The Melanin Base Camp book is here! Melanin Base Camp: Real-Life Adventurers Building a More Inclusive Outdoors is a celebration of underrepresented BIPOC adventurers that will challenge you to rethink what outdoorsy looks like. Get your copy today!
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Welcome to Melanin Base Camp: your home base for diversity in outdoor adventure sports. Our purpose is to inspire you with weekly content from Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and Queer People of Color who love the outdoors. Join the movement and help us #diversifyoutdoors.
Recent Articles
Now, I’m nearly four months post-op from lower back spinal fusion surgery. Sneezing stills hurt a ton, but I’ve started climbing again and taking small falls. And of course, I’m still on that rehab train!! One of the best exercise progressions I’ve done so far are squats. Here are five variations of squats that have proven useful for my recovery.
Something unexpected happens while I am on the trail…my parents became my supporters and advocates. They make dua for me, send me care packages, and shoo away anyone who questions why I’m walking from Mexico to Canada.
Within the South Asian community, more and more women are redefining what it means to be outdoorsy. They are breaking records, challenging stereotypes, and writing their own narratives — all while centering community.
When legally required to share public pools with Black children, many white families decided they’d rather not go at all. This summer, when you’re stuck at home with no way to cool off, remember that.
Efforts to erase BIPOC history aren’t new; they’re just getting more media attention. Here are four historical events that we should never forget—and that you most likely never learned about in school.
Financially, it makes much more sense for me to stay home and consume my phone—social media, subscriptions, streaming services and all. If this describes your life, you are not alone. But you shouldn’t give up just yet either. Here are ten affordable third places left in your city in 2024.
The lives of Hazel M. Johnson, Haunani-Kay Trask, and JoAnn Tall teach us that environmental justice starts with acknowledging the deep ties between land, water and people. You can't claim to care about one and not the others.
Sophia, 26, is a Guyanese figure skating content creator who gives her viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the life of an adult learner—from first competition jitters to one-foot spins on the ice. And her millions of likes prove that we are all on this journey along with her.
The outdoors, like any other social system we’ve built, runs on ideas of scarcity. Internalizing the narrative that there is not enough for everyone inherently makes BIPOC individuals compete against one another.
Try reaching out first to Black hikers. You don’t have to comment directly on our race, ask us if we’re new, or tell us we’re doing a good job. Just say ‘hello’.
Wait, so why don’t outdoor communities do more to accommodate beginners? Some do, but others are indifferent or downright hostile towards newcomers who haven’t “proven themselves.”
It’s not always about hiking 6+ miles, gaining 1000 ft in elevation, or taking a selfie at the top of a mountain. It’s really about immersing yourself in nature and feeling grounded.
Starting a new sport or activity as an adult can be intimidating or downright scary. We worry about making mistakes, getting hurt, and even not fitting in. I interviewed two women of Color who are sharing their skate journeys on social media and was surprised to find out just how accessible roller skating is.
Some People of Color don’t like the outdoors and that’s okay. They don’t need you to convert them. Here are eight reasons why you should leave your friends and family alone.
This is the story of how I learned to stop worrying and embrace outdoorsy ‘stuff white people like’. You’d be surprised what got me there. So let’s go.
In 2019, I suffered a devastating spinal injury that left me with weak noodles for legs. In November 2023, I finally bit the bullet and had surgery. The road to recovery has been difficult. I’m going to share my first progression of rehab exercises—hip bridges. Remember, only try these if you’ve been cleared by your doctor and physical therapist.
Equestrian life is definitely eye-catching, but it’s not known for being diverse. Here are five Black equestrians trying to change that.
Spending time outdoors and starting a family can seem like they are at odds first, but it’s possible to maintain outdoor hobbies while also being an involved parent.
Before you book your one-way ticket, you should probably know how your favorite Pacific Northwest town ended up so white in the first place. Hint: there’s nothing natural about it.
Popular MBC Reads
Digital nomads aren’t assimilating into the cities and cultures they reside in. Instead they are reshaping them in their own image.
