Be an Influencer for Positive Change
A letter from your Executive Director.Are you ready to be part of the solution and not continue to perpetuate the problem?
As a leader in the outdoors, you are an influencer. The actions you take have a direct impact on your staff, volunteers and participants. AORE believes that we can all continue to work on improving our hiring and programming practices. I think we can all agree that we all want our staff, volunteers and participants to feel invited, included, able and welcome to experience the outdoors.
I recognize the high number of AORE members that are decision makers for their programs (ie. influencers). Candidly, I also recognize that nearly 75% of our members identify as white - which I feel may be indicative of the greater outdoor facilitator space.
This is why AORE has hosted a virtual Inclusive Summit every year since 2021 - to provide attendees with a wider recognition of exclusionary practices within outdoor recreation and education and to help them gain better understanding of how they can actively work to make change as leaders in the industry. We also recognize that organizations that learn together can grow and change together - so we have intentionally built group pricing options to help with learning and accountability.
There are certainly other ways to do this work [see below], but based on member demographics, the summit is what YOU can do as an influencer, a person in a leadership role, and a decision maker to make sure your program and its operations continue to improve their inclusivity.
I know you have choices with your professional development, AND that there are many ways to support and build an inclusive outdoor community. I believe that AORE’s Inclusive Summit can create a positive and unique experience for outdoor facilitators who not only currently hold positions of influence, but those that aspire to as well. And to those that are ready to do the work within themselves and in the programs they lead.
If you ultimately decide that the Inclusive Summit isn’t the right fit for you (or if you just want more learning resources) here is a short list of other opportunities for you to consider:
- Check out AORE’s DE&I web page and access the free resources there - including videos and links to resources, organizations and consultants. If you have additions others can benefit from, please let us know and we can add!
- You can donate your time or money to support organizations that are focused on getting diverse people outdoors. We have a short list on the DE&I web page to get you started.
- You can read books and listen to podcasts to become more educated about diversity in the outdoors.
- You can take The Oath Workshop and commit to action for planet, inclusion, and adventure.
- You can receive a certificate in diversity equity inclusion with DEI Outdoors.
Jeannette Stawski
AORE’s Executive Director
Ever have a question about AORE or what we're up to? Just ask! Reach out to us at nationaloffice@aore.org!