acquire historical and civics information to take better care of the public and community spaces we all love.
SHE ONCE WORKED IN FINE DINING.
A phenomenal cook, Mapp can whip up sweet-to-savory dishes by the campfire or in the kitchen. That finger-licking-good food. Interestingly, she spent two years in fine dining when she worked as a food server at Zuni Café in San Francisco, California, during her early 20s. Judy Rodgers, who owned Zuni Café at the time, was the protégé of Alice Waters – the owner of Chez Panisse and a MICHELIN-starred restaurant located in Berkeley, California. “Alice Waters is considered the mother of California cuisine,” said Mapp. “I found the work fascinating. Zuni Café had a menu that changed every day, twice a day. Working there helped me appreciate much of the food (soul food).” Primarily because that style reappeared on the restaurant menu and in mainstream American cuisine as part of the farm-to-table movement. Mapp still dines at Zuni Café to this day. One of the key pointers she learned from that job: the art of improvisation and flexibility with ingredients. On top of the value of using the freshest ingredients, including whole, minimally processed foods. At home, Mapp enjoys making gumbo and tomato sauce from scratch. When Mapp is cooking outdoors, she loves to prepare a large home-style breakfast – a pot of grits, bacon, eggs – over a stove or morning campfire. “It’s comforting to help folks wake up to the smells of a delicious breakfast,” she said. “The experience never disappoints.” Bonus tidbit: Mapp won a ribbon at the Alameda County Fair for her cornbread recipe. More about that morsel of delicious information another time.
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 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’s Georgia networks offer silver- and small-screen views to capture nature, Southern living
The future naturalist framed up the plant IDing scene with such fervor. Conviction. Even care. Every google-eyed expression and conductor hand gesture queued plant life. As if it was taking center stage. His soft smile pulled community participants into the Lionel Hampton Greenway Trail. The old-growth storyline voice-overed by Southern hospitality. “So, this is actually turkey tail mushrooms,” said Outdoor Afro volunteer leader Dajawn Williams, 27, “and guess what? It’s edible.” “Edible!” One hiker blurted in the background with an unsure side eye. Williams’ grin deepened with a few promising head nods. Oohs and ahhs then bounced around the forest floor. Promptly, he waved the group of 23 local explorers into a direction of more shocking nature sights along their 2-mile urban wander. This Feb. 10 Black History Month activity taught Atlanta attendees how to recognize special species within their Outdoor Afro network and neighborhood greenspace. The experience also unearthed Black contributions connected to the nature preserve.
To that point, the greenway trail is named after former landowner and famous Black jazz musician Lionel Hampton. Hampton donated much of the right-of-way for the trail during 1993. Designed today for cycling, hiking, agritouring, and picnicking. The historic Black district and site on Atlanta’s west side features the most archaeologically significant Civil War trenches in the region. “This area’s infrastructure included a mill, cemetery for enslaved Black people, and a rock quarry,” said guest speaker, naturalist, and local historian James Tyler. “After the Civil War, Black farmers who lived south of Atlanta moved up to become railroad and mill workers.” Over time, these stories evolved into backdrops to what’s now designated as the “Hollywood of the South.” It’s been more than a decade that metro Atlanta’s mushrooming film and TV industry generated blockbuster momentum. Primarily because of the Peach State’s benevolent tax break.
Major studios popped up and big-budget projects like “The Hunger Games,” “The Walking Dead,” and the Marvel franchise settled into their new Southern home. During 2022, Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” became the highest-grossing movie with a female superhero lead at the U.S. box office – the latest example of the high-earning films attracted to Georgia. In recent times, production opportunities have tapered off for some creatives, too. However, Gov. Brian P. Kemp reassured Georgians that the silver- and small-screen industry is forging ahead: “Georgia remains a global leader in film, TV, and streaming productions,” said Kemp in a Sept. 13, 2023, press release by the Georgia Film Office. “Those who benefit most from the significant growth we’ve seen in this industry over the past couple of decades are hardworking Georgians who fill the many behind-the-camera jobs that come with each project. That’s why we’ve worked hard to attract these and other opportunities for those who call the Peach State home.”
