The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors

Gr 5 Up—In his experiences camping, hiking, and mountain climbing, Mills noticed that he was often the only African American participating in these activities. As he explains here, the outdoors community never made him feel unwelcome, but he became concerned that so few people of color were involved. He emphasizes the importance of encouraging youths from a variety of backgrounds to take part, not only to broaden their horizons but also to help protect the environment by raising a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts who will work to save it. He profiles six different people of color who are either currently involved in outdoor activities or have been historically significant. He intersperses these profiles with a description of Expedition Denali, a climbing trek composed of a group of people of color who, in 2013, successfully summited America's highest peak, Alaska's Denali (also known as Mount McKinley). The author's description of the expedition is gripping, and these exciting segments are nicely balanced with the profiles, which give historical and cultural context to the goals of Expedition Denali. With journalistic clarity, Mills sheds light on a previously overlooked segment of history and culture.—Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT