My personal definition of privilege is an inherent right or advantage that someone has based on their standing in a particular group. Privilege is often linked to race or socioeconomic standing, for example middle/upper class white people have far more opportunities in life than people of colour or people from lower economic classes.
Outdoor privilege can manifest in so many ways, nature experiences can be expensive when considering travel costs, buying gear, taking time off of work if needed etc. Iāll admit that my standing as an upper-middle class white woman has provided me with MANY privileges and opportunities to experience the outdoors
- My passion for the outdoors was ignited at overnight summer camp, which was not exactly cheap. Each summer Iād spend the month of July living in cabins, going sailing, canoe tripping and swimming. It wasnāt hard to notice that the main demographic of this camp was- just like me, mostly able-bodied white people whose parents had enough money to ship them off each summer.
- When I turned 18, I was able to get a job at my summer camp, although it did not pay very well, it provided me with integral skills and experiences that I have since used as references for more professional outdoor jobs.
- My family has a property in Muskoka which allowed me to continually foster my love for nature.
- My personal fitness has always been an important part or my life. From a young age my parents enrolled me in dance lessons and sports teams that helped me develop the fitness level needed for these activities.
- I live without physical disabilities or limitations.
These privileges awarded to me at birth have massively impacted my relationship with nature. That being said, there are some remaining barriers that prevent me from fully experiencing nature the way I want to. As a woman, I donāt feel safe or comfortable enough to explore nature on my own. Iāve heard beautiful stories about peopleās life-changing solo trips through the back country, or weekends where people dropped everything and went for a hike deep in the forest. I so badly wish I was able experiences nature like this, pure solitude in nature would be so reflective and deeply healing. But to me the risks are too high, being a young woman alone in the forest makes me the easiest target. This fear hasnāt massively stood in the way of me experiencing nature, I just make sure Iām always with at least one buddy and that we have means to protect ourselves (mace isnāt just for bears (; ).
Another overlooked privilege is an able body. Have you ever seen an advertisement of someone in a wheelchair or crutches in a nature interpretation session? When most people think of outdoor activities, they think of climbing mountains, portaging a canoe, and other physically demanding tasks. Many environmental programs are inaccessible to people with physical disabilities, and environmental interpreters do not consider diversity of learners when planning sessions. Some activities that are accessible to physically disabled are; paddling, walking on accessible paths, and nature baths/meditations.
I just believe that no human should be faced with barriers when it comes to experiencing nature. Dismantling the narrative that the outdoors is expensive and inaccessible will greatly help with getting more people involved in the outdoor community. The way we can achieve this is through developing and maintaining more interactive green spaces, providing subsidized programs and educating people about all of the opportunities in their area.