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Welcome to Melanin Base Camp: your home base for diversity in outdoor recreation and environmental justice. Our purpose is to inspire you with weekly content from Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and Queer People of Color who love the outdoors. Join the movement and help us #diversifyoutdoors.
Recent Articles
Congratulations. Youโre taking advantage of cheaper rent by moving into a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Yes, youโre part of the problem. But itโs also all you can afford at the moment. Youโre a reluctant gentrifier, actively causing harm but also feeling kinda bad about it. Short of going back to the Midwest or to an overpriced apartment in a different part of townโฆhere are six things you can do to be a better community member now.
Jenny recalled. โWe spent so much time together in the car, talking for hours. It was a great way to connect.โ Damon agreed, adding, โOutdoor trips gave us a chance to bond in ways that everyday life doesnโt always allow.โ
We donโt need cash, we have credit cards and bank accounts, smart phones and mobile payment apps. We donโt need spare change, we arenโt unhoused. So if its not a problem for us, cash free establishments canโt be a problem for anyone else, right?
But ask a New England surfer about the changing seasons. Itโs more likely theyโll mark this same passage of time by the thickness of their neoprene wetsuit. They surf year-round, making the most of the sometimes harsh and unforgiving winters. New England surfers simply add millimeters of neoprene the way hikers add base layers. For a lifelong Californian born and raised in โsunny San Diego,โ my first winter in Rhode Island was eye opening.
An ultramarathon, any race beyond 26.2 miles, is one of the most absurd, beautiful, brutal, and enlightening pursuits Iโve ever encountered. It teaches one profound truth about lifeโyou, I, and every human being on this planet are capable of far, far, FAR more than we ever thought possible.
These six athletes of color are removing barriers to winter sports, like snowboarding, skiing, backpacking and alpine climbing. Hereโs how:
This fall, I planned a trip to Hueco for a friendโs first outdoor climbing trip. We were all very excited. We drove to the park and at the ranger station, there was a sign out front- โNO CLIMBING TODAY.โ We were devastated.
So, what were going to do?? Luckily I remembered, 8 years earlier that I climbed a cool cave in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I told everyone, No need to despair, onto Las Cruces we go!
A former Team USA figure skater and U.S. Nationals Gold Medalist, Angelina Huang first stepped onto the ice at just six years old. By 11, she was training professionally at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, and by 12, she had landed her first double axel. There was something special about life in the rink that touched her soul, lifted her spirits, and inspired to dream big.
This year, try embracing small changes and sustainable habits that are not only good for your health but also bring joy and fulfillment, without the hefty price tag.
Check out our Featured Bloggers page to hear firsthand accounts from Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ people who love the outdoors!
Want to learn how to kayak? Planning a weekend hiking trip or a visit to a national park? Check out our Trip Reports page for relatable content from our team of outdoor bloggers. We tackle how to get started and what type of gear youโll need. You can also read interviews with grassroots activists, environmentalists and educators as well as longform articles on complex issues like race, gender, sexuality and disability in the outdoor community.
Looking for gear to purchase? Before you do, check out our Gear Reviews page.
Join the conversation at Around the Bonfire and submit your own article to the blog.
Finally check out our Diversify Outdoors page to connect with other affinity groups, influencers, bloggers and nonprofit organizations promoting diversity in the Outdoors. Learn more at DiversifyOutdoors.com! And donโt forget to follow us on Facebook and on Instagram where #melaninbasecamp and #diversifyoutdoors have been used over 58K and 154K times respectively.
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
Eugene is a Korean-American dirt chasing cyclist, video editor and filmmaker. You can find him on the road/bike with his dog, behind the lens or working in the backcountry.
As a kid, I loved roller skating and occasionally ventured onto the ice rink at the mall during the winter. Back then, fear wasnโt even a consideration. If I fell, I simply brushed it off and kept going. So why does stepping out of our comfort zones feel so much harder as adults?