Outdoor Afro » Children

A Family Visit to Yosemite

Rue — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:33:13 +0000

Wife and mother of two, Lisa Hardy-Reems of Oakland, California shares in words, photos, and video her recent drive with her family to Yosemite over Memorial Day weekend.

Had you ever been to Yosemite before?

I’ve been, but only as a child or as a young adult, so I never really had the chance to take it all in as an adult and truly appreciate the park.

What are some of your other experiences with outdoor spaces?

I have always preferred to be outside rather than indoors. Enjoying whatever weather we are having, as long as I am well-prepared is great by me! I have tried to instill this in my girls as well. It is helpful that Dad enjoys outdoor activities too.

Michaela (8) and Morgan (16) enjoy ice cream and a view of the rapids!

What surprised you in Yosemite?

The park was filled with international visitors. Many from India! This was impressive, given that the Park Ranger I spoke with said there were 100,000 visitors that weekend! That said, we were the only black family as far as the eye could see. No kidding!

What is your advice for visiting Yosemite?

We were fortunate enough to take a convertable on the drive, which proved to be invaluable! The awesomeness of what is Yosemite, cannot be appreciated looking through a window of an SUV or sedan. So I recommend top down!

If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, BOOK EARLY! Indoor/Outdoor camping spaces are hard to come by. Also, stop at the last chance gas before driving into the Park. There is a lot of driving to be done, and traffic to sit in over the weekend, so remember: NO GAS IN THE PARK!

Never Too Late to Discover the Outdoors

Rue — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:23:47 +0000

I had an amazing childhood, but did not know about a lot of opportunities that were available to me.

I met Karen last week at a local college event, and discovered we had some wonderful things in common, such as motherhood, blogging, and a passion for the outdoors. Karen shares with us how she discovered outdoor recreation, and what it means to her family today.

What experiences did you have as a youth that influence how you interact with natural spaces today?

As a kid, other than going to a local park to play, or playing in my own yard, I did not do a lot when it came to outdoor recreation. And as a young adult, my idea of working out was going to the local gym. Which is not a bad thing, but it can be limiting.

How did your relationship with the outdoors change as you grew older and why?

When I met my husband, he exposed me to a whole new world of outdoor recreation. We went hiking, skiing, swimming, camping, and saw amazing waterfalls and scenery on various trails. Our kids love these activities, and are now amazing soccer players that can out run me any day. They also really enjoy rock climbing at a local gym for kids and adults.

What are some favorite things you enjoy doing with your family?

Once a year, my family goes to Tahoe for long snow trip weekend. We go with a couple of friends and family. It is always such a blast! Lots of snow, sledding, food and fun.

What is on your bucket list?

I would really love taking a Zero-Gravity flight, where you can float like an astronaut in space. That looks like a lot of fun!

Any final thoughts?

Yes! While growing up, I was not exposed to all the outdoor activities that are out there. I had an amazing childhood, but did not know about a lot of opportunities that were available to me. My kids have no idea how lucky they are to be able to do all the things they can do today. I never went on snow trips, stayed in cabins at Tahoe , went on hikes, or had a chance to experience rock climbing as a child. I think that people have to realize and be educated that it does not matter what race you are, or what culture you come from – any one can go out with family and friends and enjoy the out doors. It’s not just for one race of people or culture, anyone can enjoy it! Go skying, sky diving, swim with dolphins, go hiking in the mountains and look at amazing waterfalls. It is something that we can all enjoy and is more attainable than most people think.

Karen lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters, ages 9 and 11.

Angelou Ezeilo is Greening Youth

Rue — Wed, 05 May 2010 05:20:28 +0000

I met Angelou last year at the Breaking the Color Barrier Conference, although I got to know her better recently during our time in Washington DC last month.

Angelou’s work as Executive Director of Greening Youth Foundation is changing the world. I hope you will enjoy getting to know her as much as I did!

What experiences did you have as a youth that influenced how you view and protect natural spaces today?