Last year, the state celebrated 50 years of the Georgia Film Office, a strategic post within the Georgia Department of Economic Development that helps mature Georgia's film, TV, and commercial production industries through marketing, scouting, and coordinating project needs. The office reported productions spent $4.1 billion in Georgia during fiscal year 2023. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the state hosted 390 productions, represented by 31 feature films, 55 independent films, 40 commercials, 23 music videos, and 241 TV and episodic productions. Travel an hour and some change south into Middle Georgia where Outdoor Afro participants have the chance to explore newer rural trails, farm life, and film tours later this year. Williams’ next stop: Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, Georgia – a 15-minute ride away from where Netflix's hit sci-fi drama series “Stranger Things” filmed. The nature center provides mountain and e-bike courses; backpacking and camping; and farmstead sightseeing.
Williams linked up with Outdoor Afro’s Founder and CEO Rue Mapp at the nature center. The two went on a site visit to reimagine what foraging, farming, and family-centric activities could look like for his network and others in the organization’s “Year of Innovation.” “I’m continually in awe of the natural resources found in our volunteer networks,” said Mapp. “To visit places like Dauset helps people discover opportunities to reconnect to nature close to home, and be inspired by the natural and human history you can always find in these places.” For 15 years now, Outdoor Afro has celebrated and inspired Black connections and leadership in nature across the United States. The national not-for-profit organization reconnects Black communities to outdoor conservation, recreation, and education through networks located in 60 cities and 32 states, including Washington, D.C. By way of more than 1,200 planned and hosted network activities, volunteer leaders like Williams reintroduce more than 60,000 people to the outdoors annually. “We’re on a journey to reach more rural and urban communities,” Mapp said. “Nature, travel, tourism, and the shows and movies we all grew up on are ways to imagine new connections.”
After Dauset Trails, a truck ride to downtown Jackson (the state’s outdoor capital) zapped Mapp into the make-believe town of Hawkins, Indiana, from the TV show “Stranger Things.” She toured real-life locations, replaying memorable scenes from the series’ Hawkins Library, back alley, and Radio Shack. The coolest Outdoor Afro clip of the day: Mapp propped with a pizza box and visor inside the iconic Surfer Boy Pizza vanagon, a.k.a. Pizzamobile. Headed back south on U.S. Hwy 23, a pitstop to Juliette, Georgia, revisited Cicely Tyson’s role in the 1991 comedy-drama “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Where the movie’s Whistle Stop Cafe is still open for business and serves Southern cuisine – most notably, of course, the menu’s crispy fried green tomatoes. Described in one word: De-lish! The final destination for Mapp’s agritourism and film-guided driving tour traveled 42 miles east along backcountry roads to Milledgeville, Georgia. The fourth capital of the state and where actress Julia Roberts’ character, Vivian, in “Pretty Woman” said she came from.
Mapp drove through camera-ready site Central State Hospital. Established in 1842, the campus became known as the “world’s largest mental institution” by the 1960s. It included more than 12,000 patients, 6,000 employees, and more than 8,000 acres of land. By 2010, the dilapidated complex closed. Four years later, “The Originals” (spin-off to The CW Network’s “The Vampire Diaries”) filmed episodes at the hospital. Interestingly, the eerie site still produces a pecan grove that attracts the community, schools, and families to year-round nature activities. “That’s the thing about nature,” said Reginal Black, 59, who joined the Feb. 10 Outdoor Afro plant IDing activity. Black relocated to Atlanta from California to live closer to family. “Nature ties us all back to our local histories and community stories,” he said. “Why I’ve been attending network events like this one with the organization and Rue since 2009.”
SUPPORT OUR STORYTELLING SERIES
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.
What’s new at Outdoor Afro in 2024? Creating community impact starts with these 8 digital ports of call
Can you believe it? Outdoor Afro has nurtured transformative experiences and connections in nature for 15 years now. One thing is for sure: Our national not-for-profit organization reached 2024's "Year of Innovation" because of you. Longstanding and new social followers, loyal supporters, volunteer leaders, community participants, and outdoor partners have contributed to Outdoor Afro's wildest nature dreams to literally come true. Take for instance our participation network. Outdoor Afro's popular, year-round events across U.S. communities inspire approximately 60,000 people to join us annually for customized outdoor activities – family reunion-style.