Financially, it makes much more sense for me to stay home and consume my phone—social media, subscriptions, streaming services and all. If this describes your life, you are not alone. But you shouldn’t give up just yet either. Here are ten affordable third places left in your city in 2024.
Try reaching out first to Black hikers. You don’t have to comment directly on our race, ask us if we’re new, or tell us we’re doing a good job. Just say ‘hello’.
Before you book your one-way ticket, you should probably know how your favorite Pacific Northwest town ended up so white in the first place. Hint: there’s nothing natural about it.
If you do not need these donated items to get by; to make ends meet; to make it to the next pay day; or to meet your basic needs—please don’t purchase them.
Native Hawaiians are flat out saying “don’t come here” and yet mainlanders—including other people of color, continue to book tickets.
Connect with BIPOC nonprofits, affinity groups, scholarships and meetups in your local area.
Eight outdoorsy Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) share their mental health stories.
Loving the outdoors isn’t “acting white,” it’s rejecting white supremacy and the belief that the outdoors belongs to white people. You belong there too. So here are 10 ways to prepare for your first backpacking trip this summer. Backpacking is for everyone. Just never forget, you are on Native land.
An immigrant’s perspective on how to make the outdoors feel safer and more accessible.
In my experience as a Black woman, I feel significantly safer in the backcountry than I have ever felt in any populated area. I have had far more instances of feeling threatened by predatory humans than by predatory animals.
For those of us who grew up as the ‘token’ Black, Indigenous or Person of Color (BIPOC), sometimes it’s hard to admit that being ‘the only one’ is our comfort zone—we’ve never really known anything else. Let’s discuss!
We know purchasing expensive outdoor gear has been at the very bottom of your to-do list, so, here’s a guide to help you acquire gear on the cheap, from one broke person to another.
If you’re a BIPOC freelancer making your way in the outdoor industry, get ready. This is a steep trail with many obstacles and hazards along the way. We’ve assembled a guide with strategies to help you side-step coercive corporate practices while making smart informed decisions for your career.
Maybe it’s time to stop worshipping Muir, Pinchot, Roosevelt, Wilson and Grant, and to start listening to Black and Indigenous environmental leaders.
Do you ever read about racism in the outdoors and think, ‘well, that can’t be right, nature doesn’t see color’? Or maybe you’ve listened to someone recount their experience of discrimination, while waiting impatiently for a chance to interject and explain how they were wrong, and that didn’t actually happen. If that describes you then you should probably read no further. For everyone else, check out our official Guide to Outdoor Allyship.
Sometimes styling and celebrating your natural curly hair can be a challenge when spending time in nature—especially when you’re the only one who looks like you. Climbing and hiking weekends rarely include time for deep conditioning, and the wind and rain may not go easy on your twist out. So, after years of struggling, learning and experimenting, I’m excited to share with you this curly-haired adventurer’s guide to the outdoors (and protective styles!).
So how do you know if your outdoor friends are good allies? And what do you do if they’re not? Here are seven reasons why they may be taxing the hell out of your emotional health.
Check out our Featured Bloggers page to hear firsthand accounts from Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ people who love the outdoors!
Want to learn how to kayak? Planning a weekend hiking trip or a visit to a national park? Check out our Trip Reports page for relatable content from our team of outdoor bloggers. We tackle how to get started and what type of gear you’ll need. You can also read interviews with grassroots activists, environmentalists and educators as well as longform articles on complex issues like race, gender, sexuality and disability in the outdoor community.
Looking for gear to purchase? Before you do, check out our Gear Reviews page.
Join the conversation at Around the Bonfire and submit your own article to the blog.
Finally check out our Diversify Outdoors page to connect with other affinity groups, influencers, bloggers and nonprofit organizations promoting diversity in the Outdoors. Learn more at DiversifyOutdoors.com! And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and on Instagram where #melaninbasecamp and #diversifyoutdoors have been used over 58K and 150K times respectively.
Digital nomads aren’t assimilating into the cities and cultures they reside in. Instead they are reshaping them in their own image.