Promoting Equity in the Outdoors

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Cousins Dior Torris and Karter Sims look for turtles and koi fish on the boardwalk at Patterson Park, which provides valued green space in the heart of Baltimore.

Carlin Stiehl/Chesapeake Bay Program

“The outdoors is for everyone.” If you listen to enough outdoorsy podcasts or follow environmentally conscious brands on Instagram like I do, you’ve probably heard this phrase plenty of times. It’s something I believe should be true - nature belongs to us all, and everyone has the right to get outside just as they are.

But the reality is that while the outdoors may not discriminate, people do - and communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from safe and accessible outdoor spaces and underrepresented in the outdoor and environmental sectors. People of color also disproportionately face the harmful effects of climate change, pollution and other environmental hazards.

The Chesapeake Bay region is far from immune from these facts, and there is a growing recognition that equity efforts must be intertwined with Bay restoration. Last year, the Chesapeake Bay Program announced its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Strategy Implementation Plan about how to better incorporate those principles into their work. Other organizations, like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay have publicly stated their commitments to equity as well. 

Still, much more action is needed to promote equity in our environmental work and in the outdoors at large. If we want a healthy and clean environment, and if we truly believe the outdoors is for everyone, then we must make it so. Diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice must be at the forefront. And we must create safe and accessible spaces where everyone can get out into nature and be empowered to bring their whole selves in doing so.

There are many interesting folks and organizations working directly on promoting equity and representation in the environment and the outdoors. Here are just a few:

  • Minorities in Aquaculture (MIA): MIA builds access to the aquaculture industry for minority women by providing support to those who seek to enter the field or learn more about it. And if that sounds interesting to you, you’re in luck - because we’re hosting their awesome founder and CEO, Imani Black, for a dynamic conversation on Thursday, February 10 at 7PM! Hop on to hear about the story behind MIA and the successes and lessons Imani has learned along the way. Register here!

  • Melanin Basecamp: A founding member of the Diversify Outdoors Coalition, Melanin Basecamp works to raise the visibility of Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous and queer people of color in the outdoors, particularly in outdoor adventure sports.

  • Latino Outdoors: This Latinx-led organization works to connect and engage Latino communities around outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education while ensuring their history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented. They also provide leadership, mentorship and professional opportunities.

  • Outdoor Afro: This national non-profit celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. They connect thousands of people to nature experiences around the country and work to promote inclusion in outdoor recreation, nature and conservation for all.

There are many more organizations doing great work in this space. Do you follow or know of other groups working to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the outdoors and the environmental sector? Drop a comment below!