Mother-daughter trio brings the great outdoors to children living in the city

The nonprofit Black to the Land Coalition is working to expose more members of BIPOC communities to outdoor activities and the healthy benefits that come with being nature. They have partnered with other organizations to help alleviate costs and they’ve done activities like archery, camping, and kayaking. “We’re creating opportunities for Black and brown people to engage in natural spaces beyond the playscapes and basketball courts,” says one of the founders. “We’re taking on the outdoor world, period.”

Chispa Arizona is working to encourage members of the Latino community to spend time outdoors. The environmental justice organization created “entry points,” or free outdoor activities each month that anyone can attend like hiking, community gardening, and park clean-ups. There has been some hesitation from people attending these events, but one member says these experiences are necessary so they can educate others about the importance of green spaces.

Three community-based organizations in Kenya's coastal region—Fit Fight Aerobics Center, Kwale Sports Excellence CBO and Diani Tigers Studio—are tackling childhood obesity through free sports programs and nutrition education. Participants in the program have not only reported weight loss, but also increased mobility and more support from family with healthier eating habits and lifestyles.

With stay-at-home orders in place for Coloradans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many hikers are encouraging people to participate in urban hiking. This growing movement asks people to “treat your neighborhood like a great hike,” says one urban hiker. And a new book on urban hiking highlights 22 different hikes people can take through some local cities and towns. With more people looking to participate in outdoor activities, however, some trails and natural resources have been damaged as people try to social distance and some neighborhood access points have been congested.

A program in Cape Town, South Africa is helping children learn life skills and provide mental health resources through 'surf therapy.' The program called Waves for Change starts each session with some grounding meditation and energizing chants in order to prepare the group before they venture out into the sea, which for some kids was a prior source of fear. For many kids, this has been a way to learn to communicate better and a chance to improve their self-esteem.

Surfing lessons are bridging racial divides and providing a therapeutic outlet for disadvantaged children in South Africa. In a society largely segregated by race, children in Cape Town’s black communities disproportionately suffer the traumatic effects of violence and poverty. Waves for Change, a nonprofit based in Muizenberg, uses surf therapy as a way to mentor and empower kids in Cape Town, helping to desegregate South Africa’s beach and surf culture in the process.

Programs like Outdoor Outreach in San Diego are working to help at-risk youth engage with nature and outdoor recreation, activities that have often been associated with "economic privilege and whiteness," by providing free recreational and civic engagement programming. The initiatives are also based off research that shows that access to green spaces and time outside has long term benefits on mental health and well-being.

Those living in low-income neighborhoods and classified as economically disadvantaged are less likely to have the opportunity to spend time in the outdoors. A series of initiatives throughout the state of Colorado aim to change this by expanding access and help get minority and lower-income children into more nature.

In 2009, a woman in Oakland, California realized that there was a lack of African Americans in the outdoors. Tired of being the "only one," she created an online social space via blogging and Facebook called Outdoor Afro to connect African-Americans with other African-Americans that wanted to enhance their time in nature. Six years later, this group has grown to international status with 7,000 members and 30 trained leaders that join together to get out in nature.

The Prince George's County Police Athletic League uses free, officer-led sports programs like Connect Boxing to build trust between youth and law enforcement while reducing juvenile delinquency. Participants reported improved grades, stronger discipline, and healthier decision-making skills.