Then, there’s our swim program, Making Waves. We rounded out 2023 funding more than 1,000 kids and caregivers to learn water safety and basic swimming techniques. Life-saving skills. All thanks to program believers like you. We’ve even certified up to 20 volunteer leaders to guide kayak and canoe trips safely and sustainably within the past two years. Newer community participants are ready for playdates to discover and travel neighborhood waterways for educational enjoyment. That said, a new year means new opportunities to create community impact together. If you don’t know where exactly to start, that’s A-OK. Below are 8 digital ports to join our journey. No matter where you plug in, you’re automatically contributing to our mission work to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. Let’s get started:
1. SIGN UP FOR LOCAL NETWORK ACTIVITIES:
Outdoor Afro spans 32 states, including Washington, D.C. Networks are in roughly 60 U.S. cities. Our networks are your instant access to forming new friendships while exploring nature in your neighborhood or surrounding community. Through Outdoor Afro networks, you can participate in everything from group hiking, biking, boating, fishing, foraging, skiing, and paddling. Locate your Outdoor Afro region (Midwest, Northeast, South, or West) using the link below. From there, you can sign up for in-person Meetup events happening monthly. Our selected and trained team of volunteer leaders curate and guide these network adventures. Through Meetup, volunteer leaders keep you posted about event details and upcoming activities. Also, join your network’s designated Facebook page to build community, and continue to learn where exploration awaits with family and friends. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
2. VISIT OUR DIGITAL HOME:
We love when online guests pay us a visit. Stopping by outdoorafro.org helps you know exactly who we are, what we do in nature, and where we’re heading each year. As mentioned earlier, 2024 rings in our “Year of Innovation.” By clicking through our online home place, you will learn Outdoor Afro’s love story with nature, more about our Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, and the ones who work behind the scenes to ensure we’re fulfilling our mission. Our site also shares current partnerships, community programs, social media campaigns, and real-life stories that support our Black joy experiences taking place across neighborhoods nationwide. Have specific questions about our “why” in nature? Our site is your primary source to connect with the right digital resources. CLICK HERE TO KNOW OUR MISSION.
3. CONNECT ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA:
Nearly 170,000 Outdoor Afro followers like, comment, share, and take action from our social media updates and footage. Our almost daily dose of digital news, announcements, and achievements stem from your support. Our top social platforms include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter). Continuing to celebrate Outdoor Afro’s nature narratives, our genuine content is an opportunity to participate in digital to in-person activities with us and stay on top of organizational developments. Our award-winning Marketing & Communications Department shares powerful visuals and videos that offer fun gateways into outdoor recreation, conservation, and education with ease. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.
4. SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS:
By signing up for Outdoor Afro’s monthly eNewsletters, you’re getting first dibs about our nature wins. Your free copy is delivered straight to your email inbox, recapping that month’s success stories because of your generous support. Our eNewsletter will also notify you when future professional opportunities within our organization are available. And give you the heads up about upcoming partnerships and programs. Our news and notifications are designed so you can easily digest and keep a timely pulse on our organizational progress. Stay in the know about our community and nature work helping to strengthen relationships with local land, water, and wildlife. In addition to opening new outdoor career and professional development doors for you. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
5. GIVE BACK TO NATURE:
Donating to Outdoor Afro helps us continue to reach our mission, which is to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. No amount is too big or small. Every contribution counts. You’re supporting our year-round programming more than you will ever know. When you donate (better yet, become a recurring donor), Outdoor Afro is able to provide our growing team of volunteer leaders – and the thousands of nature lovers and new adventurers who leaders guide in nature – with wilderness, recreation, and life-saving skills; safe, appropriate gear and equipment; free or discounted access to private outdoor spaces; and access to historical and civic information you can use to take care of the public and community spaces you love. When you donate, our Making Waves program can provide more kids and caregivers new opportunities to learn how to swim, save a loved one’s life, and leverage local resources – public swimming pools, beaches, rivers, and lakes. When you donate, we’re able to help neighborhoods expand outdoor recreational activities that become instrumental in pursuing healthier, joyful lifestyles. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.
