Building nature-based skills and community at the intersection of identity and the outdoors

When Denice Rochelle road-tripped from her home in the state of Washington to northern California, she decided she wanted to camp, hike and fly kites along her route. But no matter how many campgrounds she stopped at, something was always missing. 

“I never saw another BIPOC person,” Rochelle reflected. “I just kept thinking: ‘Where is everyone?’.”

She decided to investigate why fewer individuals from the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community were engaging in the outdoor spaces she traveled to. Rochelle reached out to local affinity groups in the Seattle area to poll members of the BIPOC community on why they weren’t participating in outdoor activities like camping and hiking. Through her efforts, she discovered a few common themes.

“They didn’t have anyone to go with, they didn’t have the knowledge to do the thing or they didn’t have the equipment,” she said. 

So, Rochelle started leading group camping trips to help people get outside and learn basic camping and outdoor skills. Her outings were wildly popular, so in 2018, she decided to launch an official nonprofit organization to build on her work.

The Bronze Chapter increases accessibility to high-barrier sports, such as sailing. Photo by The Bronze Chapter/Community Boating Center.

The Bronze Chapter, which Rochelle founded in 2022, reconnects members of the BIPOC community to the natural world by sharing outdoor knowledge, skills and recreational opportunities. The organization offers programming that educates people in a safe and comfortable learning environment where participants can build skills alongside peers. Programming includes activities and workshops like community campouts, nature and adventure camps for families, aquatic outings, self-defense classes for the outdoors and beginner snowshoe tours. Through these efforts, Rochelle aims to build community at the intersection of identity and the outdoors.

“The construct of racism limited access to land, parks, pools and beaches. Limited access means limited opportunities for learning,” said Rochelle. “The Bronze Chapter wants to share information, empower beginners and help our community get back outside to rest, play and learn.”  

Rochelle recently launched a program through a partnership with REI called “Camping Equipment Demystified,” where participants learned more about how to find and use all of the essential equipment for camping, like sleeping gear, water filtration systems, cooking equipment, tents and backpacks. 

“The event was a substantial learning opportunity for the BIPOC community in a safe, non-judgmental and supportive space,” said Rochelle. 

She says participants leave programs like these feeling empowered and confident enough to get outside with their new skills.

The Bronze Chapter has expanded its programming to engage with both individuals and families – because Rochelle believes that involving other family members is an essential component of encouraging more kids to connect with nature. The family-centered programming is based on the same principle that guides the organization as a whole: Skill-sharing is a vital component of getting more people – and kids – outdoors. 

“Sometimes kids go off to a camp or a one-off event where they get outside, but then they don’t keep going outdoors because they have no one to take them,” Rochelle said. “We want to help families learn the skills and knowledge they need to do more things outdoors together.” 

The Bronze Chapter brings families together outside through family campout events, such as a recent nature and adventure camp on Samish Island in the state of Washington. The camp was an all-inclusive experience for families, which included a variety of camping options, culturally relevant meals and ample space for kids to connect with the outdoors alongside their peers. The program actively encouraged kids to play in the nearby forested areas, saltwater beaches, walking trails and open spaces.

“For some kids, it was the first time they’d ever run free outdoors,” said Rochelle. “It was amazing to watch them instantly connect with other kids and get excited about exploring nature in such an open, fun and free way.” 

The organization uses these events to help families learn key camping and outdoor skills, like how to set up a tent, in a safe and supportive environment. Rochelle wants these outings to be enjoyable and educational for the entire family, so parents have the tools to continue venturing outdoors and BIPOC kids have more opportunities to recreate in nature. 

“We’ve found that family programming feels safer for participants,” she said. “We work to create spaces that are comfortable, safe and uplifting, so families want to learn these skills together.”

Rochelle said both kids and families have responded favorably to these outings, so The Bronze Chapter will continue building upon their family programming into the future. Currently, Rochelle is working to identify additional needs within the BIPOC community to build more trust and ensure that the organization can reach more families in the most effective way. 

“We really need the buy-in of families to make youth programming successful,” she said. “I want to create more spaces where kids can play and run free in nature. And family participation is an essential part of getting more BIPOC kids outside.”

Check Out More News and Resources