Here is one thing many Black folks don’t all the time see us doing—however we completely ought to: tenting. Yeah, I do know. Bugs, wild animals, dust, and no WiFi? That Black tenting itinerary would possibly sound like the beginning of a horror film, proper? However hear me out.

Many people might have grown up considering tenting was one thing we simply don’t do, and now we have good causes to say no or be apprehensive. I imply, none of us, our mother and father, nor our ancestors grew up leaping for pleasure so as to add a sprinkle of redlining, discrimination, exclusion, cultural disconnection, and entry challenges to our out of doors recreation actions, proper?

Properly, I’ve been on safaris in South Africa, hiked waterfall-lined paths in Jamaica, and loved sundown tequila tastings at high-end Mexican resorts, however tenting? It was undoubtedly a surprisingly enjoyable 10-out-of-10 journey I’d gladly embark on once more. When Kampgrounds of America (KOA) invited me to hitch a Black camper’s retreat hosted by Black Individuals Outdoors on the Cape Charles Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort in Virginia, I couldn’t say no.

I imply, whereas tenting for a few of us could be a tough cross, for me, it was a chance to reconnect with a childhood reminiscence, check out glamping in a state-of-the-art camper, and see part of Virginia that I didn’t develop up visiting as a toddler within the Hampton Roads communities my maternal household referred to as residence again then.

RISE IN INTEREST: Black Folks Tenting And Creating Protected Areas

And my grownup curiosity and affinity for the outside are shared by a rising variety of my friends. Black individuals made up 14% of campers in 2024, a rise from 11% in 2019, in keeping with a latest KOA report. There’s an rising development of Black campers taking up nature-centered adventures like snowboarding, foraging, mountain climbing, and van dwelling.

We’re undoubtedly not new to this, however definitely true to it—from writer and anthropologist Zora Neal Hurston to pioneering park ranger Betty Reid Soskin to Out of doors Afro founder Rue Mapp to the numerous different girls who’ve boldly advocated for liberation, inclusion, and exploration in out of doors areas.

And with Black Individuals Outdoors, based by Chicago-based couple Kameron Stanton and Chevon “Chev” Linear, the Black tenting expertise mirrored one thing that occurs at any time when we present as much as the occasion: cultural connection, unapologetic enjoyable, good vibes, and our personal distinctive aptitude for soul-stirring reminiscences. I loved a luxe VIP keep in a Platinum Salem RV among the many who’s who of media, and it was divine.

So, whether or not you’re searching for a reset in a world the place we’re consistently navigating microaggressions and systemic stress, otherwise you simply need one thing enjoyable and off-the-beaten path in your subsequent journey rendezvous, take a nod from this tenting itinerary, excellent to have fun Black pleasure and neighborhood:

​WHERE I STAYED: Glamping In A Luxurious RV Rental In Cape Charles, Va.

For this journey, I stayed in a Salem Fsx Platinum RV that was rented by way of RVShare.com. (Consider it just like the Airbnb of camper leases.) You principally filter for the sort, location, and different facilities, and also you ebook the camper.

With KOA, you may go to their web site or use their app to discover a campsite for parking the RV amongst one in all their greater than 500 campgrounds throughout the U.S.

You may have the RV delivered to the KOA campsite of your selecting (relying on the rental, host insurance policies, and charges). I extremely suggest letting the host set it up, particularly as a beginner camper. The KOA employees was additionally very useful in helping after I wanted something defined or a small hiccup resolved. (I’m no professional on the ins and outs of out of doors plumbing, electrical hookups, and camper pull-out options, so this turns out to be useful.)

Let’s get into the top-tier options of this camper: It had a master suite with a wise TV, a closet, and shelf area. The lavatory had a conceit, cupboard area, and a bathe (with an adjustable bathe head and scorching water with nice strain). There was digital AC and heating in each the bed room and the entrance of the camper, together with a eating nook and a kitchen with a number of cupboard area, a full-sized range, fridge, and microwave.