6. SHOP OUR SHIRT COLLECTION:
It’s warmth that welcomes nature conversations with family and friends. Our co-branded shirt collection with Oakland-based partner Oaklandish comes with comfort for any and all outdoor adventures. The collection includes our signature short-sleeve shirts (in black and white), long-sleeve shirts (in black only), and hoodies (in black only). The fun part: The style options range from business slay to backpacker play. The bonus: Every purchase you make goes toward our charitable, not-for-profit work. CLICK HERE TO SHOP.
7. PARTNER TO UPLIFT BLACK COMMUNITIES:
We’re always open to forming meaningful relationships with people, communities, initiatives, and brands that share the same values we have about reconnecting Black people and Black communities to nature. Our amazing new and deep-rooted partnerships have helped our organization elevate and innovate for the past 15 years in the outdoors. Brands like REI Co-op, KEEN, CLIF® Bar, ENO, and Smartwool have become influential collaborators to educate new audiences about the collective difference we make across the United States. Introduce our audiences and readers to new outdoor products and services that benefit our neighborhoods. To learn more about our current partnership tiers, email [email protected] today. CLICK HERE TO VIEW COLLABORATORS.
8. READ AND RESHARE IMPACT STORIES:
The truth is: We’re confronted by gloom-and-doom headlines daily. The good news is that Outdoor Afro produces happy clappy content monthly that will leave you feeling so fuzzy wuzzy about tapping into the outdoors and pursuing healthier lifestyles. We produce original narratives so you’re honestly informed about people, places, and things tied to our mission work. Outdoor Afro’s blog features cover personal essays; product and partner reviews; insider nature knowledge; and human interest stories that salute the pioneering paths Black people and Black communities have carved out within the outdoor industry. From big cities to small towns. Our community programs and content have traveled the globe. Piqued the interest of media mogul Oprah Winfrey to tennis icon Venus Williams – who both have participated in our network activities. Our stories reinforce the Black experience in nature from an asset-framing lens. National to international media outlets like CBS, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel Weekly, AFAR, and Essence Magazine are a few prominent publications that have highlighted our organization throughout the past decade. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS STORIES.
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.
Outdoor Afro in search of Chief Program & Innovation Officer
Nature organization Outdoor Afro designates 2023 as its “Year of Elevation.” As the national not-for-profit’s operational and development season continues, it now seeks a Chief Program & Innovation Officer (CPIO) to join the Oakland, California-based headquarter team. “This is a brand-new and an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of our nationally renowned, well-funded organization,” said Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “This position will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for Outdoor Afro’s programs.”
Outdoor Afro’s ideal CPIO will provide leadership to strategic planning efforts. The role will implement innovative programmatic strategic initiatives; lead the organization’s digital strategy and transformation; and engage in fundraising and partnership endeavors to scale the organization. The groundbreaking leader will collaborate with Outdoor Afro’s senior management team and board of directors on operational and programmatic strategies, including marketing strategy, customer journey optimization, and external relationship development.
Furthermore, the CPIO will work closely with the executive director, CEO, and other organizational leadership to develop, implement, and manage the operational aspects of the annual budget, ensuring sound fiscal management. At heart, the CPIO will play a vital role in cultivating existing relationships with public and private funders while driving marketing efforts to enhance program reach and impact. Earlier this year, Outdoor Afro hired an in-house program assistant, finance director, and its first-ever operational executive director.
These additional roles continue to support Outdoor Afro’s strategic development goals and staff demands for advancements in national programming and network participation. “We’re expanding our core leadership team to ensure the long-term strategic and operational viability of our programs and impact,” said Executive Director Lisa Bourne. “The new CPIO will have a really unique opportunity to drive Outdoor Afro’s next phase of innovative growth.”
Fourteen years ago, Outdoor Afro started as a social enterprise for Mapp. She incorporated Outdoor Afro in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) and has led the organization since as its CEO. The organization has grown from a one-woman blog and three founding board members to 12 full-time staff and a 13-member Board of Directors. Its operating budget has grown from a modest $110,000 in revenue in 2015 to now $4 million – largely from foundations, individuals, and corporate partner support.
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 @outdoorafro and outdoorafro.org.