Nature Belongs to Everyone—And These Founders Are Reclaiming it (and Making it Fun) for Black Women Everywhere

Ever set out for a leisurely jog in the park and felt like you were trespassing on some sprinter’s personal property? Or seen someone posted up at an outdoor pull-up bar, acting like they own the place? Outdoor spaces can feel just as members-only as exclusive clubs—especially when it comes to fitness. So just in case you forgot: Nature belongs to everyone, and that includes you.

Long-time friends Kendyll Myles and Travisa Skinner have made it their mission to remind their community of that unconditional belonging. It all started during the summer of 2020, in the height of the pandemic, when the women found themselves (like so many others) feeling cabin-feverish and isolated. Instead of mourning the moment, they used the experience as a catalyst to walk out their front doors, reclaim nature, and find human connection in the process.

Fast forward five years, and what started as a hike-and-yap session between two friends has grown into an uplifting fitness community of Black women and men finding peace, beauty, and balance (and a lot of fun) in the wild. “The Hike Crew is a DC-Metro-based organization that organizes hikes, outdoor activities, and community and social events designed to foster community, healthy living, and volunteerism within the African-American community,” Myles and Skinner say.

Their hope is to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for everyone, to help people in the Black community reach new physical *and* emotional heights, and to foster an atmosphere of care-free fun along the way.

How The Hike Crew is reclaiming nature for the Black community

“The Hike Crew was founded to create a space where Black women and the broader Black community can connect with nature, promoting physical and mental well-being,” Myles and Skinner say. “Hiking offers an opportunity to address health disparities [that affect Black women] by encouraging exercise, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of community in an empowering environment.”

In an effort to reclaim the outdoors and remind the world that nature belongs to everyone, the founders focus on inclusion and public service. “We work to decrease the cost of accessing outdoor spaces by offering free hikes that are open to the public,” they say. “Our community service initiatives help build cultural relevancy between outdoor spaces and local communities, as we've donated both monetary funds and over 3,000 items to various organizations. Additionally, we hike across a range of National, State, and Local Parks in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.”

Myles and Skinner are especially committed to making the trail feel approachable to people of all abilities. “We are a come-as-you-are, beginner-friendly group, so we prioritize joining us at any fitness level,” they say. “Inclusivity is very important to us and we never leave a hiker behind.”

Ultimately, they hope The Hike Crew can serve as a place for people to show up authentically and know they’ll be accepted—by their fellow trekkers and by the outside world itself. “We utilize hikes to talk about our shared experiences,” Myles and Skinner say, “and how we can collectively heal and move forward more resiliently despite challenges we may face in our personal lives.”

How The Hike Crew prioritizes having fun outdoors

Inclusion, accessibility, reflection, and peace are key tenets of The Hike Crew’s mission—but having fun is its true foundation. “When we started hiking during the pandemic, it was mainly because we were bored of being in the house with limited socialization,” Myles and Skinner say. “Ultimately, we love to have fun as people—so of course we want to bring that same energy to the trails.”

From low-stress “Water to Wine” hiking excursions to the recent “Soul Stroll” trail clean-up, The Hike Crew’s events are designed to uplift and benefit the Black community in both body and mind. “Spending time outdoors has greatly improved our physical health by boosting energy levels and keeping us active,” Myles and Skinner say. “Mentally, it has reduced stress, and helped us feel more grounded and present with nature and ourselves.”

If the founders have one goal, it’s to spread the joy they’ve felt in the wild with people from all racial, socioeconomic, and fitness levels. “Cultivating a community of people who share a love of fun and the outdoors has been such a humbling experience,” they say. Their advice? Find a friend, find a trail, cue the playlist, and get outside where you always and absolutely belong.