"The National Park Service has recognized for many years that African Americans are an under-represented visitor group to the national parks." Source: 2009 Diversity Task Force Report, National Parks Conservation Association [Read full .pdf report here]

    The purpose of this ground breaking event is to showcase the broad diversity among Americans who are committed activists, protecting our environment, conserving our natural treasures, and performing extraordinary feats of personal accomplishment in the "great outdoors." No less significant is that "Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors" will illustrate a little-known fact:

    Americans of every heritage and ethnicity are rising to their personal best as they embrace the challenge of protecting our environment and follow the call of the wild outdoors.