Black Americans have hunted, fished, farmed, and conserved these lands for 400 years. This track honors that heritage, spotlights modern Black outdoors leaders, and builds the mentorship pipeline for the next generation.
Founder, Black Folks Camp Too. Outdoor educator, speaker, mentor.
African American Hunting Association (AAHA). Deer and turkey hunter, industry advocate.
The Kimbutu Project. Black angling heritage documentarian.
The Gun Dog Notebook. Upland birds, retrievers, conservation writing.
Author of Black Faces, White Spaces. Leading scholar on Black-outdoor relationships.
Multicultural outdoor media. Mentor network for BIPOC hunters and anglers.
TSI proudly partners with the Minority Outdoor Alliance — a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunity, representation, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the outdoor industry. Together, we support scholarships, mentor programs, outfitter diversity initiatives, and the annual MOA Mentor Match that connects 500+ BIPOC mentees with veteran outdoor professionals each year.
The all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were America's first park rangers. From 1891 to 1913, they patrolled Yosemite, Sequoia, and General Grant National Parks — building roads, protecting wildlife, evicting poachers, and creating the very framework of modern park management. Captain Charles Young, the third Black West Point graduate, served as Acting Superintendent of Sequoia and is buried at Arlington.
Black Pullman Porters, working cross-country rail routes, formed the first nationwide Black fishing clubs in the 1920s–1940s. They fished every major American watershed during their layovers, documenting species, hotspots, and conservation concerns. Their oral histories shaped early Black angling traditions.
The Gullah Geechee people of the South Carolina and Georgia coasts maintained West African fishing and duck hunting techniques unbroken for three centuries. Sweetgrass nets, fatwood call carving, and shrimp harvesting traditions from this community continue today in communities protected under the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
Beyond peanuts, Dr. Carver was one of the earliest American conservationists. He championed soil health, sustainable agriculture, and foraging — foundational to modern regenerative land practices that now underpin quality deer management and game stewardship.
National gathering of Black outdoor leaders. Education, networking, mentorship. Asheville, NC, every spring.
Multi-city Black outdoor gatherings each summer. Fishing, hiking, hunting, and camping in state parks.
Quarterly live podcast tapings with Black outdoor leaders across the country.
African American Hunting Association hosts deer camps in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas each November.
Partnership days at historically Black colleges bringing students into fishing and conservation careers.
Annual Juneteenth celebrations on public lands across the nation. Hikes, fishing, and cultural programming.
Register as a mentor or mentee. We pair Black hunters and anglers within 100 miles for hands-on field days. First-generation-welcoming, always.
Scholarships + internships placing Black students in wildlife and fisheries agency positions. Partnership with MANRRS, HBCUs.
Full-scholarship youth camps (Black Hunter, Black Angler, Black Birder) serving 1,500+ students each summer.
Pipeline from mentorship into guiding, outfitting, manufacturing, and outdoor media careers. TSI offers industry-introduction fellowships.