'It was extremely important to offer an event that the public wanted to attend rather than the sort of program that we, as environmental professionals, wanted the public to attend.'
—Dan Dressler
their experience with your organization develops.
I propose that many outdoor programs, whether collegiate, municipal, or military, have missions or stated objectives to provide outdoor experiences, resulting in a wide range of benefits for participants—and that those missions do not prescribe the specific kind of outdoor activity. It is in this space that I believe the opportunity for inclusion exists. To do this, administrators should strike a balance between staying true to their mission and values, and rethinking what an outdoor program could be. Perhaps most important, you can start by identifying partner groups in your community and giving them the reins for program design.
Sam Hensold is the access and diversity advocate for AORE and the coordinator of outdoor pursuits at Fort Lewis College. Dan Dressler is a park ranger and the public programs manager at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Katie Nyberg is the executive director of Mississippi Park Connection, the nonprofit partner of Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.