Red Wing, Minn. – (January 30, 2024) – Vasque Footwear, with nearly 60 years of experience delivering functional, durable footwear to millions of outdoor enthusiasts, is proud to announce a strategic, long-term partnership with Camping to Connect. Through this partnership, Vasque will help bring outdoor experiences and educational opportunities to young individuals and foster a connection with nature and personal growth.
Camping to Connect is an outdoor experiential mentorship program that uses outdoor recreation and nature immersion to address the diverse issues faced by youth from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (“BIPOC”) communities in America’s cities. With a focus on restorative practices, Camping to Connect provides a safe space for meaningful conversations, connecting participants with nature, their peers, and dedicated mentors who share a cultural background with the participants, fostering a vital paradigm shift in their self-perception and understanding of their place in the world.
Manny Almonte, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Camping to Connect, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, ‘Joining forces with Vasque Footwear is a welcomed step forward for Camping to Connect. This collaboration signifies a shared commitment to providing transformative experiences that aim to revolutionize the way BIPOC young men perceive their own identities, redefining the concept of belonging in outdoor spaces, and tackling the challenge of nature deprivation among urban youth, which is known to directly affect their mental and physical health.”
Vasque’s active promotion of Camping to Connect is at the heart of this collaboration, offering support for student excursions, transportation, and programming assistance. Vasque will also provide hiking boots and shoes, ensuring that each step of the journey is accompanied by comfort and durability. As a testament to its commitment, a portion of the proceeds from Vasque’s e-commerce sales will be contributed to Camping to Connect, reinforcing a commitment to supporting meaningful initiatives.
Bryce Wernsman, President of Vasque, echoes the sentiment, “At Vasque, we believe in the transformative power of outdoor experiences. This partnership allows us to contribute significantly to fostering a connection with nature and personal growth for young individuals. Through this partnership, we hope to propel Camping to Connect’s mission. This cause harmonizes seamlessly with Vasque’s dedication to outdoor enthusiasts and our firm belief in the vital importance of reconnecting with the outdoors for personal well-being.”
About Camping to Connect:
Camping to Connect is a BIPOC-led experiential mentorship program of the Young Masterminds Initiative that uses outdoor recreation and nature immersion to address the diverse issues faced by young men of color in America’s cities—from mental health to healthy masculinity. Since 2018, Camping to Connect has provided young men of color with a safe space for meaningful conversations, connecting them with nature, their peers, and dedicated mentors. Camping to Connect’s leadership reflects the backgrounds of its youth participants, fostering a vital paradigm shift in their self-perception and understanding of their place in the world. Learn more by visiting campingtoconnect.org
About Vasque:
Vasque Footwear has delivered functional, durable footwear to millions of outdoor enthusiasts since 1964. We believe you don’t have to go far to change your perspective. By simply stepping outside we can change how we feel on the inside. When we disconnect, we reconnect. Vasque Footwear – Trail Footwear Since 1964. Visit us at Vasque.com