I loved quite a lot of time within the camper’s lounge space with a wise TV and fireside. The RV was embellished like a contemporary studio condominium on wheels. There was additionally a visitor room with bunk beds, storage, and video games. Outdoors, there was a retractable awning, LED lights, and a sound system (that performed music by the hearth pit!)

I stocked my fridge with all my dream camp snacks, hosted an impromptu late-night pow-wow (to deliver the occasion inside in the course of the campsite’s “quiet hours”), and used KOA’s inclusive WiFi entry, which was robust and dependable my entire time there.

​WHAT I DID: Lodging Choices, City Exploration & Recreation

For those who don’t wish to lease an RV, the Cape Charles KOA campground additionally supplied safari tents (that look identical to those I noticed in South Africa), grass heaps to construct your personal tents and arrange, cabins that jogged my memory of Bermuda cottages, and drive-up choices for teams with RVs. There was an on-site pool, non-public seaside entry, a beach-side restaurant and bar, and a welcome middle that supplied souvenirs, data, and snacks.

I additionally discovered tips on how to pitch a tent from scratch (by way of a completion the place my teammate and I received a bottle of glowing wine), tips on how to begin a fireplace from scratch (a lesson led by Kameron), and the perfect methods to discover a good mountain climbing path in your neighborhood (Kameron and Chev walked us via Kiptopeke State Park, the place there are alternatives for fowl watching, kayaking, yurt tenting, fishing and swimming on the seaside.)

And if you wish to take issues to a different degree, constitution a ship or lease one by way of a internet hosting platform or with suggestions from the KOA employees. Go fishing or simply get pleasure from a leisure time out on the Chesapeake Bay.

SAFETY & INCLUSION

Now, security: The entire time, I felt cherished and welcome, because the KOA campground in Cape Charles was a safe property that required entry playing cards, had employees available day and evening, enforced guidelines on velocity limits and quiet hours, and had first rate lighting across the grounds. I additionally felt a way of peace and relaxation as a result of no person actually bothered me. Both individuals had been super-friendly or simply minded their enterprise, and I didn’t thoughts that.

There was a number of laughter, ish-talking, roasted s’mores, wine, and dancing amongst a various group of Black girls creatives, journalists, PR execs, podcast hosts, and authors—and that introduced on a profoundly magical sense of safety and connection in and of itself.

Additionally, tenting—as any expertise for me, resulting from my worldview—is what you make it. The KOA employees had been super-helpful and personable, Chev cooked divine breakfast tacos and a crab boil with regionally sourced seafood, our hosts created a Spotify playlist stuffed with reggae, dancehall, salsa, R&B and hip-hop hits all of us cherished, and I even met the proprietor of the camper, a form, tatted, middle-aged household man who shared his journey into entrepreneurship and his love for customer support.

We spent the ultimate evening of the journey with a bit occasion by the hearth pit and a viewing of Tremendous Excessive, a intelligent animated movie about fibroids, hashish, and self-care by a fellow camper on the journey, Bianca Lambert, and celebrated the upcoming birthday of one other superb media entrepreneur, Nneka M. Okona.

We took a drive into “town,” which for any small neighborhood close to water is the place all of the motion is. There have been breakfast diners, seafood spots proper by the water, artwork galleries, and bars. Whereas there might have been a number of clean stares right here and there, I discovered most folks to be pleasant sufficient to return a “Hello,” or a smile. (And those that did not, I actually do not regard as worthy of disturbing my peace and openness to totally get pleasure from a brand new expertise.)

The retailers had been numerous each in nature, vibe, and choices. One store even had objects made in Kenya, Mexico, and Guatemala, and, in keeping with the girl behind the counter, advocates for the ladies creatives and artisans who made the objects.

Tenting affords revolutionary relaxation, freedom, and therapeutic—an act of self-care and reconnection. When Black folks present up in nature, for ourselves and for our communities, it’s highly effective, reminding everybody that the mountains, the timber, the oceans, the rivers—all of them belong to us, too. It’s now a bucket-list journey journey I might gladly repeat.

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Featured picture courtesy of Janell Hazelwood