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 …

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, …

By Dudley Edmondson
Continued from Part 1
Now you need something for the head and hands. I usually wear a synthetic stocking cap. The word synthetic pops up a lot because it is the fabric most commonly used in designing “performance clothing” that is clothing specifically desinged to be used in a number of outdoor activities from climbing to cycling, running etc.

After a Run in 25 Below Zero Winds!

I think I own more performance wear than I do any thing else. A good fleece hat and they come in many weights …

By Dudley Edmonsdon
Now let me start out by saying that what I do outdoors in the winter may seem extreme to many. I am not one to shy away from extreme cold or deep snow, I just do what I do and use it as a measuring stick for my next outdoor adventure. Having said that, I thought it would be helpful if I explain to folks the best way to be comfortable in cold, even sub-zero weather outdoors during the winter months.

First thing, no Cotton. I commonly refer to …

Snowboarding is not just for the fellas. Outdoor Afro caught up with Tomar Brown (30) and Karen Anderson (36), of Washington D.C. who have found excitement and fun on the slopes.
Tomar and Karen
When asked how they each got involved with snowboarding together they said it started with rugby, which they have played competitively for the past ten years, and is where the two met and became a couple. “Rugby seems to have started a lot of things for us,” said Brown with a laugh. In the off-season she explained that …

Matthew Reese of Seattle, Washington might have gone his entire life without laying a foot on a snowboard. In a recent phone interview, Reese said he used to think: black people don’t ski, snow is too cold, and snow sports conflict with basketball season! But earlier this year, at age 30, his snowboarding co-workers finally convinced him to trek up to the slopes with them on a trip that changed his perspective regarding what was possible through the experience of snowboarding.
Sitting down at Mammoth: Matthew Reese
As a long time athlete, …

Brian Deka Paupaw was born and raised in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn — a world away from the ski lifestyle. But once he discovered  snowboarding as an undergrad, it changed his life. He’s been riding for about nine years now, and made the short film, “Hoods to Woods“, about his journey from sidewalks to mountaintops, and his mission to bring the outdoors to the urban community. He also recently started the  Hoods to Woods Foundation, a non-profit that brings the outdoors to at-risk youth in New York City.
Great work Brian!

Hoods to Woods …

Click to hear the archive of today’s show that featured Stacy Evans, an African American attorney from Baltimore and dog sledder. A great, insightful show!

In case you missed it live, click below to play the interview I had with Barbara Hillary today.
At age 75 and a 9 year survivor of lung cancer, Barbara Hillary of Queens, New York became the first African-American woman to reach the geographical North Pole by skiing. Today she is 78 and joins Outdoor Afro to share a little about her passion and accomplishments that challenge assumptions about the participation of African Americans, women, and seniors, in the great outdoors.
Learn more about this amazing women or to book her for …