Bowie State Offers New Outdoor Club to Spark Interest Among Students of Color

Organization Provides Alternative Activities for Students

 

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – Students at Bowie State University now have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that will provide them a pathway to learn and experience nature through a new Outdoor Club that was rolled-out earlier this semester.

The Outdoor Club will introduce BSU students to a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and environmental stewardship. It is led by co-chairs Ayen Deng, graduate student in computer science, and Alma Bangura, a history and government major. Dr. Sumanth Reddy, assistant professor of geography in the Department of History and Government serves as the advisor. Dr. Reddy believes everyone should have the opportunity for positive experiences outdoors regardless of where they are from or their ethnic background.

“Research shows that people of color are less likely to engage in nature-based outdoor recreation activities due to socioeconomic status, cultural differences, and the history of institutionalized racism,” said Dr. Reddy. “BSU’s Outdoor Club will provide a number of group activities for students and dispel the myth that people of color are afraid to engage in outdoors activities.”

In November, Dr. Reddy and nine students hiked up Sugarloaf Mountain (video) in Frederick County, Maryland. Last month 25 BSU students bonded and developed friendships through indoor rock climbing (video) at Movement Rock Climbing Gym in Columbia, Maryland. The two-hour activity began with professional instructors teaching the students how to wear a harness and the fundamentals of safe rock climbing. A fishing trip is planned for April 1 in nearby Patuxent Research Refuge, and a weekend camping excursion to Shenandoah National Park is slated for April 29 – 30.

Although visitation data to our national parks does not include breakdown by race, activity numbers from the Census Bureau show that people of color have significantly lower participation rates in outdoor activities like camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. Numerous studies show that people of color are less likely to visit state and national parks.

“We’re doing our part at Bowie State to change the narrative,” said Dr. Reddy. “BSU’s Outdoor Club received a generous grant from the National Park Trust which has enabled me to organize alternative outdoor activities for the remainder of the year which are free for students. It’s all about appreciating and enjoying the outdoors while reaffirming the need for diversity and inclusion.”

BSU’s Outdoor Club is one of the major outcomes of Dr. Reddy’s 10-day 2000-mile trip (video) with nine students in May 2022 to Grand Canyon, Arches, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain National Parks that was made possible by a grant from the American Association of Geographers. “It’s about diversity and inclusion, that’s the bottom line,” said Dr. Reddy.

Numerous organizations, including HBCUs Outside, Outdoor Afro, Indigenous Women Hike, Latino Outdoors, Black Girls Hike RVA and others, have formed in recent years to encourage more people of color to enjoy beautiful outdoor spaces such as the countless local and state parks, and 63 National Parks across the United States.

Students who want to join BSU’s Outdoor Club or track the organization can follow on Instagram @bsu_outdoorclub.

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.