Denali Lander

Of the many (so so many) gifts my parents have given me, being named after a mountain set me on a path from literally day 1 to feel a deep relationship to nature, all that mountains can teach me, and all the connection I can feel hiking with people I love (and people I just met, too!). I deeply believe in the power of nature.  

For many great kids across our country, big hurdles stand in the way of enjoying time in the great outdoors. The cost of technical gear alone limits access to camping, backpacking, and wilderness adventure travel. This has a disproportionate impact on low-income families and young people of color. Outdoor adventuring has become far too elitist and white-washed and open spaces and mountains, which should be open to all, have become exclusive. 

Live Oak Wilderness Camp, which is led by some of my dearest friends and a best-friend organization to Youth Run NOLA, is committed to eliminating all these barriers.  They are raising  funds to make  summer adventure trips into the mountains of North Carolina and Alabama accessible to outstanding Live Oak campers from New Orleans. 

I've learned some really powerful things about myself on Colorado's 14ers, on the side of Rainier, and on the trail up Sanitas. I believe in the power of Live Oak to build greater inclusivity in the outdoors and help a diverse group of young people learn a whole lot of powerful things about themselves and about each other.