During a recent snowshoeing trip at Rocky Mountain National Park, the crunch of the snow and occasional birdsong were the only things that interrupted the calming silence of the forest. The views took my breath away (as much as they could — I was already pretty out of breath from trekking up the trail), and I felt completely free of the stress of everyday life.
There are groups all over the country dedicated to hiking, climbing, biking, skiing, kayaking, walking where you live and trying out new outdoor activities you might not have had the opportunity to do before. Check out these groups that make it easier to get out and see what the natural world has to offer.Black Girls Do Bike
With more than 100 chapters worldwide, Black Girls Do Bike (blackgirlsdobike.org) is helping women of color find fellowship, fitness and freedom through cycling. “Biking can be a challenging sport, but with the right resources and support, it can also be a rewarding and empowering experience,” says Monica Garrison, the group’s founder and executive director. “It is completely normal to feel nervous at first. We want you to start slow and focus on having fun, and the rest will come.”
They’ll be celebrating “10 Years Strong” at their National Meetup this August in San Diego. “When attending our yearly national meetups, I am excited to meet women who tell me that Black Girls Do Bike has helped them feel more confident, empowered and connected to a community,” Garrison says.
You have to find spaces where you feel comfortable and experience the outdoors in your own way. Whether it’s at a cookout, relaxing at the beach or camping, these are all ways you can be outdoors.
Outdoorsy Black Women
“There’s not just one way to enjoy the outdoors,” says Valese Jones, the publicity and branding manager for Outdoorsy Black Women (outdoorsyblackwomen.com). “You have to find spaces where you feel comfortable and experience the outdoors in your own way. Whether it’s at a cookout, relaxing at the beach or camping, these are all ways you can be outdoors.”
Toyin Ajayi created Outdoorsy Black Women to provide a safe space to connect, celebrate and be inspired by one another. Through the website and app, you can easily find a crew of women from your area interested in the activities you enjoy. “I love that our community is full of women of all ages, walks of life and [from] all over the country,” says Jones. “We love that all of these women are able to connect and find common ground through their love of the outdoors.”Black Women Who Kayak+
Tanya Walker started Black Women Who Kayak+ (blackwomenwhokayak.com) to break down barriers, dispel myths and empower women to step outside their comfort zones. “There’s healing in being on the water,” says Walker. “You don’t get to see the true beauty of the city you’re in, in your car. It’s when you’re on a vessel that you see it.”
Not knowing how to swim can be a deterrent to doing any water-based activity, which is why Walker partnered with the British Swim School to offer swimming lessons at an affordable price. The plus (+) at the end of the name comes from the opportunities the group gives to its members to choose different activities that they might not have had the resources to do before. One of their primary focuses is serving members of all economic backgrounds, and they created a scholarship fund to help remove the financial risk of trying new hobbies.National Brotherhood of Skiers
Despite the name, anyone is welcome to join the National Brotherhood of Skiers (nbs.org). The organization has worked diligently over the past 50 years to expose people of color to snow sports and the outdoors.
Ben Finley and Art Clay started the National Brotherhood of Skiers to bring 13 ski clubs from different parts of the nation together to hit the slopes at a time when Black skiers were a rarity. They now host massive Black Summits that allow skiers of all ages and experience levels to come together every year, improve their skills and make lifelong friends who are also passionate about snow sports.Brown Girls Climb
Brown Girls Climb (browngirlsclimb.com) hosts engaging and educational community events with a mission to create, as their website explains, a “climbing community that honors our individual relationships to the land, … centers the experiences and voices of those most impacted by colonization and industrialization of the land, and provides a just redistribution of resources so that everyone can find their relationship to the land around them.”
Members get perks like free classes, discounted or free gym day passes, and access to a one-stop shopping site that uplifts BIPOC-owned companies and companies that advocate for their communities and the planet.GirlTrek
GirlTrek (girltrek.org) wants more women to realize the benefits of walking. They’ve branded themselves as a lifesaving sisterhood and, according to their website, aim “to heal intergenerational trauma, fight systemic racism, and transform Black lives.”
Through walking, Black women are able to heal and connect with others so that we feel less alone in a world that doesn’t always prioritize us. With more than 1 million members, it’s easy to find a walking group in your area to link up with, begin your healing journey and discover the power of walking together.