Articles in the National Parks Category
Diversity, Environmental Education, Events, Media, National Parks, Nature, Policy, Reflections, social media, Travel, Urban Nature »
Dear Outdoor Afro Friends,
2011 has been a terrific year! Through the power of social media, we have seen our community steadily grow, and help people make culturally-relevant connections to nature and outdoor recreation.
Throughout my travels this year, the hot topic has been relevancy: “How can we connect more diverse audiences to the outdoors?” people ask. While there is not one neat and tidy answer that can work for everyone (nor should we expect there to be), what we have discovered is that people embrace what is important to them. So …
Adventurers, beaches, Ideas, National Parks, Nature, Wildlife »
It is always gratifying for me when the digital conversation leads to action, especially when it involves connecting folks to nature!
At the start of the week, I had the pleasure of leading twenty-four Outdoor Afros on a day trip to Point Reyes National Seashore in California via the local MeetUp group. Many in the group had never visited Point Reyes, in spite of the short drive from where many of the participants live, and our Point Reyes veterans took delight in spending time in the outdoors with a group of people …
Camping, National Parks, Urban Nature »
It does not matter if you choose to take to the streets, the #Occupy Movement has captured the imagination of everyone, and is not going away any time soon. The #Occupy prompt has become a symbolic directive to give voice to a wide range of concerns; from corporate bastions, to conceptual ideals, to icons of popular culture.
Of course, being me, I thought of nature – the outdoors, and found it almost ironic how Occupy protesters in my hometown of Oakland, and in every urban hub, were also making themselves sustainably visible in protest by camping outdoors in …
Hiking, National Parks, Reflections, Women »
Contributed by Outdoor Afro Chelsea Griffie:
Here is the follow-up from Balanced Rock Foundation’s Women of Color Backpacking Trip we wrote about last summer – check out all the fun they had!
The 2011 Women of Color Backpacking Trip participants knocked my socks off, and they went straight into the washing machine! We had a professional videographer and photographer who is also the mother of the two cutest twins I know; an esteemed aerialist; a nearly 50-year-old “Bike Diva” takin’ some just-shipped-her-daughter-off-to-college time; and a smart and practical sister who has become a …
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, National Parks, Parks »
Get out Saturday to enjoy and support your local public lands.
National Parks are free to enter!
Click to find a location near you!
What is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the United States. In 2011, NPLD will be held on September 24, 2011. Register a site for NPLD or volunteer.
NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September. Since the …
Family, Field Report, National Parks »
Contributed by Outdoor Afro Gloria Knox of Los Angeles, CA
This summer my family took the opportunity to reconnect with nature. In planning the obligatory summer vacation, my husband and I realized we were short on time and funds. We decided that a trip to an in-state National Park would maximize our summer vacation experience and be cost effective. We visited both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, and it was one of the best experiences we could have had.
Our initial plan was to rent a recreational vehicle to take to the …
National Parks, Parks, Women »
Teresa Baker shared on Facebook her time today at the Muir Woods National Monument.
Where were YOU spotted on Sunday in the outdoors?
Alaska, Environment, Hiking, National Parks »
Ice Age Hiking in Alaska
After our visit to the wildlife refuge, we leisurely moved along the scenic road toward the coastal fishing town of Seward that edges Resurrection Bay along the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. We landed at the Seward Military Resort, a popular yet understated destination for US active duty or retired military personnel and their guests.
The manicured grounds were beautiful, yet sensible. And they have a selection of yurts, guest rooms, or townhouses from which to choose. Since Mark is a US Army officer, it was an easy selection – and a …
beaches, Conservation, Diversity, Environmental Education, Events, Field Report, National Parks, Outreach, Reflections, Urban Nature, Youth »
Recently, I had the pleasure of spending time on Maryland’s Eastern shore with colleagues, Akiima Price, Chief of Education Programs at the New York Restoration Project, David Greaves, the Black Employment Program Officer for the EPA, and Nick Clemons, a National Park Ranger at Assateague Island National Seashore. Hosted and organized by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Assateague State Park, Get Out! Get Green! Get Paid! was an important opportunity to connect with nearly 200 youth, ages 14-25, to help them consider a sustainable career and lifestyle within nature.
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program …
Americas Great Outdoors, National Parks »
National Park Week – April 16-24, 2011
Get out and discover something new about your 394 national parks! This year’s focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People,highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America’s national parks play in both. You might be surprised by how close the national parks are to where you live, and there are many in urban areas: Find National Parks near you!
Whether your prefer a 20-mile backcountry hike in Yosemite or a leisurely stroll around Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, moving outside is good for you and offers a …
