Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 80

From the Road: future leaders
"WE WANT TO DO MORE
THAN JUST SHIFT THE
VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHO GETS
OUTDOORS; WE WANT
TO SHIFT PEOPLE INTO
PLACES OF AUTHORITY
AND INFLUENCE."

The Nature Swagger
Outdoor Afro is teaching African American leaders from all
walks of life who love the wild how they can bring their own
unique, and most definitely black, vibe to the outdoor industry.
by Doug Schnitzspahn
ASK ANYONE IN THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY
about Rue Mapp and they all say the same
thing: "She is a force." And just look at what
she has achieved: The California native
launched a blog in 2009 with the purpose of
getting more African Americans to embrace
the outdoors that she so loves. Guided by
her passion, Outdoor Afro has grown into a
movement with over 60 leaders and 23,000
members in 28 states , with the tagline "Where
Black People and Nature Meet." In an industry
that is constantly claiming it needs to become
more diverse (but does not seem to be able to

80 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ Summer 2017

figure out why people of color don't necessarily
want to act just like outdoorsy white people),
Outdoor Afro has proven that the best way to
achieve that goal is to let diverse people lead
the charge in their own way.
The success of Outdoor Afro has landed
Mapp praise everywhere from Sierra magazine to a 2015 Outdoor Retailer Inspiration
Award, and she is still charging forward.
Outdoor Afro's leadership training programs
aim to help more black people work to make a
difference in outdoor recreation and conservation in the U.S. and across the globe. "In

-For more information on Outdoor Afro
partnerships, programs, meetups, backpacking excursions, campouts, and a 2018
Kilimanjaro trip, head to outdoorafro.com.

James Q. Martin

CAMPFIRE CAUCUS
Outdoor Afro
Leadership trainees
roast marshamallows
and talk strategy.

the beginning it was about how many black
people we could get out on the trail, but that
has become less important," Mapp says. "We
want to do more than just shift the visual representation of who gets outdoors; we want
to shift people into places of authority and
influence. We want to help people take their
experience at our trainings and go out and
work on boards or fulfill their own passion to
get people outdoors."
The 2017 leadership training, the fifth annual iteration of the event, gathered 65 people from a wide range of backgrounds-college lecturers, preschool teachers, real estate
professionals, human rights workers, REI
employees-for three days at the National
Conservation Training Center near Harpers
Ferry, Virginia. This outdoor gathering was
full of hikes, workshops, webinars, and even
a game show, all with a purposeful black
vibe. "We ended our closing ceremony with
a Soul Train line," says Mapp, who stressed
that the idea was to bring black faces to a very
white place like the Conservation Center
to show that they could be a powerful and
unique part of the conversation.
"The curriculum aims to build confidence, to get participants' nature swagger
back," says Mapp. "We want them not to just
depend on Outdoor Afro, but more so to get
ignited. We want them to lead these activities on their own, to lead as role models in
their communities." O.R.


http://www.outdoorafro.com

Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017

OUTDOOR RETAILER - SUMMER 2017
CONTENTS
THE PULSE
HEADLINES
MERCHANDISING
MARKETING
CASE STUDY
BIG PICTURE
IDEAS
THE OUTDOOR REC ECONOMY
BRENDAN MADIGAN
GWEN HOBBS
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
ALL IN THE FAMILY
ORIGIN STORIES
THE NEW MAIN ST
BREAD+BUTTER
PADDLING HARDGOODS
HIKING ESSENTIALS
WHAT A TRAIL RUNNER WANTS
COUNTER CULTURE
THE VIEW
HOW I GOT HERE
#REPLIFE
FROM THE ROAD
BACKSTORY
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - OUTDOOR RETAILER - SUMMER 2017
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - Cover2
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 1
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - CONTENTS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 3
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 4
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 5
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 6
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 7
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 8
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 9
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - THE PULSE
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 11
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - HEADLINES
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 13
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - MERCHANDISING
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 15
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - MARKETING
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 17
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - CASE STUDY
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 19
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 20
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 21
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - BIG PICTURE
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 23
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 24
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 25
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - IDEAS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 27
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - THE OUTDOOR REC ECONOMY
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 29
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - BRENDAN MADIGAN
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 31
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - GWEN HOBBS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 33
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 35
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - ALL IN THE FAMILY
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 37
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 38
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 39
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 40
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 41
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 42
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 43
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 44
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - ORIGIN STORIES
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 46
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 47
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 48
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 49
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - THE NEW MAIN ST
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 51
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 52
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 53
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 54
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 55
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - BREAD+BUTTER
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 57
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - PADDLING HARDGOODS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 59
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 60
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 61
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - HIKING ESSENTIALS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 63
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - WHAT A TRAIL RUNNER WANTS
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 65
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - COUNTER CULTURE
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 67
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - THE VIEW
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 69
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 70
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 71
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 72
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 73
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - HOW I GOT HERE
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 75
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 76
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 77
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - #REPLIFE
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 79
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - FROM THE ROAD
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 81
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 82
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 83
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 84
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 85
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 86
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - 87
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - BACKSTORY
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - Cover3
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/2023Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/thedailyguidess23
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/dailySM2022_Day3
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/dailysm2022_Day2
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/dailySM2022_Day1
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2022_Day3
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2022_Day2
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2022_Day1
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2021_day3
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2021_day2
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/daily2021_day1
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/outdoor-retailer-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/outdoor-retailer-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/outdoor-retailer-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/may_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/outdoorretailer/april_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/march_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/february_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/january_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/december_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_07302020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_07212020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_07072020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_06302020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_06232020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_06162020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_06092020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_06022020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_05272020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_05192020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/weeeekly_05052020__JJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_05122020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/theweekly_05052020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/postshow2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2020_day3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2020_day2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2020_day1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/preshow2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/postshow_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/day3_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/day2_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/day1_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/preshow_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2019summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/postshow2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2019_day3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2019_day2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/daily2019_day1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/preshow2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2019winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2018winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/outdoorretailer/2016winter
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com