Although I grew up in the densely populated concrete streets of Jersey City, New Jersey; I spent every summer of my childhood exploring 45 acres of my parent’s property in upstate New York. I remember the excitement of packing our van for the 9 hour trip to the house that became our home for 4 weeks out of the summer. In addition to being fascinated by the unusually large road kill that we encountered on the road, I remember stopping at various parks and cool vistas along the way all in anticipation of a carefree, super fun experience with my siblings and summer friends. During my summer stay, I became intimately acquainted with all sorts of insects, amphibians, nocturnal species, reptiles and lots of fruit picked straight out of the trees. No one could tell me that this wasn’t my slice of heaven. I am sure that these experiences shaped who I am today and why I pursued a career in conservation. I am on a journey now to make sure all children have access to connect with nature. I believe they are all budding environmental leaders waiting for an opportunity.

What brought forth Greening Youth Foundation?

Greening Youth Foundation was birthed because of a disconnect I saw between land being preserved and the community surrounding the land- particularly children. Although my background is in law, I worked for quite a few years as a project manager for The Trust for Public Land (TPL). TPL continues to do amazing work in protecting public places for people; however, I saw a disconnect between the communities that were being directly impacted/affected by the preservation work. In most cases, the surrounding community would ultimately benefit from the preservation work. However, often times communities weren’t always engaged at the embryonic stages of a project so that their voices are not only heard but utilized. I realized that children could play a pivotal role in the development of some of the work being done. The above referenced experiences were the impetus for Greening Youth, LLC., and Greening Youth Foundation (GYF). Greening Youth, LLC is a greenspace project management for-profit company that works with municipalities, counties and non-profit organizations to engage communities, acquire land and manage all due diligence involved with conservation projects. GYF is the non-profit sister organization that connects underserved youth to the outdoors and gives them access to careers in conservation. It is the goal of both companies to engage communities and expose them the transforming beauty and opportunities that exist in the conservation world.

Why should African American families care about being “green” and engaging with natural spaces?

It is critical that African-Americans care about the environmental because they are inextricably connected to the environment and the effects of irresponsible decisions. When I speak to students and I notice that some of the teenagers are rolling their eyes and wondering “what does this have to do with ME?” I immediately ask them how many of them know someone with asthma, diabetes, autism, or are overweight? After I explain how each of these illnesses that are plaguing African-American communities have been linked to environmental factors, I get their attention. If you care about the air, water, land and the food that you eat, then you should care about being green.

How can people plug in to opportunities to get involved where they live?

There are many opportunities for people to get involved and make a difference. Often times people feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out what they can do, but it really should not be a scary project. No project is too small. Fortunately, there are plenty of grass roots organizations in every state that are working to make the planet a healthier place to live. GYF offers plenty of volunteer opportunities through its Youth Corps and with some of our annual projects in Atlanta. There are Keep America Beautiful affiliate offices in every state that offer opportunities. Local Girl Scout and Boy Scout organizations also provide opportunities. You have to be willing to take a moment out of your time to look – opportunities abound.

How will GYF change the world?

GYF will change the world one child at a time! For the upcoming 2010-2011 school year, through GYF’s Public School Initiative we will impact approximately 9,500 students. Additionally, through a partnership with the Department of the Interior, National Park Service our Youth Corps are working on projects, internships and youth crews in national parks across the country. GYF is also effecting change by partnering with some of the big conservation organizations, like The Wilderness Society to establish a fellowship program so that young adults will be provided hands-on experience and the prospect of a job. GYF is excited about the continuum of engaging a student in elementary school through high school, providing internship opportunities while in college and fellowship placement upon graduation.

GYF is also working to change the face of the conservation movement through its reality show, Green The Nu Black….stay tuned.

Changing social behavior one child at a time…we can make a difference!

Spotted on Sunday (SOS) Equestrian and Quartzite Edition

Rue — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:02:39 +0000

Remi (10) and Sade (8)

Just got a shout from Zetha Nobles who resides with her family in the hills of Oakland, California, where she and her children enjoyed some horse riding this afternoon. She writes, “It was so spur of the moment! I love us being outdoors and in the natural elements!”

