Finding Healing in the Nature in Your Backyard (POC Outdoors Guest Post)
Guest Post by Pamela Slaughter, Founder of People of Color Outdoors
Many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) associate outdoors activities with being unsafe due to negative encounters with racists that they have experienced while swimming, running, birding, or hiking. These concerns are based on years of racist attacks that have happened hundreds of years ago and continue to take place currently.
People of Color Outdoors is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a safe and healing community of BIPOC to connect with nature together. We believe that spending regular time in nature is critical for the healthy development of people mentally, physically, and spiritually. People of Color Outdoors offers community events that teach new skills, and are educational, healing and fun! We have planned and hosted well over 100 events since we got started in July of 2017.
One of my favorite type of events to plan is canoe outings. I used to volunteer for the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. My job was to captain a bimaran (a very stable craft made by strapping two canoes together) during public paddling events on the Columbia Slough. I loved seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of people that rode in the bimarans for the first time.
When I started People of Color Outdoors, I contacted the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. My hope was that we could find an affordable way to rent canoes. I had asked and learned that most of my members had never gone canoeing before but wanted to. We started partnering with the Council, and as a result my group has been able to enjoy several canoe outings through the years. I love seeing the excitement and happiness on people's faces when they are on the water!
Because of social distancing, our last paddle was done in single canoes, not bimarans. Several people that were afraid of the water have lost their fear and now love to paddle. People of Color Outdoors has even been inspired to start collecting our own canoes and kayaks so that we can host small paddles more often. Some members have come to love simply walking around Whitaker Ponds, where the Columbia Slough Watershed Council office is located, and we have all come to care about the Columbia Slough.
I always look forward to co-hosting outings with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. I know that the instructors will do a wonderful job of sharing information that will keep members safe and engaged. They are thorough, knowledgeable, and fun! Members have checked out the calendar of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council and signed up for other events such as Bat Night and Birds and Botany at Smith and Bybee. Still, paddling the Columbia Slough is a favorite activity of People of Color Outdoors!
People of Color Outdoors has recently decided to start the process of becoming a nonprofit, and our first step has been to work with a fiscal sponsor. I asked the Columbia Slough Watershed Council if they would be willing to serve as our fiscal sponsor. They said yes, and we've been enjoying a great partnership ever since. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with the Council!
For more information about People of Color Outdoors: https://pdxpocoutdoors.com/
