This list is evolving. Help us highlight more outdoorists—email suggestions to hello @ fieldmag dot com. Thank you!
Representation in the outdoors is hugely important. Of course. Yet it's severely lacking. One of the absolute easiest ways to help change this is to follow and support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) athletes, advocates, creatives, collectives, and organizations within the outdoor space. This index of BIPOC-owned outdoor collectives is a "living document," created and updated seasonally as a resource for all nature lovers, whether you're looking to connect with fellow outdoorists of color or hoping to find more diverse organizations to support in general.
Before we dive in it's important to acknowledge the power of increased representation and the detrimental effects of a homogenous outdoor culture. A lack of visibility can lead to a lack of understanding of and empathy for different people and different cultures. This rings true for the company we keep, the media we consume, and the accounts we follow on social media. Exclusively showing white people (usually white men) participating in outdoor activities promotes a false narrative of what a competent “outdoorsman” looks like, while also perpetuating stigmas in underrepresented communities that nature is not for them.
On the other hand, seeing people of different backgrounds enjoy the same activities that you identify with can help erode implicit biases and strengthen a sense of community through shared interest. It also, hopefully, invites us to see our beloved activities from an alternate perspective.
Following a couple dozen BIPOC outdoorists isn’t going to solve systemic racism. Educating ourselves and encouraging allyship is a step in the right direction—donating to BLM affiliated organizations, bail funds, and police reform initiatives, and promoting BIPOC activist voices is hugely encouraged too.
The following are BIPOC outdoor organizations, collectives, nonprofits, and general community-focused group accounts to follow and connect with to help build a more inclusive and inviting outdoor community. Curated by Field Mag editors, contributors, and Luisa Jeffery aka @youdidnotsleepthere.
Also see: 101 BIPOC Outdoor Athletes to Follow & Support
BIPOC General Outdoor Organizations
- All Mountain Brothers | @allmountainbrothers | MTB
- Black Adventure Crew | @blackadventurecrew
- Black Adventuristas | @blackadventuristas
- Black Folks Camp Too | Website | @blackfolkscamptoo
- Black Girls Run | @officialblackgirlsrun | Running
- Black People Who Hike | @blackpeoplewhohike | Hiking
- Black Ski Club | Website | Skiing, Snowboarding, Hiking, etc
- Brown Folks Fishing | @brownfolksfishing | Fishing
- Brown Girl Outdoor World | @browngirloutdoorworld
- Brown People Camping | @brownpeoplecamping
- Camp Yoshi | @camp.yoshi | Camping & Overlanding
- Color Outside | @wecoloroutside
- Colour the Trails | @colourthetrails
- Diversify Vanlife | @diversify.vanlife | Vanlife
- Hike Clerb | @hikeclerb | Intersectional Womxn’s Hike Club
- Hunters of Color | Website | @huntersofcolor
- Indigenous Women Hike | @indigenouswomenhike | Hiking
- Latino Outdoors | @latinooutdoors
- Major Taylor Cycling Club | Los Angeles & Minnesota | Cycling
- Melanin Basecamp | @melaninbasecamp
- National Brotherhood of Skiers | Website
- NativesOutdoors | @nativesoutdoors
- Native Womens Wilderness | @nativewomenswilderness
- Outdoor Afro | @outdoorafro
- Outside Voices | @outsidevoicespodcast | Podcast
- Paddle Like a Girl | @paddlelikeagirl_ | Canoeing
- PDX POC Outdoors | Website | General Outdoors
- QPOCHikers | @qpochikers | Hiking
- Soul Trak Outdoors | @soultrakoutdoors
- Summits In Solidarity | @summitsinsolidarity | Hiking
- Trails Inspire | @trailsinspire | Trail Design
- The Lady Alliance | @theladyalliance
- The OutdoorJournal Tour | @outdoorjournaltour
- Unlikely Hikers | @unlikelyhikers | Hiking
- Vibe Tribe Adventures | Website
BIPOC Climbing Collectives
- Brothers of Climbing | @boccrew | NYC
- Brown Girls Climb | @browngirlsclimb
- MÁS | @mas.world | Art & Photography
- Sending In Color | @sendingincolor | Chicago
- Color the Crag | @colorthecrag | Event
- Brown Ascenders | @thebrownascender | Nonprofit
BIPOC Surf Clubs & Collectives
- Black Surfing Association | @blacksurfingrockaway | NYC
- City Surf Project | @citysurfproject | SF
- Benny's Club Queer Surf Collective | @benny.sclub | NYC
- Black Girls Surf | @blackgirlssurf
- Ebony Beach Club | @ebonybeachclub | LA
- Laru Beya Collective | Website | NYC
- Textured Waves | @texturedwaves
- Me Water Foundation | @mewaterfoundation | Nonprofit
- Black.Surfers | @black.surfers
BIPOC Youth Outdoor Organizations
- Black Outside, Inc | @blackoutside_inc
- Camp Founder Girls | @campfoundergirls | Summer Camp
- Camping to Connect | Website | NYC
- Dillon Ojo Foundation | @dillonojolifelinefoundation
- Get Out Stay Out | @getout.stayout | Indigenous Youth Nonprofit
- Hoods To Woods | Website | Boardsports
- Stoked | @stokedorg | Boardsports
- SOS Outreach | @sosoutreach | Community building, leadership development, mentorship
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Focused
- Black Girls Trekkin' | @blackgirlstrekkin | Conservation & Education
- Brown Gal Trekker | @browngaltrekker | Equity and Inclusion for Women, Indigenous, and Marginalized Communities/Voices in Trekking Industry
- Camber Outdoors | Website
- Outdoor CEO Pledge | @outdoorceopledge
- PGM ONE Summit | @pgmonesummit | Event
- Uprooted Newsletter | website | sustainability via deep ecology and decolonialization
- Wild Diversity | @wilddiversity
For more articles, stories, and inspirational content check out our BIPOC outdoor stories tag.
