Mikah Meyer is a queer outdoorsman, a change maker who’s determined to make our natural spaces more inclusive. Meyer first drew public attention in April 2019 when he became the only person to visit all 419 units of the U.S. National Park System—including national parks, ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Rock and Ice publisher steps down: A shocking admission by the publication’s leader precipitated the resignation. Anti-environmentalist heads Bureau of Land Management: William Perry Pendley, a noted climate denier, was ...read more
Now that Pride month has come to a close, brands across the industry will once again begin taking down their rainbow logos, packing them away until next summer. There's no question we've come a long way in our celebration and amplification of LGBTQIA+ people in the outdoor space ...read more
As a nonbinary customer wanders through aisles of backpacks, hiking boots, tents, and camping supplies in an outdoor gear shop, they come to the racks of gendered clothing: men’s in one corner, women’s in another. But what happens if this particular customer doesn’t identify as ...read more
The National Outdoor Leadership School this fall is launching seven new courses for people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community, with more courses rolling out next year. The school recently worked with a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) consulting firm to ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] This year's national fireworks show has sparked controversy: President Donald Trump siphoned $2.5 million out of National Park fees to cover the cost of the ...read more
Meet the future of the outdoor industry. These four are already pushing the boundaries of representation, inclusivity, creativity, and gear, and we can't wait to see what they accomplish next. 1. Art Latasha Dunston, 26, freelance illustrator @jitterbug_art Baltimore-born ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Enrollment for the fifth class of the Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy is open. The six-month immersive program is designed to help prepare the next wave of ...read more
“Coming out is a huge life moment and can be one of the scariest things ever. I cried for 30 minutes….As an outdoor leader, your job is not to give advice on someone’s identity—it’s to help them feel comfortable in the space. Treat them the same as you treat everyone else,” said ...read more
When you walk into most outdoor retailer shops, you see men’s and women’s sportswear sections, men’s and women’s footwear walls, pack walls divided by gender and men’s and women’s accessories. As a cis woman, (a person whose gender identity consistently matches the gender they ...read more
Pro photographer Wyn Wiley brought a lot more than a camera to his first appearance at Outdoor Retailer. The six-foot-plus, Lincoln, Nebraska-based creative also arrived with a signature pair of white, knee-length patent leather platform boots with six-inch ...read more
Over the past couple years, it’s been encouraging to see brands and organizations elevating their messaging and efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the outdoors. While there’s evidence of change – products that meet the needs of many communities and ...read more
If Outdoor Retailer Summer Market's event lineup was any indication, the outdoor industry is putting diversity issues front and center. From a lack of ethnic diversity in leadership positions and brand marketing to cultural appropriation of native designs and symbols, our ...read more
When journalist James Edward Mills, 51, attended his first Outdoor Retailer show in 1992 he was surrounded by thousands of people yet he felt utterly alone. Like many walking the aisles, Mills shared the same love of the outdoors that they did. But he was also very different ...read more
When Elyse Rylander was in grad school, she couldn’t find a single outdoor education program focused on people in the queer community. She had long been a kayaking guide, and saw a clear need for more inclusive trips. So in 2014, she founded Seattle-based OUT There Adventures ...read more
