A multi-piece art installation, anchored in the Arapaho language, asks skiers and riders to acknowledge the role snow plays in their lives, cultures and ecosystems
outdoor diversity
Posted inEquity
Outdoor equity programs in rural Colorado face unique challenges getting people outside
Rural programs sometimes struggle to get funding, can have lower participation rates and might have residents with lower incomes who can’t afford outdoors activities
Posted inOutdoors
More people than ever are going outside to recreate. The problem is they’re not going often enough.
Outings for young families are declining, even with the help of Colorado programs designed to break down barriers to the outdoors.
Posted inOutdoors
From hijabs to collapsible baby bottles, Denver’s Big Gear Show makes move toward inclusivity
There were times when Natalia Ospina felt as if she had to pick between her beloved outdoors and her hair. The Denver resident loved climbing and trail running. But she loved her hair, too. It reminded her of her mother, the only other one in her large family who had the same thick, luxurious curls […]
Posted inEquity
One of the nation’s top skiers is just 12. She’s among a wave of Black athletes aiming to dominate the slopes.
Colorado’s Ava Keenan, and 22 other young skiers and snowboarders on the National Brotherhood of Skiers team, is working with the organization to diversify the highest levels of those sports.
Posted inOutdoors
Ski clubs aren’t as hip as they used to be, but they are key to diversifying Colorado’s slopes
Ski clubs that anchor the National Brotherhood of Skiers are a popular way to attract more diverse skiers and snowboarders to mountains
Posted inNews, Newsletters, Outdoors, The Outsider
First-ever all-Black American expedition up Mount Everest vying for more than the summit
Phil Henderson sees the outdoor industry like a cruise ship. It’s taken a long time for the largely white industry to embrace people of color. But the ship has turned. Almost every corner of the industry is focused on building a diverse population of outdoor enthusiasts. “We just need more propulsion. We need more power,” […]
Posted inColoradans, Economy, Environment, Growth, Health, Housing, News, Outdoors
Who are parks for? Proposed housing development has Westminster neighbors fighting for space.
WESTMINSTER — Eric Wycoff remembers well the struggle to find a suitable park experience when his family was younger. The all-day adventure meant loading everyone into the car to drive clear across town — just so his stepdaughter could enjoy playgrounds and wide-open fields. On the days his wife needed their only car for work, […]
Posted inColoradans, Education, News, Outdoors
Leadville’s gear-lending “library” is tearing down barriers to build a new generation of outdoor adventurers
LEADVILLE — Vanessa Saldivar was 5 when her father hiked her up the bunny slope at Mt. Hood Skibowl in Oregon. She didn’t have a fancy jacket. She used socks as mittens. Her dad gave her a nudge. And she was hooked. “All these barriers just broke down in that moment,” said the new executive […]