Prioritizing Female Space Exploration: Hiking Groups Championing Women's Advancement in Cosmos
In recent years, a significant movement has emerged in the world of outdoor recreation, as a growing number of hike clubs specifically catering to women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC communities are popping up. This trend reflects a commitment to creating safe, welcoming outdoor spaces that address and counteract the historical lack of diversity and inclusion in traditional outdoor activities.
One such club is Hike Clerb, founded in LA in 2018. Starting with a small group of friends, it has since grown to include 65 people on a recent New York hike. Similarly, Hikerkind, a brand focused on stylish clothing for women's outdoor activities, launched a hike club in 2021.
Early Majority, a new brand co-founded by Joy Howard (formerly of Patagonia), also aims to rethink access to nature for all. Their genderless and minimal clothing, designed for outdoorsy settings, is likely to appeal to the demographic that forms part of hiking clubs. The brand's hiking dress, made with technical materials and backpack strap friendly, brings a fresh approach to traditional hiking attire.
The Feminist Bird Club, founded in 2016, is another example of this movement. This twitchers' club for the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, and women has donated over $125,000 to various causes through revenue earned from selling patches and merchandise, bird-a-thons, and other fundraising efforts.
Key features of this movement include creating targeted outdoor events and experiences, partnerships with community centers, a focus on education and community building, and funding and programmatic support aimed at increasing outdoor access and conservation leadership among marginalized groups. Through community engagement, outreach, and advocacy, these groups actively dismantle barriers to nature-based recreation and foster a sense of belonging in outdoor spaces that have been historically exclusionary.
Black Girls Hike, founded in 2019, and Gorp Girls, operating in the UK and LA, are other examples of this inclusive approach to outdoor recreation. These clubs prioritize safety, solidarity, and addressing unique challenges faced by certain groups.
However, the journey towards a more inclusive outdoors is not without its challenges. A 2017 study by Natural England found that only 26.2% of Black people and 25.7% of Asian people spent time in rural settings, compared to 44.2% of white people. Incidents of sexual harassment and assault in outdoor settings are also a concern for many women.
Hikerkind's hiking dress design aims to challenge traditional notions of what can be worn while hiking, bringing feminine clothing into a new outdoors space. The co-founders of Early Majority saw a need for clothing that aligns with their authentic selves while hiking.
As these diverse hike clubs continue to grow and evolve, they are not only providing a space for underrepresented groups to enjoy the outdoors but also working to make outdoor recreation more accessible and inclusive for all.
- The Hikerkind hike club, founded in 2021, complements their focus on stylish clothing for women's outdoor activities by offering a club that caters to those same demographics.
- Early Majority's genderless and minimal clothing, designed for outdoorsy settings, aligns with the needs of the diverse hiking clubs, appealing to a demographic that forms part of such groups.
- By donating over $125,000 to various causes through various means, The Feminist Bird Club demonstrates a commitment to education, community building, and fostering access and conservation leadership among marginalized groups.
- Community engagement, outreach, and advocacy are key strategies employed by inclusive outdoor recreation groups like Black Girls Hike and Gorp Girls, as they work diligently to dismantle barriers and create welcoming spaces for all in the outdoors.
