Why I Started Shades of Nature
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How a simple love for the outdoors grew into a space for people of color to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you already know this: I’m obsessed with being outside. Hiking, running, chasing waterfalls, exploring new cities, watching the sunset from a trail — that’s where I feel the most grounded.
But for a long time, even though I loved the outdoors, I didn’t always feel like the outdoors loved me back.
When I first started hiking, I was almost always the only Black woman on the trail. I’d get the stares. The “Are you sure you’re in the right place?” energy. The surprised looks when I showed up with my camera, backpack, and my curls puffing up in the humidity.
And even though I knew I belonged outside just as much as anyone else, it didn’t always feel welcoming. I had to push through moments of doubt, moments where I felt out of place, and moments where I wished I had people who looked like me beside me.
Over time, something clicked:
If I felt that way… I knew other people of color felt it too.
And that’s really where Shades of Nature started.
I wanted to create the space I wish I had.
A space where people of color didn’t have to second-guess if they belonged outside.
A space where you could try your first hike without judgment or pressure.
A space where you could show up solo and instantly feel like you found your people.
A space built on community, connection, and joy.
I started hosting hikes because I wanted to make the outdoors feel accessible — not intimidating. I wanted beginners to know they didn’t need perfect gear, a certain body type, or years of experience to step on a trail. You just needed to show up. And I’d take care of the rest.
Those early hikes turned into bigger meetups.
Meetups turned into glamping retreats.
Retreats turned into U.S. trips and then international adventures.
And now… Shades of Nature is slowly becoming the community and lifestyle brand I always dreamed about — one that celebrates us in nature, unapologetically.
Representation matters more than most people realize.
When you see someone who looks like you hiking, traveling, touching snow for the first time, ziplining through a forest, or standing under a waterfall… something shifts.
You start to say, “If she can do it, I can do it too.”
And that right there is what keeps me going.
Every hike. Every retreat. Every group trip. Every moment where someone tells me they did something for the first time.
That’s why this community exists.
I’m building more than trips — I’m building belonging.
Shades of Nature is not about being the “best hiker” or having the fanciest gear. It’s about showing up as you are and letting nature meet you there.
It’s about connecting with Black and brown travelers who love adventure, rest, and joy.
It’s about creating spaces where we don’t just participate — we’re centered.
It’s about making the outdoors feel safe, fun, and ours.
Whether you’re thinking about joining your first group hike, coming on a weekend trip, or traveling internationally with us, I want you to know:
You belong here.
You deserve community.
You deserve rest.
You deserve joy.
You deserve to see yourself in nature.
And that’s exactly why I started Shades of Nature.
If you're new here — welcome.
Take your time exploring the site, check out upcoming trips, read through the packing lists, or join the newsletter so you don’t miss our next adventure.
I’m so happy you’re here.
And I can’t wait to explore the world with you.