Not long ago, I had the privilege of joining a remarkable gathering at Northern Michigan University—the BIPOC Outdoors Summit. More than just a conference, this was a few days of community, learning, and restoration, designed to remind us all that the outdoors is for everyone.

The theme, Rela. Relate. Release., set the tone. From the moment we came together over breakfast, the energy was warm and inviting. Marquette, Michigan, is located on Akiing, the ancestral and current homelands of the Anishinaabe people, specifically the Three Fires Confederacy (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi).Beginning with a land acknowledgement and a blessing from the tribal community, our gathering inspired a deep connection to  the land and its people. Throughout each day, I was struck not only by the wisdom of the speakers but also by the power of the conversations happening at every event and session. This was a space where our stories mattered, where lived experience was valued, and where joy was central to the work of creating a more inclusive outdoors.

With the leadership of Northern’s Dr. Shawnrece Butler, Assistant Vice President of Opportunity, Empowerment & People, the university gathered a cadre of dynamic and inspiring presenters whose wisdom elevated the conference to great heights. I was truly honored to share the stage with a roster of leaders and changemakers whose voices continue to push our collective vision forward. Our principal moderator Alice Jasper, is the host of the PBS series Color Out Here. She tells the stories people  that too often go unheard from the Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color communities. Kyle Mays, an Afro-Indigenous (Saginaw Chippewa) writer and scholar of US history from the University of California Los Angeles, reminded us of the Black and Native American ties to land that ground our identities.

Asha Shoffner co-founder of BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities from Saint Paul, Minnesota and Tiawanna M. Ezell of the Urban League of West Michigan and Outdoor Afro volunteer leader, spoke with passion about community organizing. My good friend, Garret Dempsey, highlighted how programs like his Detroit Outdoors connect young people to nature. By Vanessa Yvette, founder of Forest Bath Miami, we guide through an intimate experiences with tree and natural spaces.  And through the work Grant Glineicki  at Giitigan, a native gardening collective, Summit attendees were introduced to the many ways we can find healing and belonging in traditional practices of plant cultivation.

What stood out to me most was the sense of connection. Between sessions, over lunch, and in quiet moments of conversation, I felt the strength of a community united by a shared love of nature and a commitment to ensuring access for everyone. These moments reminded me that the work of equity in outdoor spaces isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about building bridges.

The BIPOC Outdoors Summit was nourishment for the mind, body, and spirit. After the formal learning sessions, we experienced two wonderful nights of camping nearby. Hosted by Dr. Butler and her husband Ruben, we enjoyed one exquisite fire grilled meal after another. The tunes of Marvin Gay and Luther Vandross played over the Bluetooth speaker as we played spades and shared stories around the campfire. Of course there were S’mores, but the roasted briquette and garlic ribeye were AMAZING! Never before have I experienced such a truly soulful backyard cookout in the great outdoors.

On the long drive home back to Madison, I carried with me a renewed sense of hope and determination. Together, we are changing the narrative of who belongs in the outdoors. And with every gathering like this, we move closer to creating a world where every identity, every story, and every experience is honored and shared with joy throughout the natural world we all love.

At the Joy Trip Project we’re so excited to create opportunities to help young people and their families to enjoy the great outdoors. Don’t forget you can help! We aim to give away a free National Park Visitors Pass every month to those for whom the cost of admission is prohibitively expensive. Or maybe there are folks in our community that not aware of the wonders of public lands and natural space. You can make a contribution of any amount to our Parks Paid Forward initiative at link below. For more information visit the web page at https://joytripproject.com/parks-paid-forward/