Learn what the 2024 election outcomes mean for your business. Watch our webinar recording with OIA’s government affairs team to learn about the 119th Congress and the state of play for key outdoor industry policy priorities in 2025. Experts discuss new BEA economic data, ways to engage policymakers, mobilize advocacy networks, and catalyze trade, recreation, and sustainability policy impacts in the year ahead.
Dear OIA Members and Industry Partners,
OIA is proud to stand at the heart of the outdoor industry, delivering resources and opportunities that drive our businesses and communities forward. Industry gatherings are essential to our shared success, and we are committed to leading the way.
We have been actively engaged in broad discussions with many stakeholders about the future of industry gatherings. As a member-led collective, these conversations have been invaluable in shaping our vision for OIA’s role in convening the industry, and I want to take this opportunity to share our path forward.
Our commitment to serve as a catalyst for connection:
OIA Events: We will lead the industry with cornerstone events that create opportunities for collaboration, community, and action. Our sold-out inaugural sustainability Catalyst Conference this November provides the industry with an opportunity to innovate solutions for people, product, and the planet. We are in the planning phase for next spring’s Capitol Summit in Washington, D.C ., to use our outside voices to save outdoor companies money, fuel innovation, invest in recreation, expand outdoor access for all, and protect our environment.
Strategic Partnerships: With great enthusiasm, yesterday we announced our new partnership with Switchback to grow an event that can deliver multiple benefits to a wide range of outdoor industry members. OIA will also partner with other organizations where the industry and our members gather to deliver content that drives growth and opportunities for engagement through education sessions, existing OIA programs, and new initiatives.
OIA’s mission remains clear: We’re a passionate group of business leaders, sustainability experts, policymakers, and outdoor enthusiasts committed to business growth and innovation while protecting—and growing access to—the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. Our team is excited about the opportunities ahead and is dedicated to leading our industry with the vision, resources, and commitment you have come to expect from us.
Join the Conversation: From the timing of events to the content they deliver, we aim to shape gatherings that bring value to all members and reflect the voices and needs of our entire community. We value your insights and encourage you to share your thoughts on our future direction. Click here to provide your feedback and help shape the future of our industry.
Together we are a force,
Kent Ebersole
President, Outdoor Industry Association
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re celebrating Hispanic leaders contributing to Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside mission. These individuals continue to foster outdoor spaces that are inclusive, equitable, and diverse. Read our interviews with these leaders below.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
As with all diversity, Hispanic leadership and participation in outdoor spaces make them better. Our heritage is part of the fabric of our society and thus should be included, represented, and celebrated in all areas of our lives. Also, it’s an essential reminder that we’ve always been part of the outdoors because the outdoors has always been a part of us, being for sustenance, for work, or enjoyment; our cultures have all been in relationship with nature through and despite colonization.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
The short answer is my family. I was very privileged to grow up among hunters and fisherpeople. But ultimately, what brought me into a career connected to the outdoors is the relationship I formed with nature along the way. Seeing nature around me disappear or being extracted and destroyed ignited a fire, a responsibility for me. I couldn’t just sit and watch it all happen. Caring for our planet shouldn’t be a question; it should be a norm for everyone, and I hope I can inspire folks to pursue their own relationships with nature so we may all care for our shared home. On a brighter side, being in nature gives me hope and purpose. It makes me smile; it shows me what I’m capable of beyond colonial or capitalist ways of “capability.” When I’m in nature, I feel valued by simply existing.
How does outdoor equity look for the Latinx community?
It looks like every child and adult having the opportunity to create meaningful memories in nature, feeling safe and welcome outside, having access to gear that makes outdoor adventures more accessible and better, and having access to the different reciprocal relationships that can be had in nature (from enjoyment to survival).
What is your vision of an ideal outdoor?
My ideal outdoors honors ancestral ways of being (look up: Original Instructions). It is one where nature is not extracted for monetization but rather treated as a relative, and we all get to show our gratitude for what she provides. It is one where every being is valued for existing.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space is important because our community will see someone that looks like them and speaks the same language, which can provide a way to build connection, trust and communication. Kids and families will see themselves represented in areas that traditionally have been underrepresented. Also, Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space has a cultural understanding of barriers, needs, and desires that the Hispanic community has experienced. This creates a stronger community that is more aware of different opportunities that exist to engage in outdoor activities.
Furthermore, we can all create a space where access to the outdoors, its activities, and connection to nature is diverse, equitable, and everyone feels included. Inspiring Hispanic leadership is key to continue to educate, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
Growing up in Costa Rica, I had multiple opportunities to have a strong connection with nature, from plants, to fruits, to insects, to birds, to weather, to mountains, to the rainforest, to the river, to the ocean. I understood how important nature and the outdoors are for all of us. It is the perfect medicine! The enjoyment of connecting with nature and the outdoors and never-ending opportunities and activities to have different adventures has always inspired me to share this with others. The National Park Services in Costa Rica and USA have a lot to do with this. I wanted to share my love for the outdoors and experiences with others.
Collective impact involves the collaboration of partners and stakeholders. What is your role at Thrive? Tell me about your organization.
My main roles in Thrive are to connect underserved youth and families with meaningful outdoor experiences, and to share strategies and collaborate with other communities through this collective program.
I am the community engagement director for Thorne Nature Experience and the Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN) collective for the cities of Lafayette, Boulder, and Longmont. NKJN is a 5-year, $10 million collective impact project designed to connect underserved youth in Lafayette, Boulder, and Longmont to nature and outdoor activities through several programs. These programs are for pre-k to high school and backyard to backcountry, family integrated programming, including career training and paid employment. Additionally, we have capital construction projects to ensure all Lafayette youth live within a safe 10-minute walk of a nature space.
What is your vision of an ideal outdoor?
A place where we all can enjoy equitable access to our national parks, open space, and lands. An inclusive setting that bridges cultural gaps, fosters community and is welcoming to all. There is access, education and knowledge of all the benefits that living an outdoor lifestyle can offer.
This inspires young people and their families to want to explore and connect to nature and a space that breaks barriers for our Hispanic communities to be able to value and foster a deep respect for the land, a sense of stewardship and belonging. Additionally, it is an opportunity to reconnect Latinos in the preservation of our cultural heritage, and builds a future where more people like me can consider careers and life paths in the area of the outdoors in addition to using it recreationally to pass this appreciation of nature to generations to come.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
To foster a more inclusive and sustainable future for future Latino generations.
