Connecting with the outdoors with intention and purpose

BY RONY CAMILE

On a cold winter day in the White Mountains National Forest, a group of Black women scale the frozen Arethusa Falls, one of the state’s highest freefall waterfalls in the state. Some are screaming in terror, never having climbed ice before, yet laughing and having the time of their lives while loudly singing “WAP” (by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion) “Everyone knows the WAP song, and it was something that was just very beautiful,” says Destinee Waiters, one of the climbers that day.

It’s all just another spontaneous reaction of people encountering their fears in the wild outdoors.

The organization behind this tour, Outdoor Afro, has collected plenty of examples of similar celebrations along the trail to adventure ever since Rue Mapp, founder and CEO, came up with the idea for an online program designed to connect people to the outdoors and eliminate a misconception that folks in the Black and BIPOC communities don’t do outdoor activities.

That assumption is far from the truth if you just look at the numbers. Now in its 13th year, the nonprofit organization’s network has taken shape in various communities from Maine to California with 60,000 participants and 100-plus volunteer leaders connected through the Meetup.com platform.

Rooted in enjoying nature and building community, the group aims at challenging perceptions whenever they venture into the wilderness. Outdoor Afro has about 1,300 participants scattered throughout the Metro-Boston and New England area according to Chaya Harris, the organization’s National Program Director and a volunteer leader for Boston.

Harris, a Boston-native and former educator with Boston Public Schools, frequently leads groups to New Hampshire and explores the various natural landscapes that our state has to offer. “We have access to so many spaces,” she says, “You can drive two hours in each direction, and you can find something you can enjoy.”

Above: Destinee Waiters full of love on Mt. Israel.

“Something” range from checking out lilacs at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University to hiking Mount Washington and organizers are constantly dreaming up new adventures. Outdoor Afro aims to please everyone with an urge to try something new out in the natural world. Even fishing. Harris described how one participant with interest in fishing wanted to hold an event, so the group partnered with the U.S. Fishing and Wildlife. Fishing wasn’t anywhere on Harris’s bucket list. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it,” Harris said. “I actually enjoyed it.”

Whenever they are exploring the Granite State, there’s always a little Black history lesson with a New Hampshire connection to offer the participants. For instance, the fact that Harriet E. Wilson was the first Black woman to author and publish a novel. ‘Our Nig; or Sketches From the Life of A Free Black’ was published by Wilson in 1859 and Wilson was from Milford, New Hampshire.

According to volunteer Scott Mays, sharing such a small piece of New Hampshire Black History and how it’s tied to whatever activity they are doing is always eye-opening. “It’s beautiful to see the reaction on people’s faces,” he says. “They are soaking it up and all want to know more about our history.”

Mays, who now lives in Washington D.C., was previously the volunteer leader for New Hampshire. He worked as a mathematics teacher and assistant athletic director at Nashua High School North for a decade, so he appreciates every teaching moment.

“The best place to learn is through family and friends and events. This sort of history is not really taught in schools as much; it’s not connected. So, we have to get it in our own ways and pass it along,” he says. He’s aware that things learned in exciting new settings often make deeper impressions, connecting with enjoyment of the occasion. “They have a good time and hear about the book and it’s always ‘Wow, I never knew that,’” says Mays.

A native of Philadelphia, Mays yearning to connect with a group of Black folks who spend time outdoors together was intentional when he initially moved to New Hampshire.

His journey in becoming a volunteer leader was organic. “When I moved to New Hampshire 13 years ago, my then-girlfriend and I were seeking Black people who wanted to be outside,” he said. And searching online he found them. Ultimately, Mays got connected with Outdoor Afro and Harris through MeetUp.com. Soon he was trained and leading the New Hampshire slate of events.

Anthony Taylor of Windham, NH, a group participant, understands the consciousness and reservations that many Black and BIPOC people could feel when they are outdoors in an area that they may not be familiar with. When they hold events, they move as a group.

“With hiking, there’s no A-Team or B-Team,” he says. “We move as a collective. The planning is very thorough.” He now has great memories from his experiences on the trail. “It’s a safe and learning environment,” he reports. Destinee Waiters agrees. Waiters, an associate general counsel at Suffolk University in Boston, grew up in the outdoors in San Antonio, Texas. She her teenage summers as a camp counselor for special needs children. She describes herself as a caretaker.

Ice climbers braving the cold at Cathedral Ledge proudly display the Outdoor Afro flag. Far right: Ice climbers preparing near Frankenstein Cliffs.

“I spent a lot of time outside,” she said.“When I think about it, I‘m always thesafety-check girl,” she says, referring toher tendency to over-prepare a bit. “I’mprobably annoying. I always have a ton ofsnacks.” She says this is probably somethingshe picked up during her summer campdays, “… when my mom would send me acare package.”

Waiters says the friendly solidarity withinthe greater outdoor community creates asense of comfort and camaraderie. “Whenwe went ice climbing,” she recalls, “most ofus are unambiguous Black within the group,and there was another group of womenthere, and they were so excited to see us. Itwas super cool.”

The solidarity within the Outdoor Afrogroups is also a boon to those who arenew to the outdoors. “The non-tokenismis super meaningful because you are not code-switching when you are trying something brand new to you or something that isjust hard.”

She recalls another time when the group stayed at a Notch Hostel in Woodstock.“They are the most especially cool people that you’ll ever meet,” she says, noting their

dedication to hiking and inclusivity. “When you show up there, you are greeted by the LGBTQ flag, Black Lives Matter flags. You feel that you belong there. Whether you hike, ski or snowboard, you are welcomed.”

Today, Harris plans and executes some of Outdoor Afro’s national initiatives as their national program director, while still working on expanding the Boston group and aiming to get more folks from New Hampshire and intergenerational families and cultures to experience the outdoors.

And no. You don’t need to have an afro to join Outdoor Afro. “Anyone can join us,” said Chaya. “Nature is for everyone.”

The mission has drawn attention from the corporate world. Over the years, the organization has earned support from companies such as REI, Nissan and The North Face.

Last year in response to the alarming number of drownings of Black children (a preventable tragedy tied to the historic prohibition of Black access to beaches and public pools), the group partnered with global footwear brand KEEN and The Y to offer swim lesson scholarships with a goal of helping 100,000 kids and caregivers learn to swim over the next 10 years.

Outdoor Afro welcomes everyone to join in and support its many year-round events, programs, leadership training and campaigns. For more info, visit www.outdoor afro.com. 603

At top: Volunteer leader Mardi Fuller and team hiking Mt. Garfield.