The North Face Launch Course on Allyship & Racial Inclusion in the Outdoors
December 1, 2023
World-leading outdoor brand, The North Face, has released a new digital ‘Allyship in the Outdoors’ course, which focuses on changing the way organizations, communities and individuals view allyship and racial inclusion. Beyond Sport helped pilot the course across Europe with a goal of fostering the next generation of inclusive athletes and explorers. The course was developed by the brand in partnership with our sister company, thinkBeyond, with an investment from the VF Foundation – the philanthropic arm of The North Face’s parent company, VF Corporation.
According to a racial and economic disparities report from the Hispanic Access Foundation and the Center for American Progress, in the United States, people of color live in places with less immediate access to nature. Communities of color are almost three times more likely than white communities to live in “nature-deprived” areas, meaning those that have less or no access to parks, paths and green spaces. Prominent business media brand Fast Company also noted that “outdoor brands have been criticized for not acting as urgently on issues of diversity and representation as they do on climate change and conservation.”
The North Face launched its Explore Fund Council in 2020, pledging $7 million to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with a focus on providing opportunities for diverse communities, improving access to underserved communities and accelerating culturally relevant exploration opportunities. In October of 2021, the brand announced the first members of its EMEA Explore Fund Council, a platform designed to expand access and help shape the outdoors for future generations. As part of this, the seven-member council and many others guided the selection of The North Face Explore Fund Grantees – organizations led by or that serve Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.
The Allyship in the Outdoors course is the latest effort from the Council, encompassing experts from multiple sectors including sport, academia and media, to help direct and shape The North Face funding to break down systemic barriers to exploration. Designed with three key pillars, it aims to engage, educate and support action. It will help people to understand the issues faced by people of color in the outdoors, the barriers which create them, and ultimately, how allyship can be a force for positive change.
The course focuses on five key outdoor sports, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trail running and hiking, and is suitable for everyone from instructors and coaches to governing bodies, brands and charities. It also includes lived experiences of racial exclusion and insights from 5-time UK National Climbing champion, Molly Thompson-Smith, and snowboarder and diversity and inclusion advocate, David Djite, both members of the EMEA Explore Fund Council.
In the last 12 years, the Explore Fund has supported hundreds of non-profits working to increase participation and make outdoor activities more inclusive. Allyship in The Outdoors is a free resource, funded by The North Face Explore Fund alongside a grant from The VF Foundation. To take the course, sign up for The North Face XPLR pass program and follow the online instructions.