They are important for Latinos because they help our communities enjoy the benefits of nature, when many communities of color today live in spaces with few or no parks and green spaces.
What brought you to the outdoors?
I read an article during the Pandemic stating that people of color are between 67% and 74% more likely to live in an area defined as “nature deprived,” which are areas where a high proportion of the natural area has been lost to human development.
I looked at my surroundings – I was surrounded by mountains, yet I knew that I could not access these mountains and their outdoor activities without paying a high cost. So, I decided to look for a volunteer job that, as a single mother, would give me the opportunity to find resources to enroll my children in activities with an organization that would look at us as people of color and give us the same opportunities that I saw white children being immersed in. I found Thorne and, through the Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN) department, I immersed myself in this. My first thought was that if my children at a young age were not exposed to “green” areas, why would they later want to pursue a career focused on nature or conserve and love nature and care for our environment?
Collective impact involves the collaboration of partners and stakeholders. What is your role at Thrive? Tell me about your organization.
There is nothing like promoting collaborative cooperation to reach a more participatory, involved, and committed society. At NKJN, through the central organization Thorne Nature Experience, we have more than 20 partners. If there is something that nature can teach us, it is precisely that we need to work together for a common good.
Nature owes its proper functioning to the committed participation of all the elements that participate in the ecosystem; these elements are our partners. Our NKJN department, through Thorne, has significantly impacted people who historically did not have access to nature or could not walk freely in our city. We have changed and impacted entire lives of children, young people, men, and women.
Collective impact involves the collaboration of partners and stakeholders. What is your role at Thrive? Tell me about your organization.
There is nothing like promoting collaborative cooperation to reach a more participatory, involved, and committed society. At NKJN, through the central organization Thorne Nature Experience, we have more than 20 partners. If there is something that nature can teach us, it is precisely that we need to work together for a common good. Nature owes its proper functioning to the committed participation of all the elements that participate in the ecosystem; these elements are our partners. Our NKJN department, through Thorne, has significantly impacted people who historically did not have access to nature or could not walk freely in our city. We have changed and impacted entire lives of children, young people, men, and women.
What is your vision of an ideal exterior?
Have a Nature for All, without masks, without barriers…for ALL, where men and women, white people, people of color, biodiverse people, etc., regardless of their biological condition, must have a harmonious relationship with it. Likewise, the distribution of and access to its resources and benefits, and the impacts of their deterioration, must also be fair.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
The short answer is because Latinidad is part of the American experience. Our diversity is part of the whole and leadership comes with the responsibility to our respective communities along with the communal tapestry. We’re part of the vibrant social diversity that contributes to the wellbeing of the whole just like biodiversity is critical for the health of the ecological landscape. And the reality is that the demographics of 2050 are going to be different than 1950, and leadership should reflect that as well.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
There’s both a simple answer and a much longer sinuous one. The simple one is that I got hooked on the outdoors and was curious about “where are there others like me?” The more sinuous route is like a braided river, with a watershed of experiences that included growing up in rural Mexico and the Central Valley of California with very different yet connected outdoor experiences. And as I navigated my own cultural wayfinding (becoming “Latino” arriving to the U.S) I found that the outdoors provided an opportunity to navigate that self of identity as well.
How does outdoor equity look for the Latinx community?
When I started the work, we would say something like “to not leave our cultura at the trailhead.” Meaning that suddenly we would have to be different because we’re outdoors, we’re not “wearing the right thing, eating the right thing, connecting to the landscape in the right way, and so on.” And that is still true.
But I also didn’t want our community to just be objects of programming– I wanted us to be reflected in the leadership and decision-making of the space. To be both the recipients and the contributors to incorporate and account for equity in order to attain the equality we strive for in our society– to do this in policy, public funding, elected leadership, and so on. And that the outdoors is as dynamic as our code-switching Spanglish and evolving cultural identities because we’re a part of it.
What is your vision of an ideal outdoors?
I want to say the outdoors is already ideal. But the reality is that on one side it’s a social construct of ours and so we get to be active in what it is and what it means (like “stoke”). On the other side, the land does not exist independently of us– it is impacted by our decisions, from climate change down to what is considered “protected” and in what form and why. Lines on the map have consequences, along with the “people decisions” that is policy. So, I want to say that my vision for an ideal outdoors is one that is supported and co-created by a diverse thriving society as diverse and thriving as the land itself. Pa delante, siempre pa delate.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
Latino leadership is so critical because it exemplifies that we have always had a connection to nature, stewardship of the land, and understanding of the reciprocity and health benefits of communing and spending time outdoors.
The Latino population and influence in the United States only continues to grow, thus, our leadership now is so important to set the foundation for nature and outdoor infrastructure, policies, and planning to be inclusive, culturally relevant, and reflect the diversity that exists within Latino communities across the country.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
I’m not sure there was one specific moment that brought me into the outdoors space, but rather a life-long passion for giving back to my community, honoring my family and culture’s connection to nature, and utilizing my skills and expertise to drive systemic change for future generations. There are small moments that have stayed with me during this journey, such as gathering pecans in our front yard with my abuela when I was little, riding bikes with my brothers until the streetlights came on, learning to mountaineer and rock climb as an adult, and deciding to pursue a graduate degree in environmental planning. All of these have had a cumulative effect and shed light on the non-linear approach our field must understand and take when seeking to engage communities that have historically been excluded from the enjoyment and protection of nature and the outdoors.
How does outdoor equity look for the Latino community?
Just as geographies and sociopolitical landscapes across the U.S. are diverse, so too are Latino communities across the country. Our communities are ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse with unique opportunities and challenges to access and enjoy the outdoors. In my opinion, outdoor equity is a journey rather than an outcome and truly takes into consideration the local and cultural considerations of each community. Long term engagement, iterative feedback, investment in local leadership and outdoor infrastructure, and consistently showing up are but a few examples of outdoor equity for the Latino community.
What is your vision of an ideal outdoors?
My vision of an ideal outdoors is one where all communities have access to enjoy and protect natural spaces, with enjoyment linked to non-extractive economic and community benefits from outdoor recreation. It’s a place where everyone feels welcome, safe, and represented, with diverse cultures and histories acknowledged and celebrated, and where all forms of enjoying nature are valued.
