Blackpackers was started in 2019 to address the gap in representation in the outdoors. Patricia, a single mother, struggled with the means and knowledge to take her young son on outdoor adventures. Patricia saved up money working weeks of overtime as an EMT to buy her initial set of backpacking/gear and took herself on her first overnight backpacking trip–alone, and in a snowstorm. Mostly self-taught, she hopes to make it easier for families to access the outdoors by making the initial investment for them.
THE BLACKPACKERS MISSION
A 501(c)(3) Organization meeting those at the intersection of underrepresentation and economic vulnerability.
Our mission is two-fold:
To provide gear, outdoor excursions and outdoor education for free or at subsidized cost.
To connect participants with volunteer opportunities, internships, jobs, and post-secondary education resources to create a pipeline from outdoor recreation to outdoor industry careers.
In these ways, we can create economic equity in outdoor recreation.
Organization name
Blackpackers
2019
Tax id (EIN)
84-3623825
Category
Recreation & Sports, Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
826 S. Tejon Street, Suite 100Colorado Springs, CO, US
Deckers, CO, US, 80135