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2017 Spring | Arts & Humanities, Education & Outreach, Environmental Justice

Breaking Barriers: Women of Color in the Great Outdoors

Student(s):

Hannah Wright Osborn

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Anna McCracken

Partner(s):

  • Young Women Empowered

Faculty advisor(s):

Kristi Straus, Program of the Environment, University of Washington and Yen-Chu Weng, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

This project looked at how and an outdoor empowerment program called Nature Connections could increase accessibility for young women of color in exploring the natural environment. Historically outdoor recreation has been viewed as a man’s sport. Though more women are involved outdoors, women of color are still significantly absent from the environmental movement. Interning with Young Women Empowered allowed me understand how this program could help break these barriers of access for these young women. With both programming and mentorship responsibilities, I was able to connect with the youth, other mentors, and staff giving me the opportunity to observe and discuss with them about the program’s benefits and challenges of engaging young women in outdoor recreation.