America is home to over 600 million acres of public lands including national parks, conservation areas and national forests. These spaces and other green spaces like state and city parks offer major health benefits, a place of escape and opportunity for adventure.
Brandon MacCallum is the Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness. He emphasizes the importance of time spent outdoors.
“I think it can be just a matter of physical release of getting out and exercising, being in the outdoors and being away from our screens and away from people, just that mental reset,” MacCallum said.
Nature provides mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health benefits. But the culture and history surrounding it has been tumultuous.
From history books to manicured Instagram feeds the image of outdoor exploration has shifted and changed over time. It can feel like there are many barriers to getting outdoors. A lack of knowledge, lack of funds, and generational fears can leave the great outdoors feeling pretty exclusive.
Terms like granola girl, crunchy culture and gorpcore are all phrases circulating on the internet to encapsulate outdoorsy aesthetics. The effortless looks of these titles often come with a hefty price tag. Patagonia, Chaco, Eno, Columbia are popular brands that have created a look synonymous with adventure and exploration.
Beyond looking the part, outdoor hobbies often require extensive gear collections in order to play the part. Mountain bikes and snowboards are not cheap purchases but are necessary gear for the respective activities.
Kayler DeBrew is an adjunct professor in WCU’s Parks and Recreation Department. She recognizes the push and pull a materialistic society has on outdoor adventure.
“People want to make [the brands] a big part of their image as an outdoorsy person,” DeBrew said.
DeBrew says that people define themselves as outdoorsy through social media and clothing choices.
There can also be pressure to travel far to enjoy outdoor adventure. A trip to Yosemite or the Rio Grande can feel more significant than a hike in your nearest state park. Large trips, however, are time-consuming and expensive.
In her graduate research, DeBrew explored the idea of microadventures.
These small-scale adventures make outdoor recreation more accessible.
“In short, a microadventure is short-term, local, affordable, outdoor exploration. I would say the joy of a microadventure is that it brings a sense of escape and excitement into your day to day,” DeBrew said.
These everyday adventures push back against the idea that you have to travel far, gain expertise and spend lots of money to enjoy the outdoors.
The ability to go great distances and explore untouched wilderness is an idea that dates back to 19th century Europe. Industrialization gave rise to growing cities. Those with the ability and social prowess, predominately wealthy white men, could escape from city life into the wilderness.
That ability was not afforded to all.
“It set up this culture that adventure is really great and exploring the outdoors is really awesome, but it’s something that doesn’t happen at home, and you kind of have to have some social, financial, physical privilege and ability to be able to get out and do those things,” DeBrew said.
These romantic ideologies of the outdoors were brought over to a growing America. Rugged individualism and a desire to maintain pristine wilderness areas led to the designation of Yosemite as “a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” in 1872. The turn of the 20th Century brought the creation of the National Parks Service.
But these spaces were not for the enjoyment of all. In a Jim Crow America, even public lands were segregated.
The effects of this exclusivity are still felt today.
Earl B. Hunter Jr. is the founder and president of Black Folks Camp Too, a company whose mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor industry. Hunter spent years as a top executive in the RV and camping industry. During that time something stood out – there were very few Black campers and very few people of color working in the industry.
“I know how amazing camps are, and I know how amazing the outdoors is. And so, because of that our company was created to change the momentum in which the outdoor industry is going,” Hunter said.
Hunter’s business model focuses on partnering with businesses in the outdoor industry and helping them understand Black history and outdoor recreation.
“When you think about state parks and national parks, you never really see us in those spaces. Mainly because we were really told not to go in those spaces,” Hunter said. “I could tell the story of my great grandmother, telling my grandmother, telling my mother, telling me, don’t go in those woods. You don’t belong in the woods.”
Historically, acts of violence were committed against Black people often in the woods. Hunter believes that educating people on this history allows space for change.
Black Folks Camp Too partners with business through their Unity Blaze Program. Organizations participate in a course that explains the troubled history and points towards a more united future.
“The Unity Blaze Way is to find somebody that doesn’t look like you or may look like you, befriend them and introduce them to the outdoors and show them how incredible the outdoors is and do it over and over and over again to the point where they say to you, ‘I think I want to introduce some of my friends to the outdoors.’ And then that person says, ‘I want to introduce my friends to the outdoors.’” Hunter said. “Because we believe that’s the greatest way that we’re going to get folks in the outdoors and the greatest way we’re going to create more unity in the outdoor community and beyond.”
Hunter cites a lack of knowledge and a lack of invitation as other barriers to diversifying participation in outdoor recreation.
A more welcoming outdoor industry can start at the individual level.
“If you feel like you are comfortable and confident in the outdoors, the next time you’re going on an adventure, invite someone. Invite someone who you might think maybe isn’t comfortable doing it on their own,” DeBrew said.
Western North Carolina provides the perfect backdrop for a more accepting outdoor community. With trails, campsites, rivers and national parks less than an hour away there are ample opportunities to embark on an adventure and to invite others along too.
Base Camp Cullowhee provides students with an affordable way to explore the outdoors in multiple ways. MacCallum encourages people to explore Base Camp’s offerings, even if it feels intimidating.
“I think part of going to college is trying new things and putting yourself out there. It may not to be our six-day spring break trip, but it could be coming to the climbing wall or coming to Tuck River Cleanup or events that we have that you might want to dip your toes into and see if you like it or not. And, just like everything else on campus, it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But at least folks can try it and see if they like it.” MacCallum said.
Base Camp works to lower cost barriers for students by providing trips at a reduced cost. These trips are guided which allow participants to safely explore outdoor hobbies. For a full list of upcoming trips visit myrec.wcu.edu.
Green spaces are all around and the benefits of utilizing these spaces are endless. Whether it’s a walk in a local park or a weekend caving trip, nature is for all to enjoy on an individual level and together.
Hunter believes that a more united society can start when we gather together and invite others in.
“When you get around this campfire literally and figuratively, we’re all going to find out we’ve got more sames and differences, and that’s where I stand,” Hunter said.
