The Circle Gets Bigger: What We Build When We Head Outside Together
What happens when we head outside together? Shared outdoor experiences can turn strangers into friends, strengthen family relationships, and create a deeper sense of belonging. Through Outdoor Afro’s Opening Circle and group outings, people find common ground before they ever step onto the trail, showing how nature can create space for genuine human connection. That […]
Full Harvest, Full Calendar: Staying Close to Nature as Fall Arrives
How do you stay connected to nature when fall schedules start filling up? Fall brings cooler weather, changing leaves, bird migration, harvest traditions, and some of the year’s best opportunities to spend time outside. The challenge is protecting that time as work, school, and family responsibilities return. Staying outdoors doesn’t have to mean planning a […]
What Gardens Made: On a Full-Circle Moment, Public Gardens, and the Places That Stay With You
What if the places that shape our lives are the ones we least expect? For many people, a garden is where a lifelong relationship with nature begins. In this personal reflection, the author shares how family gardens, the Gardens of Lake Merritt, and a keynote address at the American Public Gardens Association conference revealed the […]
The Road and the Summer: On Black Families, the Tradition of Going Somewhere, and Why It Still Matters
How did Black families turn the simple act of “going somewhere” into a lasting tradition of connection, resilience, and joy? This article explores the rich history of Black summer travel—from family road trips and reunions to iconic destinations like Idlewild—and shows how gathering in nature has long been a way to strengthen community, preserve heritage, […]
The Cast, the Catch, the Table: Fishing as Black American Tradition
What if one of the most enduring traditions in Black American history begins at the water’s edge? Fishing has long been more than a recreational activity for Black families. It is a tradition rooted in resilience, community, cultural heritage, and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. From family fish fries and […]
What the Horse Already Knows: On Learning to Ride in Adulthood
What can a horse teach you that life cannot? Learning to ride as an adult is about far more than balance or technique. Through her journey with her mustang, True Haven, the author discovers that horseback riding is an exercise in patience, trust, self-awareness, and authentic leadership. Along the way, she explores the often-overlooked history […]
The Water Remembers Too: On Making Waves and the Long Path Back
What happens when generations are kept from the water—and how do communities find their way back? This article explores the complex relationship between Black Americans and water, tracing how segregation and exclusion from public swimming facilities created lasting disparities in swimming ability and water safety. The consequences remain visible today, with Black children experiencing disproportionately […]
What the June Garden Holds: On Heritage, Harvest, and the Table We Keep
What does a June garden hold besides vegetables and herbs? This reflection explores how gardening connects heritage, family, and community through generations of knowledge passed from one season to the next. From tomatoes, peppers, and basil growing in backyard beds to the heirloom crops carried across the Atlantic by enslaved Africans, the garden becomes a […]
The Ride That Remembers: On Juneteenth, Black Cowboys, and the Tradition of Freedom on Horseback
What can a horse teach us about freedom, heritage, and community? This Juneteenth reflection explores the enduring legacy of Black cowboys, the history of Black rodeos, and the cultural traditions that have celebrated freedom on horseback for generations. Through personal experiences with mustang training, visits to historic Black Western sites, and the living traditions of […]
The Pants Are Coming Back: A New Chapter for the Outdoor Afro Brand, and Why This One Feels Different
Why are Outdoor Afro’s iconic outdoor pants making a comeback — and why does this relaunch matter now? Outdoor Afro Designs is relaunching its highly sought-after outdoor pants after years of demand from climbers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who praised the fit, comfort, and cultural authenticity of the original REI collaboration. The new chapter builds […]
Before Summer Finds You: On Memorial Day, Open Land, and the Places That Remember Us
What makes Memorial Day outdoor traditions feel so meaningful year after year? This article explores how gathering outdoors has long connected Black families through camping, public lands, storytelling, and shared experiences in nature. From childhood memories of family camps to historic destinations like Idlewild and Oak Bluffs, the piece reflects on the deeper role outdoor […]
Spring Turkey Season and the Long Tradition of Black Hunters
This article explores the deep cultural roots of Black hunting traditions through the lens of spring turkey season. Blending personal stories from Big Oak Ranch with the broader history of Black land stewardship, hunting, and wild game cooking, the piece highlights how hunting connects families, preserves heritage, teaches patience, and strengthens relationships with the outdoors. […]