Why is Hispanic leadership in the outdoor space important?
Our Outdoor Participation Report reveals that Latinos and other people of color are less likely to spend time in the outdoors for many reasons. We know people feel welcome in spaces where they see others like themselves, so seeing other Latinos active in the outdoors – biking, hiking, climbing, and paddling, for example – as well as actively expanding access for others can help create a sense of belonging for all in the outdoors.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
I’m fortunate that time outside was important to both of my parents. My mom, having grown up in East Los Angeles, didn’t experience the wilderness until she met my dad, but then she realized how much she thrives in the outdoors. So, ever since I was very young, our family vacations consisted of either backpacking or camping. Knowing how nourishing outdoor time is for me, I’ve dedicated my volunteer time to expanding outdoor access for more people, particularly those from communities who face barriers – whether because of transportation, equipment costs, and/or just feeling they don’t belong in these settings.
What excites you about the Outdoor Foundation and serving as Board Chair?
I’m excited by what is possible when communities come together to leverage their local resources and programs to ensure more children and youth get to spend quality time outdoors. We see how creative approaches – from Boulder’s whole family-integrated programming to Chicago’s Gear and Supplies Fund – can make time outdoors possible for more young people, improve their physical and mental health, and inspire them. I appreciate that partnerships – with local communities, the outdoor industry, and other stakeholders – are at the core of the Outdoor Foundation’s work.
What is your vision of an ideal outdoors?
It’s a place where people of all backgrounds feel completely welcome and are able to enjoy the peace and replenishment we get from nature. Ideally, too, people understand the importance of caring for natural places so they can be sustained for generations to come.
Este Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, estamos celebrando líderes de la comunidad hispana que contribuyen a la misión de Outdoor Foundation Thrive Outside. Estos individuos continúan a formar espacios al aire libre que son inclusivos, equitativos y diversos. Lea nuestras entrevistas con estos líderes a continuación.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
Como todas las iniciativas de diversidad, el liderazgo hispano y la participación en espacios al aire libre hace que estos lugares sean mejores. Nuestro patrimonio es parte del tejido de nuestra sociedad y así debe ser incluido, representado y celebrado en todas las áreas de nuestras vidas. También, es un recordatorio esencial que siempre hemos sido parte de estos espacios porque la naturaleza siempre ha sido parte de nosotros, para sustento, trabajo y ocio. Nuestras culturas siempre han sido en relación con la naturaleza a través de y a pesar de colonización.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
La respuesta corta es mi familia. Yo estaba muy privilegiada a crecer entre cazadores y pescadores. Pero al final, lo que me llevó a una carrera con conneccion al aire libre es la relación que formé con la naturaleza a lo largo del camino. Viendo la naturaleza desaparecer alrededor de mí o siendo extraída o destruida, inicio una pasión e una responsabilidad en mí. No pude estar sentada, viendo como sucede todo. Cuidar de nuestro planeta no debe ser una pregunta. Debe ser una norma para todos, y espero que puedo inspirar a la gente a perseguir sus propias relaciones con la naturaleza para que todos puedan cuidar de nuestra casa compartida. Por un lado más brillante, estar en la naturaleza me da esperanza y propósito. Me hace sonreír y me muestra lo que soy capaz de hacer mas allá de las maneras coloniales o capitalistas. Cuando estoy en la naturaleza, me siento valorada simplemente por existir.
¿Cómo se ve la equidad de acceso al aire libre para la comunidad latina?
Se ve como cada niño y adulto tienen la oportunidad de crear recuerdos significativos en la naturaleza, sentirse seguro y bienvenido al estar afuera. Tener acceso al equipo que hace las aventuras afuera mas accesibles y mejor. Y tener acceso a diferentes relaciones recíprocas que se puedan tener en la naturaleza (desde el placer hasta la supervivencia).
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Mi espacio al aire libre ideal honora las maneras ancestrales de existir. Es un lugar donde la naturaleza no sea extraída por dinero, pero tratada como un pariente, y donde todos pueden mostrar gratitud por lo que ella nos proporciona. Es un espacio donde cada ser es valorado por existir.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
Liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre es importante para que nuestra comunidad puedan ver alguien que se parece a ellos y habla el mismo idioma, lo que puede proporcionar una manera de formar conexión, confianza y comunicación. Niños y familias se verán representados en áreas que tradicionalmente han sido subrepresentadas. También, líderes hispanos en espacios al aire libre tienen un entendimiento de barreras, necesidades y deseos que la comunidad hispana ha experimentado. Esto crea una comunidad más fuerte que sea más consciente de las diferentes oportunidades que existen para participar en actividades al aire libre. Además, podemos crear un espacio donde el acceso a actividades al aire libre y conexión a la naturaleza es diverso, equitativo, y donde todos se sientan incluidos. Inspirando liderazgo hispano es esencial para continuar de educar, conectar y activar comunidades latinas a participar en actividades al aire libre.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
Creciendo en Costa Rica, tuve varias oportunidades para tener una conexión fuerte con la naturaleza, desde plantas, hasta frutas, los insectos, los pájaros, el clima, las montañas, la selva tropical, a los ríos, a los océanos. Yo entendí la importancia de la naturaleza y del aire libre para todos nosotros. ¡Es la medicina perfecta! El disfrute de conectar con la naturaleza y el aire libre e interminable oportunidades de tener diferentes aventuras siempre me inspiró a compartir esto con otros. Los Servicios de Parques Nacionales en Costa Rica y Los Estados Unidos tienen mucho que ver con esto. Yo quería compartir mi amor para el aire libre y experiencias con los demás.
El impacto colectivo implica colaboración entre socios. ¿Cuál es tu papel en Thrive Outside? Cuéntame sobre tu organización.
Mis responsabilidades principales en Thrive son para conectar jóvenes desfavorecidos y familias con experiencias al aire libre memorables y para compartir estrategias y colaborar con otras comunidades dentro de este programa colectivo.
Soy el director de participación comunitaria para Thorne Nature Experience y el Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN) colectivo para las ciudades de Lafayette, Boulder, y Longmont. NKJN es un proyecto de impacto colectivo de 5 años y de 10 millones de dólares diseñado para conectar a los jóvenes desfavorecidos de Lafayette, Boulder, y Longmont con la naturaleza y las actividades al aire libre. Estos programas son para pre-escolar hasta la escuela secundaria y desde el patio de la casa hasta las montanas, integrado para toda la familia. Tienen oportunidades para capacitación profesional y empleo remunerado. Además, tenemos unos proyectos de construcción para garantizar que todos los jóvenes de Lafayette viven dentro de un camino seguro a diez minutos para llegar a un espacio natural.