Folarin (14)

Patina and Nate

Patina and her husband Nate were spotted at Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin, sitting on purple and pink quartzite rocks. Patina says, “We love hiking when it’s nice out, and last winter we started skiing and snowboarding.” Nice!

Where were you Spotted on Sunday?

Love Yo’ Mama

Rue — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 08:38:17 +0000

Outdoor Afro took a short trip over to East Oakland, California to participate in the community event: Love Yo’ Mama, hosted by the organization Communities for a Better Environment for Earth Day.

“Green is Good for the Hood” was this year’s theme, which was intended to create local awareness and a response to environmental concerns at a neighborhood level.

The event started with a rally to highlight environmental and health issues in Oakland at Tassafaronga Recreation Center, followed by a parade with Scraper Bikers, drummers, and youth dancing. In the afternoon, there was a health fair, vendors, youth performances, basketball tournament, and more at ACORN Woodland Elementary.

It was a privilege for Outdoor Afro to connect directly with its targeted demographic of adults and children. KIND generously donated bars and the local Berkeley REI pitched in a display tent we filled with the bars and Outdoor Afro stickers — a real hit and ice breaker that got the kids talking about camping.

Most importantly, there were many breakthrough conversations at the table that helped parents, grandparents, and children imagine new ways to interact with their local outdoor spaces.

“I don’t like bugs!” was a frequent comment that opened up discussions about biking or bird watching as other recreational activities to engage with the outdoors with perhaps fewer crawling critters! And I was able to share information about some of my local program partners, such as Feather River Family Camp, and Golden Gate Audubon Society to plug families into affordable activities right in their own back yard.

Click to learn more about the fabulous work of Communities for a Better Environment.

Happy Earth Week!

White House to Host Conference on Great Outdoors

Rue — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:22:48 +0000

By Suz Lipman,
Social Media Director for the Children & Nature Network

The Obama Administration is recognizing the importance of the outdoors to people’s health and well-being, with two important new programs: The White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to eradicate childhood obesity.

The White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors will be held Friday, April 16. C&NN President Cheryl Charles, C&NN Associate Rue Mapp (Outdoor Afro) and other movement leadership will be in attendance. President Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks to the group. The conference will be led by Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The conference will address the challenges, opportunities and innovations surrounding modern-day land conservation and the importance of reconnecting Americans and American families to the outdoors.

“America’s outdoors are part of our national identity. They are the farms, ranches and forests that we take great pride in, and the neighborhood parks, trails and fields where we spend memorable time with our families and friends,” said Chair Sutley.

“Across the country, Americans are working to protect the places they know and love, from the streams they fished as children and the parks where families gather together to the battlefields and buildings that tell America’s story,” said Secretary Salazar.

The conference will bring together leaders from communities across the country that are working to protect their outdoor spaces. Participants will include working ranchers and farmers, sportsmen and women, State and local government leaders, Tribal leaders, public lands experts, conservationists, youth leaders, business representatives and others who view the outdoors as integral to their communities.

Secretary Salazar will lead an afternoon panel, Connecting People to our Lands, Water and Wildlife, which will include New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and REI C.E.O. Sally Jewell, among others.

C&NN will be blogging about the conference as it happens, so be sure to follow along. The Let’s Move campaign will be featured in the next brief.

About the Author

Suz Lipman has more than 25 years experience as a writer, editor, social media manager, community builder, and advocate for getting children into nature.

Happy Environmental Education Week!

Rue — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:00:54 +0000

By Marty Wiggins

Did you know it’s National Environmental Education Week? Since 2004, the National Environmental Education Foundation has coordinated the week before Earth Day as a time to foster greater awareness of environmental education and to encourage children and adults to enjoy the outdoors.

