Home / Black Folks Camp Too
Summer 2024
Black Folks Camp Too is a business dedicated to promoting a more inclusive outdoor experience. They provide organizations and individuals with diversity training and general outdoor knowledge to equip them with the tools needed for a more enjoyable time in nature. They believe that being invited and welcomed is the first step toward creating a more inclusive outdoor lifestyle.
Historically, national parks were segregated, which led to fewer Black people visiting them compared to their white counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled individuals from all backgrounds to seek new ways to experience life, such as hiking and camping. The initiative “Black Folks Camp Too” helps people understand the importance of promoting inclusivity in outdoor activities.
The outdoor industry is a billion-dollar sector with numerous opportunities. Furthermore, an outdoor lifestyle promotes an active way of living, which can enhance overall health.
In the Black Folks Camp Too episode, we aimed to raise awareness about the beauty of the outdoors. It also highlights the dark past of outdoor spaces while showcasing a brighter future. This episode aims to answer why Black people are less present in outdoor activities compared to other groups.
The goal is for more Black people to visit the outdoors and for more white people to invite individuals who do not look like them to experience nature.
For each episode of the We Are Here Series, we used a software called Milanote to create a production plan.
Each plan included important information such as interview questions, shot lists, inspiration, the narrative arc, and more. Milanote allowed us to visually organize these elements, making us more efficient on location.
As the producer, I was responsible for developing the concept, which included finding talent, securing locations, conducting pre-interviews, researching historical moments, assembling a crew, creating schedules, and managing the overall project. Click the link below to see the production plan for this project.
Filming in nature is different from filming in a studio or a city. Several factors can impact the way you shoot. For instance, the Noir Prism team had to hike while filming. Imagine carrying heavy equipment while trying to cross a stream with slippery stones as your path—sounds challenging, right? Additionally, we faced a tight budget and timeline for each episode. We had just one day to film interviews and gather b-roll footage. The team for this project was small but mighty.
To make the most of our time, we split our team into two groups. While interviews were being filmed, we had another team filming some b-roll clips. After filming this episode, we realized that having a subject matter expert on our team would be valuable. They could have guided us on the equipment we would need to hike with ease.
Future Steps: Our objective is to submit the film to various film festivals across the country.
