by Tara Mahadevan, guest contributor
The outdoors industry certainly isn’t known for its inclusivity.
In fact, Black people, people of color, and other marginalized identities have been historically silenced in outdoor spaces due to lack of accessibility to nature, representation in the industry, and visibility in media. When we take our youth into the wilderness, they are generally the only people of color present.
Studies show that neighborhoods divested of nature can have repercussions on the health and happiness of Black people and people of color. A new report from the Center for American Progress and Hispanic Access Foundation shows that in America, communities of color are almost three times more likely than white communities to live in “nature deprived” areas, with little or no access to parks and green spaces.
This lack of access is especially disheartening when considering how beneficial it can be to Black youth and youth of color specifically, as it provides an organic setting where they’re inspired to explore and challenge themselves. Exposure to the outdoors also encourages environmental awareness and personal empowerment, and allows these young people to equitably reconnect with nature. Through nature, marginalized youth can find consistency and stability while continuing to build skill sets and community in a new space.
Chicago Voyagers recognizes the ways in which nature and the outdoors create healing possibilities. That’s why we include it in our multidisciplinary approach to youth services that focuses on behavioral health, physical health, and education. Through our various outdoor programs—including cycling, canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, and rock climbing—we’ve found that our participants have steadily reported a boost in confidence, communication and teamwork skills, and personal responsibility. They also show an increase in GPA and a decrease in in-school disciplinary actions.
For us, outdoor adventure programs are a way to introduce and utilize best practices from the fields of neuroscience, social work, and clinical psychology. We see the outdoors as a path toward healing and recovery for youth who have experienced and continue to face enormous challenges. Our four-layered program model of Mindfulness, Relationships, Growth Zones, and Experiential Learning focuses on restorative justice and trauma-informed care. We are devoted to rebuilding community and cultivating relationships, and believe that to best do this, we must work to unpack root causes of trauma.
Each year, our organization serves over 400 at-risk youth. Ninety percent of those we serve are low income and 88% are youth of color. A majority of those we serve have experienced trauma. Our work, by recognizing and utilizing the healing and teaching opportunities the outdoors provides, offers youth the skills and resources needed to manage and overcome trauma while also introducing them to outdoor spaces. In doing so, Chicago Voyagers plays a key role in diversifying the outdoors while also helping kids reimagine what is possible for themselves and those who look like them.
