Across the U.S. and beyond, organizations are helping Black travelers rediscover a long-standing connection to nature through adventure, community, and exploration.
Black Americans have a complex history with access to outdoor spaces, including national parks, forests, and recreation areas. Yet some of the earliest stories of Black movement across America tell a different story.
During a recent guided nature walk retracing Harriet Tubman’s life in Auburn, New York, a survivalist explained an important point. Many escaping freedom seekers spent nearly a year on the run, relying on the land for food, medicine, and shelter. The lesson revealed that those ancestors weren’t just survivors but skilled survivalists.
However, this relationship with the land has changed over time. With the ever-present threat of violence, segregation, and other discriminatory practices, outdoor spaces were rendered inaccessible and unwelcoming. As a result, many Black Americans lost the ability to forage, build shelter, and navigate–skills once essential for survival.
Over time, the separation from nature fueled the persistent trope that Black people don’t “do” the outdoors. But today, that narrative is changing. Across the country, Black adventure groups are lowering barriers and creating welcoming entry points for new adventurers while also reclaiming a long-standing connection to nature.
Here are ten organizations helping Black travelers reclaim their place in the outdoors.