What is so great about environmental education? The obvious benefit is that it gets kids and adults outside. But research also shows that environmental education and outdoor and community-based learning improves student achievement across the curriculum and can have a positive effect on classroom and social behavior. Adults can benefit as well, as outdoor activities have been shown to improve mental focus and can be therapeutic for those suffering with stress-related problems and physical health issues.

Even though EE Week started on the 11th, there is still time to participate. Here are some ideas:

First, just get outside! In North Carolina, we use our Web site, press releases, blog and other social media outlets to let people know about the outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities that are out there. Our Web site is also a partner with the Southeast Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA), which has a similar calendar of events for each member state. Wisconsin has also joined in on this partnership, and we hope more states will in the future. If your state is not covered by SEEA, check with your state, local and national parks and natural resource agencies. Also, most states have an affiliate environmental education association and/or a state office of environmental education that may be of assistance. And exploring your own backyard or neighborhood can work just as well. Here are some N.C. based activities for kids (and adults) that work anywhere: EE Parent; Take A Child Outside Activities; N.C. Junior Ranger Activity Book and Model Inquiries into Nature in the Schoolyard (available through a partnership with Virginia Tech). The Children and Nature Network also has tips on places to visit as well as strategies and research that promotes outdoor and nature activities (April is Children and Nature Awareness Month).

North Carolina has proclaimed it Environmental Education Week on the state level, and some cities across the U.S. have also declared it EE Week. The National EE Week site has sample proclamations and press releases. In addition, schools and organizations can still register as EE Week participants at www.eeweek.org. Our office uses EE Week as a kick-off for a whole informal “Environmental Education Month” and promotes Earth Day and Arbor Day events and workshops as well. We encourage schools, colleges, organizations, cities and counties and other government agencies to promote their events through our site. We also do an “EE Month” blog and feature reports and photos from around the state. This has been really popular and helps others plan events for next year.

So, there’s a variety of ways to celebrate Environmental Education Week right in your own neighborhood. EE Week is an opportunity to invest a little time in promoting environmental awareness that will pay off all year in your state and community!

Marty Wiggins is a Community Development Program Manager. He works with the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Easter Egg Hunt

Rue — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:00:08 +0000

Not only is this time of year sacred to people of faith, it also represents a deliberate interaction with the outdoors in the form of a game: the egg hunt. This game represents an ancient “salute to Spring,” marking rebirth.

My own childhood was filled with such egg hunts, followed by church and a hearty soul food meal prepared by my mother and aunts. After getting the signal from the adults, my cousins and I would race and squeal after finding cooked and candy filled eggs on top of stones, under branches, or in tall grass. Now, it brings tremendous joy to continue this tradition with the children in my family.

Here is a picture of my favorite Outdoor Afro girl (my daughter) striking a pose with some pre-Easter candy after a hunt in our community courtyard.

How are you celebrating the Spring season?

Family Fun in the Snow!

Rue — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:43:58 +0000

Just got a trip report from Outdoor Afro Christyna Serrano, who decided to head to the Tahoe region in California last week for some end-of-season fun in the snow with her family:

So why did you guys decide on a trip to Tahoe?

Well… Joseph, owed me one, so I cashed in my IOU! We went up Thursday night, and it took about 3 hours from the San Francisco Bay. We spent the night at a cheap hotel and in the morning, we went to Kmart, picked up a $15 plastic sled, and then found this place for sledding on Yelp: Adventure Mountain. And it was another $15 dollars to park the car.

A great deal! What was the set-up like?

There were about 10 different runs for sledding varying in size, e.g., S, M, L, and we were on a medium size slope. This was a great deal because sledding at one of the Ski Resorts, e.g., Heavenly, Sierra Ridge, etc., is super expensive!

We spent a couple of hours there sledding, playing with the snow by building a snowman, and throwing some snowballs at each other. Joseph had a great time even though he’s never had a desire to head up to the snow. Caelan, obviously, had a blast.

Caelan Sledding in Tahoe 2010 from Christyna Serrano on Vimeo.