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Es un lugar donde todos puedan disfrutar acceso equitativo a nuestros parques nacionales y espacios al aire libre. Un ambiente inclusivo que une las brechas culturales, fomenta la comunidad, y que sea acogedor para todos. Hay educación y conocimiento sobre todos los beneficios de una forma de vivir conectada al aire libre se pueda dar. Este espacio puede inspirar los jóvenes y sus familias a explorar y conectar con la naturaleza. Puede ser un lugar que rompe las barreras, para nuestras comunidades hispanas a valuar y respectar la tierra, un sentido de pertenencia. Además, es una oportunidad para que la comunidad Latina puede reconectar en la preservación de nuestra herencia cultural y que genera un futuro donde más gente como yo puede considerar carreras y caminos en la vida en el área del aire libre, igual como usar lo recreativamente para pasar esta apreciación de la naturaleza a generaciones venideras.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
Para generar un futuro más inclusivo y sostenible para generaciones latinas venideras.
Estos líderes son importantes para latinos porque ayudan a nuestras comunidades a disfrutar los beneficios de la naturaleza, en un ambiente en que muchas comunidades de color viven en espacios con pocos o cero parques y espacios verdes.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
Durante la pandemia, leí un artículo que decía que gente de color son entre 67% y 74% más probable a vivir en un área que se define como “privado de la naturaleza,” que son áreas donde una alta proporción del espacio natural ha sido perdido por causa del desarrollo humano. Miré a mi alrededor, estaba rodeada de montañas, pero sabía que no podría llegar a estas montañas y sus actividades al aire libre sin pagar un costo alto. Entonces, decidí buscar un trabajo voluntario que, como madre soltera, puede darme la oportunidad a encontrar recursos para matricular a mis hijos en actividades con una organización que nos miraría como gente de color y nos daría las mismas oportunidades como los otros. Encontré Thorne, a través del departamento de Nature Kids/ Jóvenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN), me sumergí en este trabajo. Mi primer pensamiento fue si mis niños, desde pocos años, no eran expuestos a espacios verdes. ¿Cómo van a seguir una carrera enfocada en la naturaleza? ¿Cómo van a conservar y amar la naturaleza y cuidar de nuestro medio ambiente?
El impacto colectivo implica colaboración entre socios. ¿Cuál es tu papel en Thrive Outside? Cuéntame sobre tu organización.
No hay nada como promover la cooperación y colaboración para alcanzar a una sociedad más participativa, involucrada y comprometida. En NKJN, a través de la organización central Thorne Nature Experience, tenemos más de 20 socios. Si hay algo que la naturaleza nos puede enseñar, es que nosotros necesitamos trabajar juntos para el bien común. La naturaleza funciona de una forma correcta cuando todos los elementos participan en el ecosistema. Estos elementos son nuestros socios. Nuestro departamento NKJN, a través de Thorne, tiene impactado gente que históricamente no tenían acceso a la naturaleza o que no podían caminar con libertad en nuestra ciudad. Nosotros hemos cambiado e impactado vidas de niños, jóvenes, hombres, y mujeres.
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Tener una Naturaleza para Todos, sin máscaras, sin barreras…para TODOS, donde hombres y mujeres, gente blanca, gente de color, gente biodiversa, etc., independientemente de su condición biológico, pueden tener una relación armoniosa con la naturaleza. De la misma manera, la distribución y acceso a sus recursos y beneficios, y el impacto de su deterioro, debe ser justo también.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
La respuesta corta es que la “Latinidad” es parte de la experiencia Americana. Nuestra diversidad es parte de todo y el liderazgo viene con la responsabilidad a nuestras propias comunidades junto con el tapiz comunal. Somos parte de la vibrante diversidad social que contribuye al bienestar del todo, así como la biodiversidad es fundamental para la salud del paisaje ecológico. Y la realidad es que la demografía de 2050 va a ser muy diferente a la de 1950, y el liderazgo debe reflexionar esto también.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
Hay una respuesta sencilla y una mucha más larga y sinuosa. La respuesta sencilla es que me enganché al aire libre y estaba curioso sobre, “¿Dónde están otros como yo?” La ruta más sinuosa es como un río trenzado, con unas experiencias fundamentales que incluyen mi niñez en México rural y en el Valle Central de California con unas experiencias al aire libre muy diferentes pero conectadas. Y mientras que yo navegaba mi propia orientación cultural (volverse “latino” llegando a los EE. UU.), encontré que espacios al aire libre me proporcionó una oportunidad para navegar esta parte de mi identidad también.
¿Cómo te parece el acceso equitativo al aire libre para la comunidad latina?
Cuando comencé este trabajo, nosotros diríamos algo como, “No dejes nuestra cultura al comienzo del sendero.” Lo que significa que de repente tendríamos que ser diferentes, porque estamos en el aire libre. No tenemos la ropa adecuada, no tenemos la comida correcta, o no nos conectamos con el paisaje en una manera adecuada, y demás. Y eso sigue siendo cierto. Pero no quería que nuestra comunidad sea objetos de programación, quería que fuéramos reflexionados en el liderazgo del espacio. Para ser los recipientes y contribuyentes para incorporar y dar cuenta de la equidad para la igualdad por la que luchamos y hacer esto en la política, financiación pública, con líderes electas, y demás. Y que el aire libre sea tan dinámico como nuestro cambio de código Spanglish y cultura evolucionando porque somos parte de ella.
