Equity & Inclusion
Becoming Backwoods Barbie
"Before I climb, I count the ounces that I carry on my back judiciously. Prudent and discerning, I take only what I need and leave the rest behind. The heaviest load, however, is invisible. Homophobia, fatphobia, and racism take up space in my life — on my back — and weigh me down."
"Imposter Syndrome" in the Outdoors
Many people are drawn to the outdoors by a sense of curiosity, but not everyone feels welcome in this space. The feeling of being an imposter, or of not belonging, is often called Imposter Syndrome. Hear why these feelings persist, and find ways to overcome them.
"Get Out: Nurturing A Bond Between Black People And Nature" - Podcast Summary
Why can it feel so difficult to create more inclusive and diversity programs at The Mountaineers? We take a look at an NPR podcast that offers some relevant context about African-Americans’ complicated relationship with the great outdoors, and why this is a real issue that all outdoor enthusiasts should care about.
What Does Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mean For The Mountaineers?
Members of our staff recently attended a seminar on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Read our key takeaways and learn what's next for The Mountaineers when it comes to investing in DE&I.
Outdoor Stories from Women Over 50
Author Gail Storey and other women over 50 share their outdoor stories in an inspirational podcast from She-Explores.
Introduction to Kai Lightner - See Him at BeWild Feb 20
Kai Lightner is a rock climbing phenom, whose passion for the sport started at the age of 6. Since then, he has earned 12 National Championship Titles and is a five-time youth world championship medalist. He will be speaking February 20 at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center.
Review: Mountaineers Books Climbing Titles Do Well on Gender Diversity
Alpinist magazine looks at how publishers treat women in climbing texts.
Celebrating Identity in my Backyard
Amanda Hsu tells the story of how she grew up as a shy, Chinese Filipino girl who had to deal with the taboo of being gay in a conservative hometown. She found solace in the mountains, leading her to Environmental Studies at UW and an In My Backyard National Parks internship.
Pickets, Peaks, Prusiks, and .... Pronouns?
How does focusing on intentional use of language foster inclusive learning environments?
Enjoying The Outdoors With New Knees
After a decade of not being able to hike, Anita Elder is filling up her summer with scheduled hikes after two knee replacements.
The Battle Against Confirmation Bias & False Confidence
In our monthly LeaderLines emails, we explore difficult-to-discuss topics to challenge ourselves to be better leaders in the outdoors. Today we tackle the risks of confirmation bias and overconfidence, and offer some skills to avoid it.
What Are We Doing About Diversity?
In our monthly LeaderLines emails, we explore topics to challenge ourselves to be better leaders in the outdoors. Today, we discuss why creating an inclusive community is an important goal for The Mountaineers.
Start with Silence: Improving Equity in the Outdoors
A few members of our staff recently attended a regional summit of outdoor environmental educators. The topic was how to create better equity in environmental and sustainability education. Hint: it starts with silence.
Sexism in the outdoors
Let's get serious for a minute. There are too many times when women are made to feel uncomfortable while enjoying outdoor experiences. Learn how we are dedicated to eliminating this type of interaction.