He loved it so much that he had put some snow in his sweat shirt pocket. While we were chillin a little later by the lake, I noticed that his sweats were wet. It almost looked like he had peed in his pants. We then noticed that he had tried to save some snow! It was so funny. We had to take it out of his pocket and explain to him that you can’t save snow.

What do you recommend to others who might want to take a trek to the mountains?

Now is the perfect time of year to go to Tahoe and get your ski/sled on. It’s the end of the season so the crowds were not there, thus making for cheaper lodging; the snow is still there, but the spring time warmth is in the air so that it actually feels hot when your on the slopes; and the area is just absolutely gorgeous at this time of year.

Christyna is a graduate student at UC Berkeley and lives with her son and fiancé Joseph in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Outdoor Afro Blog Carnival!

Rue — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:55:02 +0000

Welcome to the Inaugural Edition of the Outdoor Afro Blog Carnival!

Wooo hooo….confetti falls…

So what is a Blog Carnival anyway? Well, I learned it is a terrific way to spread your blog wings into new topics, while connecting with more people. And that’s all I needed to know before signing up! But I also recognized the term ‘carnival’ has a cultural meaning for some that is different than the experience of a spin on the ol’ ferris wheel. So I decided to honor the festive connotation of another kind of Carnival with this image:

NOT a Ferris Wheel!

But this carnival you are reading now (assuming you are not still staring the picture above) is actually a sampling of topics near and dear to the Outdoor Afro community: youth, environment, and getting outdoors. Each carnival contributor offers fresh and insightful views around these topics, and a window into their larger body of digital or academic work. I hope you’ll visit each of the contributor’s sites and become fans.

It’s about the youth…

Speaking of fans…DNLee is someone I have followed for the last several months, and I was thrilled to share her blog during my presentation at the Breaking the Color Barrier Conference in Atlanta last fall to a crowd who was wowed by her efforts to expose more people to the practical wonders of STEM. Today, she presents Urban Science Adventures! ©: Adventures from Summer Camp posted at Urban Science Adventures! ©, described as, “a recap (full of pictures of little OutdoorAfros) of my experiences as a day camp urban nature camp counselor. I think I had as much fun as the kiddies”

Photo: Olena Zhadko

She was so excited about this carnival, DNLee decided to share more of her wealth of knowledge from her blog: Urban Science Adventures! ©: 100 + Things You Can Do Outside! saying, “Okay, this is really old, but the things I recommend for kids, families, and individuals to do outside never gets old. How many of these things have you done?” And she is right! See for yourself!

Brown and Green

Dianne Glave presents Mother, Lumberjack, and Turpentine!? posted at Rooted in the Earth: a companion blog to her forthcoming book Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage coming out in August 2010. She talks about the ambivalent relationship between African Americans and trees, and weaves in her own family history that notes some generational shifts relating to trees and the outdoors:

Trees as a means to earn a living

Getting Outside

axel presents Traveling And Personal Growth posted at axel g., a journal of travels all over Africa, that provides vivid detail of his personal experiences in each region.

Appalachian Trail

Scott Amundson gives us a turn-by-turn evocative tour of the Appalachian Trail with his post: AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL from the HIKING ADVENTURE blog. The Appalachian Trail is now definitely on my list of go-to places!

Jehan taking youth outdoors

Jehan became a fan of the Outdoor Afro Facebook page and I found her blog, and fell in love! Here is her post: A Walk in the Woods posted at “She pulled in her horizon like a great fishnet…” that chronicles the stirrings of love for the outdoors she experienced as a child; feelings that guide her to this day.

Gloria Ware’s Blog is another blog-crush of mine. She adds to the mix: Leading The Way Into The Wilderness: Re-Engaging Black Folks With Nature posted at Black and Into Green, saying, “Let’s get out there!”

Gloria

Her other wonderful posts related to gardening, spirituality, and healthy food will keep you (like me!) coming back for more.

~*~*~*~*

Look for future editions of the Outdoor Blog Carnival that push the envelope regarding what it means to get outdoors.

You can submit a blog article to the next edition of Outdoor Afro Carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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