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Quiero decir que el aire libre ya es ideal. Pero la realidad es que por un lado es una construcción social de nosotros, así tenemos la oportunidad para participar en lo que es y lo que significa. Por el otro lado, la tierra no existe independiente de nosotros. Ella es impactada por nuestras decisiones, desde el cambio climático hasta lo que es considerado “protegido” y en qué forma y por qué. Líneas en el mapa tienen consecuencias, junto con las decisiones de la gente que en el área de política. Así, quiero decir que mi visión para un aire libre ideal es un lugar que sea apoyado y cocreado por una sociedad diversa y próspera como la tierra misma. “Pa delante, siempre pa delate”.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
Liderazgo latino es tan importante porque lo ejemplifica que siempre habíamos tenido una conexión a la naturaleza, administración de la tierra, y conocimiento de la reciprocidad y los beneficios a la salud que reuniendo y pasando tiempo al aire libre pueda dar. La población latina y su influencia en los Estados Unidos solo continua a crecer, y así, nuestro liderazgo ahora es tan importante para establecer la fundación de infraestructura, política, y planeamiento para ser inclusivo, relevante culturalmente, y para reflejar la diversidad que existe adentro de las comunidades latinas a través del país.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
No estoy seguro si había un momento específico que me llevó a trabajar en esta área, sino más bien una pasión de toda la vida por retribuir a mi comunidad, honrando la conexión de mi familia y mi cultura con la naturaleza, y utilizando mis conocimientos y experiencias para generar cambio sistemático para las generaciones futuras. Hay pequeños momentos que se han quedado conmigo durante este camino, como recolectar nueces en nuestro patio delantero cuando era niña, montando bicicletas con mis hermanos desde que las luces de la calle se encendieron, aprendiendo a hacer montañismo y escalada en rocas siendo adulto, y decidiendo a obtener un título de posgrado en planificación ambiental. Todas de estas experiencias han tenido un impacto acumulativo y clarifican el enfoque no lineal que nuestra área de trabajo debe comprender y seguir mientras que estamos involucrando a las comunidades que han sido históricamente excluidas del disfrute y protección que ofrece la naturaleza y el aire libre.
¿Cómo te parece acceso equitativo al aire libre para la comunidad latina?
Como la geografía y el paisaje sociopolítico a través del Estados Unidos son diversos, así también son las comunidades latinas a través del país. Nuestras comunidades son étnicamente, lingüísticamente y socioeconómicamente diversas con oportunidades únicas y desafíos para el acceso al aire libre. En mi opinión, el acceso equitativo al aire libre es un proceso más que un resultado y realmente se debe tomar encuenta las consideraciones locales y culturales de cada comunidad. Participación a largo plazo, solicitación de perspectivas, inversión en liderazgo local y infraestructura al aire libre, y asistir a eventos constantemente son solo algunos ejemplos de cómo generar acceso equitativo para la comunidad latina.
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Mi visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal es un lugar donde todas las comunidades tienen acceso para disfrutar y proteger la naturaleza, con el disfrute comunitario conectado a actividades económicas no extractivas al aire libre. Es un lugar donde todos sienten acogidos, seguros, y representados, con diversas culturas e historias reconocidas y celebradas, donde todas las formas de disfrutar la naturaleza son valoradas.
¿Por qué es importante el liderazgo hispano en los espacios al aire libre?
Nuestro Informe de Participación al Aire Libre revela que latinos y otra gente de color tienen menos probabilidades a pasar tiempo al aire libre por varias razones. Sabemos que la gente siente acogedora en espacios donde pueden ver otros como ellos. Entonces, viendo otros latinos participando en actividades al aire libre, como ciclismo, senderismo, o escalada de roca, por ejemplo, así como ampliando el acceso para otros, puede ayudar a crear un sentido de pertenencia para todos en el aire libre.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar en el área de acceso equitativo al aire libre?
Soy afortunada que tiempo al aire libre fue importante para mis padres. Mi madre, como creció en el Este de Los Ángeles, no experimentó las actividades al aire libre hasta que conoció mi padre, pero entonces se dio cuenta de lo mucho que prospera al aire libre. Así que, desde que tuve pocos años, nuestras vacaciones familiares siempre consistieron en viajes con mochila o ir a campar. Sabiendo los enriquecedor que es para mí el tiempo al aire libre, me he dedicado mi tiempo como voluntario a expandir el acceso al aire libre para más gente, particularmente los que vienen de comunidades que se enfrenten barreras, ya sea por el transporte, costos de equipamiento, o el sentimiento que no se pertenece a esos espacios.
¿Qué es lo que le entusiasma de la Outdoor Foundation y de su rol como presidente de la Junta Directiva?
Estoy emocionada por lo que es posible cuando las comunidades se juntaron para aprovechar sus recursos locales y programas para asegurar que más niños y jóvenes pueden pasar tiempo de calidad al aire libre. Vemos cómo iniciativas creativas, desde la programación integrada para toda la familia de Boulder hasta el Fondo de Equipos y Suministros de Chicago, puede hacer posible tiempo al aire libre para más jóvenes, como mejora su salud mental y físico, y los inspirar a ellos. Agradezco que asociaciones con comunidades locales, la industria del aire libre, y otras partes interesadas son el núcleo del trabajo del Outdoor Foundation.
¿Cuál es tú visión de un espacio al aire libre ideal?
Es un lugar donde gente de todas las identidades se sienten completamente bienvenidas y pueden disfrutar la paz y la reposición que trae la naturaleza. Idealmente, también, la gente puede entender la importancia de cuidar de la naturaleza para que estos lugares pueden ser sostenidos para futuras.
In today’s competitive outdoor industry, brands need to make data-driven decisions to stay ahead. Benchmarking is a powerful tool that allows you to measure your brand’s performance against your competitors and industry standards, uncovering opportunities for growth and profitability. Here’s how benchmarking can help your outdoor brand blaze new trails to success:
1. Optimize Financial Performance
Benchmarking provides a clear picture of your brand’s financial health by comparing key financial ratios and indicators. By analyzing metrics like revenue growth, profit margins, and inventory turnover, you can identify areas where your brand excels and where improvements are needed. For example, understanding how your profit margins compare to industry leaders can highlight pricing strategies or cost management practices that could be adopted or refined. Similarly, tracking inventory turnover rates against top performers helps ensure that your capital isn’t tied up in excess stock, boosting cash flow and profitability.
2. Streamline Business Operations
Your brand’s operational efficiency is critical to sustaining growth. Benchmarking allows you to assess core business operations, focusing on metrics such as SKU count, sales channel mix, marketing mix and ROI, sourcing mix, number of employees, and sales per employee. By comparing these metrics with industry averages or top performers, you can identify inefficiencies or areas for optimization. For instance, understanding the right balance in your sales channel mix or the effectiveness of your marketing spend can lead to better allocation of resources, improved customer reach, and ultimately, higher sales.
