Community is the backbone of our lives. It’s how we survive, thrive, and build something bigger than ourselves. These three athletes inspire me to chase adventure while staying rooted in the people who make the journey worthwhile.
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…it’s time to rest; to confront our burnout by putting down the work. The liberation movements we belong to are not a short term thing. They will occupy our entire lives, and possibly the lives of our children and their children. The work is never done. So rest for a time. And recharge, until hope feels more tangible.
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Skip cuffing season this winter and build community instead in seven easy steps.
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We even had a group hang out where we just aired all of the ignorant things that other people had said to us. At first we were angry, but anger turned to action and we ended up practicing how to de-escalate and redirect with one another, as we each took turns being the aggressor.
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But then life happened; friends moved away and group chats gradually went silent. Some of us outgrew friendships—or worse—found ourselves on opposite sides of important human rights issues. So here we are, in our thirties, feeling lonely and slightly embarrassed. What do we do now?
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Whether living in the occupied West Bank or in the U.S., Palestinian climbers are using their voices to speak up against genocide and build communities around a shared passion for the outdoors. Their determination is a reminder that this sport is about so much more than just climbing walls.
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I am a middle-aged woman who happens to skydive instead of woodworking, riding a motorcycle or one shot D&D campaigns. How to explain any of this to a stranger who is primed to misunderstand? Oh, I don’t.
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White American families responded to the desegregation of public pools and urban amusement parks in the exact same way—by collecting their children and going home, for good. White flight wasn’t just a “personal choice”, it was economic warfare.
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It’s time to ditch the “scary lesbian” trope in favor of queer community, friendship and love. No queer dating experience? No problem. Follow these nine simple steps to find your first girlfriend.
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Financially, it makes much more sense for me to stay home and consume my phone—social media, subscriptions, streaming services and all. If this describes your life, you are not alone. But you shouldn’t give up just yet either. Here are ten affordable third places left in your city in 2024.
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Wait, so why don’t outdoor communities do more to accommodate beginners? Some do, but others are indifferent or downright hostile towards newcomers who haven’t “proven themselves.”
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Before you book your one-way ticket, you should probably know how your favorite Pacific Northwest town ended up so white in the first place. Hint: there’s nothing natural about it.
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Why do people take unnecessary risks? Extreme risk takers have been in the news in the past few years from billionaires in SpaceX shuttles or OceanGate submersibles to climbers free soloing in national parks. You might think that risk taking is only for the very rich, or for white people, but that isn’t quite the whole story.
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Even though we may face similar obstacles - like safety, access and representation - our stories and journeys are not the same. If you identify as a LGBTQIA+ Person of Color, you know just how hard it is to find a truly-inclusive outdoor community: Do you join the melanated affinity group with zero queer/trans leadership or the all-white queer outdoor meetup?
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About a year ago I answered interview questions for a brand about how the outdoor community can move forward in its efforts to expand access to natural spaces and outdoor activities for marginalized groups.
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Affinity spaces can be pure magic. Being in a space where your baseline safety requirements are met opens up your capacity for learning. Being in a community where you are not ‘the only one’ means the ability to physically relax and shift your energy towards having new experiences and building lifelong friendships.
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We so often focus on reasons why Black people should try outdoor adventure sports. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t, or why you should at least be careful about who you try them with.
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