Gunnison community members spend the majority of their free time outside, skiing, biking, hiking, rafting and camping. In a community where nature creeps into backyards and towards neighborhoods, it’s easy to forget that not everyone has had the privilege of accessing outdoor spaces.
Katie Crawford, the interim director of unity and belonging at Western Colorado University, has decided to combat that problem head on. From Campus to Trail, a new initiative put on by the Multicultural Center aims to do just that.
Last Thursday three panelists came from around Colorado to discuss the creation of more accessible outdoor spaces for people of any circumstance.
“I’ve always tried to encourage people to engage with the natural world,” said Bianka Matrinez, the director of training and outdoor engagement at Hunters of Color. “Get people into becoming life long learners and hoping they pick up the bug for conservation, especially when you realize that conservation and outdoorsmanship isn't as complicated or expensive or scary as you think it is.”
As one of the panelists, Martinex mentioned she’d never been involved in a discussion where she’s not been the only woman, let alone woman of color. “It was nice to be able to bounce ideas off of each other, We have influences in a lot of the same spaces in CO.”
The other panelists, Erica Nelson and Nelson Holland, hold high rank to Martinez as they serve simultaneously as colleagues and idols.
“I really love being in community with them”, said Martinez.
Over 30 students, faculty and community members attended the panel discussion, asking through questions and engaging with the panelists who were eager to share their experiences with each other and with the rest of the group.
The mission of Hunters of Color is to represent people of color in hunting and the outdoors by advancing conservation, building communities and celebrating traditions through education, mentorship and stewardship.
“We just wanted to create those pathways for people who had a difficult time finding them,” Martinez stressed that participants don’t have a person of color, they’re simply empowering them. “I like making conservation, outdoor recreation, and the outdoors in general more inclusive and that isn’t just inclusive of race, but also socio-economic status, urban versus rural, etc.”
After the panel discussion, attendees hiked around campus, following an accessible path put together by the MCC.
“It felt like the perfect transition from just talking about learning how to access the outdoors and realizing it is for everybody,” said Crawford. “It’s just as easy walking across the parking lot.”
Crawford moved to Gunnion 14 years ago to attend Western, and even though she’d grown up outside, constantly in nature, she found the culture at Western uninviting for the “less extreme.” She missed out on countless days in the sun, and has now created a beacon of hope for the current students in her shoes.
“Just getting people outside, doing something new – it’s one of my favorite things to do,” she said.
Martinez mentioned that HOC helps provide gear and resources to folks and groups seeking new outdoor experiences.
According to Crawford, this new initiative is far from over, and more events will be taking place in the near future, from Campus to Trail.
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