3. Implement Actionable Best Practices
Benchmarking goes beyond identifying gaps; it can often unlock actionable strategies for your brand’s specific needs. For outdoor brands, this could mean adopting best practices for revenue and gross margin optimization, asset management, or payroll control. These practices help you streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance profitability. For example, if your payroll expenses are higher than industry norms, benchmarking can guide you in implementing more efficient workforce management practices, or if your gross margin is below average, it might suggest pricing adjustments or cost-cutting measures that align with industry standards.
4. Gain Targeted Insights
Not all outdoor brands are alike. Segmenting by company size and product line allows you to pinpoint opportunities within your specific market segment, whether you’re a niche specialty brand like OIA member Gossamer Gear or a large, diversified outdoor company like The North Face. By comparing your performance to similar-sized companies or those with a similar product mix, you can identify the best strategies for your unique circumstances, ensuring that your growth efforts are both targeted and effective.
5. Catalyze Continuous Improvement
Benchmarking is not a one-time exercise but a continuous process that drives ongoing improvement. By regularly measuring your brand’s performance against industry benchmarks, you can stay ahead of trends, anticipate challenges, and adjust your strategies proactively. This ongoing evaluation ensures that your outdoor brand remains competitive, agile, and poised for long-term growth.
Ready to incorporate benchmarking into your business strategy? OIA makes it easy. Our new 2024 Outdoor Brand Benchmarking Report provides decision-makers access to exclusive industry benchmarks across all major business functions so that you can make informed decisions and lead your outdoor brand to success. Learn more and gain access to the data and insights today.
Clean energy is best achieved by collective action. And that’s exactly what REI, Burton, and NEMO Equipment set out to do through OIA’s Vietnam Renewable Energy Impact CoLab. In collaboration with Allotrope Partners, these brands ideated sustainable solutions and accelerated their transition to cleaner energy. Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub for many OIA members, but its carbon-intensive electricity grid means it is a large source of greenhouse gas emissions. Vietnam’s growing clean energy market has opened the door for financially attractive on-site rooftop solar projects and off-site renewable energy procurement. However, COVID-related supply chain disruptions and evolving regulations have posed significant challenges in the Vietnam renewable energy market. These challenges inspired OIA to launch the Vietnam Renewable Energy CoLab to support members in navigating the challenging renewable energy landscape together. By bringing members together through the CoLab, members and their suppliers could collaborate on shared solutions to more effectively transition to renewable energy.
“NEMO was excited to partner with Burton, REI, OIA, and Allotrope on the Vietnam Renewable Energy CoLab. NEMO has set a target to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 50% by 2030. So far, we’ve achieved a 36% reduction in emissions intensity per product, but to reach our goals, we need to partner with our supply chain. This CoLab is an example of collective action helping to accelerate emissions reductions,” Theresa McKenney, Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs, NEMO Equipment.
OIA’s Impact CoLabs are collaborative, pre-competitive, emissions reduction initiatives led by OIA and service providers to help members meet their sustainability goals in less time and with less cost by working together. The Vietnam Renewable Energy CoLab focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future by supporting suppliers with rooftop solar evaluations. The Impact CoLab enabled REI, Burton and NEMO to work collaboratively with suppliers to install 3.5 MW of power across five supplier facilities in Vietnam.
“In order to achieve REI’s goal of more than halving emissions by 2030, we have to do a great deal of work with partners—from our manufacturing facilities to retailed brands. The CoLab presented an opportunity to engage deeply in that shared work. Our suppliers were able to gain a clear understanding of the “what”, “how” and “why” of procuring rooftop solar electricity in Vietnam”, said Evan Scandling, Supply Chain Decarbonization Lead, REI.
The Vietnam Renewable Energy CoLab included five industry suppliers that joined together in an RFP that produced bids for five on-site rooftop systems totaling 3.5 MW, with power purchase agreement (PPA) prices ranging from 8-20% below the buyers’ current electricity rates and covering between 25-35% of the facilities’ electricity needs. Over the life of this project, market conditions have continued to evolve, with government approvals of operating and construction permits emerging as a challenge, along with buyer concerns over their ability to prioritize clean energy procurement during tough financial times. As the supplier facilities continue to work toward clean energy solutions, these proposals serve as a starting point and guidepost for what’s possible.
Michelle Murphy Rogers, Senior Director of Allotrope’s Clean Energy Advisory Practice notes, “The OIA CoLab process offers an amazing opportunity to explore innovations on renewable energy procurement in a low-risk environment. This project incorporated time and cost-saving approaches to engage project developers and evaluate proposals that can be used in future procurements. Current market challenges in Vietnam underscore the need to work together to pursue new innovations like engaging buyers and developers to pair on-site solar with battery energy storage solutions to maximize system sizes and enhance reliability.”
“Allotrope was a great partner throughout the project. They worked directly with our supplier to review the process, clearly laid out the evaluation of proposals, and worked hard to overcome challenges in a highly complex regulatory environment. We gleaned valuable learnings from the process”, said Emily Foster, Director of People & Planet Impact at Burton.
Climate change is one of, if not the most, crucial issues the outdoor industry faces today. If there is not a thriving environment to recreate in, outdoor businesses do not have a future. Collaboration is necessary to significantly reduce climate impacts in the outdoor industry; the problem is too large for individual companies to solve on their own. Companies must work together to decarbonize the global supply chain, and OIA provides an avenue with a clear path to do just that. OIA’s Impact CoLabs are collaborative, pre-competitive, emissions reduction initiatives led by OIA and service providers to help members meet their sustainability goals in less time and with less cost by working together. Through OIA’s six Impact CoLabs, 19 OIA members have invested in collaborative emissions reduction projects across their supply chains – working collectively to maximize impact and protect our planet.
“OIA recognizes that tackling climate action goals and reducing emissions can be a daunting journey for individual member companies. However, we also recognize the power of collective action. If we collaborate, we can move faster and realize significant emissions reductions. Through collaborations such as the Vietnam Renewable Energy CoLab, OIA supports members in making lasting impacts across their supply chains”, said Breana Nehls, OIA Sustainable Business Innovation Manager. “Together, we can be a force for sustainable growth.”
Sustainability has been central to OIA’s mission since 2007, when the first sustainability working group launched. Since then, our sustainability programming has continued to grow, fostering a culture of collaboration where members take the reins, determine the agenda, invest personally, and encourage partnership without succumbing to competitive barriers.
