De-racialize the outdoors! Create an affirming environment for all campers of color
Staff Training and Professional Development for Every Budget
People of color nearly makeup 40 percent of the population of the United States. Yet, when it comes to outdoor recreation people of color are underrepresented. We are working to close the racial gap in outdoor recreation, to reverse the effects of racism on the outdoors by mobilizing awareness and demanding greater accessibility to the natural world for all. We do this by offering training and leadership development to staff and leaders like YOU, ready to make a change. Check out our options below. We tailor our experience to meet your needs.
While many say ‘the outdoors does not discriminate,’ it is safe to say that our outdoor recreational system is built on the same underlying system of oppression governing our society. We believe that nature is a human right and ensure not just access but a sense of belonging for all. We recognize that sense of belonging is heavily shaped by camp counselors and summer staff that engage with the youth. Examining race and class, our training invites staff to explore the question "to whom does the outdoors belong?" This question invites those working directly with campers and camp staff to understand their own biases and how those get in the way of creating belonging for campers of color.
Covered in Anti-racism Training:
Terminology
Real-world consequences of racist views and actions on outdoor recreation
Engaging People of Color and the Outdoors
We work to help your team of leaders expand their understanding of race and class, mobilizing that understanding for transformation in outdoor recreation.
In addition to creating lasting memories and connections to the outdoors, you want a business that is financially healthy. According to the Multicultural Economy Report from the University of Georgia, minority markets have a 3.9 trillion buying power. We help you develop the leadership needed to welcome a racially and economically diverse population.
Covered in Professional Development
We will walk alongside your organization as your organization seeks to make institutional changes that will provide for more diversity. We will recommend strategies to improve the organizations policies, leadership structure and recruitment process in an effort to create an equitable experience and encourage a racially diverse and inclusive outdoor site.
Consulting Service Options:
My family attended the Back Joy Retreat in July 2022. This retreat provided us time to connect with nature, enjoy bonding time with family and meet new friends. All of the activities were well planned, the food was delicious and the rooms were comfortable. We will definitely be attending this retreat annually. It was also my daughter’s birthday weekend, so we have adopted this as our new tradition for her birthday. Rhonda and her team do an amazing job of curating the right activities to engage all.
Rhonda came and helped train our staff for the summer. She gave a thorough introduction which broke down the false idea that the outdoors is a white space. For a camp with mostly white staff and campers, it was incredibly helpful to understand the biases we hold and experiences of people of color in camp settings. Many staff members commented afterward how much they appreciated her voice!
“Making space for people to be themselves is a meaningful experience that I was glad to share in with Race and Faith and the Black Joy Retreat”
Race and Faith’s mission is to challenge racial inequities and advance deeper understanding, fostering meaningful relationships by inviting participants to bring all of who they are into the conversation about racism.
We are a faith-based organization challenging racial inequities and advancing understanding to foster a more just world.
