OREGON—At the beginning of October, the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service hosted a weekend climbing, stewardship and camping event with PDX Climbers of Color, a local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) affinity group that aims to break down barriers for BIPOC via rock climbing excursions, community teach-in skill sessions and online networking in the Portland metro area.

Over the course of two days, 20 participants connected through a shared love of the outdoors and reflected on lived experiences as minorities in the world of outdoor recreation.

The Climbing Stewards Event was sponsored by a grant from Metro, a regional land planning and parks management agency. Metro Parks and Nature’s community partnerships program supports communities of color in building capacity and connecting people with nature at Metro parks and natural areas.

Jay Horita, lead field ranger at the Forest Service’s Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, applied for the grant from Metro because he saw it as the perfect opportunity to deepen relationships in the community. “The Climbing Stewards Event gave us space to reimagine our collective relationship to nature in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.”

The participants included people from a mix of outdoor backgrounds, allowing experienced campers and climbers a safe space to share their knowledge with newcomers. On the first day, Metro staff took a deep dive into the history of conservation, then led a stewardship activity. On day two, volunteers hosted a climbing skills workshop to demonstrate safety protocols and proper use of equipment.

Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in conversation about issues related to identity, equity and anti-racism in the outdoors. Forest Service representatives provided insights into the agency’s diversity initiatives and career pathways. Participant Larrissa Zhao thought it was “validating to be surrounded by so many like-minded people who are motivated to make a difference.”

Lingfu Zhang, program coordinator for PDX Climbers of Color, said the partnership with Metro and the Forest Service was eye-opening: “The dual stewardship and climbing components really helped me see public lands in a different light. Going forward, I can see us using that model for future events to broaden the scope and impact of our group.”

Events like this one directly align with the Forest Service’s core values of diversity and interdependence, demonstrating the multifold benefits of partnership with historically underrepresented groups.

“It was especially rewarding to connect with people whose stories resonate with my own,” said Alyssa Chen, a resource assistant with the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service who helped coordinate the event. “Creating these intentional spaces of belonging does wonders for building community.”