Last week at our OIA Sustainability All-Member Webinar, we unveiled several exciting new opportunities for all members to connect and collaborate with peers grappling with similar challenges. Through these collaboration opportunities, we can join hands and address the complexities of chemicals and climate together.
CAC Goal
Take bold, collective action against climate change by reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions across the outdoor industry, carving a bold new path for others to follow.
Why the change? CAC’s old goal was to “Become the world’s first climate positive industry by 2030, setting a bold example for others around the world to follow.” While we still stand by this goal in spirit, the sustainability landscape is rapidly evolving. The term “climate positive” is no longer widely used and, in some cases, is even prohibited under certain rules and regulations concerning sustainability claims. Our updated goal reflects the evolving sustainability landscape, the need to align with science, and the focus on greenhouse gas reduction in order to prevent catastrophic climate change.
CCMC Goal
Blaze the trail in the innovation and adoption of safer chemicals that deliver functional, durable, and trustworthy materials and products to our customers.
CCMC is approaching its one-year birthday. Chemical regulations continue to progress at a rapid and disjointed rate. However, our members are now more prepared than ever to comply thanks to CCMC’s community and expertise. This goal represents all of the progress that CCMC has made in the past year, and the coalition’s future aspirations for safer chemistry in the industry.
New Program Requirements
For both CAC and CCMC, we aspire to offer our members:
We hope that through these two programs, our members will:
As we move towards our sustainability goals, we must move together, as an industry. It’s in this spirit that OIA is launching more collaboration opportunities for our members to investigate challenges, implement solutions, and progress the industry.
OIA Impact CoLabs: Pre-Competitive
Existing CoLabs (not recruiting):
New CoLab (recruiting):
OIA Task Forces
Task Forces are member-led and member-driven teams dedicated to addressing specific challenges and producing specific deliverables within a set period of time. Here are the task forces OIA is currently offering members:
To learn more about OIA Sustainability, visit our OIA webpage, or reach out to sustainability@outdoorindustry.org.
Join our webinar with EU policy and textile industry experts for an overview of the most critical policy files that will impact the textile and fashion industry in the next years.
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Live Date: May 14, 2024
Move equity in the outdoors forward and learn actionable ways to align your business strategy to inclusive growth. In this edition of OIA’s Capitol Summit Series, we dive into the challenges and solutions surrounding equitable outdoor recreation access, from policy solutions to grassroots advocacy and action. Hear from leaders in the outdoor industry and community advocates to learn what outdoor equity looks like from grassroots to grasstops. Whether you’re interested in federal advocacy or motivated to act locally, you’ll leave this session with tools to come together and catalyze meaningful change.
Webinar date: May 7, 2024
Watch our webinar recording and learn how to advocate for the long-term health of the outdoors, outdoor participants, and your company’s bottom line. Industry policy experts share in-depth exploration of the policy landscape, why it’s relevant to your business, and how you can drive change at scale. From conservation and public lands management to sustainability initiatives and equitable access, we explore the key policy areas that impact our industry. Watch our webinar to feel empowered and ready to raise your voice.
This Black History Month, we’re recognizing and celebrating Black leaders within the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside network. These individuals are not only shaping the landscape of outdoor leadership but are also reshaping our collective perception of who belongs in the outdoors. Follow along as we interview leaders from across the nationwide network and spotlight their voices throughout the month!
Thrive Outside Washington D.C. Director
Why is Black leadership in the outdoors important?
Black leadership is essential in outdoor spaces because conservation goals have colonized the outdoor narrative. Our representation and diverse perspectives are essential in bringing back our stories into the narrative, both in the world and in Black communities. We have deep roots in agricultural heritage and innate connections to nature, and traditional knowledge and practices in the outdoors. At one point, skills such as hunting, fishing, foraging, sky reading, and herbalism were passed down through generations, providing sustenance and cultural significance. It is imperative that we model these practices to newer generations to restore them back into the values, habits, and traditions of black communities.
What brought you to the outdoors?
My father initially. He was raised in the South and loved to camp, fish, and bike. Quite naturally, I carried those values into my adulthood. However, the vision of Marta Cruz Kelly, Reginald “Flip” Hagood, and Destry Jarvis (all titans in the National Park Service in the 80’s and 90’s) called me into the movement. In 1991 they created the Career Conservation Development Program to expose women and people of color to careers in conservation. I was studying Communications at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore but was attracted to the opportunity of a summer job. Little did I know it would lead me to my life’s work.
Collective impact involves partners and stakeholders collaborating. What’s your role in Thrive Outside?
I direct the Thrive Outside DC initiative. I get to weave together a network of diverse, dynamic partners in Washington, DC, to address barriers to getting youth and families outdoors. The thing is, we have plenty of parks and green spaces within walking distance in DC; our access issues here are around safety and the awareness of the mental, physical, and social benefits outdoor spaces provide to economically stressed communities. I mainly do this work under The Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative (APACC), a network of community leaders and organizations working together to make the Anacostia River and its park system the best possible resource for Ward 7 and 8 residents in the District of Columbia.
What’s your vision for the outdoors?
My ideal vision for the outdoors includes transforming parks into clinics and healing spaces, serving as cultural centers for family-based fellowship and healing for communities that have experienced trauma.
The River City Foundation Director of Community Engagement, Thrive Outside St. Louis Director
Why is Black leadership in the outdoors important?
I really think representation matters, and it’s important for me to be an active participant in outdoor recreation if I’m going to be an advocate in this space. Also, the relationships that are made with our youth are often stronger as they learn new skills and conquer new challenges.
What brought you to the outdoors?
I grew up in a very rural white community, but I’ve always been involved with the outdoors—fishing, hunting, camping, and paddling. With every youth-serving position that I have worked in, one of the strategies that I used was nature-based programming. The opportunity to introduce youth to the outdoors in a sustainable manner is something that still excites me every single day.
Collective impact involves partners and stakeholders collaborating. What’s your role in Thrive Outside?
I am the Thrive Outside Program Manager and the Director of Community Engagement, so everything I do is based on collaborative relationships. Even more importantly, these are twenty-plus-year relationships with agencies, people, and communities. River City Outdoors seeks to positively impact the outdoor community by removing barriers for communities who are often underserved and not even included in conversations regarding their participation in the outdoors.
