Outdoor AfroVolunteer Leader Application

Welcome!

We’re so glad you’re here. Thank you for your interest in becoming a Volunteer Leader with Outdoor Afro as part of our 2026–2027 cohort! We’re seeking servant-hearted, committed, adventurous, and community-centered leaders who want to inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.

Being a Volunteer Leader isn’t about titles or recognition — it’s about service. We believe true leadership comes from those willing to put community needs first, create space for others to thrive, and use their gifts to inspire joy, healing, and belonging in the outdoors.

Before you apply, pause and ask yourself:

• Are you committed to living out Outdoor Afro’s mission of celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature?
• Are you an outdoor enthusiast ready to serve your community by leading accessible, welcoming outdoor outings?
• Can you attend Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (OALT), April 30–May 3, 2026, in Pacific Grove, CA?
• Do you seek to uplift your community by connecting outdoor experiences with the local Black history that surrounds us?
• Are you ready to use nature as a tool for service — supporting Black family and community health, wellness, and joy?
• Are you at least 21 years old?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you may be called to this kind of leadership.

About Outdoor Afro’s Volunteer Leader Program

Founded in 2009, the Volunteer Leader Program is Outdoor Afro’s flagship program designed to train, resource, and connect Black leaders in nature. By leading outdoor activities and events in their local communities, Volunteer Leaders create safe spaces for adventure and exploration, provide expertise and civic education, and nurture a sense of belonging and community that inspires Black people to reconnect with land, water, and wildlife, and to find wellness through time spent in nature.

Attracting and retaining volunteers with a wide range of interests and areas of expertise is critical to the success of the program and our mission. And, never has it been more important to connect, inspire, and create community all across America. 

NEW in 2026! Outdoor Afro’s Volunteer Leader Program is now composed of two tracks: (1) Volunteer Leaders (plan and lead at least 12 in-person trips or events/year) and (2) Virtual Volunteer Leaders (publish at least 3 videos or photos + copy/week).

Through Outdoor Afro’s large online and in-person communities, all of our Volunteer Leaders will be able to help inspire and celebrate Black connections and leadership in nature and use outdoor education, recreation, and conservation to reconnect Black people to our lands, water, and wildlife. 

Volunteer Leaders will commit to lead in-person trips, events, or activities based on their own interests and expertise. Virtual Volunteer Leaders will commit to building and nurturing the community by publishing content on Outdoor Afro’s mobile app, website, and social media. 

We created the Virtual Volunteer Leader role so that we can invite nature lovers and leaders from every corner of the US–not just those from cities with large Black populations–to join us and to contribute to our mission by sharing their nature expertise and joy with those who might not be able to attend or participate in in-person events.

Regional Leaders will transition to the role of Mentors, signaling our shift away from networks and regionality to a focus on creating a national community of Black nature leaders who provide the Outdoor Afro experience wherever Black people live, play, and visit. As Regional Leaders did, Mentors will continue to provide advice, support, and model gratitude, hospitality, professionalism, and excellence as Volunteer Leaders.

Volunteer Leader Commitments

You’ll be asked to:

• Lead monthly events – Create and host at least one Outdoor Afro outing each month in your local community, at least 12 per year
• Grow Our Impact – Progressively increase the number of participants and/or community members you and Outdoor Afro reach throughout the year.
• Stay connected – Participate in bi-monthly and quarterly calls with Outdoor Afro and fellow leaders for organizational updates and professional development.
• Share Our Story – Use the Outdoor Afro app to post your monthly events and help highlight our conservation, education, and recreation activities
• Actively Advance Outdoor Afro’s Mission & Initiatives – Participate in, demonstrate support for all Outdoor Afro programs and initiatives.

Why Apply?

This is more than a volunteer role — it’s a calling to serve. As an Outdoor Afro Volunteer Leader, you’ll carry forward a legacy of Black leadership in nature, creating moments of joy, healing, and connection that ripple far beyond a single outing.

If you feel ready to lead, lift your community, and inspire others to find belonging in nature, this is your moment. Say “yes” to serving, “yes” to community, and “yes” to celebrating Black joy in the outdoors.

Complete the application in the Outdoor Afro App and take your next step in becoming part of the 2026–2027 Volunteer Leader cohort. The outdoors — and the communities you’ll serve — are waiting for you.