What’s your vision for the outdoors?
A totally inclusive environment in which all people are welcomed with open arms, and thoughts and experiences are shared. A total cultural shift on who is at the table as we talk about outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Foundation Development and Program Manager
Why is Black leadership in the outdoors important?
Let me start with these two truths:
Black leadership is important because people from the African Diaspora have always been deeply connected to land. For survival, black people in the USA had to have an intimate connection to nature in order to endure the brutality of enslavement. This ranged from fishing, hunting, gardening, creating herbal medicines, and literally navigating to their freedom through knowledge of the stars and land. Thus, Black leadership merely reflects the truth that black people deserve the opportunity to offer our wisdom, guidance, and stories to the outdoor space.
What brought you to the outdoors?
Growing up in Tallahassee, Florida and Houston, TX, I was fishing, going to parks, playing tennis, and having family gatherings outdoors. As I began my mindfulness and yoga journey, my appreciation for nature was further ignited.
Prior to the Outdoor Foundation, I worked at an equine therapy and eco-mindfulness farm right outside of Austin, TX. In this space, I began intentionally connecting with the landscape and vastness within and all around you. Building my own capacity to resource myself and cultivate a nourishing and helpful relationship with nature.
I believe the land and all of its inhabitants are facilitators and wise teachers. The wisdom lies in the presence and awareness of the continuous lessons that nature uncovers. Developing a connection to nature has allowed me to move through the world with clarity, peace, and gratitude.
Collective impact involves partners and stakeholders collaborating. What’s your role in Thrive Outside?
I have the honor to be the Development and Program manager for the Outdoor Foundation. Therefore, I have the privilege to directly support our 13 Thrive Communities across the country. I serve as the Foundation’s lead contact for current and future Thrive Outside community partners.
Ultimately, I see my role as collective impact in action, and this ranges from:
What’s your vision for the outdoors?
My vision is the integration of nature into everyone’s day to day life. Engaging with the benefits, joy, and liberation of nature is essential for being a human. Ideally, the outdoors will be a space that connects each of us to our internal world and to every being around us. Nature has the powerful ability to connect our inner change to social transformation. Hopefully, we can utilize the grounding and clarifying qualities of the outdoors to create a beautiful future where a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature is actualized!
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance Co-Founder/Executive Director, Atlanta Thrive Outside Director
Why is Black leadership in the outdoor space important?
Black leadership is critical in the outdoor space because time is overdue for Black people to fully connect to the outdoors and to all of the benefits and resources it brings to and provides our communities. Through Black leadership, we can help reclaim this lifeline that belongs to us and that should be positively experienced by all Black children, families, and communities. Especially in the United States, we’ve been disconnected through the legacies of slavery, lynching, and other horrors perpetrated against us in the outdoors. The lands and waters that our people have historically lived off, been stewards of, and possessed vast ecological knowledge about have many times been weaponized against us. To turn that trauma into healing by experiencing the outdoors in all of its beauty, splendor, freedom, opportunities for learning and exploration, and potential to inspire joy and connectedness to a sense of place—it’s our birthright.
What brought you into the outdoor space?
As a daughter of the South—born in Mississippi and living in Louisiana and Kentucky for parts of my adolescence—I’ve always had a connection to the outdoors. Whether it was spending time running around and playing with cousins on my paternal grandparents’ 95-acre farm in the Mississippi Delta, picking plums outside of my maternal Grandmother’s home in small town Central Mississippi, or even walking on the trail through the woods behind my Grandmother’s house to visit her sister nearby, my relationship with the outdoors has always seemed like a natural one. After those early experiences with family, I later joined Girl Scouts and most enjoyed going to Camp Judy Layne in Eastern Kentucky during summer breaks for tent camping and days filled with sunshine, the beauty of the natural landscape, and freedom in the outdoors. In contrast, I later witnessed Louisiana’s natural paradise being dotted with petrochemical plants and pollution that harmed the environment and human health. As an adult living on the Westside of Atlanta, Georgia amidst both beautiful urban forest spaces and near environmental hazards and stressors, all of my previous experiences have brought me into the outdoors, and my leadership is fueled by a passion to preserve, protect, and restore our natural resources for the well-being of my community and future generations.
Collective impact involves partners and stakeholders’ collaborating. What’s your role in Thrive and let me know about your organization?
The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) is the backbone organization of Thrive Outside Atlanta. WAWA has been a member of the Thrive Outside Atlanta Network since its formation in 2019, however we started out as one of the environmental education service providers—one of only two Black-led organizations in the group. As the COVID-19 Pandemic began to subside, WAWA took over the leadership reigns of the network from the Trust for Public Land and has been managing, cultivating, and deepening partnerships with youth environmental education and outdoor recreation providers as well as youth-serving organizations to engage youth from economically disadvantaged communities in nature and the outdoors through exploring both the Chattahoochee River and close-to-home Atlanta parks, trails, and greenspaces. For more than two decades, WAWA has pioneered efforts to advance environmental education, community engagement in watershed and greenspace protection, environmental stewardship, and environmental justice in Northwest and Southwest Atlanta neighborhoods. In part through this work, WAWA has been a leader in ensuring that access to nature and meaningful engagement in environmental education, environmental stewardship, and outdoor recreation are not factors of race, income, or geography, and our innovative, place-based, culturally relevant programs have introduced thousands to the creeks, streams, waterfalls, and abundant greenspaces in West Atlanta neighborhoods.
What is your vision of an ideal outdoor?
My vision of the ideal outdoors is one that is representative of the rich, diverse heritage and cultures of our country. It’s not exclusive to any one group, and it is accessible to all who will journey to know and experience it. It is one that honors the original inhabitants of the land as well as those who labored on the land by force or by choice to produce prosperity for the masses (that often didn’t include them). The ideal outdoors is one of unlimited connections and opportunities for kinship, stewardship, teaching and learning, exploration, healing, and joy. It’s a place where everyone can see themselves, where everyone can be themselves, where we all feel welcomed, and where we all are at home.
We all deserve to Thrive Outside
The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative is working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all. The initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities to build and strengthen networks that provide children and families with repeat and reinforcing experiences in the outdoors. The Thrive Outside Community Initiative helped to connect more than 40,000 youth and families in thirteen communities nationwide to the joy, wonder, and myriad benefits of the outdoors. Learn more about Thrive Outside here.
